List - Bolt Action Rifles that SHOULD chamber 6.5 Grendel

[Old Bob]

I'd like to see the Remington Model 7 chambered in 6.5 Grendel. Seems like it could be converted easily enough if someone wanted to go that route. PTG makes a Model 7 bolt body with the correct head depth & inside diameter & I'm sure it wouldn't be all that hard to find a good barrel for it. I don't think it would be too difficult a job for any good gunsmith.

[Stinky Coyote]

I'd like to see the Remington Model 7 chambered in 6.5 Grendel. Seems like it could be converted easily enough if someone wanted to go that route. PTG makes a Model 7 bolt body with the correct head depth & inside diameter & I'm sure it wouldn't be all that hard to find a good barrel for it. I don't think it would be too difficult a job for any good gunsmith.

Did you see the beauty little 16” threaded Remington model 7 link from the list above? It’s in 300 blackout. Don’t see any reason they couldn’t easily chamber 6.5 Grendel or 6 arc and make work since they are doing a .223 length already.

[biodsl]

Did you see the beauty little 16” threaded Remington model 7 link from the list above? It’s in 300 blackout. Don’t see any reason they couldn’t easily chamber 6.5 Grendel or 6 arc and make work since they are doing a .223 length already.

Stinky...because they're Remington. You know, the company with the most popular bolt action rifle and pump shotguns in the world...who are broke.

[Stinky Coyote]

i agree, they could stand to take a look at what ruger and hornady have been doing for awhile. They seem to be run from people that have no idea what products they even sell or what the market is they are selling to altogether. Like clueless, and by the time they start catching on it's way too late.

[hill37]

Get your check books out. The Remington auction is Sept 17 Details at primclerk.com

[weagle]

The Zastava Mini Mauser is already chambered in .223 and 7.62x39 All it would take is a barrel.

I'd love to have a twin to my .223 mini mauser in 6.5 grendel:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16823[/ATTACH]

[Stinky Coyote]

Beautiful rifle, that would be awesome in Grendel. What are these actions like? Hinged floorplate? How many rounds in 7.62?

[hill37]

weagle how is the machine work on your Zastava. What little I have heard is the machine work on them is pretty rough. They show the 7.62x39 action only in their catalog but not available here the last time I ask.

[Stinky Coyote]

Ya i've done some looking, we have access to the 7.62x39 here in sporter and full length stocks. Simple 2 position safety but the bolt doesn't lock down like the CZ's does even though the safety goes the wrong direction on the CZ, it's never been as big an issue for me and i have come to really like the locked down bolt of the CZ over the howa and ruger. Although with that smallish bolt on the zastava and what looks to be a stout bolt lift on the youtubes...might not be as big an issue? A simple barrel swap and you've got a decent option with a hinged floor plate. If only Howa made theirs like that to begin with.

As it stands so far, favorite out of the box workhorse requiring no smithing and shoot fantastic is the Ruger. Favorite of them all is the CZ American, but pillar bedded and slicked action, polished magazine feed lips and in my case i've added a proof carbon stainless barrel and really have fallen for the CZ now. Love how it feels, handles, operates(features), and shoots.

[weagle]

weagle how is the machine work on your Zastava. What little I have heard is the machine work on them is pretty rough. They show the 7.62x39 action only in their catalog but not available here the last time I ask.

The Zastava mini mausers are sort of hit or miss when it comes to how smooth the action is. All seem to be machined well but some are polished better around the rails. They are easy to clean up, if you get one that's a little rough. The one in the picture is as clean as any CZ ever made and the stock is beautiful. I picked it out of a batch of 30 a couple of years ago and some in the batch were very pedestrian at best. The hinged bottom metal is very nice and it's blued steel, not aluminum. The 7.62x39 holds 4 down and it feeds Grendel rounds from the mag smoothly. Many people don't like the small bolt handle, but I have no problem with it and it matches the action well.

