6.5G at 600 yards

[Jorge0272]

Going to be taking tactical AR class. This class will be shooting from 100 to 600 yards.
What do you guys think? I have a 6.5G with a 12? barrel and another with an 18? barrel.
Load I am trying to work on right now is:
123gr Hornady ELD-M
Hornady case
31.2 gr of CFE223
Guessing velocity is about 2500fps
Purchasing a chrono this week so I can get the velocity to work the loads.
Do you guys know of a better load or projectile?

[JASmith]

It looks like the 18” will get within about 20 fps of 2390 and the 12” will be around 2210.

It could be a tad faster because one load in ammoguide shows 50-60 fps more than the 2390 in an 18” barrel.

If the 2210 gives comfortable holdovers at 600, it would certainly generate discussion.

[A5BLASTER]

Going to be taking tactical AR class. This class will be shooting from 100 to 600 yards.
What do you guys think? I have a 6.5G with a 12? barrel and another with an 18? barrel.
Load I am trying to work on right now is:
123gr Hornady ELD-M
Hornady case
31.2 gr of CFE223
Guessing velocity is about 2500fps
Purchasing a chrono this week so I can get the velocity to work the loads.
Do you guys know of a better load or projectile?

Your probably closer too 2400 with that load in the 18 and 2200 in the 12 inch.

If you had time I would try that bullet over a cci450 and a charge of ar-comp in the 27 to 27.4 grain range.

[Jorge0272]

Would AR-Comp be better than the CFE223? I use CFE because I can use it with 308 and 556.

[A5BLASTER]

Would AR-Comp be better than the CFE223? I use CFE because I can use it with 308 and 556.

It is in my book, much better temp stability and much better sd and es numbers. I have cfe223 I'm trying to give away.

Don't get me wrong I have worked up some great loads with it. But soon as the air temp went up or down 20 degrees it went to crap.

I'm happy with a lil less speed but a much better more stable load with ar-comp and temp stable powders like it.

[mel]

600 wont be an issue out of the 18 , cant comment on the 12 shortest barreled grendel i have experience with is a 16
my current grendel is a 20 but im shooting past 1000y with the same bullet over some ppv powder at 2450-2470 fps

[VASCAR2]

A Friend and I chronographed several loads using a Magnetto Speed chronograph on a 70 degree day. We tested 16, 18, 20 and 24 inch 6.5 Grendel AR-15’s. We tested a hand load of mine which has proven accurate for me, 31.0 grains CFE with CCI 450 primers in Hornady or Lapua cases with 123 grain Nosler Custom Competition. I have also used the same load with 123 grain A-Max and achieved comparable accuracy and velocity. The 18 inch AR-15 used a Brownell’s Grendel II Stainless steel 1:8 twist.



Hand Load 123 Grain Nosler CC, 31.0 grains CFE223, CCI 450

16" 2449

18" 2471

20" 2526

24" 2619

[burnsy13]

I haven't confirmed anything IRL yet with the 12" SBR at 600, but my Strelok Pro app, for 123gr SST and a PST Gen 2 2-10 optic shows adjust up 18.6MOA, 5.4MRAD, 117 inches, and 22 clicks.

In the reticle preview its halfway down on the lower stadia. I plan on 600 being more than doable with that rifle. 300y is the furthest I was able to take this rifle once the Form 1 and Form 4's came back approved.

[LRRPF52]

My 16" AA barrel with 31.1gr of CFE223 under the 123gr A-MAX did 2489fps at 15ft from the muzzle, 60˚F.

31.1 2489
31.4 2520
31.7 2532
32.0 2553

My 17.6" Lilja barrel:

31.1 2412
31.4 2456
31.7 2465
32.0 2530 Notice the velocity spike from 31.7 to 32.0

5 shots from my mass-produced 31.2gr CFE223/123gr A-MAX load out of the 17.6" at 64˚F:

2507
2492
2477
2496
2477

2490fps average

LaRue 18" Stealth 2.0 6.5 Grendel shooting the same 123gr A-MAX/31.2gr CFE223 load:

2477
2528
2517
2524
2544
2518
2523

Average: 2519fps 15ft from the muzzle over Chrony Beta

Howa 22" bolt gun, same load of 31.2gr CFE223 2.253" COL, Lapua brass, 60˚F:

2599
2557
2582
2617
2617
2564
2586
2608
2619
2566

Average: 2592fps 15ft from the muzzle

12" 6.5 Grendel Faxon Group Buy barrel

120gr Federal American Eagle OTM factory ammo, suppressed with TBAC Ultra 5:

2360
2375
2374
2387
2384
2411
2398
2397
2349
2406
2384

Average: 2384fps 15ft from the muzzle. For a ballistics calculator, I would plug in 2400fps for that load as actual mv.

Take both of them to the course and have fun. 600yds is boring with any barrel length in 6.5 Grendel if we're talking 2 MOA targets and a good barrel/rifle/optic/ammo combo.

For a mediocre cobbled DIY build with parts I would never use, 3 MOA targets should be doable with a good shooter and good wind calls.

[Lazermule]

I have a 12" and a 20" Grendel, and a load that shoots REAL WELL in the 12 inch (130 grain Sierra Gamechanger over 23.5 gr of H4198) runs 2215 fps out of the 12 inch and 2425 out of the 20 inch. I haven't shot any groups with it yet out of the 20 inch, but it shoots sub MOA out of the 12 inch at 100 yards. 2 bucks in the freezer this year with it, makes it a great deer rifle that handles well in the woods and a weapon I'd be comfortable out to 300 yards with.

[Jorge0272]

Thanks guys. Lots of useful info here. Need to pick up some powder so will probably get something other than CFE223. Since I live in Chicago and also go down to Florida to shoot, I believe I should get some powder that will more stable in different temps. Looking at AR-Comp, IMR8208 and Benchmark. Need to make sure this powder also works in 308 and 556. I only want to stock one powder for rifle.
Bullet will most likely be the Hornady 123GR SST which should work well in both rifles for long range and hunting. Chrono should be here this week and hopefully I can get out and check velocities.

[outdoorgeneralist]

I'll +1 for the AR-Comp. I'm shooting a 24.2gr load of it right now behind a 123gr A-Max or ELD, works great out of my 20" BA. I've shot it out to 700yds with no problems.