Anybody tried the "Grendel" 123Amax w/ the 6.5 CM?

68bthp

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Minuteman
Jul 20, 2011
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The 123gr Amax that Hornady makes for 6.5 Grendel shooters utilizes a much higher BC then the 120 Amax that Hornady loads into their 6.5 Creedmore cartridge. Has anybody had any luck with tight groups using this bullet in the Creedmoor?
 
Re: Anybody tried the "Grendel" 123Amax w/ the 6.5 CM?

I've thought about it. I wish they would just dump the 120 altogether and use the 123, or even come up with something close to 130 grains.

I do use the 123's in my 6.5x55, which has a bit more case capacity. I hang them way out there at 3.11" OAL over 40.0 grains of Varget. It's an easy shooting load that does 2700 fps out of a 22" barrel and pretty much duplicates a 175 SMK out of a 308 with a whole lot less recoil. The BC is about the same as a 175 SMK or 155 Palma SMK.

If I was to try them I would start at ~36 grains Varget or ~42 grains H4350 and work up from there. Your rifle and mileage may vary.
 
Re: Anybody tried the "Grendel" 123Amax w/ the 6.5 CM?

I have both, a Grendel and a CM and while you could use the 123AMAX in both you need to consider the fact that a 123gr bullet is really on the light side for the CM.

That being said I use Barns 123TSX in my Grendel
 
Re: Anybody tried the "Grendel" 123Amax w/ the 6.5 CM?

I'm relying on 130-140 Grain loads for more serious long distance shooting, but thought the 123 Amax would suit 100-200 yard target shooting. The BC of the 123 AMax is .510, while the 120 Amax is .465 BC But, without having the two bullets in front of me to compare, I can only assume that the 123 AMax "Grendel" bullet has a shorter OAL and ogive located further back. But, I still don't see why it couldn't be seated further forward in the Creedmoor case neck and shoot accurately.

Without somebody(s) telling me that they have tried the 123 Amax "Grendel" bullet for accuracy and its poor out of a Creedmoor, the flatter trajectory is worth the cost of the $25 bullets and some time experimenting with it.
 
Re: Anybody tried the "Grendel" 123Amax w/ the 6.5 CM?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 68bthp</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Without somebody(s) telling me that they have tried the 123 Amax "Grendel" bullet for accuracy and its poor out of a Creedmoor, the flatter trajectory is worth the cost of the $25 bullets and some time experimenting with it.
</div></div>
THAT /|\

From what I can tell, speed and flat trajectory can be quite good when shooting unknown-distance.

Wind of course is another matter. If you such at wind calls, it *might* be worth having a loopier trajectory and just worrying about your ranging...especially if most of your shooting is at known or lasered distances (AND your laser works for THAT shot...).

Sorry, I haven't tried the 123 reloaded in a CM (yet, maybe never will??? the 140s work so well), but I see no reason why they would perform any differently there than in the Grendel. They worked great there.

I have some interest in trying the 123s loaded enough lighter than max in the CM, in an effort to extend barrel life. However, I haven't run the VooDoo of that barrel life predictor spreadsheet I downloaded a few years ago, for THAT question.
 
Re: Anybody tried the "Grendel" 123Amax w/ the 6.5 CM?

Not trying to sound rude, but if you are only going to be shooting 1-2 hundred yards with it why worry about B.C. a good flat base will likely shoot tighter groups.
 
Re: Anybody tried the "Grendel" 123Amax w/ the 6.5 CM?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not trying to sound rude, but if you are only going to be shooting 1-2 hundred yards with it why worry about B.C. a good flat base will likely shoot tighter groups. </div></div>

No offense taken.... and a very valid point.
Sometimes a bullet works out unexpectadly so well with my 100 yard bench shooting, that I end up keeping it as my "pet load", and just end up sticking with it as the designated round for that rifle. So, I prefer to start with a great BC bullet from the start.
I've already ordered these 123's and Berger 130 and 140's. Whichever shoots the 1/4" groups at 100 yards is what I'll be sticking with. However, if I read convincing input from more then one individual that the 123's just won't shoot out of my 6.5CM, then before I would even open the box, I'd rather just mail them back for credit toward something else.
 
Re: Anybody tried the "Grendel" 123Amax w/ the 6.5 CM?

I think I actually asked Hornady and did not get a reply. My guess was the 123 had a little different geometry to work with the Grendel
 
I am shooting creed and same question arose with me. 95 vmax, 120amax, 130, 140 bergers,140 nos cc all shoot extremly well, so i tried the higher bc 123 amax and can not get a decent group. Diff length, diff powders and charges, and nothing worth the effort of loading them has resulted. Wonder why? All you smart ballistitions out there- what up with this? I have stoped worrying about it cuz ia am so pleased withe all others, and am sure some grendel fan will buy excess 123's at the shows, but would like to know. There must be good reason seeing as how no factory loads (horn.), are produced. I have settled on 130 vlds or 95-120 v or amax, but would like to try lapua or norma still. Oh well not complaining. Lessdrop
very happyam
 
I shoot the 123 A-max in my 6.5x47 with excellent results. The did not group until I seated them .010 into the rifling. Now they will easily shoot under .5 moa. Hope this helps someone out. Happy Holidays.

Regards,
Paul