6.5 Grendel bolt gun

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Laphroaig

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I've been stewing around the idea of getting a new bolt action rifle in 6.5 Grendel. I might go down to the local shop and kick a few tires shortly.

The initial use would be competing in a pretty informal club benchrest league with some future deer/coyote hunting as definite possibilities. We shoot the IBS Hunter targets for score, and the bigger diameter bullet would be an advantage over the .223 Savage that I am shooting now assuming that I can get the rifle to shoot precisely. Plus it would make a sweet compact deer gun as well.

So I am considering both the Howa Mini and the Ruger American at this point. In my gut I think the Howa would have more accuracy potential but I read many glowing reviews about the Americans. What kind of adjustability to the respective triggers have? Am I missing any other good choices?
 
Savage doesn't offer anything chambered in 6.5 Grendel.

...but they do in 6mm ARC. As does the Howa Mini. I thought hard about that choice too. Probably a better selection of short range bullets in 6mm which is a plus. But then they say "6mm for groups, .30 for score". And the bigger bullet for hunting is factored into the choice too.

I'm still thinking and just wanted to hear the general consensus from THR. Just called the LGS and they don't sell Howa's. But Sportsman's Warehouse does. Both are in the same neighborhood.
 
The mini actions can present a problem for mounting scopes. The action is very short and the front scope ring can force the scope too far back or too close to the shooter's eye. The trend in good glass has been increasing the size of the oculars and increasing the eye relief, which will exacerbate any problem created by these mini actions.

The issue can sometimes be worked around by slamming the turret all the way forward against the front scope ring and using a custom stock with more length-of-pull. Really, the LoP should be determined by fitting the shooter, but the mini-action rifles don't come with more than one option.

Be aware of this because it is not something that can be easily figured out just by handling an un-scoped rifle at the shop counter.
 
I have a 6.5 Grendel and a friend has both the 6.5 Grendel and 6 ARC, all shoot very accurately out to 300yrds and 600yrds is doable with practice. I own some Howa 1500s and they are sweet shooting rifles, accurate and smooth actions.
If I was looking at competitions I would give 6mm chambers a close look since most of the bigger name shooters are shooting something in 6mm, I wouldn't give up on 243win since it is a common 6mm chambering
 
The mini actions can present a problem for mounting scopes. The action is very short and the front scope ring can force the scope too far back or too close to the shooter's eye. The trend in good glass has been increasing the size of the oculars and increasing the eye relief, which will exacerbate any problem created by these mini actions.

The issue can sometimes be worked around by slamming the turret all the way forward against the front scope ring and using a custom stock with more length-of-pull. Really, the LoP should be determined by fitting the shooter, but the mini-action rifles don't come with more than one option.

Be aware of this because it is not something that can be easily figured out just by handling an un-scoped rifle at the shop counter.

That's good data and something to consider. There is an adjustable stock (chassis?) option, the Oryx. A little more expensive but probably the best option as I tend to have eye relief issues when changing positions.

I did check the CZ website and they show all of the 6.5 Grendel's as discontinued. Getting one would be hit or miss on the used market. I'll swing by Gunbroker later.

I know the Howa's have a proprietary magazine. I think that the Rugers use AICS's, which is a plus.
 
If your choosing a bolt action why restrict yourself to cartridges neutered for an AR action. 6mmbr 6 dasher, 6ppc all way better than 6.5 Grendel.

Yes, but those don't come cheap. The original purpose is to get some worthless bragging rights in a club level league. And maybe do some hunting for which I already have several trusty rifles to choose from. I'm not planning on taking this to a higher level with a dedicated bench rest rifle.

The Grendel is a descendent of the .220 Russian which has also spawned some of the mentioned 6mm's. Short and fat. If you can find a decent bullet, I don't see why it couldn.t shoot 1/2 MOA from a good rifle which should be good enough to clean the 100 yard IBS Hunter target. My question was, and is, are either the Howa or the Ruger capable of that. Maybe the 6mm ARC would be a better option, I don't know.
 
Yes, but those don't come cheap. The original purpose is to get some worthless bragging rights in a club level league. And maybe do some hunting for which I already have several trusty rifles to choose from. I'm not planning on taking this to a higher level with a dedicated bench rest rifle.

The Grendel is a descendent of the .220 Russian which has also spawned some of the mentioned 6mm's. Short and fat. If you can find a decent bullet, I don't see why it couldn.t shoot 1/2 MOA from a good rifle which should be good enough to clean the 100 yard IBS Hunter target. My question was, and is, are either the Howa or the Ruger capable of that. Maybe the 6mm ARC would be a better option, I don't know.
The quality of your barrel and bullets will be the biggest factor. The arc is a lower powder volume so you will get much more life than 6mm Creedmoor and 243. I like the arc specs but I haven't used it so that prevents me from recommending it. That's on me.
 
1/2 MOA from a good rifle which should be good enough to clean the 100 yard IBS Hunter target. My question was, and is, are either the Howa or the Ruger capable of that. Maybe the 6mm ARC would be a better option, I don't know.
None of my Howas have been .5 MOA guns in fact none were consistently sub MOA. Next rifle I mess with will probably be a howa Mini in 6 ARC or Grendel.

A couple of my Ruger Americans MAY have been
.5 MOA guns, but definitely sub MOA....bored with them now, they have in my experience been consistently accurate and easily tuneable tho.

My 527 was never a MOA gun either, but damn was it a cool little rifle, and had a friend not really wanted it id still have it. Probably the Nicest mini-action gun out there.

Quit honestly, when you're talking about guns in the sub 1200-1500 price range, I don't expect any of them to .5 MOA guns, but im also not surprised when they are.
My normal method is to buy the features i want, and fix the accuracy later if necessary.
 
