Lead-Free Projectiles for the 6.5 Grendel

[rickOshay]

120 gr Nosler E-tip
Length: 1.400
G1 Coefficient: 0.427
Price: $33.99/50 ($0.68 ea)
Source: Midway USA



Link: http://shop.nosler.com/nosler-bullets/e-...-50ct.html

The copper alloy E-tip has been around for a long time. But its length has discouraged use in the Grendel. But like the 118 gr MKZ, the low minimum velocity and high BC makes this LFP an option for the right powder and long barrels to get enough velocity.

It’s one of the longest LFP in the group, along with the 120s from Hornady and Barnes, at 1.400”. This gives insertion depth of 0.655 at magazine length COAL.

The Nosler Web site gives load data for the E-tip set to a COAL of 2.215” in a 24” barrel yielding 2493 fps using 28.0 gr of Ramshot TAC. Deducting 100 fps due to barrel length difference, the E-tip would get about 2400 fps from my 20” barrel.

Here’s an LRX after impacting the gel at 1770 fps. Opened up nicely to .410 in. So the minimum velocity is likely to be around 1700 fps. Which is good news for this long LFP.


With a minimum velocity of 1700 fps based on gel tests, this would give the E-tip launched at 2400 fps a maximum range of 375 yds. Despite its long length, the low minimum velocity combined with a high BC makes this a viable option for the Grendel reloader, especially at $0.68 each.

Load data from the Nosler website:

[rickOshay]

120 gr Peregrine Plains Master
Length: 1.293
G1 Coefficient: 0.466
Price: $53.85/50 ($1.08 each)
Source: https://www.peregrinemonolithics.com



From the Peregrine web site:

“The Peregrine PlainsMaster bullet is a Spitzer Bullet with a boattail design that contains a copper plunger which will cause the bullet to expand on impact. It has the same ballistic coefficient as the Peregrine Match (VRG5) Reloading Bullet”

Bullet has 4 bands and the tail at 0.264”. The bullet is .252” ahead of the bands.

It’s a bit shorter than the TTSX or GMX.


GEL RESULTS

The traces in the gel below are:
0 - the 110gr Controlled Chaos (discussed in another thread)
1 - 120gr PM hitting at 1551 fps.
2 - 120gr PM hitting at 1620
3 - 120gr PM hitting at 1876
4 - 120gr PM hitting at 1712



It is clear that Shot #1 did not open. It took a fairly straight path and appears to flip after 12" of penetration. The tip was not recovered and I did not see any evidence of separation.

Shots #2 - 4 hit the get a sufficient speed to begin to open up and the tips separated. Shot #2 penetrated about 6" before the tip separated and it appeared to flip in the gel (partially obscured by Shot #3).

Shot #3 shows the tip separating after only about 2-3" of penetration, and then crossed over the path of Shot #4.

A view from under the gel gives a better perspective of when the tips separated for Shots #2-4.


I think these results show that 1800 fps is likely a good minimum velocity or this LFP.

[rickOshay]

120 gr SCP-1/SCP-2
Length: 1.4115
G1: ND
Price: $39.74/50 ($0.80 ea)
Source: Fort Scott Munitions

Loaded ammunition is available from Fort Scott Munitions at $35.14/20. https://fortscottmunitions.com/products/...rifle-ammo

Fort Scott Munitions is new to the scene - offering both projectiles and loaded ammo for the G.5 Grendel. The difference in the two models is the band cut in the SCP-1 to reduce bearing surface. The band is 0.2525 dia and about 0.2800 long.





Load data is given on their website for several powders including H335, CFE, TAC, XBR

They claim these LFPs will tumble on impact. Hope to verify that soon with gels.

[rickOshay]

120 gr Cutting Edge MTH
Length: 1.313
G1 Coefficient: 0.500
Price: $57.72/50 ($1.14 ea)
Source: Midway USA


CNC machined from solid copper bar are designed to fracture after 1-2” penetration down to 1600 fps. Unique band that is greater than caliber designed to act as a seal.

A 130 gr and 140 gr are also available, but are very long.

https://cuttingedgebullets.com/264-6-5mm...al-hunting


Here is the MTH recovered from gel after impact at 1996 fps:


The tip is barely starting to open at this speed. The recovered LFP weighed 119.3 gr.

The base appears flattened because it flipped after about 6" of penetration and the base struck the metal base under the gel. The LFP was recovered at the back of the second gel, or about 34" of penetration.

This LFP appears to be designed for much higher velocities than provided by the G.5 Grendel.

[rickOshay]

The 120 gr Hornady GMX
Length: 1.399
G1 Coefficient: .450
Price: $33.49/50 ($0.67 ea)
Source: Midway USA


This copper alloy 120 gr is the only LFP offered by Hornady in 0.264 caliber.

