6.5 Grendel versus 6mm ARC for whitetail

[biodsl]

The one advantage to the 6mm for the reloader is bullet selection. In this environment or everything being out of stock this has become even more important. Also for those of us out west who hunt fur, there are better varmint bullets for the 6mm.

I was in the Sportsman's Warehouse in Albany, Oregon a few days ago. Except primers and powder, they had everything you needed to load 6mm ARC; dies and brass and an assortment of 6mm bullets. I was a bit surprised.

[Texcl2]

[adamkrog]

Many more bullet options for 6mm vs 6.5mm? More available on the shelf? Or more on the market? I have a hard time believing there are many more available on the market, 6.5mm bullets seem very "in vogue" right now to me.

[Stinky Coyote]

you're splitting hairs between these two, they are running the two hottest calibers so bullet selection differences are moot, they run the same case, they run similar bc/sd, they mainly differ in bullet weight, even the front diameter difference is minimal, so it's like trying to pick fly sh@t out of pepper between these two...if you want another 150 yards effective range with a little longer mpbr over the grendel then get the arc and the expense of bullet weight and front area....lots of big game hunters will likely see that the extra 150 yards isn't necessary or worthwhile trade off for giving up that front area and heavier weight...as the grendel already holds good kill velocity to well past where almost any critter will get shot, if you're more predator calling, range plinking, p-doggin and the odd deer then the arc may be the better choice, but more big game work then the grendel is the better choice, that should cover it boys

[Fields_mj]

All I can say is that my Grendel has been very effective on whitetail these past 2 seasons. I'm loading a 105 MKZ and getting excellent accuracy. I hit a decent doe (110 lb dressed) quartering towards me last month at just over 200 yds. Through the front shoulder, a rib or two, both lungs, and out the other side with what appeared to be good expansion. Either way, she went less than 50 yds. Same morning I took a bigger doe (140 lb dressed) at 80 yds with the same results). Very happy with this setup.

[Les]

Hornady data has the 87 gr bullet (Vmax) for loads. The 87 SP would use the same data. 11 different powders, H4895 to CFE 223.
The OAL may differ however, so check your chamber and measurements with the chamber case-comparator.

What I loaded in .243 wasn't the 87 gr Vmax just the 87gr BTSP Just wondered what that bullet would look like in the 6mm ARC velocity wise. And no, I haven't done any research yet. Looks as if Hornady is promoting 103 gr bullets for this caliber.
Things that make me go Hmmmm.

[Les]

All true, especially your last sentence.

[SDguy]

I am stocked up on everything needed for the Grendel except AR platform. Bolt action works fine I guess, more than fine actually. Lately everything is in short supply.. Lots of ways to get the job done & either of your options are very capable if the shooter is up to the task. Thinking next season now, I expect you can't go wrong with either you have all of the components for. Only need one good option & currently their is more choices in the more seasoned cartridge.

Think the component shortage is doing a lot more harm for the ARC release than anything.

[Constitutionalist]

Grendel would be my choice. I have a buddy (retired police sniper so he can shoot) who had a shoulder replacement and now uses a .243 They've tracked his deer at least 200yds (up to 1/2 mile) with double lung shots each of the past 4 years using Nosler 90gr ABs. He's getting expansion and full penetration but it just doesn't seem to put them down quickly. Bucks ranged from 150-220 lbs so decent but not huge deer for Michigan whitetails. Why am I talking about .243? Because it pushes that bullet about 300fps faster than a 6mm ARC.

To each his own- shot placement is key. I have buddies in Alabama who hunt deer with 5.56mm ARs and Nosler 60gr. Partitions. They have TONS of deer (easily see 20-30 per day) and choose shots carefully. Any deer that isn't shot through the heart will get the shooter harassed by their partners. They take pictures to prove it.

Just my $.02

John

[tracker12]

I like the sectional density of 6.5 over any 6mm

[rickt300]

Grendel, I think sometimes bore diameter does make a difference. Have used the 243 and 6MM Remington on a good number of deer and the best killler for me has been the 95 gr. Ballistic Tips and the 87 gr. Hornady BTSP pushed to over 3000 fps. I didn't care for them as woods guns because I had to pass up too many shots due to poor angles. My Grendel this coming season will be loaded with 100 gr. Partitons pushed to 2700 fps. Testing to come.

[Fess]

I like the sectional density of 6.5 over any 6mm

What weight Grendel bullets do you use?
To provide some data, I ran some numbers for equivalent sectional density to the Hornady 6mm ARC rounds.
108gr 6mm = 127.5gr 6.5mm
103gr 6mm = 121.6gr 6.5mm

Both of those compare favorably to the 123grain Grendel loads for SD.

[A5BLASTER]

What weight Grendel bullets do you use?
To provide some data, I ran some numbers for equivalent sectional density to the Hornady 6mm ARC rounds.
108gr 6mm = 127.5gr 6.5mm
103gr 6mm = 121.6gr 6.5mm

Both of those compare favorably to the 123grain Grendel loads for SD.

So what's the sd number for those 2 6mm bullets? Curious what their listed sd number is.

My preferred hunting bullets in my grendels is the 120 gold dot and 129 ablr. Not sure what the sd is on them but I can find them, if you would like the numbers to compare to the sd numbers for the 2 6mm bullets you listed.

[VASCAR2]

The 6.5 Grendel SD according to available load data.

The Sectional Density for the 120 grain Gold Dot is .246
The Sectional Density for the 129 grain ABLR is .264
The Sectional Density for Hornady 120 grain GMX & 123 grain AMAX/SST is .246-.252
The Sectional Density for the Barnes 100 grain SST .205, 120 grain TSX/TTSX .246

For 6 MM ARC Hornady list Sectional Density for 80 grain GMX .194, 90 grain GMX .218, 95 grain SST .230, 100 grain Interlock BTSP .242

[A5BLASTER]

The 6.5 Grendel SD according to available load data.

The Sectional Density for the 120 grain Gold Dot is .246
The Sectional Density for the 129 grain ABLR is .264
The Sectional Density for Hornady 120 grain GMX & 123 grain AMAX/SST is .246-.252
The Sectional Density for the Barnes 100 grain SST .205, 120 grain TSX/TTSX .246

For 6 MM ARC Hornady list Sectional Density for 80 grain GMX .194, 90 grain GMX .218, 95 grain SST .230, 100 grain Interlock BTSP .242

Thank you sir.

So for the types of bullets I would choose for hunting. 6.5mm has a perrty good advantage in the sd department over 6mm.

I have given up on ballistic tip, hpbt and lead head type non bonded hunting bullets in favor of bonded and all copper hunting bullets.