Posts: 5
Threads: 1
Joined: Sep 2022
I am looking at trading my Ruger American 7.62x39 for a Howa 1500 Mini in 6.5 Grendel. My Semi-Local (50 Miles away) dealer has two in stock. At the moment I have a Howa 1500 Mini in 7.62x39 that I like pretty well. Two Howa 1500's would not be a bad thing.
I have been a Reloader and Wildcatter for years. I have owned several Contenders and Encores over the years that I pretty much had to work up load data for from scratch. I like projects to work with. I believe the Howa 1500 in 6.5 Grendel would make a good project gun.
Bob R
Posts: 1,104
Threads: 8
Joined: Nov 2017
Welcome to the horde from Wisconsin .
Posts: 6,206
Threads: 50
Joined: Mar 2011
09-13-2022, 10:35 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-13-2022, 10:42 PM by VASCAR2.)
Welcome to the forum Bob! With the Russian ammo embargo the availability of 7.62 x 39 is down and the price has raised. I think the 6.5 Grendel has a performance advantage over the 7.62x39 after a couple hundred yards. With you being a reloader I see no real down side to having one rifle in 6.5 Grendel. Im a target shooter more than a hunter and one reason I chose the 6.5 Grendel when I wanted an intermediate cartridge in an AR-15.
The x39 or 6.5 Grendel arent barrel burners and dont use as much powder as common 7.62x51 or 6.5 Creedmoor. If there is a downside 6.5/.264 lighter weight bullets are not as readily available as heavier bullets more commonly used for 6.5 CM, 260 R or 6.5x47 Lapua.
If you need loading components for the 6.5 Grendel you need to act fast because items sell out very quickly.
Ive shot a lot of blem Nosler and Sierra 6.5 mm bullets in my 6.5 Grendel. Shooters Pro Shop is an outlet store for Nosler. They have 6.5 mm blem 123 grain Custom Competition bullets in stock. These bullets provide good shorter range accuracy in my rifles. Here is a link.
https://www.shootersproshop.com/6-5mm-12...-blem.html
Posts: 1,567
Threads: 8
Joined: Sep 2012
Welcome to the clan, BRM, from the great nation of Texas! You will like the Howa in Grendel. It is a delightful shooter. What are your end goals?
Posts: 5
Threads: 1
Joined: Sep 2022
VASCAR2
I am not a newby to the 6.5.
I have owned a 6.5x30JDJ Contender Barrel for 30 some years. I also have a Nosler M48 (New & Improved Version of an XP100) in 6.5 Creedmoor. I have been shooting 120 ELD-M bullets through it.
Bob R
Posts: 8,507
Threads: 241
Joined: Sep 2014
Welcome aboard. That M48 sounds like a hoot.
Do you shoot silhouette matches?
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
Posts: 1,348
Threads: 98
Joined: Jun 2019
Bob welcome from the great state of Georgia
Chuck
Posts: 175
Threads: 26
Joined: Sep 2011
Welcome from Missouri, hey wait you're here too. You over around West Plains?
Steve............