Buying a new rifle?

[joneb]

Well I'm thinking about buying a bolt action Ruger American in 6.5 Grendel which would be a new cartridge and caliber for me. The only thing holding me back is no dies and no brass???
Any help would be appreciated.
and I forgot to mention no bullets.

 

[jmr40]

I think that right now finding loaded ammo or components for any cartridge is going to be a challenge. I like the 6.5 Grendel and think it has a bright future. Eventually.

 

[dranrab]

It's tough finding ammo and reloading components for just about anything right now. Us gun nuts do some stupid stuff to ourselves.

 

[FFGColorado]

https://www.wikiarms.com/search?q=6.5+Grendel&caliber=

 

[Olympus]

What others have already said. It's not the caliber that's the problem with finding ammo or components, it's the political climate. You'll have the same problem with any other caliber as well.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Just my opinion, DO IT!!!

Prices are elevated for sure.

But components are available if you look long and hard enough.

I’ve seen a variety of 6.5 bullets during my searches for other projectiles.

New brass is near impossible to find, but range brass is available from many sources. I’ve seen 6.5 Grendell several times.

Powder can be challenging. Just last week I had 10lbs in my cart as I was checking out, 2 lbs each of Unique and Power Pistol disappeared from my cart, went out of stock. But I ended up with 6 lbs.

Primers are the worst, but available if you shop long and hard enough.

DO IT!!!

 

[Picher]

Well I'm thinking about buying a bolt action Ruger American in 6.5 Grendel which would be a new cartridge and caliber for me. The only thing holding me back is no dies and no brass???
Any help would be appreciated.
and I forgot to mention no bullets.

It's a "crap shoot" finding ammo for almost all cartridges these days. I'd stick with cartridges that have history and for which ammo can either be purchased easily, or made from empties found at ranges like some hunting cartridges like .308, .30-06, etc.. Or, perhaps cartridges that cases can be made by necking-down military cases, etc. If you can make do with .223, there's usually lots of cases, even once-fired commercial ones that can be found at ranges, if necessary. Though I haven't had to do so, .243 cases might be made from .308 cases.

Handloading opens many doors when it comes to keeping a firearm in action when things get tight. Need is the mother of invention.

 

[Garandimal]

For a Bolt Hunting Rifle...?

Suggest a 6.5 CM/Swede.

Download the 125 gr. Nosler Partition to ~ 2800 fps and have yourself a sweet whitetail rifle.




GR

 

[Navy87Guy]

As far as the rifle choice, I have the American Ranch in 7.62x39 and it’s a tack driver!

 

[LoonWulf]

For a Bolt Hunting Rifle...?

Suggest a 6.5 CM/Swede.

Download the 125 gr. Nosler Partition to ~ 2800 fps and have yourself a sweet whitetail rifle.




GR

And a full size short action that's sort of where I'm at also, unless one happens to just WANT a Grendel.
Mine is a 527, and while I don't actually use it very often it's such a cool little rifle and round combination that I love it.

Well I'm thinking about buying a bolt action Ruger American in 6.5 Grendel which would be a new cartridge and caliber for me. The only thing holding me back is no dies and no brass???
Any help would be appreciated.
and I forgot to mention no bullets.

I've got some cases I can share with you but I'm short on Grendel bullets. I can give you the last of the 123s I've got for hunting, and then I fairly often see target bullets become available on Midway or other big retailers.

 

[Garandimal]

And a full size short action that's sort of where I'm at also, unless one happens to just WANT a Grendel.
Mine is a 527, and while I don't actually use it very often it's such a cool little rifle and round combination that I love it.


I've got some cases I can share with you but I'm short on Grendel bullets. I can give you the last of the 123s I've got for hunting, and then I fairly often see target bullets become available on Midway or other big retailers.

Got the 6.5x55mm... just to have one.



To me, in a bolt huntin' rifle?

... the Grendel is a dull knife.




GR

 

[IdaD]

To me the advantage of a 6.5 Grendel is being able to fit it in an AR platform. Take that restriction away and I think I'd want something more potent for most hunting situations. A 6.5 Creedmoor is all the rage now but I still like a 7mm-08 more. The Creedmoor would probably recoil a little less, though.

 

[LoonWulf]

Got the 6.5x55mm... just to have one.



To me, in a bolt huntin' rifle?

... the Grendel is a dull knife.




GR

I suppose it kind of depends on what you want to do and what sort of weapon you want to carry.
Like I said in a full size short action I'll be looking at a bigger cartridge. If looking a general hunting with a mini action rifle, including the AR-15, I think the 6.5 Grendel, 6 mm ARC, at 7.62x39 or some of the best options available.

