You guys running grendels in a semi auto,  are you getting better accuracy  on the lower grain bullets  or towards the upper end weights. Need to find some place to start for loading, thanks

Originally Posted By mayorbilk
You guys running grendels in a semi auto,  are you getting better accuracy  on the lower grain bullets  or towards the upper end weights. Need to find some place to start for loading, as far as bullet choice. Thanks

120-gr Nosler BT factory load
123-gr Hornady SST factory load and hand loads.  This is what I'd start with if I were you.  Then try the VLD loads.

The lighter bullets, like the 90-gr. Speer TNT and the 100 gr. Sierra Match King aren't nearly as good (in my gun.)

The 129 gr. SST isn't as good as the 123 gr. version.

I'd like to try the 130 gr. Berger VLD.

The Grendel has a unique throat profile, so there will be more variability.

double tap

123 eld
123 SMK

Thanks for giving me a place to start from

I have one rifle that’s not finicky at all. It’s two favorite loads are the 95gr Vmax and 123gr Amax with the 107gr Sierra close to the rest. Now my 18” Grendel is extremely finicky all it likes is the 123gr ELDM or Amax. It doesn’t even like the 123gr Sierra. And it turns to a shotgun pattern with the 107gr Sierra bullets. I haven’t had real good luck with 120gr ballistic tips from either rifle but a buddy’s Christianson carbon fiber barrel stacks them pretty good.

Haven't tried many lighter projectiles. My Grendel has always run well with the heavier SST and A-max. I just picked up some ELD match projectiles to work with since I've run out of SST's. 120 tipped TSX did ok as did the M-LE from Barnes, but not as well as the Hornady's.

123gr ELD-M

The sweet spot for Grendels.

I have had good luck down to the 100 BTips.

129 ELD-Ms did not shoot well and I did not try very hard after my first loads with them.

My Grendel, Creedmoor and 6.5-300 Weatherby all like the Swift Scirocco 130g. The 120 A Frames are next on my list to try.

I'm heading to the range to try out some 115 gr. Berger HPBT (factory Alexander Arms loads.)

For reloading I get great results from the 123 ELD-M. For factory ammo I get great results from the 123 grain American Gunner ammo.

The 100ish (???) ELDX works better for me, although I'm still trying to find a load that's sub moa regularly. This has been a challenging cartridge to load for. Although part of me wonder if it's the barrel/upper

I shot a few five-shot groups with Berger 115 gr. HPBT, and also Hornady 123 gr. A-Max

They group nearly identical, meaning, about 1.5 MOA out of my Alexander Arms Lightweight Hunter handheld rested.

I might try some gelatin tests with the Bergers.

ETA - I just visited the Berger website, and they don't list that bullet.  (????)

Depends on how the rifle is set up and the barrel quality.

Even with a lightweight Wasp profile (.650 under the handguard, step up shoulder, .750 journal, .740 to muzzle), my Lilja shoots everything extremely well.

That includes 123gr A-AMAX, 123gr SST, 107gr SMK, 120gr Scenar-L, 100gr TTSX, 94gr GMX experimental, 129gr ABLR, 90gr TNT, 120gr Federal Match, and 95gr Lehigh Controlled Chaos.

It cuts ranged holes at 100yds doing 10rd groups even when I had a standard trigger in it (polished sear surfaces) and groups sub-MOA when fired rapid at 1000yds with my 123gr A-MAX load of CFE223.

With the 90gr TNT and 95gr Controlled Chaos, there is very little recoil and muzzle blast, even compared with .223 Rem.

Lighter pills are easier to shoot well, but they don't retain energy well at distance so I don't shoot them much, with the 107gr SMK being as low as I would go if you want to shoot the distances I do regularly (600-1200yds+).

With my 12" Grendel, I'm getting better-than-expected results at 800yds with factory ammo, both 123gr Hornady American Gunner and 120gr Federal OTM, though it is a bit more jumpy than an 18" with bipod.  I'm using the magazine as a monopod with the 12" Grendel.

With heavy-barreled guns like the Lilja 22" fluted, they don't move much at all.

The most accurate ammo I have fired in 6.5 Grendel over the years has been 123gr SMK factory load from Precision Firearms, as in tiny bugholes at 100yds.

120gr Scenar-L has been really accurate as well, but the 123gr A-MAX and 123gr American Gunner from Hornady aren't bad either.

In a Lilja barrel, I've shot 5rd groups in the .3s to .6s.

With my LaRue Stealth 18", I've shot .536" 5rd with the AG using a Burris 1.5-6x42 scope with a 2 MOA dot in the middle of the reticle, not exactly best for precision shooting.

Buddy of mine is getting 1/10th mil groups with his 12.5" Bartlein barrel from Precision Firearms, which is insane.  Taking it out to over 1100yds with maybe 85% hit rate, and 100% hit rate at 940yds last I talked with him.

If you have a quality barrel with a true SAAMI chamber, barrel fitted tightly to the upper, a good trigger, good position and fundamentals, the guns will just shoot.

If you buy an economy barrel and roll the dice, you may or may not realize the accuracy potential of the cartridge and walk away with a cocked eye towards it.