6.5 Grendel Preferred Loads

[Niles Coyote]

Now that's better - when I start seeing ejector marks I start sweating. I hate to give AR-Comp up completely because it's performed so well for me, and I'll load some up at that weight and try again.

Im pretty happy with that load.
18" JP barrel


20" PF bartlien barrel

[Sticks]

...Something I'm still scratching my head over is that I also reset the bullets in a box of Hornady Black ELD-M factory ammo with the seating depth on my die unchanged, and the rounds all came out .010" shorter (OAL and to the ogive) than the rounds I had just loaded with the exact same bullets. I'd be surprised if there was that much variation between runs of these bullets but I'm coming to believe that must be the case.

Morbid curiosity go to me, and I did something like this with American Gunner 123 HPBT ammo, and did them at .005" increments. They were a touch close to my lands so I wanted to see if pushing them back would help.

The 2.242 COAL from factory got slower the shorter I went (stopped at 2.220). Lost about 10 fps for each depth.

[Hermosa65]

Folks,

New to forum. New to 6.5 Grendel. Not new to handloading. I recently purchased a new CZ-527 6.5 Grendel and mounted a Leupold VX-R 3-9x40 scope. After reasonable break-in, I could not get a group under 2", with most groups at 2.5". I tried the Wolf and Hornady 123 ELD factory loads. After that, I tried a few loads at both ends of the bullet weight spectrum (new Hornady brass and WSR primers): 85 Sierra HP + 29.5 - 30.5 Benchmark and 129 Hornady SST + 25 - 26.8 Varget. I was able to get 1.5" groups with the 85 and 30.5 Benchmark and 129 SST and 25 Varget. Definitely not satisfying. In frustration, I found this forum and thread. It was very informative and I thank everyone who has contributed to it. On the experience of others here, I loaded 123 ELD and 30, 30.5, 31.2 CFE233 (a favorite powder of mine for 223) and a COAL of 2.260. The attached picture is a 5 shot group with 31.2 CFE223 at 100 yards. No signs of overpressure on the primers. I sunk the first two through the same hole up top. So, 4 + 1 flier. Unfortunately, I left my chronograph at home. Altitude 341 ft, Barometer 30.5, Temperature 28 degrees, relative humidity 32%, 9 MPH wind.

Thanks again to everyone who has posted their load data. Happy New Year.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10656[/ATTACH]

[Jgilesg]

Hey guys
I see that CFE 223 seems to be one of the preferred powders. I did see mention of AR-Comp early in this string and then it just kind of stopped. I was at my local shop and they had 8# of AR-Comp for 125.00 a and I couldn’t resist. I load for an AR-10 in 308 as well as a 15 in 7.62x39 and I can use it for them.
Are most of you using 223 only and is the AR-Comp a reasonable alternate?
Thanks
JG

[cb4017]

Hey guys
I see that CFE 223 seems to be one of the preferred powders. I did see mention of AR-Comp early in this string and then it just kind of stopped. I was at my local shop and they had 8# of AR-Comp for 125.00 a and I couldn’t resist. I load for an AR-10 in 308 as well as a 15 in 7.62x39 and I can use it for them.
Are most of you using 223 only and is the AR-Comp a reasonable alternate?
Thanks
JG

AR-Comp is a great powder in the Grendel. It has become my favorite. A sweet spot seems to be around 27.6 grains behind a 123 gr bullet. Shoots sub MOA in my Grendels.

[Jgilesg]

Thanks Cliff
I don’t know how I missed the post a few before mine showing 500 and 1000 yard impacts.
That’ll work for me

JG

[1911man]

Hey guys
I see that CFE 223 seems to be one of the preferred powders. I did see mention of AR-Comp early in this string and then it just kind of stopped. I was at my local shop and they had 8# of AR-Comp for 125.00 a and I couldn’t resist. I load for an AR-10 in 308 as well as a 15 in 7.62x39 and I can use it for them.
Are most of you using 223 only and is the AR-Comp a reasonable alternate?
Thanks
JG

I use AR Comp in 308 as well as 223. I dont have my recipe book in front of me but I know my load for .308 is 41.7 grains of AR comp with the 168 ELD. Gets 2700 fps out of a 20" barrel and has sds around 10 fps and ES around 15 fps. I hit targets easily out to 800 yards with it. Its a great powder and I routinely find it on sale.

