Why not use the 6.5 Grendel for deer?

[SDguy]

Happy new year all. When I 1st approached a few smiths wishing to re-barrel a CZ 527 in 7.62 x 39 to 6.5 Grendel The gunsmiths seemed to think I was crazy as there were many more suitable calibers for a deer rifle. BTW none of those calibers would be accommodated by the CZ 527 action. For that 1st Grendel I ended up barreling my own rifle as things worked out.

IMHO she has been a fine deer rifle.

This weekend I was looking over the performance of the 7 x 57 Mauser with a lot longer history than most of our deer calibers of today pre 1900 & i somewhat see where those Gunsmiths were coming from. That being said I have since picked up a factory 6.5 GRENDEL and ether of my 6.5 Gendels are my go to deer rifle today.

[rabiddawg]

It just won’t work.

[SDguy]

Are you sure I do not feel un-ethical at all harvesting deer after deer with this diminutive caliber even though she has very minimal recoil. Truly not wanting for anything more.

[bj139]

Are you sure I do not feel un-ethical at all harvesting deer after deer with this diminutive caliber even though she has very minimal recoil. Truly not wanting for anything more.

I am planning on deer hunting with a 50 cal flintlock muzzleloader with round ball in the next few weeks.
I feel un-ethical but this is all the game commission will allow me to shoot during this season.

[Dinny]

10 out of 9 deer shot with a 6.5 Grendel agree it's enough gun.

Thanks, Dinny

[A5BLASTER]

When someone says that same old same old "there are much more better calibers" I reply with it's my money do what I want or I'm taking my business elsewhere.

People are still hung up on you need a 600 grain bullet going 4000fps too kill something mindset.

Grendel has been on the scene since what 2003 ish Google 6.5 grendel on deer and you will have enough reading to last you a life time of reading how it kills game.

We even have a knock down survey on this fourm I would take a look at that as well.

[Stinky Coyote]

[NugginFutz]

SDGuy - with due respect to your gunsmith(s), allow me to offer the following:

Gunsmiths build/repair firearms. Hunters kill game. Being a gunsmith doesn't qualify me as an expert on hunting any more than being a hunter qualifies me as an expert on gunsmithing. As previously suggested, just tell them to take your money and do the work, or you will find someone else who will.

I can't remember the # of "bigger is better" discussions I've read / heard when it comes to ethical or effective hunting. I have become so weary of the "Caliber Shaming", that I just tune those people out, anymore. While the naysayers used to pop up fairly often, they've either gotten tired of being rebuked or have seen the light. It is only rarely, now, that we hear people trying to educate us poor dumb Grendel owners on how you can't kill a Moose or a Bear with this pitiful little cartridge.

A couple of years ago, one of our overseas members began accumulating data on the Grendel Hunter's experiences, calling it the "Grendel knock-down survey". Here is a link to that thread, which contains the data reported for 600+ kills made by various Grendel owners, using both AR style and bolt action rifles.

Grendel "knock-down" survey.

While the original charts created by that user are no longer accessible, I've re-tallied the data and posted similar charts which are now permanently hosted within the 65Grendel site's own file servers. The new charts appear near the end of the thread. If nothing else, the data suggests that Grendel hunters are at no disadvantage when it comes to the ability to hit and plant almost any small, medium or large game animal on the continent.

[Frontier Gear]

Yep, I've been told by people that the 6.5 Grendel is too "anemic" for deer. Then the same person says that the 30-30 in "venerable" and capable of consistently taking deer at 300 yards. Umm....ok.

Oddly enough they have never owned, shot or probably even seen a Grendel in person. They simply take one look at that short piece of brass and low muzzle velocity, then pass judgment. All of the deer and bears that I have killed with my Grendels have been between 216 yards and 265 yards. Does it work ethically? yes.

Is it the best choice? That depends on too many factors to answer. For me, where I live, for the terrain that I hunt and the size of the animals... yes.

[TNhuntsman]

I got into the Grendel round for deer hunting, more energy than a .30-30 and the same as .308 Hornady custom lite (which I have some boxes for my boy to hunt with). I plan on getting a Ruger American Predator 6.5G for my boy to deer hunt since it has the same performance as the .308 Hornady custom lite with still even less recoil. 6.5 Grendel is a good deer hunting round, I'd say it's good for anything in TN.

[Mad Charlie]

I am planning on deer hunting with a 50 cal flintlock muzzleloader with round ball in the next few weeks.
I feel un-ethical but this is all the game commission will allow me to shoot during this season.

I don't feel unethical one dam bit hunting with my .50 cal flintrock and round ball!
90gr of 2F Swiss and it's mine out to around 125 yards or so. Been a few now that have fallen to the rocklock. Round ball kills better than many think, within their range limitations.

Follow through is of major importance with flint though.

