I am in the market for another deer rifle to go with my .308 and 6.5 creedmoor (which I am not really happy with for deer). I dont need another gun, but I WANT one.

So, I am sort of narrowing it down to the 6.5 Grendal and the commie round for a short range (out to about 200 yards) deer and pig gun. Will put a good scope on whichever I get.

These are the only two options right now, so which would the board use? Hunting ammo availability does figure in on this. Thanks.

Soooo....you aren't happy with a 6.5 CM, butare considering the same caliber?

What exactly aren't you happy about wth your 6.5?

And 7.62 is going to be difficult to find hunting rounds for.

What's the issue with the CM? Not enough power or wound cavity?

The Grendel is smaller than the CM and the Grendel is better than the 7.62x39

Are you wanting a bolt gun or semi?

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These are the only two options right now, so which would the board use? Hunting ammo availability does figure in on this. Thanks.

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It seems you already made your mind up…. Are you looking for validation?

I don't own a 6.5 Grendel but I recently built one upon request for a colleague. It's a ragged hole shooter and deadly on pigs. I'm building one for myself now!! These are pics I received this week…….

6.5 has been great for Deer so curios on your issues? Even harvested an Oryx with it earlier this year. I will say the Nosler 142 grain Accubond Long Range has been phenomenal for me. I set an email alert on Nosler's website and buy a box when they make a batch and it is available.

Both guns would be in the Howa 1500 bolt action. That is the same as my .308 and I love it.

My Savage 110 6.5CR will only group with Federal Blue box 140 grain hunting ammo. I have tried about 8 different brands and grains and it will not get under 2 inches at 100 yards with anything but the Federal, and with that it is BARELY a one inch group.

This last weekend I shot a doe at 172 yards, verified with a rangefinder, and hit her in the high shoulder, left side. The exit wound bled like crazy and we started tracking her at about 5:45 in the evening. There was a nice blood trail to follow, and we finally found her at about 10 o'clock that night. She was still alive and tried to run and we followed her and finally shot her dead.

The exit hole was about two inches in diameter and you could easily look into the chest cavity, but she still lived for almost 5 hours after being shot.

I know the Grendal is the same caliber, but with different characteristics and types of ammo, it may do a better job than the faster CR. I dont know much about the russian caliber for hunting, but I do know there is not much hunting ammo available for it, and that is mostly Winchester.

Fishin Texas Aggie 05 said:

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These are the only two options right now, so which would the board use? Hunting ammo availability does figure in on this. Thanks.

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It seems you already made your mind up…. Are you looking for validation?

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Nope, just any thoughts of each caliber for hunting. I know there is a decent selection of Grendal ammo out there for hunting, but not sure about the russian caliber, or how good it may be as a hunting rifle versus just using ball ammo.

P.S. I also just like using things that are against the norm. I am looking for a 7mm-08 also, but I havent found one that I like enough to spend money on.

You should get a .25-06 instead

There will be a better variety of ammunition for the 6.5.

Ammo selection will matter more. Use Hornady SST ammo, and they won't get far. I know Hornady makes it for the 6.5 Grendel, but not sure about for the 7.62

Why not get a popular hunting caliber? If it's for a bolt action just get something versatile. 7mag works at 200 yards and further if you want to use it for something else later.

I have the Howa mini in 6.5G and everything has been bang flop. Mine ragged holes anything in 123grn with no need for adjustment to zero.

I built a Grendel for my swamp lease rifle, absolutely love it so far.

Hornady 123sst's are deadly on deer and pigs.

I would figure out why your creedmor wontgroup and use different projectiles

Buck the trend and go 450 bushmaster or 350 legend. Both will do the job and both have ammo available at academy just about any time you walk in.


eta: that said, I love my grendel

GAC06 said:

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Why not get a popular hunting caliber? If it's for a bolt action just get something versatile. 7mag works at 200 yards and further if you want to use it for something else later.

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I have a Howa .308 hunting rifle that I have killed many deer with, and I love it. I just want options when it comes to ammo availability.

I am leaning pretty heavy toward the Grendal now.

schmellba99 said:

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I built a Grendel for my swamp lease rifle, absolutely love it so far.

Hornady 123sst's are deadly on deer and pigs.

I would figure out why your creedmor wontgroup and use different projectiles

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I plan on doing that, but right now there arent many available types of hunting ammo to be found. I would like to try the Winchester and Remington offerings, but I havent found any. I will get it right, but I also just want another type rifle to have anyway.

clarythedrill said:

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GAC06 said:

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Why not get a popular hunting caliber? If it's for a bolt action just get something versatile. 7mag works at 200 yards and further if you want to use it for something else later.

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I have a Howa .308 hunting rifle that I have killed many deer with, and I love it. I just want options when it comes to ammo availability.

I am leaning pretty heavy toward the Grendal now.

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I hate to rag on you again, but what's this lack of options on .308 ammo?

clarythedrill said:

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GAC06 said:

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Why not get a popular hunting caliber? If it's for a bolt action just get something versatile. 7mag works at 200 yards and further if you want to use it for something else later.

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I have a Howa .308 hunting rifle that I have killed many deer with, and I love it. I just want options when it comes to ammo availability.

I am leaning pretty heavy toward the Grendal now.

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Grendel with 2 E's.

Fishin Texas Aggie 05 said:

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clarythedrill said:

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GAC06 said:

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Why not get a popular hunting caliber? If it's for a bolt action just get something versatile. 7mag works at 200 yards and further if you want to use it for something else later.

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I have a Howa .308 hunting rifle that I have killed many deer with, and I love it. I just want options when it comes to ammo availability.