[tdbru]

i had the zastava mini action a.k.a. Rem 799 in 7.62x39. wouldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. throat mic'd out at 0.338". no kidding. pulled that tube off and had a pac-nor 1-8 5 groove #3 put on and chambered in 6.5 Grendel. trigger was adjustable and i set it light and crisp. bottom metal was great. all steel. push button release, steel follower. the reason it went down the road was the extractor was the worst excuse for an extractor i'd ever seen that was mated with a mauser ejector system. and with the true mauser ejector system, which the zastava m85 has, the extractor MUST hold the case head in tension against the side of the bolt face lips fairly strongly or the case will fall off the bolt face before the bolt face gets back to the ejector, and there you sit with a case sitting in the action. not a big deal on the bench target shooting, but it precluded me from hunting with it. i did the best i could to adjust it and make it work, but it was never 100%. a fatal flaw in an otherwise NEAT little action. the bolt face lips were not deep enough to hold the rim of the case so even if the extractor put enough tension on the side of the case, the bolt face lips across from the extractor were too shallow for the rim and the case would just drop into the action once it came out of the chamber a little ways. at least mine did that. if they'd built a true claw type mauser extractor, i'd still have it. one other thing, the recoil lug was broad, but short. not very ideal that's for sure.

the howa mini mauser barrel and action are 100% for hunting use. extractor and ejector ALWAYS work flawlessly. i used J.O. flush bottom metal and a B&C sporter stock. feeds flawlessly now too and no dropped magazines in the field. trigger is so-so. i'm not a fan of 2 stage triggers for bolt action hunting rifles. not as light and crisp as i would like, but useable. to get the pull as light as i'd like i'd have to order the spring from that guy in Australia and tear the trigger apart and install it. too much bother. i'll just use the trigger as is with it set as light as the internal spring will allow. still not really light, but as i said, useable.

another downside of the zastava was the bolt knob/handle was rather short and when turned up, the knob ended up being too close to the scope to keep a grip on the knob. due to the short lever arm the bolt was, therefore, a bit stiff to open. if the handle would have been maybe 1/2 inch to 1 inch longer it would have made opening the action a lot easier and the bolt knob wouldn't have come too close to the scope ocular lens.

again the howa is much better in that regard.

of the cz, the zastava, and the howa mini actions for the 6.5 Grendel, i prefer the action design and the barreled action execution of the howa to be top notch. the stock and bottom metal and magazine system left a LOT to be desired, in my opinion. i didn't care for how CZ does the bolt on their mini action with a detachable handle. and the zastava had a couple of dings on it too. the Ruger is not a true mini action. so there is no perfect mini bolt action in 6.5 Grendel in my opinion, as it comes out of the box. also with the available aftermarket support for the 3 mini bolt actions, the howa came closest to what i was looking for, albeit needing an aftermarket stock and bottom metal.

many folks, however, love their CZs and i am happy for them that they have a mini bolt action they really like.

it is obvious that there is just not enough market demand for a true mini bolt gun in 6.5 Grendel for the suppliers to deliver a top notch out of the box offering, yet. the Grendel main design goal was for an AR platform after all, and most folks out looking for a bolt platform in a 6.5 caliber usually opt for 6.5 Creedmoor or 260 Rem or 6.5x55 Swede before a 6.5 Grendel for the greater versatility of loading, and for the greater performance capability. for the person who might want to limit themselves to one light caliber rifle in 6.5 they will likely choose one of the previously mentioned 3 before the Grendel. but for the person that has a use case for a modest 6.5 with low recoil, very long barrel life, modest powder appetite, and adequate performance for light big game or larger pest removal (pigs, coyotes) the 6.5 Grendel sure has a lot to offer, and in a very light petite bolt gun if that is your passion.
-tdbru

[Stevil]

Big Horn Arms Short Action PPC bolt face, 6mm BR MDT magazine...

