02-01-2023, 07:19 PM
One of the driving factors for Bill Alexander choosing the 6.5mm was the wide projectile selection that already existed for both hunting and target purposes.
Most of the hunting bullets were designed for moderate velocity cartridges, which meant they would work perfectly at Grendel velocities on white tail and hogs.
Offer a cartridge that fits in the AR-15 that facilitates cleanly taking medium game, and it will attract a lot more sales and market acceptance.
If you lived through the 6.8 SPC saga, they had to develop most of the hunting bullets for it after the fact, since the only common cartridges in .277 were the .270 Winchester and .270 Weatherb.
Since those both produce exceptionally-high velocities shooting mid-weight bullets in the 130-150gr class, only the varmint bullet weights were usable in the 6.8 SPC.
From an industrial scaling standpoint, it was an uphill battle to get a decent spread of appropriate bullets to market for the limited ogive lengths mandated by the 6.8s longer case length, and AR-15 limited COL.
Grendel with the short, fat case had all kinds of available ogive length, which meant pretty much any 6.5mm bullet could be loaded, even the 144gr Lapua FMJ and the 160gr Hornady RN, as well as the Sierra 85gr Vermonter, 90gr Speer TNT, 95gr V-MAX, all the 100gr 6.5mm, and of course the 120-130gr bullets. If you wanted higher velocity explosive performance with 16 of penetration, you could load the 100gr ELD-M or 100gr NBT from 22-24 and keep them limited to broadside shots with perfect heart/lung intersection. If you want more aspect options, the monoliths and bonded bullets make more sense, but dont open up as much of a wound cavity like cup/core do. Maker Trex is a good in-between with really large petal expansion.
6mm is also versatile, but of course leans on the lighter weight class projectiles ideal for varmint and close-in medium game. You could shoot the 90gr ELD-X really fast, or 80gr GMX.
.25-06 has been used to reliably kill elk for ages, normally within that 300-400yd range. Same with mule deer out farther.
To me, .25-06 isnt an efficient cartridge, but the performance is there. The case is way too long for what its doing, and could be achieved with a shorter case thats designed better.
25 WSSM, 25x47 Lapua, .257 Roberts AI, or 25 Creedmoor Imp 40, etc.
For white tail, pretty much any centerfire rifle will do the trick within reasonable range for the cartridge.
Most of the hunting bullets were designed for moderate velocity cartridges, which meant they would work perfectly at Grendel velocities on white tail and hogs.
Offer a cartridge that fits in the AR-15 that facilitates cleanly taking medium game, and it will attract a lot more sales and market acceptance.
If you lived through the 6.8 SPC saga, they had to develop most of the hunting bullets for it after the fact, since the only common cartridges in .277 were the .270 Winchester and .270 Weatherb.
Since those both produce exceptionally-high velocities shooting mid-weight bullets in the 130-150gr class, only the varmint bullet weights were usable in the 6.8 SPC.
From an industrial scaling standpoint, it was an uphill battle to get a decent spread of appropriate bullets to market for the limited ogive lengths mandated by the 6.8s longer case length, and AR-15 limited COL.
Grendel with the short, fat case had all kinds of available ogive length, which meant pretty much any 6.5mm bullet could be loaded, even the 144gr Lapua FMJ and the 160gr Hornady RN, as well as the Sierra 85gr Vermonter, 90gr Speer TNT, 95gr V-MAX, all the 100gr 6.5mm, and of course the 120-130gr bullets. If you wanted higher velocity explosive performance with 16 of penetration, you could load the 100gr ELD-M or 100gr NBT from 22-24 and keep them limited to broadside shots with perfect heart/lung intersection. If you want more aspect options, the monoliths and bonded bullets make more sense, but dont open up as much of a wound cavity like cup/core do. Maker Trex is a good in-between with really large petal expansion.
6mm is also versatile, but of course leans on the lighter weight class projectiles ideal for varmint and close-in medium game. You could shoot the 90gr ELD-X really fast, or 80gr GMX.
.25-06 has been used to reliably kill elk for ages, normally within that 300-400yd range. Same with mule deer out farther.
To me, .25-06 isnt an efficient cartridge, but the performance is there. The case is way too long for what its doing, and could be achieved with a shorter case thats designed better.
25 WSSM, 25x47 Lapua, .257 Roberts AI, or 25 Creedmoor Imp 40, etc.
For white tail, pretty much any centerfire rifle will do the trick within reasonable range for the cartridge.
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
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com