6.5 Grendel AR

[arizona98tj]

With an itch for a new caliber and less than two years till retirement, I decided to give the 6.5 Grendel a try using the AR platform. Once back in Minnesota, me (or the Mrs.) will use it for deer and varmint hunting along with some target shooting. The more I began reading about the 6.5mm bullet in general, the more impressed I became. It certainly has a rich history in Europe....more so than in the U.S.

I've had it to the range once so far and was impressed with the accuracy I got. Any time I get about half of my initial hand loads producing sub-MOA groups, the cartridge (and rifle) definitely has my attention. More details can be found at my 6.5 Grendel review.

Alexander Arms 6.5 Grendel Overwatch


Nosler 120gr Ballistic Tip over a charge of BL-C2 with Lapua brass

[Seismic Sam]

Pretty damn good shooting for an AR platform autoloading rifle. How long is the barrel??

Also, you realize that you are obligated to buy a 6.5mm Hansel caliber rifle to go with your 6.5mm Grendel.....

[arizona98tj]

Sam,
You got me on the 6.5 Hansel. Maybe I can convince the Mrs. that she can keep the Grendel and I need a new Hansel.

The barrel is 24" long, the only length Alexander Arms provides in the Overwatch. It is longer than necessary for hunting, but on my property, 90% of the hunting is done along meadows and hay fields so I'm not too worried about tramping through the woods with a long barrel. If it becomes an issue, I'll find a gunsmith and have it shortened to 20" or so. I'm still not good enough with my Ace Hardware hacksaw.

I have a couple boxes of Hornady factory ammo (as I mentioned in my review) which also deliver sub-MOA groups. I am hoping to drop my group size by 25% or more once I get a better trigger installed....the mil-spec trigger leaves a little bit to be desired.

[OldmanFCSA]

My opinion has been edited or deleted.

[arizona98tj]

Thanks for sharing the .50 BMG information. Wow, talk about a quick way to eat a pound of powder. Good luck on the remainder of your load development....hope you find a good one (or three).

[Ghost]

I've pretty much gone all in on the Grendel. Just built an 18" for my light weight hunting gun when walking and am waiting on my 22" barrel for my box blind gun. Haven't had the chance to shoot the one I built but I've got quite a stash of ammo ready for when I can.

One of the guys on the Grendel forum just posted an 18" barrel 100 yard 3 shot group that you can cover with a dime. Definitely one of if not the best round for the AR15 platform.

[arizona98tj]

Ghost,
I assume you are talking about factory ammo? If not, what are you using for brass, bullets, and powder?

When you look at the down range ballistics, it is a great cartridge. One of these days I'll get the optic (waiting for someone to put it on sale) I want for mine....and a trigger.

[Ghost]

Ghost,
I assume you are talking about factory ammo? If not, what are you using for brass, bullets, and powder?

When you look at the down range ballistics, it is a great cartridge. One of these days I'll get the optic (waiting for someone to put it on sale) I want for mine....and a trigger.

I've got a good supply of factory hornady 123 SST's and Amax's. Ready to reload except have SST and Amax bullets on backorder since January. Powders I have several that I use for .223 which will work and would like to pick up some 8208 to try at some point. For the price the factory ammo seems to be a reasonable way to get reloading brass.

I've preordered the new Vortex 4.5-27x56 Razor HD gen 2 which will eventually go on the 22" barrel which has been on order since October.

I went with the Geissele hi-speed national match trigger when they had a big sale either Black Friday or Christmas sale, don't exactly remember but they did ship a nice swag package with it.

[arizona98tj]

I have a Vortex Viper PST FFP 4-16x50 mil-dot on my .308 bolt gun. I've decided that for my hunting needs (and some target shooting), I'm going to spend a bit less and get the Viper HS 4-16x44 with BDC. I think that will do OK for me.

Some of those desirable 6.5mm bullets are very hard to come by, for sure. I picked up some Nosler 120gr BTs and have very good results the first time out with them....but they are a little pricey. I've got 2 hunting seasons before I'm back in Minnesota....hopefully things will loosen up in the 6.5 world before then.

[arizona98tj]

Managed a trip to the range early this morning. I decided on a Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16x42 optic for the Grendel. It worked great. I was on the bull @ 100 yds in 4 shots.



Spent time shooting a new batch of my 95 gr Hornady V-Max handloads....working up a useable varmint load. A 5 shot group just under .7" clocking along at 2910 FPS. That will do for the time being.

[Ghost]

Got to shoot my Grendel build for the first time, took my Super Sniper 3-9 off of another rifle to temporarily use until my Vortex comes in. First 20 rounds shot in the gun at a stepped off 100 yards. The super sniper was zeroed for 200 yards in my .223 so had to dial it in but my last shots are the ones touching the red. Using factory Hornady 123gr SST's.

[Ironbear]

Also, you realize that you are obligated to buy a 6.5mm Hansel caliber rifle to go with your 6.5mm Grendel.....

I would have thought a .50 Beowulf would be the natural complement to 6.5 mm Gendel......

[PHATSPEED7x]

Excellent! I'm getting a 6.5 Grendel next weekend!

Edit: Went down Wednesday and picked it up early.

Sent from LG G2

[arizona98tj]

Ironbear....you make a good point! Maybe I will have to get one....I would be lying if I said I'd not thought about it before.

[arizona98tj]

Excellent! I'm getting a 6.5 Grendel next weekend!

I believe you are really going to enjoy it. I scored 500 bullets from MidwayUSA. Got an e-mail saying they got some Hornday 123 gr A-Max bullets in so I order 5 boxes. They are a bunch cheaper than the 120gr Nosler BTs I had been shooting. This will give me a little breathing room now.