Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Dan-o on June 27, 2023, 11:18:32 PM

Title: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: Dan-o on June 27, 2023, 11:18:32 PM: so, I kind of fell in love with 6.5Grendel in AR-15 platforms.
I gave two of my sons AR-15s in 6.5 Grendel, and have 2 for myself.
I've shot lots of different ammo through them. Have settled on favorites for long range shooting and coyotes.

MY QUESTION: Thoughts on a best deer round?

I don't reload.

I shoot 90 grain hollow points for coyotes.

I'm looking for something like a 100-105 grain round with a good deer bullet, but not really finding anything.

Help?

Thanks.
Dan

P.S. My sons and I actually hunt deer with our 7MM Rem Mags, but on the off chance I ever wanted to use a 6. Grendel I'd need a good deer round.
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: zwickeyman on June 28, 2023, 04:58:39 AM: Hi Dan-o

Super hard to find a factory hunting round in that weight range. There are some good factory offerings in the 120 gr and 125 gr weights

I reload, so for me in that weight range the 100 gr Partition would be my choice. Maybe someone can do some loading for you. That 100 gr Partition at 2700 fps would do really good on deer
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: JohnVH on June 28, 2023, 08:45:02 AM: I use 120gr reloads in mine for deer, and coyotes, so far so good. Havent had any long range shots on animals yet.
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: James on June 28, 2023, 10:56:52 AM: Have you looked at the 6mm arc?
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on June 28, 2023, 11:05:52 AM: 123gr hornady ELDM. M not X.
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: luvmystang67 on June 28, 2023, 11:22:31 AM: I've used the Hornady SST Factory Loads and they seem to kind of fall apart on impact. I shot a probably 250lb bear with it, and hit it in he heart, so that worked well, but I don't think I'd rush to try that again. Its dead, but I don't think the bullet really did what I hoped it would.

I thought about copper, but I don't think it moves them fast enough for that to be effective... although it might be at the ranges I'd consider using the Grendel for (<200 yards).

I do think, as people have mentioned here, that lead is probably the way to go, ideally with something that has a little more structure than the SST.
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 28, 2023, 12:22:00 PM: The 123gr SST has the expansion needed for big game, according to Hornady. https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/6-5-grendel-123-gr-sst#!/

I can attest to its accuracy and consistency
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: James on June 28, 2023, 01:44:53 PM: The one deer I have killed with an SST I was not impressed. Sure it was out of a 30-06, at pretty close range and killed it effectively, but there was pieces of bullet everywhere in that carcass. It was impossible to get all the copper and lead out of the meat, everything from large chunks to fine particles, and my meat grinder was not pleased.

I know you need to match your bullet to it's impact impulse momentum to get the desired expansion, and maybe an SST will do that in a lower velocity round like 6.5 Grendel, but SST's left a bad taste in my mouth.
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: luvmystang67 on June 28, 2023, 01:50:17 PM: Quote from: James on June 28, 2023, 01:44:53 PM
The one deer I have killed with an SST I was not impressed. Sure it was out of a 30-06, at pretty close range and killed it effectively, but there was pieces of bullet everywhere in that carcass. It was impossible to get all the copper and lead out of the meat, everything from large chunks to fine particles, and my meat grinder was not pleased.

I know you need to match your bullet to it's impact impulse momentum to get the desired expansion, and maybe an SST will do that in a lower velocity round like 6.5 Grendel, but SST's left a bad taste in my mouth.

That basically summarizes my experience as well. They fly great, the things I've shot with them have died, but it looked like I was shooting an exploding bullet, and I'm sure I ate some lead (which I'm trying to do less of).

After some quick internet research, some barnes bullets in the ~100 grain weight might work really well loaded up to 2800-2900 fps in the grendel with good expansion out to 300 yards.

I'm mentally on a bonded bullet mindset for yardage of any caliber out past that, but have nothing to base this on yet.
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: Dan-o on June 28, 2023, 03:20:19 PM: Appreciate all the input. :tup:
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: kselkhunter on June 28, 2023, 03:33:02 PM: Midway and Grafs have the 129gr Nosler ABLR ammo in stock. Midway and Natchezz have the Hornady SST 123gr mentioned in this thread. My gun likes the Noslers. But these days I hand load 140gr Speers.
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: Blacklab on July 06, 2023, 06:42:15 PM: Love my G 6.5 AR. I used two bullets for deer. I started using the 123 SST for deer. Because that’s what was recommended. Very accurate with a chip shot at 200 yards easy. Took a shot at 205 yards. Right above the left shoulder dropped like a rock by the time I got to it it was gone couldn’t find it. Don’t know what happened to it. Major blood stain where it hit the ground. Bumped it several times in the timber but could never find it. Sad it was a great deer. The next time I took out 123 Amax. Same accuracy as the sst if not better. 200 yards is nothing. Shot a big buck with it at 10 yards. The Amax went all the way through and severd artery from the heart. lodged just underneath the skin outside the body. Lost about 25grain of bullet. These were all reloads 2300 fps I believe. The SST could be a great bullet. Idk, Maybe I didn’t get the sweet spot. I thought I did or assumed I did I don’t know. Confidence is key :twocents:
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: emac on July 06, 2023, 07:10:10 PM: Quote from: Karl Blanchard on June 28, 2023, 11:05:52 AM
123gr hornady ELDM. M not X.
Are you saying the ELD-M are better then the ELD-X

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 06, 2023, 09:23:33 PM: Quote from: emac on July 06, 2023, 07:10:10 PM
Quote from: Karl Blanchard on June 28, 2023, 11:05:52 AM
123gr hornady ELDM. M not X.
Are you saying the ELD-M are better then the ELD-X

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
correct
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: emac on July 07, 2023, 06:11:27 PM: Quote from: Karl Blanchard on July 06, 2023, 09:23:33 PM
Quote from: emac on July 06, 2023, 07:10:10 PM
Quote from: Karl Blanchard on June 28, 2023, 11:05:52 AM
123gr hornady ELDM. M not X.
Are you saying the ELD-M are better then the ELD-X

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
correct
For hunting or shooting. I always thought the m's were designed for shooting and the x's were for hunting

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: harveymarv on July 08, 2023, 09:59:51 AM: alexander arms 129 sst’s. never had a problem with bear or deer, but i take lung shots, never shoulder, never wastes meat cuz i never shoot em in the meat.
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: spin05 on July 26, 2023, 12:51:27 AM: Federal Fusion in 120 grain would be my pick
Title: Re: 6.5 Grendel...... Best deer round?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 26, 2023, 08:01:19 AM: Quote from: emac on July 07, 2023, 06:11:27 PM
Quote from: Karl Blanchard on July 06, 2023, 09:23:33 PM
Quote from: emac on July 06, 2023, 07:10:10 PM
Quote from: Karl Blanchard on June 28, 2023, 11:05:52 AM
123gr hornady ELDM. M not X.
Are you saying the ELD-M are better then the ELD-X

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
correct
For hunting or shooting. I always thought the m's were designed for shooting and the x's were for hunting

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
the topic is best round for DEER, so yes I'm referring to hunting.