What's the best reloading manual for 6.5 grendel?

[luke79]

Just curious what manual seems to have the most data for the grendel. I'm loading 123 and 130gr pills for my new bolt action build and using mainly CFE 223 at this time. I was gonna order a manual because I'm not having much luck finding data on the CFE or 130gr loads. Any suggestions?

[kmon]

No doubt the 2 volumes written just for the Grendel. Look at user LRRPF52 Sigline for a link to order them

[Drillboss]

Aside from the Grendel manuals mentioned above, Hornady's manual is the only one I've seen with any CFE data for the Grendel. The online Grendeldata loads have been moved to ammoguide.com.

[ricsmall]

I think with the number of bolt guns being built we need a subsection in reloading forum for bolt guns. I know the Grendel was designed around an ar 15 platform but the bolties are multiplying like rabbits!! I have 4 in my shop waiting to be built. Just loaded some 123 amax this evening with cfe starting at 32.0 going to 33.0 grs. I originally started at 31 and worked up to 32.0 grs, and am picking up where I left off. There may already be a subforum but I couldn't locate it. Looks like more work for John!!!

Richard

[JASmith]

We struggled with the idea of including load data for bolt guns in the two manuals.

There were a few significant issues -- first, there are essentially no differences in the loads one uses for a bolt gun and the loads good for the AR as long as pressures are held to the SAAMI limits.

Second, and the deciding factor, was that we could not reasonably expect that a dumbass would not try a high pressure bolt load in his AR.

Third, the added velocity one gets from going from, say, 50,000 psi to 55,000 psi adds little to the meaningful reach for the hunter.

We continue, however, to cast about for ideas on how to meet the needs of the bolt gun and single shot user. The added velocity can make a difference in long range competitive shooting

[kmon]

Which 130gr pills are you looking to load? Currently I an loading 129gr Accubond LR and 130gr Berger Hybrids with CFE223 for a boltaction and an AR. Hornady manual has data for the 129gr SST with CFE

[ricsmall]

We struggled with the idea of including load data for bolt guns in the two manuals.

There were a few significant issues -- first, there are essentially no differences in the loads one uses for a bolt gun and the loads good for the AR as long as pressures are held to the SAAMI limits.

Second, and the deciding factor, was that we could not reasonably expect that a dumbass would not try a high pressure bolt load in his AR.

Third, the added velocity one gets from going from, say, 50,000 psi to 55,000 psi adds little to the meaningful reach for the hunter.

We continue, however, to cast about for ideas on how to meet the needs of the bolt gun and single shot user. The added velocity can make a difference in long range competitive shooting

Agreed Joe. I guess I fail to remember that some guys would try bolt gun data in an ar. I'm seeing much different thresholds on the same brass just going from an ar to a bolt, which is I'm guessing due to the lack of gas op action?, and a rem700 will not break under any Grendel pressure,but like you say, I'm not seeing a significant increase in velocity. Thanks for the reminder.


ETA: Joe, if you want me to chamber a bolt gun for pressure tests I'd do it for shipping costs just to get us an idea for all the howa grendels about to hit the airways.

Richard

[mongoosesnipe]

We struggled with the idea of including load data for bolt guns in the two manuals.

There were a few significant issues -- first, there are essentially no differences in the loads one uses for a bolt gun and the loads good for the AR as long as pressures are held to the SAAMI limits.

Second, and the deciding factor, was that we could not reasonably expect that a dumbass would not try a high pressure bolt load in his AR.

Third, the added velocity one gets from going from, say, 50,000 psi to 55,000 psi adds little to the meaningful reach for the hunter.

We continue, however, to cast about for ideas on how to meet the needs of the bolt gun and single shot user. The added velocity can make a difference in long range competitive shooting

the only bolt specific loads i would even bother with would be longer than AR mag length loads to use 140gr or the norma 156 gr bullets ... and i woundnt bother adding pressure over spec just isn't needed

[JASmith]

PM sent.

[kmon]

I have a bolt action and AR and have decided like others above the data for the ARs works fine for the bolt as well. My bolt is a CZ527 so it has smaller locking lugs than many bolt action rifles and that in part lead to that decision, but the other is the Grendel is such a pleasant little round with great balance why try to make it something else.


