6.5 Grendel versus 6mm ARC for whitetail

[Fields_mj]

All I can say is that my Grendel has been very effective on whitetail these past 2 seasons. I'm loading a 105 MKZ and getting excellent accuracy. I hit a decent doe (110 lb dressed) quartering towards me last month at just over 200 yds. Through the front shoulder, a rib or two, both lungs, and out the other side with what appeared to be good expansion. Either way, she went less than 50 yds. Same morning I took a bigger doe (140 lb dressed) at 80 yds with the same results). Very happy with this setup.

[Les]

Hornady data has the 87 gr bullet (Vmax) for loads. The 87 SP would use the same data. 11 different powders, H4895 to CFE 223.
The OAL may differ however, so check your chamber and measurements with the chamber case-comparator.

What I loaded in .243 wasn't the 87 gr Vmax just the 87gr BTSP Just wondered what that bullet would look like in the 6mm ARC velocity wise. And no, I haven't done any research yet. Looks as if Hornady is promoting 103 gr bullets for this caliber.
Things that make me go Hmmmm.

[Les]

Your experience mimics the South Carolina deer hunting survey.

.243 Winchester and 6mm Rem seemed to have longer travel distances from the shot compared to .270 Win, 7mm, and .30 bores.

They have pretty small deer down there too.

If I were more of a varmint hunter who also shot deer in rifle season in a State with small deer and I relied on ammo from handloads, I think I might lean on the 6mm ARC or some 6mm AR Grendel wildcat.

If I didn’t hand load and deer sizes were larger, I would definitely go 6.5 Grendel and not look back. Shoot one of the lead-free bullets in lighter weight with good expansion, or shoot 120-130gr cup and core bullets like the Hornady 129gr SP, 123gr SST, 120gr Nosler BT, 129gr SST, 129gr ABLR for deer.

You can look through the game surveys we’ve done here over the years to see what bullet weight and travel distances from the shot hunters have experienced with 6.5 Grendel. Most deer are DRT or drop within the first 25yds. Most common bullet has been the 123gr SST.

For the South Georgia region, if you do varmint-hunting throughout the year with deer season hunting in addition to that, the 18” or 20” Grendel makes sense for the varmints, and is more than plenty for the deer. Spit out an 85gr Sierra Varminter at 2900-2996fps, 90gr TNT at 2880fps, or a 95gr V-MAX at 2850fps for the little critters, then switch to a larger bullet for deer for the meat.

The varmint bullets work very well on killing hogs though, since Grendel velocities are more moderate compared to the larger case capacities that would cause them to fragment more explosively.

Lots of choices, most of which our ancestors would think were some kind of super rifles compared to what they had.

All true, especially your last sentence.

[SDguy]

I am stocked up on everything needed for the Grendel except AR platform. Bolt action works fine I guess, more than fine actually. Lately everything is in short supply.. Lots of ways to get the job done & either of your options are very capable if the shooter is up to the task. Thinking next season now, I expect you can't go wrong with either you have all of the components for. Only need one good option & currently their is more choices in the more seasoned cartridge.

Think the component shortage is doing a lot more harm for the ARC release than anything.

[Constitutionalist]

Grendel would be my choice. I have a buddy (retired police sniper so he can shoot) who had a shoulder replacement and now uses a .243 They've tracked his deer at least 200yds (up to 1/2 mile) with double lung shots each of the past 4 years using Nosler 90gr ABs. He's getting expansion and full penetration but it just doesn't seem to put them down quickly. Bucks ranged from 150-220 lbs so decent but not huge deer for Michigan whitetails. Why am I talking about .243? Because it pushes that bullet about 300fps faster than a 6mm ARC.

To each his own- shot placement is key. I have buddies in Alabama who hunt deer with 5.56mm ARs and Nosler 60gr. Partitions. They have TONS of deer (easily see 20-30 per day) and choose shots carefully. Any deer that isn't shot through the heart will get the shooter harassed by their partners. They take pictures to prove it.

Just my $.02

John

[tracker12]

I like the sectional density of 6.5 over any 6mm

[rickt300]

Grendel, I think sometimes bore diameter does make a difference. Have used the 243 and 6MM Remington on a good number of deer and the best killler for me has been the 95 gr. Ballistic Tips and the 87 gr. Hornady BTSP pushed to over 3000 fps. I didn't care for them as woods guns because I had to pass up too many shots due to poor angles. My Grendel this coming season will be loaded with 100 gr. Partitons pushed to 2700 fps. Testing to come.

[Fess]

I like the sectional density of 6.5 over any 6mm

What weight Grendel bullets do you use?
To provide some data, I ran some numbers for equivalent sectional density to the Hornady 6mm ARC rounds.
108gr 6mm = 127.5gr 6.5mm
103gr 6mm = 121.6gr 6.5mm

Both of those compare favorably to the 123grain Grendel loads for SD.

[A5BLASTER]

What weight Grendel bullets do you use?
To provide some data, I ran some numbers for equivalent sectional density to the Hornady 6mm ARC rounds.
108gr 6mm = 127.5gr 6.5mm
103gr 6mm = 121.6gr 6.5mm

Both of those compare favorably to the 123grain Grendel loads for SD.

So what's the sd number for those 2 6mm bullets? Curious what their listed sd number is.

My preferred hunting bullets in my grendels is the 120 gold dot and 129 ablr. Not sure what the sd is on them but I can find them, if you would like the numbers to compare to the sd numbers for the 2 6mm bullets you listed.

[VASCAR2]

The 6.5 Grendel SD according to available load data.