I am leaning pretty heavy toward the Grendal now.

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I hate to rag on you again, but what's this lack of options on .308 ammo?

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Sorry, I meant that I want more options in other calibers when it comes to ammo availability I just want more options in different calibers.

6.5G is the best AR round in my opinion. But I'm not sure why you get it over your 6.5C in a bolt gun.

Grendel for pure hunting, but get x39 if you want it it also serve as your do-all truck gun

I'm really struggling with making sense of this thread. Get a Grendel, can always use more guns and it's a nice cartridge.

But…..
You don't like your 6.5CM for deer. Based on a single experience where it sounds like the bullet performed well. So you're moving to a gun in the same caliber, but shoots lighter bullets, at slower speeds?

I'd figure out what's wrong with you CM while also getting a new 6.5G. Have you checked scope and action screws etc? Can you shoot moa with your 308 win? Tons upon tons of ungulates have been killed with the 6.5CM.

6.5G is an AR caliber. Not much sense in using it in a bolt gun when better options exist.

6.5G was constrained in design to make the most out of the AR platform.

Shoot lower

Humble couldn't be more wrong…

Get a howa min action 6.5G 20 inch heavy Barrel
-The gun is light as can be,
-There's no real recoil (less than 556)
-It has a Good ammo selection for the non-reloader…
-Bang flop on deer and hogs. Out to 300
-I have shot my sons out to 700 accurately Even with the vortex diamondback on it.

Because of the low weight and more compact feel I honestly would rather take it hunting than any of my nicer guns…

Love 6.5 Grendels and also shoot 123gr SSTs. DRT hogs everytime. 12" pistol, 16" lightweight and 18" Noveske. Love all of them.

I normally hunt deer with .308 but this year went 6.5 CM Norma 140 SP Whitetail. 8pt ran about 20 yards. Shot him at about 80 yards.

I'll shoot deer with the Grendel next year. Built one formy friend's son. 16" shot a buck that ran about 25 yds with Federal Fusion.

I love 7.62x39 for dumping mags on steel but I found wolf steel SPs that I'm gonna try out on pigs. 10.5 barrel.

TxA&Mhunter said:

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Humble couldn't be more wrong…

Get a howa min action 6.5G 20 inch heavy Barrel
-The gun is light as can be,
-There's no real recoil (less than 556)
-It has a Good ammo selection for the non-reloader…
-Bang flop on deer and hogs. Out to 300
-I have shot my sons out to 700 accurately Even with the vortex diamondback on it.

Because of the low weight and more compact feel I honestly would rather take it hunting than any of my nicer guns…

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I mean I'm not saying it is a bad round, I'm just stating the purpose Bill Alexander designed it for. It was purpose built for AR platforms.

Just to mix things up, why not 30-06?

Going to jump in on your thread. Just bought the below in 6.5 Grendel. Should arrive in about a week.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/918991206

With that being said I am looking for a scope for up 200 yard shots (give or take). Do you all have any recommendations? Is 4x enough magnification? The below is what I like just not sure if this is the way to go. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

https://opticsandammo.com/product/leupold-fx-ii-4x28mm-handgun-duplex-silve-mfg-58760/

ontherocks said:

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Going to jump in on your thread. Just bought the below in 6.5 Grendel. Should arrive in about a week.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/918991206

With that being said I am looking for a scope for up 200 yard shots (give or take). Do you all have any recommendations? Is 4x enough magnification? The below is what I like just not sure if this is the way to go. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

https://opticsandammo.com/product/leupold-fx-ii-4x28mm-handgun-duplex-silve-mfg-58760/

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Next level.

.257 Roberts is the obvious answer.

I really don't understand the issues people have with Creedmoor…

I have killed 11 aoudad in the last 3 months with mine. All dropped dead in their tracks except for two. One ran 30 yards and the other ran at least 50 but I couldn't get into the cedars where it died. I have not had any negative experiences with this round and amazed how many people still continue to have issues…

143gr Precision Hunters (ELD-X)

Here's my Grendel experience through my son (12yr old now).
1st deer- shot behind shoulder ran maybe 25 yards. No blood trail.
2nd deer- shot behind shoulder ran 20 yards. Very little blood trail.
3rd deer- shot behind shoulder dropped dead on the spot.
4th deer- shot a little high broke his back, had to finish off with second shot.
5th deer (shot this morning)- behind shoulder, dropped dead on spot.

All shot with Hornady 123sst which absolutely destroyed both lungs everytime (except for the one shot in the back). My only complaint was many of them didn't exit. So blood trails were light to non existent. However, when their lungs are that destroyed, it doesn't matter they can't run far anyway.

We've also shot a few javelinas and they all dropped on the spot.

I also like it on the AR platform because it's a simple move of the stock for me to use it or for him as he grows.

I think, and this is not directed at the OP, that it is a combination of bad bullet selection and unrealistic expectations. And not understanding the advantages of the newer designs.

Does a 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5 Grendel kill deer more efficiently than a 6.5 Swede or the slightly smaller .257 Roberts? For 99.9% of shots taken my guess is the answer is no. That's not the advantage, especially of the Creedmoor. The main advantage is the ability to chamber them in AR platforms, and of course for the long range accuracy. But inside say 250 yards all four of those rounds will kill deer essentially the same.

People buy them thinking they are the latest and greatest and will kill deer more dead faster, when reality is we conquered that hill 100 years ago with the 30-06 and soft point bullets.

I am intrigued by both, but only for an AR. If I shot at really long ranges the Creedmoor in a good bolt action would be really cool.