6.5 Grendel Barrel Length Comparison

[LRRPF52]

20”, 18”, 16”, and 12” Grendels with 123gr ELD-M and 123gr SST

[37L1]

Great information. Thanks for posting this.

[Trueblue]

Thanks for posting this. Putting together a 16” build at present. Not seeing much advantage to going to 20-24” after looking at this chart. If I need to reach out past 350 yards, I would use my 6.5 SAUM or 7-300 WM.

[LRRPF52]

All those numbers change pretty noticeably for me up at altitude, and I could have used best-case scenario with the highest BC bullets possible, like the 123gr SMK, 123gr Scenar, 130gr Bergers, and 130gr Nosler RDF.

The 18-24" Grendels make a lot of sense for people who want to shoot more LR from 600-1000yds down at sea level in constant wind conditions.

Even with 6.5CM or .260 in shifting winds, getting predictable hits on-target at 1000yds is very hard, even on full-sized silhouettes.

Conditions have and always will determine practical effective range for that time window you shoot in. Higher BC with more speed will extend your effective supersonic reach some, but often that comes back a bit from 1k when wind gets dicey. 6.5 SAUM or 7mm WSM can extend that effective range noticeably for sure.

[Popeye212]

Thanks for posting this

[Ditcher]

I read some where there was data for a 7, 8 and 9" barrel. Anyone know where I can find that?

[Frontier Gear]

Awesome data. Thanks. I'm assuming that this is all based off of the AR15 platform? I ask due to the remark about weapon weight, length and profiles.

It looks like the 16" barrel makes for a a great hunting rifle with SSTs. It is short, non-SBR and good to 350 yards. In my opinion, it is good on coyotes and smaller critters out past it's expansion range as well. Of course an AR15 pistol doesn't need the SBR stamp either.

123gr ELD-M seems to be faster like the old 123gr AMAX load.

I noticed that as well.

[LRRPF52]

I need to photoshop in some performance numbers for each barrel length in this picture, with:

123gr ELD-M mv and supersonic reach
123gr SST mv and expansion range for each

[Big Dog]

[Simple1]

I just built a 12" with faxon barrel. Shooting 123gr ELD reloads with 8208 today, 1.5 MOA just breaking it in. Dont have a chrono to check it yet.

[LRRPF52]

[Stugotz]

Good Stuff! Would love the see what you come up with shooting 129gr interlocks.

[LRRPF52]

Good Stuff! Would love the see what you come up with shooting 129gr interlocks.

0yds 2200fps mv
225yds 1814fps

[Double Naught Spy]

Very cool. Thank you.

[Stugotz]

0yds 2200fps mv
225yds 1814fps

I will be down in Florida in a few weeks hunting hogs at a friends place and shooting this bullet. my barrel is 22" in length and came up with a very accurate load chrono'ed at 2,400fps. Thanks for the info and keep it coming!