6.5 Grendel white tail results with 2 different bullets

[beeenbag]

Had the pleasure of using the 16” 6.5 Grendel for taking a couple does this year. I took one with a neck shot using the 123g Hornady SST bullet. Surprisingly the bullet did not exit the neck. Below is a picture of the entry, the opposite side was just a large bulge under the hide. This bullet was a hand load at just under max charge using 28.6g of varget. Shot was at 70-75 yards.




The wife took the second doe with the same rifle but I swapped out rounds, this time using the 120g Speer Good Dot, hand load as well using the same charge weight of Varget, also a 70-75 yard shot. This was a partially quartering to, behind the shoulder shot, with full pass through. Results are below.

entry side


exit side


under hide entry


Under hide exit


First doe dropped in her tracks, obviously with a neck shot, second doe made it about 50 yards before expiring

Just wanted to give my vastly different experiences based on bullet selection using this round.

 

[Speedo66]

OMG, do they still allow child brides in KY? Sorry, at my age everyone looks like a kid. lol

Congrats to you both on a fine pair of deer!

 

[beeenbag]

OMG, do they still allow child brides in KY? Sorry, at my age everyone looks like a kid. lol

Congrats to you both on a fine pair of deer!

I’m sure she will enjoy that comment lol we are both mid 30’s. Thank you

 

[Blkhrt13]

Thank you for sharing your results. I have been wondering how much grain weight effects impact. In real world scenarios with similar loading.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Congrats to the both of you.

 

[beeenbag]

Thank you for sharing your results. I have been wondering how much grain weight effects impact. In real world scenarios with similar loading.

the bullet weights were very similar in this case, 123 vs 120, but the bullet construction was different, one bonded, one not.

 

[tactikel]

I’ve been trying to decide about switching my Deer rifle over to a Grendel. Thanks for making up my mind.

 

[beeenbag]

I’ve been trying to decide about switching my Deer rifle over to a Grendel. Thanks for making up my mind.

What way did you decide?

 

[zdc1775]

That's a pretty major difference in performance and just reinforces my opinion about using SST's on medium game after the one deer I shot with them. I mostly stick to Barnes TTSX's after that experience though bonded lead core are still plenty effective and I will still use the ones I have on hand.