{"id":4772,"date":"2020-05-18T09:18:09","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T09:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=4772"},"modified":"2025-03-19T22:11:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T22:11:19","slug":"best-6-5-grendel-ammo-hunting-target-plinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/best-6-5-grendel-ammo-hunting-target-plinking\/","title":{"rendered":"Best 6.5 Grendel Ammo: Hunting, Target, & Plinking"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Guy J. Sagi<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Grendel is the first creature that knightly Beowulf defeats in a classic work<\/a> of English literature. Accordingly, only a hero with superhuman strength could overcome the beast\u2019s mythical power, and the cartridge named after it\u2014the 6.5 Grendel\u2014provides firearm enthusiasts with the same kind of legend-building performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alexander Arms introduced the cartridge in 2003, around 1,000 years after an unknown author penned \u201cBeowulf.\u201d The latter work is requisite reading for most college freshmen and, similarly, modern sporting rifle owners should get behind an AR-15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel for some schooling. Cliff Notes don\u2019t do justice to the soft-shooting cartridge. Powder charge is less than similar cartridges\u2014thanks to the case design\u2019s efficiency\u2014and that translates to reduced recoil without sacrificing downrange energy.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The wider-diameter bullet also makes it legal for big-game hunting in a variety of states that otherwise don\u2019t allow the use of 5.56 NATO or .223 Rem. to fill tags. Likewise, semi-auto rifles don\u2019t hold an exclusive on the advantages, either. Similarly, a variety of manufacturers today are producing bolt-actions in the chambering.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Best 6.5 Grendel Ammo<\/h2>\n

Best 6.5 Grendel Ammo: Hunting Load Hornady SST 123-Grain<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"a

Hunting at distances of 300 yards or longer requires specialty ammo like 6.5 Grendel<\/span> Hornady SST.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hornady\u2019s Super Shock Tip (SST) bullet delivers the performance required for one-stop shots. The polymer tip drives deep into the lead core for expansion. It is controlled by a jacket that doesn\u2019t separate, thanks to the company\u2019s exclusive Interlock ring. The boattail design has an aerodynamic profile and leaves the barrel at 2,580 fps. Regardless, it generates 1,818 ft.-lbs. or energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n
Caliber<\/th>\nBullet Type<\/th>\nBullet Weight<\/th>\nVelocity (Muzzle)<\/th>\nEnergy (Muzzle)<\/th>\n100 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n200 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n300 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
6.5 Grendel<\/span><\/td>\nPoly<\/td>\n123gr<\/td>\n2,580 FPS<\/td>\n1,818 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,410 FPS\/1,586 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,247 FPS\/1,379 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,090 FPS\/1,193 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n
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\n Hornady Custom 6.5 Grendel 123 Grain SST - 20 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $33.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"product\"\n <\/div>\n
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\n Hornady Custom 6.5 Grendel 123 Grain SST - 200 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $319.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Best 6.5 Grendel Ammo:<\/b> Range\/Match Load Hornady Black ELD 123-Grain
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\"a

Hornady knows MOA matters, that’s why 6.5 Grendel<\/span> ELD Match is made for precision accuracy.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Hornady 123-grain ELD Match load for 6.5 Grendel has an identical bullet weight as its hunting-optimized brother. However, the projectile design is very different. The company\u2019s Extremely Low Drag (ELD) bullets feature heat shield tips that come to a perfect tip. Along with other aerodynamic improvements, it provides the kind of ballistic coefficient needed to win matches. The bullets launch at 2,580 fps and have 1,818 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n
Caliber<\/th>\nBullet Type<\/th>\nBullet Weight<\/th>\nVelocity (Muzzle)<\/th>\nEnergy (Muzzle)<\/th>\n100 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n200 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n300 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
6.5 Grendel<\/span><\/td>\nPoly<\/td>\n123gr<\/td>\n2,580 FPS<\/td>\n1,818 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,409 FPS\/1,585 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,244 FPS\/1,376 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,086 FPS\/1,189 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n
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\n \"product\"\n <\/div>\n
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\n Hornady Custom 6.5 Grendel 123 Grain ELD Match - 20 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $27.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Hornady BLACK 6.5 Grendel 123 Grain ELD Match \u2013 200 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $274.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Best 6.5 Grendel Ammo: Plinking Load Wolf\u00a0 FMJ 100-Grain<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"a

Wolf knows its target audience demands performance and quality at an affordable price.<\/p><\/div>\n

Budget-friendly options exist for high-volume fire in 6.5 Grendel, including the Wolf 100-grain FMJ-BT load. Lastly, the steel-cased ammo is accurate, economical, and features a bimetal jacket. You can’t use it at all gun ranges, but it’s an affordable way to get on target with an optic. Muzzle velocity is 2,690 fps and energy there is 1,607 ft.-lbs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n
Caliber<\/th>\nBullet Type<\/th>\nBullet Weight<\/th>\nVelocity (Muzzle)<\/th>\nEnergy (Muzzle)<\/th>\n100 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n200 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n300 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
6.5 Grendel<\/span><\/td>\nFMJ<\/td>\n100gr<\/td>\n2,690 FPS<\/td>\n1,607 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,516 FPS\/1,406 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,349 FPS\/1,225 FT LBS<\/td>\n2,188 FPS\/1,063 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n
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\n Nemo Arms 6.5 Grendel 120 Grain FMJBT \u2013 20 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $22.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Wolf Military Classic 6.5 Grendel 100 Grain FMJ \u2013 500 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $394.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n