Hornady 90 grain CX specifically for the Grendel

[Fess]

This morning Hornady introduced their 2025 New Products. 90 grain CX for the Grendel:
90 gr 6.5mm CX.jpg

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/6.5mm-.264-90-gr-cx#!/

[mtnlvr]

I'm sure it'll get the job done, but I wish it were a bit heavier for whitetail.

[Double Naught Spy]

Specifically designed for the Grendel means exactly what? It says nothing about Grendel on the Hornady page cited above. In one place, they call it a hunting bullet and under application, say it is Target/Match.

The CX™ (Copper alloy eXpanding) bullet from Hornady represents the most advanced monolithic hunting bullet on the market.

Application Target/Match

[LRRPF52]

I'm sure it'll get the job done, but I wish it were a bit heavier for whitetail.

I think it’s perfect for white tail. For monoliths like this, you can multiply their weight times 1.4 to 1.5 when comparing to cup and core hunting bullets.

So a 90gr CX will perform more like a 126-135gr, but will have higher impact speed.

What I’ve seen from the GMXs is that they mushroom instead of peeling petals like most monolithic hunting bullets.



SneakyOne here did a lot of experimentation with cut-down 120gr GMXs to 105gr, 95gr, 94gr and sent me a bunch of the 94gr bullets to test.

Those did 2750-2800fps from my 17.6” Grendel, which is the load I took for elk hunting. I planned to shoot within 300yds, so it would have performed more than adequately. Never got any shot opportunities because we were in a very populated area with lots of other hunters, and the herds were running to and fro, very elusive and evasive.

This should do around 2900-2950fps from a 20” Grendel, and 3000fps from 24”. Would be like shooting 20-22” .243 Winchester velocities with the same bullet weight, but way less pressure and more frontal area/expansion room to cause more permanent and stretch wound cavities.

Given that this is a 90gr bullet, I don’t see what other 6.5mm they would have developed it for since they already have the 120gr GMX in 6.5mm, 80 & 90gr CX for 6mm, and 100gr GMX for 6.8 SPC. Seems purpose-built for Grendel and likely a factory load coming up.

[LRRPF52]

So they just announced that 90gr CX will be a new Custom line factory load for 6.5 Grendel to provide a higher velocity option for Grendel hunters.

[JASmith]

I'm sure it'll get the job done, but I wish it were a bit heavier for whitetail.

LRRPF is right, and research by a lot of folks supports his comment. Go here for a summary and details: http://shootersnotes.com/ideal-bulle...bullet-weight/

BTW -- Our mesolithic forefathers contributed to these conclusions by the choices they made in arrowhead sizes. The archeology and analysis are also discussed in the set of papers.

[Fess]

Specifically designed for the Grendel means exactly what?

This was stated this at 21:57 in the linked Hornady podcast. It has an ogive designed for Grendel as opposed to a longer one for the 6.5 Creedmoor. It also means they took opening velocity into account. This is a big deal with monolithic bullets. When Hornady redesigned the 100 grain .277 GMX into the CX, the opening velocity went up about 300 fps, making it hold up better for a 270 Win but a poor choice for the lower velocity 6.8 SPC which lost 100 or so yards of effective range.

https://youtu.be/YZhdOB7ANfk?t=1317

[Double Naught Spy]

My apologies, Fess, and thank you. I had Hornady pulled up and simply went to the page.

With that said, I don't know what to think of the video. They provided nothing but really general advertising keyword buzz words, for lack of better words. Okay, it expands. People think that various Barnes rounds are amazing because they expand, but they expand a terribly small amount. I was hopeful, pulling up the video, that they at least showed an expanded bullet, but nope. No mention of velocity or any other specs, just hype. It may be a higher velocity, but higher than what? Higher than 123 gr. rounds? Higher than other 90 gr. rounds? You reduce the weight, you expect higher velocity, but relative to what?

Glad they are offering something new, but I would like to see how it actually performs before getting too excited about it. I hope it is amazing. We all see to be looking for that bullet that gives us an edge and manufacturers like to promote that angle, and often in the end, the bullet is usually adequate, but doesn't match the hype.

[imaguy3]

For what it's worth... hornady replied to my inquiry on minimum expansion velocity. They stated 2000fps.

[tdbru]

I think this is a good development for the 6.5 Grendel. But I will have to shoot some to see how they group in my rifles before I go all in. Since shot placement is so important in taking big game, I'd like to see how these group first. I just got a cow elk in AZ with a TTSX and it did the job fine and opened up 2X caliber and penetrated quite a ways (>4'). So these monolithic copper bullets can expand and penetrate, but they do take different inputs than cup/core do. This new CX does indeed seemed sized for the 6.5mm bore.
-tdbru

[HighDesertDrifter]

I would like to see a lower expansion speed before choosing this one for myself. If I can get that bullet moving at 2800 that would get me out to 200 yards. My last cow was at 220 with an ablr and the expansion speed was the last thing I was concerned about. That's just one example and the longest distance I've had to take an elk at. Congrats on filling your tag! What unit were you in?

[Bevo]

90gr CX available at Midway now. For $0.96/bullet.

I think I'll stick with my 20 cent 90gr TNT.

[LRRPF52]

When I loaded up the 94gr GMX experimental bullets SneakyOne sent me, I got the following:

17.6” Lilja 6.5 Grendel SAAMI chamber barrel with compound throat
33.9gr CFE223
2.261” - 2.275” COL
1x Hornady Brass

2749
2751
2741
2700

Sneaky said he loaded 95gr GMXs up to 34.4gr of CFE223.

The 90gr CX should do 2755-2854fps from an 18” barrel with CFE223 and LVR.

At 2800fps, it maintains 2127fps and 900ft-lbs out to 290yds at 1000ft elevation, 59 F.

Should make a nice premium deer/mulie/cow elk bullet for inside of 200-300yds.

You’ll be able to self-spot with it as it impacts your POA on game. GMXs and CXs blow through bone like butter, but mushroom instead of petal-peel.

[A5Blaster Number 2]

These bullets are going to be amazing for us up close and personal hunters.

Who like to smash shoulder blades, taking out the fuel/air from the engine along with the front wheels tends to end things quickly.

[HighDesertDrifter]

Thought I would mention I'm starting see them show up online. About 20 stores on ammoseek, majority seemed to be pricing em about $1.60 pr.

Midway has the projectiles listed at .96