[Stinky Coyote]

that could work but everything oversized(action, rifle and magazine), would just do a ruger and only have full size action but still at least have scaled ar magazines, i think the discussions mostly about getting the super short actions and scaled everything, magazines, rifle, action...

if i'm gonna have a short action 6.5 it will just be easier to have a creedmoor

what we need are micro action options beyond the current choices we have now where the cz is the nicest high end option and then two budget options, this cartridge is worthy of far nicer properly scaled gear

[A5BLASTER]

that could work but everything oversized(action, rifle and magazine), would just do a ruger and only have full size action but still at least have scaled ar magazines, i think the discussions mostly about getting the super short actions and scaled everything, magazines, rifle, action...

if i'm gonna have a short action 6.5 it will just be easier to have a creedmoor

what we need are micro action options beyond the current choices we have now where the cz is the nicest high end option and then two budget options, this cartridge is worthy of far nicer properly scaled gear

I dont know it's hard to beat the cz 527. Really nice aftermarket stock options as well as a chassis option. There is a company that does a modification to the bottom metal and does a flush fit job on the mags.

Some nice aftermarket bolt knobs out there for the guys that want that.

I will be honest I was kind of underwowed by the slickness of the action. It has cleaned up over a grand or so of rounds but still not as silky smooth as a howa action.

The cz set trigger is simple amazing on my gun.

Now if I could have my way, I would take the barrel, trigger and mag setup from the cz and fit it on a howa mini action and that would be the perfect grendel bolt gun to me.

[Stinky Coyote]

So i recently did this up for my own files, may seem a good time to post it here. Stimulated by your comment about how they seem to get slicker with time, i completely agree...cz's, including my rimfire, just seem to keep seasoning and getting better with time and more endearing.

Case for CZ 527 American in 6.5 Grendel
Hunter Perspective
Positives:
1. True Micro Action, the most horsepower you can fit in that platform.
2. Controlled round feed, robust quality build and metal work.
3. Slim efficient micro sized 5 round detachable magazines of great quality.
4. American stock, slim, fantastic feel and handling.
5. Overall rifle feel and handling.
6. Bolt handle locks down on safe.
7. Accurate
8. Reliable
9. Durable
10. Excellent adjustable single stage trigger with good feel and position.
11. Reputation, for quality and accuracy.
12. They seem to get sweeter with time, they just keep seasoning in and endearing the owner as they feel better and better over the years.
13. Good level of pride of ownership due to quality and the above.

Negatives:
1. Grabby/sticky in cycling the action at times, especially when new and not broken in. Tough to match the best of sako/tikka/howa or other push feed actions but this also isn’t a push feed action so it might be asking a little too much to have it compete at that level in this category.
2. Benefits from pillar/glass bedding.
3. Non-stainless barrel. Would prefer stainless if anything for the chamber, to ensure max protection from moisture/rust as a hunting rifle that may see extended mountain hunt time and corresponding moisture. So would likely upgrade barrel to stainless on any future CZ Grendels.
4. Safety is pull to fire instead of common push to fire (non-issue for me but bothers others).
5. Action smooths with use and time, can be sped up with cycling couple hundred times with jb bore compound for polishing. See point number 1.
6. Feed lips of magazine also benefit from polishing to lesson the feeding drag from the stout magazine spring and smooth the overall cycling.
7. Trigger can have a little creep, but with patience one can get almost all of it out, just have to put a little locktite on the screw that sets this and let set overnight. My last one got to 2 ¾ lb pull with just a hint of creep you can only notice going real slow dry firing in hand but don’t seem to notice even doing bench work and target shooting, certainly won’t notice during hunting. Tikka/sako own the factory trigger market but this trigger is right underneath it and has better blade and feel under your finger imo.

