For those of you have read through some of the history of the 6.5 Grendel, you have seen that my personal emphasis in the development has been for competitive shooting.

While my focus has been national match across the course competition, a number of people have communicated their interest in a wide range of competitive activities.

1. National Match Across The Course
2. Prone
3. F-Class
4. Silhouette - Handgun & Rifle
5. Benchrest (200 yards, 300 yards...600 yards)
6. 300 M UIT
7. 3 Gun

Back to National Match, the concept behind the 6.5 Grendel was to maximize the potential of the AR15 and strengthen the rifle's capability against larger cartridges in bolt action and semi-automatics such as the M1A, M1 Garand and AR10. Most notable competitors are the .308 Winchester and the 6mmXC.

Some suggested thoughts for National Match

Offhand - Slow Fire

In this area, the options are to stay with a magazine length round or use a long seated round. Some options to work with for magazine length include the Lapua 100,108 and 123 Scenar; Sierra 107 Matchking; or even giving the Nosler 100 and 120 ballistic tips or Hornady 95 VMAX a try. For long seated rounds, the Lapua 108 and 123 and Norma 130 are some outstanding options.

Rapid Fire

Since Magazine Length rounds are the rule here, the current choices are the Lapua 100,108 and 123 Scenar; Sierra 107 Matchking; or even giving the Nosler 100 and 120 ballistic tips or Hornady 95 VMAX a try.

Prone - Slow Fire

600 yards is the test of long range performance. In this area of competition, my thoughts would be to use the Lapua 108 and 123 or Norma 130 seated long. Experiment and find the combination that you feel most comfortable with.

Competing against the .308 Winchester is the easy part since there are lighter 6.5mm bullets with equal ballistic properties that can be propelled at better velocities. If you can improve trajecory and wind deflection while reducing recoil,,, life is good and the 6.5mm Grendel does just that.

Now, in competing against the 6mmXC, the test will be 600 yards and that is when you need to use a bullet that has a better ballistic coefficient like the Norma 130 (.591 BC) to be able to match wind deflection of a 6mm 107 (.531 BC) and do so at a lower velocity. In running computations, the Norma 130 can match the wind deflection of the 6mm 107 at approximately 150 fps less velocity.

norma 130 gr is the highest BC match bullet available for this cartridge?
What about lapua 144 gr, or SMK 142 gr. Too long an ogive for the case?

thanks,
atek3

The Norma 130 is the highest BC bullet in the given weight.

In heavier weight bullets, there is the Lapua 139 and 144, the Sierra 142, the Berger 140 and the Cauteruccio 141.

I just spoke with Bob Cauteruccio and he is sending me a prototype batch of 130 grain bullets that are a lightened version of his 141 VLD. The 141 VLD has a BC running around .629 based on downrange measurement so I am expecting the 130 to running right at .600.

I will be sure to report how they are doing,,, just be an awesome bullet at 600 yards seated long in the Grendel

Just wanted to give an update, I have received 300 of Cauteruccio's 130 VLD bullets and they are slick. They measure 1.320 or .021 longer then the Lapua 123, but .065 shorter then the Norma 130 and the Lapua 139.

Comparing the designs of both the Norma 130 and Cauteruccio 130, I see the Cautuerccio running right around a .600 BC.

Availability of the 130 Cauteruccio 130 is limited for the next 3-4 months, but I will be sure to post the on target results I receive with this batch of 300 bullets.

Arne, that high BC of the Cauteruccio is interesting, if a bit puzzling. How do they do it?

My Hornady 129 SST bullets are advertised as only a .485 BC; they're 1.316" long so will allow for a tad more powder than the Cauteruccio 130 at 1.320". But with so much better BC (I presume not measured at the same conditions, or with the same model?) I would think the latter would be a better bullet when readily available?

WHERE CAN THE Bob Cauteruccio bullets be purchased?
How do i contact Bob?

Neskiaman,

I sell the Cauteruccio bullets. I have 128 grain HPBT in stock.

Arne
281-330-0352