Ready to load 6.5 Grendel

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Lee Q. Loader

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I was able to get some 6.5 Grendel brass from Starline!

Here's a list of the Grendel components I have on hand. I'd like to hear opinions on which combination of these you would start out with.

Bullets: 108 gr Lapua Scenar, 123 gr Lapua Scenar, and 120 gr Hornady ELDM

Primers: CCI 450's or Winchester WSR

Powders: H335 or Benchmark
 
108 Cci and Bm
It's real hot and benchmark loads should carry you through the fall transition. The cci 450 srm is well respected at matches but generally used in sp 308. The lightest bullet and fastest powder tests one end for function assuming new rifle. The heaviest with the slower powder would be my second test. I am not keen on ball powder despite running tac. My dad left me 32 pounds so I'm not exactly keen to waste it.
 
With my 24" Grendel I found the lighter bullets were more accurate loaded close to the top and the 129gr was better a little below the middle, at 2-300 yards they shot about the same but 600yrds the loads showed what they liked. I'm going to try this again with different powder (lvr) and see if that helps.
 
LeeQ.Loader:
My Grendel MUCH prefers H335 to IMR8208!
I’m loading the 90gr Speer, 100gr Hornady, and 120gr Speer GoldDot.

8208 reached maximum way below suggested charges and H335 has been most forgiving and accurate as well as fast.
I’ve got quite a bit of LVR, but haven’t gotten around to trying it.
 
My grendel loves the 120 ELDM. It is a very different ogive shape than the 123 ELDM and gets to the lands with a shorter COAL.

8208 or Leverevolution for me. My gun didn’t like H335 and never tried Benchmark.
 
I was able to get some 6.5 Grendel brass from Starline!

Here's a list of the Grendel components I have on hand. I'd like to hear opinions on which combination of these you would start out with.

Bullets: 108 gr Lapua Scenar, 123 gr Lapua Scenar, and 120 gr Hornady ELDM

Primers: CCI 450's or Winchester WSR

Powders: H335 or Benchmark

Youre pretty much good to go, and have solid options.
120-125s run well in a Grendel if you want/can stretch it out, but lighter bullets are fine.
Benchmark is a great powder. H335 is fine providing you are shooting at the same temp you develop at. 8208 will probably give the best velocities if you wanna chase it.
No need for a magnum primer, a CCI 400 works just fine unless you are really pushing the powder charge and need a thicker cup, and that point Id use a BR primer instead.
 
Youre pretty much good to go, and have solid options.
120-125s run well in a Grendel if you want/can stretch it out, but lighter bullets are fine.
Benchmark is a great powder. H335 is fine providing you are shooting at the same temp you develop at. 8208 will probably give the best velocities if you wanna chase it.
No need for a magnum primer, a CCI 400 works just fine unless you are really pushing the powder charge and need a thicker cup, and that point Id use a BR primer instead.
I agree there is no need of a mag primer for ignition reasons, maybe he wanted a harder cup to prevent slamfire. I prefer cci 400s but use what I can get.
 
8208 is the easy button for Grendel.

Between H335 and Benchmark, I’d pick Benchmark.

I’d probably shoot the 120 ELD’s before the others.
 
I agree there is no need of a mag primer for ignition reasons, maybe he wanted a harder cup to prevent slamfire. I prefer cci 400s but use what I can get.
I have preferred the WSR primers, but have not been able to find them. I still have quite a few left,
I got the CCI 450's because they where there and the only SRP's I've seen at local shops in a very long time!
 
I did a bunch of load development this summer with the goal of a 300+ yard deer load. I could only find Tac and H335 and I worked with 123 grain SSTs. Tac shot very nicely, but I simply couldn't make my target velocity range with it. H335 shot about as well and I managed a 2400 FPS accuracy load. I rolled up some of the H335 load for fall hunting. I have since found a pound of CFE223 to play with and I am on the lookout for a pound of 2520 and any 8208XBR that might show up. CFE223 has a reputation for fast loads, but lots of temp sensitivity, so I am really hoping to find some 2520 or 8208.
 
I have two that I've developed loads with. BOTH times I used the WSR and Starline brass. They seemed to work very well. I actually used TAC for my power though. Someone recommended it early on and it worked so I stopped. Sub MOA was all I needed for Texas Hogs!

Second comment is that I would definitely try out a 120-123gr projectile. For mine at least, it seemed to be a really good grain weight and my rifles ate them up. Again, accurately! (I say that, but then I missed a hog at 45 yards... because the scope apparently got banged out of zero... by 16 inches at 100 yards!... anyway I digress...)

Based on what you've got, I'd definitely start with the 120gr ELDX over 335 and WSR.
 
6.5 grendel is a great round in my AR15s. I haver somewhat shorter barrels (12" and 16"), so I use faster powers:CFE 223 inb 16" barrel and VN540 in 12" barrel have given me the best performance. I have not been succesful with any bullet over 130 grains, but I have had great success with 100s, 123s, and 130s. I use small rifle primers (not magnums).
 
8208 is the easy button for Grendel.

Between H335 and Benchmark, I’d pick Benchmark.

I’d probably shoot the 120 ELD’s before the others.

I've been loading 107 SMK's with H335 and haven't been able to get the accuracy I want. I'm getting a little under 2 MOA, maybe 1.5 MOA from a CZ 527. I'm suspicious of the Fiocchi DDNP Magnum SRP's with the H335 combination. The thing is, the rifle came with a target from the factory that shows the same accuracy I'm getting. I've also tried factory ammo (Barnes hunting ammo). I know some powders are more consistent with DDNP than others. 8208 XBR is on my list of things to try, but I don't know why it would improve anything over what I'm doing now but temperature stability. I just want to try -- would have already if it was available. Same thing for primers. It's what I have. I don't know what else to try at this point and I'm thinking to just call it a 1.5 MOA at-best rifle and move on to a Tikka or something.
 
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