I had a 30-06 howa 1500 that was very accurate for a hunting rifle, and I'd love to try out a mini action in Grendel. I also have a few cz527s a x39 carbine and a 223 rifle, both awesome, but I've not found the max accuracy they are capable of. Love the triggers though.

I have a Ruger American predator in 6.5 grendel, as well as a few ars in it. Accuracy is great but I've yet to see (in my shallow experience with this cartridge) .5 moa. Like loonwulf said, sub moa, but not consistent .5 moa.

I love the Grendel, it's a fun little cartridge, I haven't found it's limitations yet myself..
 
I have a Ruger Am. 6.5 Grendel (AR mag version).
Great rifle, no complaints, no issues, but...

At today’s MSRP for Ruger’s rifles, they’re not the bargain they used to be, and the few ‘rough spots’ in all my Ruger bolt actions are easier to overlook when they were $440 vs $660. But I like bolt actions that use the mags I already have. I can’t count the number of posts I’ve read about proprietary rotary mag issues in many different brands. I’ve not yet found any mags that have issues in either my Ruger 6,5G or .300bo AR mag bolt actions.

If we’re talking the AR mag versions, Ruger’s action isn’t as smooth as other options at today’s prices.

6.5G isn’t cheap, in my area 6.5 Creedmore is actually cheaper & easier to find. If you’re shooting 6.5G cause it’s a caliber you already stock, then you probably already have mags too, so I’d vote for the Ruger.

I think if I was looking at any other brand of bolt action, it’d be in a long action cartridge.
 
I have the Howa 6.5 Grendel in an Oryx chassis. Nice gun overall, but the magazine is kinda crap. I don't know if anyone else makes ones that fits it. One downside was it didn't come with a rail or rings for an optic and not enough spacers in the chassis for a decent length of pull so one might have to buy a spacer kit from Oryx (MDT). Luckily I had some from a Savage MDT chassis rifle that uses the same spacers. You'll also have to buy your own muzzle device unless you stick with the thread protector provided. For as $$$ as these are Howa kinda cheaped out.

HORM700223.jpg

The gun is a pretty small package, compared to the same Howa setup I have in 6.5 Creedmoor. Overall I think I prefer my AR Grendels. Better ergonomics and I have barrels from 10.5-24" so I can choose the exact setup for what I'm doing. I'm not sure I could shoot the Howa to 1200 yards like I am able to do with my longer 6.5 GR ARs.
 

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I have a Howa mini and 2 527s in 6.5 Greendel like them both. But as far as the Howa goes I replaced the plastic trigger guard and magazines with one I purchased that's all metal bottom metal that uses CZ magazines from Robinson Outdoors $125 or they have a fixed box mag version for $110. As far as scope mounting goes I used a picatiny rail for mounting a scope.
 
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[SHRUG] My 6.5G has a "bolt"

View attachment 1094183
Two of mine have that same bolt! My newest doesnt have a bolt... Just a hammer and firing pin. So new, i havent shot it yet and dont have a handguard made for it yet. Its 20" long, based on this frame plus a buttstock :D

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I recently got a Howa 1500 Mini heavy barrel that a found to be pretty accurate with the hand loads I’ve made so far. The action is smooth, and the trigger is okay but I would like it a bit lighter. Not too impressed with its appearance though, so I looked at some options and decided since the accuracy is acceptable then I’ll just have a Cerakote treatment done to the factory synthetic stock. My best group so far on the lower right. 790B0356-7509-49F6-8CE8-815C4AD0E34D.jpeg 74508304-92E8-497A-8E91-89F8F29813F0.jpeg 6C8FD46B-D025-405C-ACD6-FDEFCED07E2B.jpeg
 
I recently got a Howa 1500 Mini heavy barrel that a found to be pretty accurate with the hand loads I’ve made so far. The action is smooth, and the trigger is okay but I would like it a bit lighter. Not too impressed with its appearance though, so I looked at some options and decided since the accuracy is acceptable then I’ll just have a Cerakote treatment done to the factory synthetic stock. My best group so far on the lower right.
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If all of your groups were like the lower right, I'd be sold. Unfortunately they aren't. Maybe the Mini 6.5 Grendel isn't what I want. I wonder if the 1500 Oryx shoots a little better?

I have the Howa 6.5 Grendel in an Oryx chassis. Nice gun overall, but the magazine is kinda crap. I don't know if anyone else makes ones that fits it. One downside was it didn't come with a rail or rings for an optic and not enough spacers in the chassis for a decent length of pull so one might have to buy a spacer kit from Oryx (MDT). Luckily I had some from a Savage MDT chassis rifle that uses the same spacers. You'll also have to buy your own muzzle device unless you stick with the thread protector provided. For as $$$ as these are Howa kinda cheaped out.

Not exactly a glowing review. Savage 110 Tactical in 6mm ARC might get a look.
 
If all of your groups were like the lower right, I'd be sold. Unfortunately they aren't. Maybe the Mini 6.5 Grendel isn't what I want. I wonder if the 1500 Oryx shoots a little better?

Those are the very first loads I made up. I fully expect it to improve as I try various powder loads and bullet seating. There’s a 6.5 Grendel forum that may provide more of the info you seek.
 
If I were in your shoes, wanting bragging rights shooting bench-rest;
I’d get a Sako M85 in 6mm PPC.
Factory Norma ammo shot mid “.3’s”, 5-shots @100yds from an acquaintances M75 Sako Varminter. It had a 5-25 Nightforce scope but no particular tuning.
Shooting Berger or Euber 65gr match bullets over H322, it would shoot in the upper “.2”’s.

He had a .17Rem and .22 PPC that were .4’s or better. But, the 6mm PPC was the best.
 
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