Grendel Bolt Gun Load Development

[hocox3]

Just built new bolt gun , looking for input on hand load. Any pet loads, starting points or general notes.
Here are my barrel specs:
20" 1 in 8 5R twist

Also note the rifle shoots off the shelf Hornady 123 SST about 3/4" at 100

Any comments welcome.
Thanks,
Trey

[JASmith]

A lot depends on whether you are happy with 3/4" at 100 yards.

For the most part, loads that work well in the AR with SAAMI spec chambers work well in bolt guns wih SAAMI spec chambers.

There are a areas of flexibility one might be able to exercise with a bolt gun, depending on details of the rifle.

Can your tell us more about your rifle? Action? Barrel Maker? Reamer?, etc.

[hocox3]

J-
I have a 6.5 Grendel AR that holds under an inch at 300 with PPU ammo, My thought was I can do better with bolt gun + hand load at 100.... That being said specs are:

Action : 700 Remington
Barrel : 20" SS Match Grade Bartlein 1in8 with 5R rifling
Reamer : SAMMI spec
Trigger : Jewell

[ricsmall]

Which components are you using? Brass doesn't matter as much as powder and pill combos.

Richard

[JASmith]

ricsmall is headed in a good direction.

You would be hard pressed to do better than starting with the 123 SST and one of the popular powders discussed in this forum.

Then search for one or more accuracy nodes with the same COAL as the factory load.

After that, do a COAL excursion to find the sweet spot for that bullet and your chamber.

Should you want to try different powders, exercise them at your "Sweet Spot COAL."

[Singleshotsam]

I have a 6.5 BRM that I hand load for, my 6.5 grendel is ordered, have got it yet. the 6.5 BRM likes Varget and 123 hornady SST 1/2 min at 200yd. I havent seen any Varget loads on this site, is anybody trying it in any loads?

[kmon]

Varget can work in the Grendel but you will be crunching some powder seating the bullet. It is slow enough but with the shape of the sticks it is bulky in the little case.

[kmon]

I shoot mostly 129 or 130gr bullets in the boltie Grendel and for the most part use CFE223. Have a couple other powders I am going to try some time.