6.5 Grendel proper load with varget?

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Hello Horde,

I loaded up some death pills last night, 27.8 grains - 28.2 grains of varget on my 65grendel. Only issue is I am using the longer 120 gmx bullet. I loaded to an overall length of 2.244.. all of the above per the Hornady reloading manual. When pressing everything there is some crunchyness going on. Is this normal? Thx AOG

 

[Supersubes]

Looking at hodgdon’s data site, they don’t list Varget in any of their loads. They’re in the h322/benchmark/h335 range with the 120’s, and they’re compressed or nearly so with those powders. I’m not surprised that Varget is crunching. Where’d you get the data from?

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Looking at hodgdon’s data site, they don’t list Varget in any of their loads. They’re in the h322/benchmark/h335 range with the 120’s, and they’re compressed or nearly so with those powders. I’m not surprised that Varget is crunching. Where’d you get the data from?

Good question straight from the Hornady book.. it lumps it in with the shorter length 123 gr sst.. see attached

 

[rangerlong]

It's possible the cases they used had higher capacity than yours. Still, you're well under their published max. I wouldn't worry about being slightly compressed. You still have .015" of seating depth to play with before you hit the maximum coal for an AR mag. You could always reseat the bullets to a coal of 2.260" if you're worried about it.

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

It's possible the cases they used had higher capacity than yours. Still, you're well under their published max. I wouldn't worry about being slightly compressed. You still have .015" of seating depth to play with before you hit the maximum coal for an AR mag. You could always reseat the bullets to a coal of 2.260" if you're worried about it.

Thanks.. why 2.260?

 

[Supersubes]

Thanks.. why 2.260?

Give yourself a little extra room in the case.

 

[spife7980]

Thanks.. why 2.260?

2.260 is the max length for a standard AR mag, if youre mag differs then your allowable measurements can vary as well, all something to be aware of.
Obviously test it and make sure your bullet isnt unknowingly getting jammed into the lands when seated that far out by coloring a bullet in sharpie and seeing if there are any land imprints on the bullet after chambering and extracting but as subes said, when the bullet is further out it wont be crunching powder down inside the case as much.

 

[rangerlong]

Assuming you’re using an AR, that’s the maximum COAL that will fit in and feed reliably from an AR magazine.
You may even be able to load a bit longer depending on the mag.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Varget is a poor choice for Grendel powder. You'll run out of case capacity long before you get close to the max charge weight for pressure. Expect to be 200fps under the full potential for the cartridge.

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Varget is a poor choice for Grendel powder. You'll run out of case capacity long before you get close to the max charge weight for pressure. Expect to be 200fps under the full potential for the cartridge.

Good input.. yes I have heard this.. 20 inch barrel and 28 gr of varget got me 2400 FPS. What would you recommend instead? Would love xbr8208 but it’s sold out everywhere.

I have at my disposal

Varget
H4350
IMR4350
CFE223

Open to alternate suggestions. Also open to bullet suggestions. Currently have 120 gmx and 123 sst on the shelf.

Thx

AOG

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Good input.. yes I have heard this.. 20 inch barrel and 28 gr of varget got me 2400 FPS. What would you recommend instead? Would love xbr8208 but it’s sold out everywhere.

I have at my disposal

Varget
H4350
IMR4350
CFE223

Open to alternate suggestions. Also open to bullet suggestions. Currently have 120 gmx and 123 sst on the shelf.

Thx

AOG

Of the four listed CFE223 will make the best velocity, however, I could not get it to shoot and had high SD's. for 120gr and heavier bullets I would look at AR Comp. 8208 is used by a lot of people handloading Grendel but it is too fast in my opinion and pressure spikes when loaded hot. Tac, A2520, H335, Benchmark, and H322 are also good fits. I'd focus on AR Comp on projectile weight from 120gr to 130gr.

 

[rangerlong]

I also found TAC works well. 28.5gr with the 123gr SMK did 2523fps out of my 20” barrel.

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Very nice thanks for the advice!

 

[Doc68]

8208 worked well in the 100-90gr projectiles for me. I have a howa mini action and found it worked best in the lighter bullets.

 

[isaacspoon]

just getting into the grendel scene, good info here. I have several poweders to play with and hope to add value to some load data here.

 

[SupressYourself]

I agree you probably need a different powder, but I have a few tips regardless:
1. ASC mags offer an OAL of up to 2.316, which can help a lot for those longer bullets.
2. If you put your finger over the mouth of the filled case and tap it on the table a few times before seating the bullet, it will help settle the powder and give you a little more room. Holding the case up to just about any vibrating device works too.
3. Not sure what seating die you're using, but Redding expressly states that using compressed loads will void their warranty, at least on their competition seater. If you get too crazy, it can bend the seating stem.

 

[Laseredge]

8208 XBR is a go to for 6.5G. 123’s at @2500 fps out of a 18-20” barrel. Good accuracy and velocity to shoot really well out to 1K yds+.

 

[bobke]

Have used a shit ton of CFE223 with really good results in a handful of Grendel barrels, getting 2550 in 20” Bartlein and 2650 in 24” Satern. That said, have used TAC and 8208 over course of several years, but recent work with AR Comp in 20/24” Saterns has been pretty enlightening. Not quite the velocity of top CFE loads, but excellent accuracy. Doesn’t meter quite as uniformly as CFE, but the consistent accuracy has been the selling point for me. As noted, there are better homes for Varget in 223/308 and light bullets in a 6.5x47 or 6.5CM.

 

[Laseredge]

Have used a shit ton of CFE223 with really good results in a handful of Grendel barrels, getting 2550 in 20” Bartlein and 2650 in 24” Satern. That said, have used TAC and 8208 over course of several years, but recent work with AR Comp in 20/24” Saterns has been pretty enlightening. Not quite the velocity of top CFE loads, but excellent accuracy. Doesn’t meter quite as uniformly as CFE, but the consistent accuracy has been the selling point for me. As noted, there are better homes for Varget in 223/308 and light bullets in a 6.5x47 or 6.5CM.

Thanks. I have a bunch of 8208, but also quite a bit of AR Comp I bought for a 260 gas gun.
Good to know it works well in 6.5G.

 

[bfglowkey]

If you want a great resource forum for Grendel just follow this link:

6.5 Grendel Ammunition & Reloading

Discuss 6.5 Grendel handloading data as well as official SAAMI 6.5 Grendel factory ammunition. Any new threads about specific bullets or powders should have that name in the title, otherwise add to existing threads dedicated to specific bullets or powders.

www.65grendel.com

The site also has 2 books available focused completely on Grendel loading.
Varget is indeed not ideal for the Grendel. AR Comp, XBR 8028, TAC, H335 and yes CFE223 are all really excellent powders for the Grendel. Your king of versatility is AR Comp and XBR running neck and neck. CFE is best for heavier pills and max velocity.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Load data has a shelf life, the Grendel books were probably great seven or eight years ago. You can get free data from Sierra, Nosler, Hodgdon, Western, and the internet. Hornady also has Grendel data in their manual but it isn't free. I have both of the Grendel books and I wouldn't buy them again.