Top 6.5 G deer rifle bullet options

[BL2551]

I'm sure this has been discussed at length in other threads, but I'm pretty new to the forum, & new to the 6.5 G. I finally got my 6.5 G upper built with the intent of it being my go to deer rifle. I'm in the midwest, where I expect to shoot whitetail deer that range anywhere from about 180 to 250 lbs. I also expect to shoot deer at distances no greater than about 200-250 yards max, with a shot between 30-90 yards being more common, and I shoot a 16" barrel AR platform. What are the absolute best bullets for that purpose? I would love to hear others personal experience and results.

[rickt300]

Opinions will vary and then you have the availability issue. This year I am doing the Barnes 120 gr. Matchburner because I loaded a box of them into brass and have plenty. The SST has its supporters, my preferred bullet is the 120 gr. Ballistic Tip which are hard to come by.

[grayfox]

Best bullet? the ones you can find and that shoot well for your barrel

Might want to look at Maker bullets for a 16", they have some 95-110's that have good opening specs.

[LRRPF52]

“Best” is going to fall into basically 3 categories with differing opinions and experiences, with all of them having a long track record of putting down medium game for the past 20 years.

Those 3 categories will be:

A. Premium bonded or partitioned cup and core bullets (copper jacket, bonded or sectioned lead core)

100gr Nosler Partition
120gr Federal Fusion
125gr Nosler Partition
129gr Nosler Accubond Long Range
130gr Nosler Accubond
130gr Swift Scirocco

Of those, people seem to like the 120gr Federal Fusion, 125gr Partition, and 129gr ABLR the most. 129gr ABLR expands down to 1300fps, is very soft, makes a big hole, has a high BC so it doesn’t lose its momentum as fast.

B. Lead-free monolithic bullets

95gr Maker T-Rex
100gr Barnes TTSX
105gr Cavity Back MKZ
110gr Controlled Chaos
115gr Barnes VOR-TX TTSX
118gr Cavity Back MKZ

120gr Barnes TSX
120gr Barnes TTSX
120gr Hornady CX
120gr Nosler E-Tip
123gr Fort Scott TUI

C. Standard cup and core controlled expansion hunting bullets that are 1/3 to 1/2 the price of the premiums, and can be practiced with more if cost is a factor.

90gr Federal TNT
90gr Nosler Varmageddon
95gr Hornady V-Max
100gr Sierra HP
105gr Sierra Blitzking
120gr ELD-M
123gr ELD-M
123gr SST
129gr SST

Some cup and core hunting bullets are priced in the premium category, like the 100gr and 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips.

Of all those, various tipped 123gr Hornady bullets have been the most popular due to production volume and consistency. 123gr A-MAX used to be very popular for hunting, even though it was a target bullet. Hornady saw how many people were hunting with it, then made the 123gr SST. A-Max line was replaced with the ELD-M. The A-Maxes and ELD-Ms actually expand down to lower impact speeds and exhibit relatively-controlled expansion like an SST, but are more prone to jacket separation. SST has the mechanical lock in the jacket in the base core, as well as the cannelure.

Even though the 90gr TNT is a varmint bullet, at Grendel velocities, it seems to demonstrate controlled expansion and adequate penetration both on deer and hogs. The new 105gr Sierra Blitzking seems to show a lot of promise, balancing superb accuracy, flat trajectory, controlled expansion, and medium game thorax penetration.

The 129gr SST has been a well-known fast-killer on deer from the start, and is one of the original Alexander Arms factory hunting loads.

If you want lower recoil and fast velocity within 100 yards, the 90-105gr bullets will give you that in spades. I get 2700fps from the Factory Federal 90gr TNT out of my 12” Grendel, and 2900fps out of the 17.6” Grendel.
If you want deep penetration and higher chances of a large exit, the bonded bullets with lower expansion threshold are the route I would consider. The Cavity Back MKZs or Makers expand down to low impact speeds, so they are something to consider. The terminal performance of the CBB and Maker monoliths are pretty devastating.

DoubleNaughtSpy has extensive video documentation of the performance of a lot of different 6.5 Grendel ammunition on hogs. 123gr SST has been a staple, while 90gr TNT was the most surprising in how well it does on hogs. Some of the most impressive wounding effects were seen with the 105gr CBB MKZ.