The Sectional Density for the 120 grain Gold Dot is .246
The Sectional Density for the 129 grain ABLR is .264
The Sectional Density for Hornady 120 grain GMX & 123 grain AMAX/SST is .246-.252
The Sectional Density for the Barnes 100 grain SST .205, 120 grain TSX/TTSX .246

For 6 MM ARC Hornady list Sectional Density for 80 grain GMX .194, 90 grain GMX .218, 95 grain SST .230, 100 grain Interlock BTSP .242

[A5BLASTER]

The 6.5 Grendel SD according to available load data.

The Sectional Density for the 120 grain Gold Dot is .246
The Sectional Density for the 129 grain ABLR is .264
The Sectional Density for Hornady 120 grain GMX & 123 grain AMAX/SST is .246-.252
The Sectional Density for the Barnes 100 grain SST .205, 120 grain TSX/TTSX .246

For 6 MM ARC Hornady list Sectional Density for 80 grain GMX .194, 90 grain GMX .218, 95 grain SST .230, 100 grain Interlock BTSP .242

Thank you sir.

So for the types of bullets I would choose for hunting. 6.5mm has a perrty good advantage in the sd department over 6mm.

I have given up on ballistic tip, hpbt and lead head type non bonded hunting bullets in favor of bonded and all copper hunting bullets.

[JASmith]

Factors to consider:

Bullet weight is the most important factor for bullets of the same design class.

Yes, smaller diameter gives higher sectional density, but same sectional density = less weight for the smaller caliber.

[kmon]

There is an expression that I hear mostly from big bore shooters "there is no replacement for displacement". I fully agree with that and having killed deer and hogs with bullets in .172, .224, .244, .257, .264, .277, .7mm, .308, .338, .357, .358, .375, .378, .429, .452, .458 and .50 diameters, there is something to be said for bigger diameter bullets even if at lower velocities. Bigger diameter bullets punch a bigger hole.

The smaller the bullet and the faster the velocity the more I rely on bonded, partitioned or monometal bullets. Standard cup and core bullets have their place and in those places work well and they can work well in the Grendel. I like the A-Max but they discontinued it and with the SST I have seen a few that just did not do as I would think they should like I have seen with some other Hornady bullets in the past.

Between the 6mmARC and 6.5 Grendel, I am already invested in the Grendel and see no reason to change, I do not shoot past 600 yards anymore and rarely beyond 300 yards so see no advantage in changing or investing in a new caliber. In the past I would have already had one and playing but if I had not gained the experience with so many calibers I could have just used the 7mm-08 that I bought in 1982 and killed almost everything I have killed just as dead and had lots more $ for hunting adventures.

If you do not have either the 6.5 Grendel or the ARC let your use determine the choice. If you are not shooting past 600 yards I would say go with the Grendel for target and hunting, if long range is your game and hunt some then go for the 6mmARC.

[Wellbornpapa]

Maybe I should run for president lmao.

You are too smart for that, regardless of how you look!

[TOU]

98% of all game is killed inside 300 yards real world, and probably 95% under 200 yards.

I agree 100% with this statement on the average. Not to deviate too much, this is the reason I have a CZ 527 in 22 TCM in a fast twist pencil barrel. Awesome walk-about rifle for shooting varmints of all sorts with serious destruction under 200 yards. (I haven't hot a coyote but I wouldn't hesitate under 150 yards.)

[41bear]

With Hornady's release of the 6mm ARC, its long range performance has been discussed. Here's my question, in the spirit of the upcoming deer season, if you could only choose between 6.5 Grendel and 6mm ARC to hunt with for the entire season, which caliber would you choose? I'll give a few parameters, in that, barrel has to be more of a typical AR barrel length (i.e. 16"-20") and maximum range is 400 yards (I'm from South Georgia and, unless I'm on a power line, 200 yards is going to be my max shot distance).

Well my friend you have now heard from the guys but before you put down your coin remember that variety is the spice of life so why get one when you can have both? It's what I do plus there's no conflict of interest just lots of shooting fun.

PS you should also think about taking up reloading as it adds so much more pleasure to your shooting/hunting experience.

A fellow Georgian.

[rabiddawg]

I’ll see your “spice of life” and raise you “ beware of the man with only one gun”

I’m Grendel all the way. My son just bought a 6arc barrel. This will be his first build. We shall see.....

[Stinky Coyote]

I agree 100% with this statement on the average. Not to deviate too much, this is the reason I have a CZ 527 in 22 TCM in a fast twist pencil barrel. Awesome walk-about rifle for shooting varmints of all sorts with serious destruction under 200 yards. (I haven't hot a coyote but I wouldn't hesitate under 150 yards.)

i've got over 20 coyotes with a .17 hmr inside 125 yards and haven't lost one...so you're probably fine on them with the tcm to a little further

[Stinky Coyote]

how bout a little 6.5 grendel vs a stronger 6mm than the arc? the .243 win...

if you want the down and dirty just head to about the 4 minute mark

there's something to be said for having over 120 gr of lead vs about 100 gr of lead...6.5 grendel for hunting superiority imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSTjG2QWAXg

[41bear]

I’ll see your “spice of life” and raise you “ beware of the man with only one gun”

I’m Grendel all the way. My son just bought a 6arc barrel. This will be his first build. We shall see.....

My hunting partner, of 40 + years, has a bad shoulder which causes him much grief shooting, he's been hunting WT here in GA for the last 30 or so years with the 221 FireBall, neck shot only and gets his 2 or 3 deer each year, one shot each never fails plus no tracking beyond 10/15 yards if that. Shot placement is everything plus practice, practice, practice. Which proves your point, I guess, Beware the man with one gun.