24" 6.5 Grendel AR15 Loads?

[Boosted98gsx]

I'm having trouble finding many loads for this length of barrel. Most people are having success with the faster burning powders, but are running 16-18". I want to try to load up some 120gr Pro-Hunters with varget, which most people haven't had much success with, but I would think that my longer barrel would promote better ballistics.

Thoughts or experience?

Thanks
Andrew

 

[blackfoot]

Re: 24" 6.5 Grendel AR15 Loads?

I'm running 8208 and 123 Scenars in my 24" Grendel. CFE223 is also up on the list with a lot of guys.

 

[Boosted98gsx]

Re: 24" 6.5 Grendel AR15 Loads?

I'm really hoping to run Varget. I just love that powder, and I have so much, lol.

 

[bobke]

Re: 24" 6.5 Grendel AR15 Loads?

You'd be giving up the velocity you'd hope to gain with 24" barrel with an inability to get enough Varget in a case to get you where you want to get to. I use CFE as primary powder, but 8208, TAC, BLC2, RL15, AR Comp are all usable as well. I use these in 18/20/24 barrels. I'm loving Varget in my .308, however.

 

[Hank Rearden]

Re: 24" 6.5 Grendel AR15 Loads?

Here is a link to a new reloading guide one of the regulars at 6.5 Grendel forums has put together. Reading his posts he seems to know his stuff. Bill Alexander knows him by name and recommended it also.

I don't have mine yet but its in the mail. For 10 bucks i took a chance.

http://www.ar15buildbox.com/Sitemap.html

 

[SFC Carpentier jr]

Re: 24" 6.5 Grendel AR15 Loads?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is a link to a new reloading guide one of the regulars at 6.5 Grendel forums has put together. Reading his posts he seems to know his stuff. Bill Alexander knows him by name and recommended it also.

I don't have mine yet but its in the mail. For 10 bucks i took a chance.</div></div>

Drop the hammer on one of these also. Should have some good information.

 

[338RUM runner]

Re: 24" 6.5 Grendel AR15 Loads?

+1 on the book, hope it's good.

 

[bobo]

After much ladder testing my 24" black hole weaponry barrel likes 28.6 of tac with 123 amax in hornady brass. Cci small rifle mag primers. Amazing how much better the amax shot than the nosler custom comp. and i culdnt get it to shoot 123 scenars at all.

 

[bjay]

i have 28" ( i originaly wanted 26") but SATERN made a mistake anyway twisy 1:8.75 using lapua brass 450cci primer 123 amax 8208xbr 28.30 the load i settled.i also tried 2520 too much pressure for me.

 

[raider1v1]

i am using 90gr speers w/ 30.3gr of benchmark and cci large rifle primers and an OAL of 2.200. I am also using 123 a-maxes w/ 28.8gr of varget, cci large rifle primers and a coal of 2.245.

 

[bjay]

i am using 90gr speers w/ 30.3gr of benchmark and cci large rifle primers and an OAL of 2.200. I am also using 123 a-maxes w/ 28.8gr of varget, cci large rifle primers and a coal of 2.245.

what brass are you using?

 

[raider1v1]

Wolf brass.

 

[Biggerhammer50]

I have a 24" Saturn barrel with a 1:8 twist that I use for coyote hunting. I use 28.5 gr of 8208xbr with a 123 Sierra HPBT Match and a OAL of 2.28. The load is compressed but shoots pretty well.
I also use 31.5 BL-C(2) with the same bullet and both loads are with AA brass.
I have fire formed brass from Winchester 7.62x39 cases ran thru a 6.5 die. It takes about 2 to 3 firings to get the win brass to shoot really well.

"ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ"

 

[bjay]

I have a 24" Saturn barrel with a 1:8 twist that I use for coyote hunting. I use 28.5 gr of 8208xbr with a 123 Sierra HPBT Match and a OAL of 2.28. The load is compressed but shoots pretty well.
I also use 31.5 BL-C(2) with the same bullet and both loads are with AA brass.
I have fire formed brass from Winchester 7.62x39 cases ran thru a 6.5 die. It takes about 2 to 3 firings to get the win brass to shoot really well.

"ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ"

how do you load 2.28 on your mags?

 

[Biggerhammer50]

I dont know what mag you are using but my AA mag has an internal measurement of 2.32 so the 2.28 just barely fits with the Sierra bullet. I have to seat them to 2 26 or 2.25 with SST's. Don't know why the Sierra's feed better seated to 2.28 than the SST's but they do with no problems.

"ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ"

 

[bjay]

I dont know what mag you are using but my AA mag has an internal measurement of 2.32 so the 2.28 just barely fits with the Sierra bullet. I have to seat them to 2 26 or 2.25 with SST's. Don't know why the Sierra's feed better seated to 2.28 than the SST's but they do with no problems.

"ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ"

good to know ive been seating all my amax 123 2.25..let me check one of my mag oal max
edited: ok i just checked it c products (its what AA use) 2.316 so i guess 2.28 is more than ok

 

[Drifter™]

You'd be giving up the velocity you'd hope to gain with 24" barrel with an inability to get enough Varget in a case to get you where you want to get to.

+1. Varget will work, but it will not be optimum. I like 8208 with 107gr SMK's, and AR-Comp with the 123gr Amax. Both of these powders provide good velocity, good temp stability, and great accuracy. CFE-223 and Leverevolution will produce the highest velocities, but can be temp sensitive.

 

[Retooferab]

I use 28.1 grains of 8208 with the Sierra 120 game bullets. I have a bhw 18" barrel.

5 shot 100 yard group.

 

[bobke]

I'm using CFE, CCI 41's and either 123SST Hornady's or 123 Nosler CC's with very good results in three Grendels from 18 to 24". Velocity in mid 26's in 24" Satern.

 

[Daveworkslocal]

I have a 20" Schnieder barrel on mine. These loads are for reference only! My loads are as follows:

Hornaday 95grn AMAX
seated to 2.23
FED 205M
IMR 82808 XBR at 29.5grns

Berger 130grn VLD
Seated at 2.42
FED 205M
Hodgdon BL-c (2) at 28.6grns

Sierra 107 HPBT SMK
Seated to 2.260
FED 205M
IMR 8208 XBR at 30grns

Sierra 120 HPBT SMK
seated to 2.20
FED 205M
BL-C (2) at 31.7

Sierra 85 varminter
Seated 2.23
FED205M
IMR 8208 XBR at 29.0 grns

Lapua 108 Scenar
Seated 2.260
FED 205M
CFE-223 at 33.4grns

This is with Hornaday brass. The barrel is polygonal so your loads may be different.

 

[bronco_buster]

Man...I start getting pressure signs above 27.8g of 8208xbr in both a LW barreled and Satern barreled rifle.

I've found my most accurate load with 27.5g of 8208xbr, Lapua brass, CCI magnum SMP, and 123 Amax.

Reloading for the Grendel for me has been a hair pulling adventure.

Be careful with seating depth. I was 0.02 off the lands with great results and by the third reload I started

getting problems with chambering. I've found that the neck tension has probably loosened allowing the bullets

to slide into the lands when chambered. Annealing has been essential to keep things running consistently.