The next thing to consider is how much meat damage you’re willing to cause, vs how important fast kills or tracking are. Either way, most deer go down within 25 yards in the extensive game surveys we have done on the forum.

[zholley]

I have taken a handful of whitetail with my 6.5 Grendel over the past 4 years. We have used the 120 pro-hunter, 130 gameking, and 123 SST. All shots have been from 75-200 yards and have resulted in fairly quick dispatching, though none of them have dropped on the spot, but we tend to shoot behind the shoulder to avoid damaging the meat. Heart and lungs get serious damage and the animals have dropped within 50 yards every time.

The chart provided above is excellent information. I will certainly plan on contributing to that threat if someone takes an animal with my Grendel in the coming months.

[Konocti's Wigwam]

@LRRPF52

Thanks for posting that chart!

[LRRPF52]

440 animals were DRT’d with a 70.4% DRT rate. 392 of those were shot with a 123gr Hornady bullet.

112 went down within 25yds of the shot. 18%
47 went down within 50yds. 7.5%
12 went down within 75yds. 1.9%
8 went down within 100yds. 1.3%
6 traveled over 100yds before going down. 0.96%

625 total samples in the survey of harvested animals at the time of that table, which was put together by NugginFutz.

[Konocti's Wigwam]

440 animals were DRT’d with a 70.4% DRT rate. 392 of those were shot with a 123gr Hornady bullet.

112 went down within 25yds of the shot. 18%
47 went down within 50yds. 7.5%
12 went down within 75yds. 1.9%
8 went down within 100yds. 1.3%
6 traveled over 100yds before going down. 0.96%

625 total samples in the survey of harvested animals at the time of that table, which was put together by NugginFutz.

That Chart encapsulates most everything in NA. It gives me more confidence to use the Grendel.

I think I mentioned I have some loads of 120gr TTSX in 25, 26, 27, 27.5 and 28 loads. On the Hornady side they give 28.3 as max. I need to get these up to the range to test out. My gut tells me that the 120gr TTSX will take down pretty much anything I come in contact with. I split the last grain in half, the Hornady load data states 25.2 min to 28.0 max. I will test my actual velocity from a 16" 1:8 twist barrel. I know this will be more than enough for pigs. The bears are my bigger concern, but the Grendel seems to take black bear without much issue.

[CJW]

Excellent post PF52, Great information….

[BL2551]

LRRPF52, that is an abundance of great information. I am going to be using the Hornady black 123 eld-m factory loads during this years gun season, since it begins in only 2.5 weeks... and I now feel like I can use that with confidence even through my 16" barrel.
After that it looks like I have plenty of good options. I am not at all concerned about recoil. My #1 concern is quick ethical kills with as little tracking as possible. #2 concern is accuracy out to hunting distances. Those two things are really all I want out of it, since it is hopefully going to be my go to hunting rifle, almost exclusively on MO whitetail deer. I tried some SST factory loads and wasn't happy with the groups, since they were more than double my eld-m groups. I wonder if the 129 grain SST's would shoot better that the 123's .. might be worth a test. Those Sierra blitzkings 105's and the Accubond Long range both sound interesting too, so I might have to give those a try as well.

[Konocti's Wigwam]

I'm sure this has been discussed at length in other threads, but I'm pretty new to the forum, & new to the 6.5 G.

My suggestion is to go to http://www.ar15buildbox.com/ and get the reloading books available. However, what you plan to do with your 6.5 Grendel may make a difference. IMO, volume 2 is a very handy collection of information that is very well suited for the 6.5 Grendel.

Do you plan to buy off the shelf ammo or reload your own? Either way, there is so much in the way of load data in these books that you can compare it to factory ammo, your own reloads, your application, etc...

IMO, they're akin to the 6.5 Grendel Bible. No affiliation other than a satisfied customer.

KW

[Konocti's Wigwam]

120gr Barnes TTSX

What does the bold mean? (TSX was bold) This would be nice to see this game chart incorporated into your book.

I was curious, you don't have load data for the Barnes 120gr TTSX, but in your volume I book you show a wound channel in gelatin.

I have a few powders that you list, so one way or the other I will have it covered. I don't see much Varget listed in your charts, that has always been a pretty forgiving powder. I have about 5 lbs. of 8208 XBR also, and have quite a bit of H335 which is what I'm currently trying to use up. I used to load 5.56 and 308 with those powders.

