08-04-2015, 12:09 PM
rwh Wrote:If you want to know if a grendel match rifle can compete in high power all you have to do is check out the results from Camp Perry at http://www.nrahq.org/compete/natpdf/cp400-15.pdf. The fifth and sixth scores overall were shot with a service rifle. You need to define what you mean by compete. If you are a semi-professional top ranked shooter whose reputation depends on how well you shoot you will probably want to go with a tube gun from Gary Eliseo chambered in something like 6mm CM, 6 XC, or 6 dasher. If you are shooting at the expert level and working on making master a match rifle chambered in grendel will get the job done. You might drop an extra point here and there with a missed wind call but on a calm day the grendel doesn't give up anything to those other cartridges in accuracy. It may even have an edge.
RWH:
You need points to progress in NRA Rankings. You lose points with a Grendel if there are winds. So, you have a harder time progressing in the rankings. It is more than one or two points, too. How frustrating it would be for a guy to be firing his last 80 shots for record to make Master or High Master and he doesn't make it by a point or two because he decided to shoot a anemic cartridge instead of one that gives him a edge in flaky winds.
I shoot the Grendel in High Power periodically and I am a High Master. My wind doping is pretty good, too. The points I drop at 600 yards are pretty significant if the winds are shifting quickly, like they do where I shoot.
It is just as good as anything else at 200 and 300. Unless you have pretty strong winds at 300. Shooting it at 600 is about the same as shooting the obsolete 168 grain .308 loads. If you see a hint of wind blowing, put on a minute.
So far I don't see it competitive in High Power. Fun to shoot maybe but not competitive, yet. Given a big breakthrough in powder that can give another 200 fps without pressures, it will be just fine.
LR55