[ErikS]

AR-Comp is a great powder in the Grendel. It has become my favorite. A sweet spot seems to be around 27.6 grains behind a 123 gr bullet. Shoots sub MOA in my Grendels.

Ditto. This load works for my BCA 16 inch also.

[Crusty]

27.5gr was a good accuracy node with AR-Comp in my rifle but it showed significant pressure signs (flat primers, ejector indentations, extractor wipes, etc.) so be cautious (like maybe don't go there). I'm going to explore HBN coated bullets and 27.6gr of AR-Comp could be just right with coated bullets.

I've seen reports from others who found an accuracy node around 26.8gr/123gr/#450 which didn't show pressure signs and that's where I'm going next, after a failure with Power Pro 2000-MR (a flier in every group and significant temperature sensitivity). Once the node is found I'll introduce the HBN coated bullets and look for the node again.

[beastep]

Ditto. This lad works for my BCA 16 inch also.

At what OAL?

[ErikS]

At what OAL?

2.25

I had no pressure signs at all.

[Crusty]

Differences in the bores between rifles can account for some people seeing high pressure and others not.

Higher friction that a bullet encounters going down the bore causes higher pressures in the chamber. When you coat your bullets with a friction reducing compound you typically have to increase your powder charge several percent to get back to the same muzzle velocity you had before coating because of the lower pressure that results from the reduced bullet friction.

[Doc78]

28.2gr 8208xbr
Alexander Arms virgin brass
Federal gold medal match SRP
123gr eld M

Cloverleaf(.332 MOA) at 100 with a 5 shot group. Seated 50 thousandths off lands.

Gun:
Howa 1500 mini action with 20" heavy barrel.
MDT LSS chassis
Bipod and rear bag used
Athlon 6-24 BTR scope
Stock trigger adjusted down to 1.25lbs.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Doc78, did you say LSS chassis? I LOVE those. Need pix!

[sierracharlie338]

28.2gr 8208xbr
Alexander Arms virgin brass
Federal gold medal match SRP
123gr eld M

Cloverleaf(.332 MOA) at 100 with a 5 shot group. Seated 50 thousandths off lands.

Gun:
Howa 1500 mini action.
MDT LSS chassis
Bipod and rear bag used
Athlon 6-24 BTR scope
Stock trigger adjusted down to 1.25lbs.

What velocity are you getting with XBR?

[1911man]

Any of you guys running that 27.5-27.6 grain AR comp load have any Chrono data? I found an accuracy node in that range but the SDs werent very good so I kept pushing it. Found another node in the 28.0-28.3 range with SDs around 10 and ESs around 15 and that is why I settle there. Groups were about the same.

[Jgilesg]

Thanks for the info guys. I’ve loaded 7 different charges with the AR comp and 123 ELD with a few at 27.8 if I see no pressure signs prior to that load. I’m getting to the range this weekend to test.
I look forward to finding the sweet spot for my 6.5 G
Appreciate the help
JG

[Hermosa65]

Folks,

Here are my latest results from my 6.5 AR. It has a 22" upper from Stryker Machine and Tool based in Winston Salem, NC. Using CFE223, I was averaging 1 - 1.5 MOA. With AR-Comp as per the picture below, I was able to get sub-MOA on 3 groups 0.69 - 0.95. Below is the .69 group. No signs of pressure.

Alexander Arms Brass
WSR Primers
27.5gr AR-Comp
123 Hornady ELD
2.257 COAL

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10906[/ATTACH]

[Doc78]

What velocity are you getting with XBR?

I'll be getting velocity this weekend. I usually don't do velocity when finding the best grouping and seating depths. I will get out Sunday to chronograph and post results.

[Doc78]

Doc78, did you say LSS chassis? I LOVE those. Need pix!

Do I need to use a third party site for pictures. If so what do you recommend. Or if you can shoot me an email I'll send them to you.