120gr Hornady CX

Anyone else using CX bullets? I am torn between the Barnes and Hornady bullets. I have both.

KW

[MonsterShooter]

129gr Nosler Accubond Long Range

Shot a Buck behind the shoulder at about 30 yards last week and he pretty much turned around and fell down and died in less than 7 yards from where he was shot.

Good thing I was using long range ammo!

Edited to add, blood everywhere like a crime scene.

[Konocti's Wigwam]

I can tell you guys are going to be a bad influence on me...I ordered a 12" barrel last night, mainly because I want something lighter and shorter for packing, and LRRPF52 seems to be using a 12" barrel for a substantial amount of shooting he's doing.

To give a fair evaluation against 300 blackout, I need something shorter. I have a 300 blackout with a 7.5" barrel, so the 6.5 Grendel will be slightly heavier, but not much. 300 blackout has a 6.5" handguard and a 7.5" barrel. 6.5 Grendel will have a 12" barrel and a 10" handguard. This will be a fairer comparison between these firearms, and I know the Grendel will beat the 300 blackout hands down with velocity/energy.

[Koda]

I also expect to shoot deer at distances no greater than about 200-250 yards max, with a shot between 30-90 yards being more common, and I shoot a 16" barrel AR platform. What are the absolute best bullets for that purpose? I would love to hear others personal experience and results.

Im new to the Grendel and havent filled my tag yet. Im also new to Hammer bullets but I went with a 97g Absolute Hammer in my Grendel handload and read excellent reviews on Hammer bullets terminal performance. I only have a 6in holdover at 300yds with a 200yd zero. Im running 2800fps with A2520 powder.

[bmash]

I love the 129ABLR. I’ve used it in 260REM for years. This is my first use with Grendel. Killed 2 does this weekend. First was facing me at 60 yards and I shot her in the neck. (Neck = drt) Bullet continued into the chest cavity. I didn’t try to find the bullet!
The second deer was in about the same spot the next morning. Shot in the lower shoulder and bullet exited the opposite side ribs. Lots of blood - it tried to run and dropped within a few feet.
(Shoulder since we have very thick clear cut pine forest which has been replanted for 2 and 3 years and I really don’t care to penetrate it to track one.)

[Harpoon1]

For cup and core type of projectiles on deer and/or anything larger, Speer 120 Gold Dot………if you can find them! For varmints, predators and hogs the Speer 90 TNT!

[BL2551]

440 animals were DRT’d with a 70.4% DRT rate. 392 of those were shot with a 123gr Hornady bullet.

112 went down within 25yds of the shot. 18%
47 went down within 50yds. 7.5%
12 went down within 75yds. 1.9%
8 went down within 100yds. 1.3%
6 traveled over 100yds before going down. 0.96%

625 total samples in the survey of harvested animals at the time of that table, which was put together by NugginFutz.

You can add one more 123 gr ELD-m to the list. On 11/11/2023 I shot a good sized buck almost perfectly broadside. The bullet entered through the ribs about 3-4 inches behind the near shoulder, went through the far side ribs, and the jacket was found between the ribs and far shoulder. The lungs were destroyed. I did not find any lead, but did find the jacket. Is jacket separation like this a good thing? It was definitely effective when hit in that spot, but I am wondering what performance might be like if it hit the near shoulder blade. Here are the pics of the jacket in case you are interested.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20083[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20084[/ATTACH]

[VASCAR2]

The closer the distance to impact the higher the velocity and the greater chance for more shredding of bullet mass and jacket separation. Generally less mass means less penetration. The Hornady SST 123 grain bullet has a cannelure which tends to hold the core in the jacket.

Hornady does not recommend the A-Max or the ELD-M for hunting even though both bullets have been used effectively in hunting for years. The bonded core Federal Fusion is popular in the 6.5 Grendel because it generally has good expansion with good weight retention and deep penetration and may perforate the target. The Barnes monolithic bullets at 6.5 Grendel velocities generally expand and have enough penetration to perforate the target but generally don’t loose mass other than the polymer tip.

[ported45]

For cup and core type of projectiles on deer and/or anything larger, Speer 120 Gold Dot………if you can find them! For varmints, predators and hogs the Speer 90 TNT!

That's not a traditional cup and core. The Gold Dot line is bonded according to Speer "one molecule at a time".