I’ve now owned two CZ Americans, my first was long ago in .204 ruger and back then I dreamed of that rifle being big game legal. It made such an impression on me then that I could not forget it, I loved that rifle in the field. When I learned of the 6.5 Grendel cartridge back in approx. 2005 I started to dream of the possibility of having the CZ 527 American that was big game capable and legal. People were rebarreling the 7.62x39’s to Grendel way back then, a perfect match really. It wasn’t until 2018 that CZ finally released the rifle of my dreams from the factory and I ordered it as soon as I saw it available. Mine now wears a 24” proof research carbon fiber wrapped stainless barrel and has become my favorite centerfire rifle.

[Stinky Coyote]

so in conclusion, to me they are a worthwhile investment and the top choice in grendels currently but may stay a top choice in grendels indefinitely

the only thing i could see topping the cz and all it offers is a sako 85 xs action in stainless, which i'm sure would cost significantly more but i'd have a hard time not saving up for one of those in walnut with the red recoil pad and a 20-24" barrel as i've become a fan of wood feel and appearance over time, but second choice would be the finnlight or carbon light models, their flush fit bottom metal with metal five round mags and their trigger, action...ya, that would be one helluva grendel!

detach mag is preference for me, if not, then a kimber montana variant would rank high on my list, i do mixed bag vehicle based to mountain hunts, predator calling etc. so detach mag is a 'do all' feature for me, just a big game hunting rig a kimber montana in one would be a top choice

[6.5BR]

so in conclusion, to me they are a worthwhile investment and the top choice in grendels currently but may stay a top choice in grendels indefinitely

the only thing i could see topping the cz and all it offers is a sako 85 xs action in stainless, which i'm sure would cost significantly more but i'd have a hard time not saving up for one of those in walnut with the red recoil pad and a 20-24" barrel as i've become a fan of wood feel and appearance over time, but second choice would be the finnlight or carbon light models, their flush fit bottom metal with metal five round mags and their trigger, action...ya, that would be one helluva grendel!

detach mag is preference for me, if not, then a kimber montana variant would rank high on my list, i do mixed bag vehicle based to mountain hunts, predator calling etc. so detach mag is a 'do all' feature for me, just a big game hunting rig a kimber montana in one would be a top choice

If me.....I would do a 6.5BR in a bolt...alas no factory ammo, brass, etc. like the Grendel and Creedmoor. Since we are talking bolts, why would one want a Grendel, when you can run a Creedmoor? Take the emotion out of it, and give me any sound reasoning. Again, I like the BR case, as it's short like the Grendel, but yields 150-200 fps more than the Grendel, but then the CM will easily give you that and then some.

Anyone?

As to the OP - in Grendel, I would like a CZ CARBINE and I have told them a few times.....in Stainless would be very nice, with nice walnut....and a bolt handle that does not require high mounts.........is that asking too much? Lol.

[Oso Polaris]

If me.....I would do a 6.5BR in a bolt...alas no factory ammo, brass, etc. like the Grendel and Creedmoor. Since we are talking bolts, why would one want a Grendel, when you can run a Creedmoor? Take the emotion out of it, and give me any sound reasoning. Again, I like the BR case, as it's short like the Grendel, but yields 150-200 fps more than the Grendel, but then the CM will easily give you that and then some.

Anyone?

As to the OP - in Grendel, I would like a CZ CARBINE and I have told them a few times.....in Stainless would be very nice, with nice walnut....and a bolt handle that does not require high mounts.........is that asking too much? Lol.

Yes - BR case is nice, and like the Grendel all of this track back to the PPC. The ability to achieve accuracy and lower recoil through efficient case design is great. When I started shooting as a child a .243 Win was the rifle you gave to women and children... I was 11 so my first deer gun was a 25-06. A bit excessive for 50-200 yard shots on whitetail. Mindset has changed and 20 years ago a .308 became the adult caliber of choice, not a 30-06, 270 or 7 Rem Mag. Where I am going with this - scaling back and still achieving comparable results makes sense. The Grendel has a larger AR15 following then bolt rifle, and that is a fail for BR which won't work reliably in a gas gun. Grendel has factory ammo that is readily available off the shelf at Academy (when not under a panic shortage). The popularity of this round is that is has ability to do both. If Bill Alexander hadn't been so greedy with his trademark BS for first 10 years after the round was first developed there would be a much larger following as most 300BO shooters would have gone to Grendel, unless they were really wanting the subsonic AR fun play or if they really wanted SBR. I don't understand 6.5 Grendel Shorty... 300BO uses 1/2 powder volume and achieves the same or better. My guess is that not everyone likes reloading for multiple calibers.