The ARC and the Grendel, when used in the bolt action come awful close to the on paper ballistics of the 243, And in my experience the slower heavier Grendel out penetrates the 243.

actually I'm considering rebariling my 527 to 6 mm ARC just because I think that provides the best balance of bullet weight and velocity for the case size. At least on the smaller game that I usually hunt with that type of rifle.


If we're talking about target shooting or just general enjoyment then I'd say it's hard to beat any of the minis.

 

[BigBore44]

Got the 6.5x55mm... just to have one.



To me, in a bolt huntin' rifle?

... the Grendel is a dull knife.




GR

Pretty much all the new cartridges today are just different versions of the same thing. But that’s the great thing about it. It’s all ice cream. But we got more flavors than Ben & Jerry’s and Baskin Robins.

 

[joneb]

As far as the rifle choice, I have the American Ranch in 7.62x39 and it’s a tack driver!

So do I, and it is

 

[Flycaster1977]

For a Bolt Hunting Rifle...?

Suggest a 6.5 CM/Swede.

Download the 125 gr. Nosler Partition to ~ 2800 fps and have yourself a sweet whitetail rifle.




GR

I like the swede too. Barnes 120 grn tsx or 125 partitions. Both are awesome for whitetail.

 

[joneb]

What appeals to me about the is 6.5 Grendel is it is a efficient cartridge capable taking game like deer and antelope out to 500 yds, and targets out to 800 yrds with about 30gr of powder, not bad IMHO.

 

[joneb]

To me the advantage of a 6.5 Grendel is being able to fit it in an AR platform. Take that restriction away and I think I'd want something more potent for most hunting situations. A 6.5 Creedmoor is all the rage now but I still like a 7mm-08 more

If I wanted a longer range cartridge I would go with the 280 AI.

 

[Garandimal]

What appeals to me about the is 6.5 Grendel is it is a efficient cartridge capable taking game like deer and antelope out to 500 yds, and targets out to 800 yrds with about 30gr of powder, not bad IMHO.

At 500 yards...?

... you'll just be hurtin' their feelings.






GR

 

[joneb]

At 500 yards...?

... you'll just be hurtin' their feelings.

Well maybe, I ran the dope for a 120 gr nosler BT leaving the muzzle at 2,450 fps with a BC of .458 and at 500 yds at 3700 ft elevation the bullet is still moving at 1710 fps with a ME of 779 ft/lb. What's wrong with that?

 

[horsey300]

At 500 yards...?

... you'll just be hurtin' their feelings.






GR

Well maybe, I ran the dope for a 120 gr nosler BT leaving the muzzle at 2,450 fps with a BC of .458 and at 500 yds at 3700 ft elevation the bullet is still moving at 1710 fps with a ME of 779 ft/lb. What's wrong with that?

Gets even better with a 123 sst their inside feelings will be hurt too!
.51 bc and 2425ish should be what you're looking for sst expansion at 1600 will take care of the rest.

 

[LoonWulf]

From a bolt gun, especially a large dia bolt, id expect 22-24" 2650 with a 120 class projectile. I get that from my 527 with 8208, and I literally cant get enough powder into the case to cause pressure issues. CFE223 Is the same way.

One of the reasons I like the ARC a little better is that It can drive 103s another couple hundred fps faster.

Ive never tried it and I dont have the throat on my 527 to do so, but quickloads thinks you could hit 2500 with 140 class bullets running at 62000.

 

[Sniper66]

The way I approach these shortages is to only consider new rifles for which I already have ammo and reloading components.

 

[Skeptic13]

If you post a caliber you are interested in there are always those who want to tell you why their caliber would be a better choice. I think that 6.5 Grendal is a great choice and if you find the rifle you want I would buy it. If you are buying at a LGS then I would ask if they had any 6.5 Grendel ammo tucked away. Then you could shoot it and have some brass to reload when you are ready. Right now you just have to be patient and persistent and you will be able to find what you need. Nosler makes their partition bullets for 6.5 in both 100 gr and 125 gr that would make excellent deer and antelope rounds. It is also easy to build a 6.5 on an AR15 platform. Just a very versatile caliber.

 

[swg1]

Pretty much all the new cartridges today are just different versions of the same thing. But that’s the great thing about it. It’s all ice cream. But we got more flavors than Ben & Jerry’s and Baskin Robins.

Heh-heh, true. When I looked at the charts for 6.5 Grendel I got a bit of a chuckle thinking we'd re-invented the ballistics of the 6.5 Carcano in an AR ready package.