I’m a late addition to this thread, but I’ll weigh in since I love my Grendel. My husband built mine when I started hunting so that I had a low-recoil, lightweight rifle to learn with. Thus far I’ve spent a small fortune target shooting, and taken a mule deer doe (65 yards), mule deer buck (200 yards), and cow elk (240-265 yards) with it, all using 123 grain Hornady SSTs.
The single-shot damage to the buck’s heart/lungs was devastating at 200 yards---based on that, I have no issues going out to 300 yards for deer with this caliber.
The cow elk at 240-265 yards was a different story. It took 3 well placed shots (1 liver-lung, 1 double lung, and 1 heart) before she went down. I recovered a fully expanded bullet from under her skin on the offside front shoulder (didn’t pass through). Based on that experience, I’m limiting myself to 200 yards on elk, and only then with excellent shot placement opportunities.
Things that stand out for me about the Grendel:
1) Super customizable on the AR platform which is awesome for small folks like me (hurray for pistol grips and adjustable LOP stocks). Also being able to break it in half and stuff it in a pack for the hike in/out is priceless.
2) Recoil is minimal, especially w/ a recoil reducing stock and muzzle break. Great for learning and recoil-sensitive shooters--no flinching/or getting walloped.
3) Shot placement is critical, especially past 200 yards. But shooting accurately is really helped by the mellow recoil.
Full disclosure: I’m building a second rifle (6.5 CM or 7mm08, TBD) for elk as I want something that shoots bigger bullets faster out to 350 yards. But for deer, I will bring my Grendel. Every time.
Real world experience is NOT allowed.
Stick to ballistic tables.
Seriously, I like your analysis and conclusions, based on actual experience.
I put a Grendel together 6ish months ago...... I wouldn't take it to E. Washington, just because I have rifles better suited to longer shots.
But I do kind of want to take it on a walk, looking for a Blacktail.