Why not a Creedmoor... you own a BR...why. The additional 250fps of a 6.5 Creedmoor with 24" barrel doesn't make a difference in practical accuracy or lethality within 400 yards. Significantly more recoil and requires increase in weight as scale up equipment to meet the longer case length of 6.5 Creedmoor. Most of these same reasons as same for why the Grendel over BR, plus lack of factory ammo and feeding issues. Without a magazine kit to accommodate the BR case length issue you routinely have feeding issues, and that is out of a finely tuned bolt gun. You need a short action receiver &/or AR10 so just added 2-4 lbs on a rig. My 2 cents...

[6.5BR]

Why not a Creedmoor... you own a BR...why. The additional 250fps of a 6.5 Creedmoor with 24" barrel doesn't make a difference in practical accuracy or lethality within 400 yards. Significantly more recoil and requires increase in weight as scale up equipment to meet the longer case length of 6.5 Creedmoor. Most of these same reasons as same for why the Grendel over BR, plus lack of factory ammo and feeding issues. Without a magazine kit to accommodate the BR case length issue you routinely have feeding issues, and that is out of a finely tuned bolt gun. You need a short action receiver &/or AR10 so just added 2-4 lbs on a rig. My 2 cents...

I do agree the 25-06 you mentioned is excessive if you will for many shots on deer. That said, I have run 6BR's and 7BR - the latter in a M7 which fed like glass.......stock parts.....follower from a 700 - the old stamped style. The SA actions are not 2-4 lbs heavier than the CZ or Howa "Micro" actions. Yes the BR at the moment is a handload proposition. Recoil is nothing with the Creedmoor but in a BR case, you likely would not notice any difference with it vs a 6.5G.

I know what the G has done in the field for many, but I think for day in and day out, regardless of shot angle, under 200-300 yds is where it's best. From 250-400 yds I would definitely want the added speed of the BR case, 47L or Creedmoor. Trajectory gets much nicer at 2700+ with 120-130 class, vs say 2550. Just my experience. In the woods at closer shots, one would likely not know the difference. In my experience, I quit chasing really high speed long ago, and quite happy with 2700-3000 with many bullets.

So I guess for me, if I have a choice of a Grendel vs Creedmoor in a handy factory bolt, I would go CM if I planned to shoot or want the option to shoot many factory loads. If I reloaded and was building a custom short action carbine, I would skip the Grendel, and use a larger case to give me a better trajectory. My experience has given better hit ratios when starting out with 120s at 2700-2800 vs say a 139 at 2550, at the range I was testing at 330-415 yds. It just all depends on the application. The Grendel is a nice round in it's own right, but requires a bit more dope at longer distances.

[Stinky Coyote]

The creedmoor likely the most efficient and versatile high power centerfire rifle cartridge period of considering the world of target and hunting in North America. Military also. You can’t do more for the grains of powder burned which is in the low 40’s.

But you can still do a ton with the 30 grains of powder the Grendel burns. Yes the Grendel still qualifies as a niche cartridge, definitely the second most efficient cartridge available to the creedmoor. Consider it the creedmoor “short”, or the 21st century 30-30/.243 win. combined.

For those of us who have no need to match a .270 win 600 yard performance like the creedmoor does while burning 10 grains less powder than the 270. The Grendel will still do 98% of our big game with no extra fat. It’s always about shot placement over anything else, given of course enough impact velocity, bullet construction, and sd, for game intended. Simple formula and the Grendel actually fits it well and does more than most understand.