The load data I did with a 24” barrel achieved 2550 fps with N530, and Coyotetan achieved 2480 fps from a 20” barrel using IMR8208.

SneakyOne started a project years ago putting these on a lathe and making 90 – 95 gr versions. He still uses these light weight GMXs effectively on deer.

He provided me with some to test on gels. After hitting gel at 1696, the 90 gr GMX did not expand. But at 1825 fps, it expanded to 0.309” diameter. And just for fun, the one on the right is an 80 gr GMX after hitting the gel at 2979 fps.


So I put the minimum velocity at 1800. Given a MV of 2400 fps, this gives the 120 gr GMX a Maximum Range of about 350 yds.

[rickOshay]

The 120 gr Barnes Tipped TSX
Length: 1.322
G1 Coefficient: 0.412
Price: $35.99/50 ($0.70 each)
Source: Midway USA Web Site



Link: http://www.barnesbullets.com/bullets/ttsx/

Another LFP that has been available for years, but considered too long for the Grendel.

The Barnes web site provides load data that show 2500 fps from a 24” barrel using 28.0 gr of H335. I also achieved 2500 fps from a 24” barrel using AA2520. Subtracting 100 fps to account for barrel length, this 120 TTSX should achieve 2400 fps from a 20” barrel.

I was not able to recover a 120 gr TTSX from gel shots. But using the data from the 100 g TTSX, the minimum velocity would be about 2000 fps. Because of the relatively high minimum velocity and mid range BC, this would result in an effective range of only 200 yds.

Below are load data from the Barnes website for 115 and 120 gr LFPs:

[rickOshay]

Placeholder for new 120gr

[rickOshay]

The 127 gr Barnes LRX
Length: 1.399
G1 Coefficient: 0.468
Price: $37.49/50 ($0.75 ea)
Source: Midway USA



Link: http://www.barnesbullets.com/bullets/lrx/

Barnes improved long range capabilities of their TSX line by increasing the profile and adding a boat tail to achieve a BC of 0.468. The 6.5mm is the smallest caliber LRX offered by Barnes.

Again, SneakyOne provided cut-down versions of the LRX for me to test. The result of impacting the gel at 1770 fps shows only the loss of tip. At 1885, the LRX is beginning to open up measuring 0.410” diameter. It does open up at lower velocities than the TTSX.


Noteably, the Barnes site does not provide load data for the LRX in the Grendel. Based on velocities achieved with the 130 TSX below, I’m setting the MV at 2350 fps until I get a chance to do more load development. At this low velocity, because of its high BC and low minimum velocity of 1800 fps, the LRX has a range of 325 yds.

[rickOshay]

The 130 gr Barnes TSX
Length: 1.331
G1 Coefficient: 0.365
Price: $35.99/50 ($0.72 ea)
Source: Midway USA



Link: http://www.barnesbullets.com/bullets/tsx/

The Barnes original TSX LFP has always been considered too long for the Grendel. Long length, low BC, and high minimum velocity, restrict the LFPs range. Barnes does make a 120 gr TSX that is 1.252” in length.

Based on load data I did with N530 in a 24” barrel, we might expect 2350 fps from a 20” barrel. It is unlikely that the TSX will have the same minimum velocity as the TTSX listed above. Barnes put the tip on the TSX and “reengineered the nose cavity provide even faster expansion”.

If we use the 2100 fps minimum velocity determined for the TTSX, the maximum range at only 150 yrds. However, it is likely to be much less due to the fact that Barnes added the tip to aid in expansion.

I have very few of these left and unlikely I will do any more work here.

[rickOshay]

The 140 gr Lapua Naturalis
Length: 1.263
G1 Coefficient: 0.201
Price: $69.99/50 ($1.40 each)
Source: Grafs Web Site



The original 0.264 Naturalis has been discontinued and I've not tried the new generation. Info can be found here on Lapua’s site: www.lapua.com And they are available from Grafs.

I have not been able to recover a Naturalis from gels, they go right through both gels (>34”). You can see from the video, there is very little expansion at low velocities as it goes through.

Link to video.



Even though the length of the Naturalis is acceptable, the weight and low BC render it of limited use in the Grendel. I was able to achieve 2300 fps from a 24” barrel using N530. So the extrapolated MV for the 20” barrel is 2200 fps. Even using Lapua’s advertised minimum velocity of 1600 fps, the effective range from a 20” barrel is still only 250 yards. It is likely that the max range is much less.

A three-shot group at 100 yards showed nice 1 MOA accuracy for this large LFP.


Video of Naturalis hitting gel:
[video=youtube;edCrTYwvnoA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edCrTYwvnoA[/video]