If you really want more velocity in a bolt action get a cartridge with a bigger case 6.5X47, Creedmoor or 260. You do gain a little velocity from not having the Gas Tax but that is not enough to cover barrel to barrel differences.

[ricsmall]

I have a bolt action and AR and have decided like others above the data for the ARs works fine for the bolt as well. My bolt is a CZ527 so it has smaller locking lugs than many bolt action rifles and that in part lead to that decision, but the other is the Grendel is such a pleasant little round with great balance why try to make it something else.


If you really want more velocity in a bolt action get a cartridge with a bigger case 6.5X47, Creedmoor or 260. You do gain a little velocity from not having the Gas Tax but that is not enough to cover barrel to barrel differences.

I'm not really trying to push the Grendel into 260 territory, cause i have a .260, .260AI, and a creed, I guess I'm just trying to see if there is much to b gained by pushing the Grendel In a bolt platform, as well as curious about pressure differences, brass response to these pressures, etc. Not wanting to cross any line, more or less wanting to establish a line for future bolt gun guys. Just being a typical gun guy I guess!!

ETA:I'm not one of the guys wanting to ruin cases every time I pull the trigger on my bolt Grendel, just because the platform can handle it. On the contrary, I plan on normal loads under 107/108 target pills, factory amax or hand load duplicates, and 100 ttsx or some of johns Cerberus pills for whitetails/pigs. Just trying to learn something.

Richard

[mongoosesnipe]

I have a bolt action and AR and have decided like others above the data for the ARs works fine for the bolt as well. My bolt is a CZ527 so it has smaller locking lugs than many bolt action rifles and that in part lead to that decision, but the other is the Grendel is such a pleasant little round with great balance why try to make it something else.


If you really want more velocity in a bolt action get a cartridge with a bigger case 6.5X47, Creedmoor or 260. You do gain a little velocity from not having the Gas Tax but that is not enough to cover barrel to barrel differences.

i agree whole heartedly like i said the only thing i would load different for a grendel bolt gun would be heavier longer bullets but still keep the pressures down with a 160 grain bullet at around 2200 basically copy the old .256 Mannlicher ballistics but it would require longer than maxwell loading so would need a 308 size action instead of a micro

[LRRPF52]

Here are the reloading resources I personally use:

https://ammoguide.com/

[luke79]

Kmon I am loading 130gr Berger VLDs in front of CFE 223. Thanks for all the input so far this is a great forum everyone has been very very helpful. I went ahead and ordered the Hornady 9th edition last night because of the CFE data. And I will definitely look into getting the 6.5 grendel data you mentioned above Kmon. I shot today and the the 130gr bergers shot fairly good the higher my charge the better it seemed to shoot I got up to 30.2gr with zero pressure signs my oal I believe was 2.39". I loaded 10 more 5 of 30.5gr and 5 at 30.8gr I got 2 groups .5" but I believe these will do a bit better and then I'll tinker with my seating depth I know there funny about that. I'm confident they'll do .25" at 100 but I know there not really a 100yrd bullet I will stretch them out to 300yrds as soon as I feel I have them where I need em. All that said I'm having a real problem with my 123gr SMKs the groups are terrible and I'm almost certain it's my seating depth because I'm getting some pressure signs and I shouldn't be according to my 123gr amaxs. There loaded no hotter than they were and I had nothing in the way of pressure with them. The ojives seem to vary between bullets or something it's odd never had this issue with SMKs before but I loaded up several more tonight to try tomorrow afternoon I'll get em straightened out.

[kmon]

SMK have a different ogive shape, suspect they could be seated into the lands not getting the jump into the lands which increases pressures. If you donot not have a gauge to measure that with use a sharpie and color the bullet then chamber the loaded round and extract it. Would not surprise me if the A-Max do not show marks from rifling on the bullet and SMK do show rifling marks when seated to the same depth with the difference in shape of the bullets.

Some bullets like Berger VLDs shoot better kissing the lands but can provide good accuracy with a jump, just the jump with them is critical to accuracy. The Berger hybrids are less seating depth sensitive. SMK have a different shape ogive that work better usually with some jump to the lands.

Or I could be totally off course. Haven't tried the SMKs in the Grendel but do shoot them in the 308