[Wheelhorse]

I figure bullet placement is the number 1 priority and the Grendel does that well.
Mine has killed five now, nothing under 200 yards, one at 280, one at 305 and one at 325.
Put it in the boiler room and the deer will go down.

[kmon]

When I said on another forum I was going to have bolt action Grendel built a lot of people tried to talk me out of it but I knew what I was getting. Several local smiths refused to work on the chosen CZ 527 in 7.62X39 but then I called Scott at Liveoak accuracy. He said no problem. Took the rifle to his shop and we discussed what I was looking for further and we decided on a 1:8.4 twist Obereyer barrel he had in house. He started by milling out the forearm to remove the notch cut in it for the rear sight keeping the basic profile just a little larger channel, then milled the barrel blank to fit that barely frefloated. Trued the action and chambered and mounted the barrel. Pillar nad bedded the stock to the action. What I wound up with is a true half MOA shooter that weighs 7.2 lbs with its Kahles 3X9 scope, sling and full mag. My original plan was for a fun light walking around hunting rifle in the Grendel which I knew already from the AR was plenty for deer and hogs. Several thaat tried to talk me out of it originally have handled the rifle and agree it is a thing of beaurty for a light extremely well balanced hunting rifle.

My answer to those that kept trying to tell me I needed more speed and get a Creedmoor (aka Creamsmore) Was why go with that little round, if I want more speed from a 6.5 I will just pull the 6.5-284 or 264 Win Mag from the safe

A lot of smiths shy away from CZ 527 work because of Metric threads

[LRRPF52]

Yep, I've been told by people that the 6.5 Grendel is too "anemic" for deer. Then the same person says that the 30-30 in "venerable" and capable of consistently taking deer at 300 yards. Umm....ok.

Oddly enough they have never owned, shot or probably even seen a Grendel in person. They simply take one look at that short piece of brass and low muzzle velocity, then pass judgment. All of the deer and bears that I have killed with my Grendels have been between 216 yards and 265 yards. Does it work ethically? yes.

Is it the best choice? That depends on too many factors to answer. For me, where I live, for the terrain that I hunt and the size of the animals... yes.

It's a great conversation to have the opportunity to showcase the Grendel's performance compared to a .30-30 Winchester (a proven killer over the past 120 years, including large game at close range).

You can say, "What if I told you a 12" 6.5 Grendel with less recoil has more energy at 400yds than a 20" .30-30 does at 200yds? What if I then told you that it retains 900ft-lbs of energy out to 275yds, with less drop than a .30-30? Would you say it's good enough for deer then?"

Grandpa: "But .30-30 is bigger, which makes a bigger hole for more knock-down power."

"6.5 Grendel hunting bullets normally expand anywhere from over .60 caliber down to .40 caliber, with a lot of bullet weight still in the tail, and deep penetration through the vitals. Would you be comfortable taking a shot on a deer if you knew a .40-.60 caliber hole was blasting through where you aimed, with anywhere from 18-24" of penetration?"

[SDguy]

SDGuy - with due respect to your gunsmith(s), allow me to offer the following:

Gunsmiths build/repair firearms. Hunters kill game. Being a gunsmith doesn't qualify me as an expert on hunting any more than being a hunter qualifies me as an expert on gunsmithing. As previously suggested, just tell them to take your money and do the work, or you will find someone else who will.

I can't remember the # of "bigger is better" discussions I've read / heard when it comes to ethical or effective hunting. I have become so weary of the "Caliber Shaming", that I just tune those people out, anymore. While the naysayers used to pop up fairly often, they've either gotten tired of being rebuked or have seen the light. It is only rarely, now, that we hear people trying to educate us poor dumb Grendel owners on how you can't kill a Moose or a Bear with this pitiful little cartridge.

A couple of years ago, one of our overseas members began accumulating data on the Grendel Hunter's experiences, calling it the "Grendel knock-down survey". Here is a link to that thread, which contains the data reported for 600+ kills made by various Grendel owners, using both AR style and bolt action rifles.

Grendel "knock-down" survey.

While the original charts created by that user are no longer accessible, I've re-tallied the data and posted similar charts which are now permanently hosted within the 65Grendel site's own file servers. The new charts appear near the end of the thread. If nothing else, the data suggests that Grendel hunters are at no disadvantage when it comes to the ability to hit and plant almost any small, medium or large game animal on the continent.

I have been a Machinist 1st Hunter 2nd & gunsmith 3rd. Just looked at this as a opportunity to let the DIY side of me come out. Came across a drop in barrel for the CZ 527 on E-bay. Did the research & purchased the barrel, head space gauge and a barrel vice. To my surprise the barrel when threaded & tightened up proper offered head space in spec from the get go. In that case I feel I came out lucky not good

Today, you can purchase the CZ 527 with a couple fine barrel choices so the need for a re-barrel may have disappeared. You have many fine bolt action options to choose from in the 6.5 Grendel today w CZ, Howa & Ruger and I expect we may even see a Remington model 7 before long.