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Post by bigbrowndog on Jan 16, 2023 10:17:18 GMT -5
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,622
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Post by jeffh on Jan 16, 2023 10:49:47 GMT -5
The 6.5mm has a definite advantage in pistols. Since most of the 6.5 Cartridges originated in the late 1800s, bullets are made to expand at more moderate than those that were introduced during the Magnum Era. As powder has improved, better velocities are obtainable with smaller cases too. It's sad that the Single Shot Pistols are out of favor. There's so much going for them these days... Well, yeah, but can you find those old-fashioned bullets these days? I couldn't find 6.6mm, 160 grain Hornady RNs or Sierra SPs for a few years after the Creedmore came out. Everything was lighter, boutique bullets with cool names. I gave up.
There's so much hype about he SD and BC of 6.5 bullets these days and few use the ones which REALLY had some serious SD, especially in the Grendel. NOT knocking the cartridge, as I think it's cool as all get-out, but the things people latch onto without thinking about it... Try to tell someone that when you reduce the 6.5 to using a 120 grain bullet, the SD is good, but not the level of good that gave the 6.5 its reputation, and a 20 grain .257 bullet has an even higher SD. Not that it even matters that much, but that people repeat the drivel without trying to actually learn about it.
In the mid-eighties, I "discovered" the 6.5x55, the only loading data I could find was in my Lyman46th Edition manual. I remembered thinking those looked like some reasonable ballistics from a low-pressure cartridge for deer hunting, even varmints, really. THEN, I noticed it was from an 18" barrel.
Glad to hear your reservations regarding the Grendel in the Contender v. G2. I'm very careful with my Contenders. I know many who know more about them than I do, but I stay away from the ragged edge on them myself. Don't always have a good feel for what's OK and can't afford to replace one, so I stay with stuff it was chambered for at the factory, and the milder chamberings at that.
Single-shot pistols out of vogue,... Like so many other things we had going which were amazing being crowded out. It's a shame, because in a few years, someone will get the idea again and "discover" all this stuff anew, only to find it rare and expensive. I think our single-action glory days are done as well. Cowboy-Action sure did us all a favor with that run.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Jan 16, 2023 11:01:02 GMT -5
Jeff, do you need some Sierra 160’s?? I can spare some
Trapr
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Post by Encore64 on Jan 16, 2023 11:08:55 GMT -5
A few years back I was given several bulk boxes of bullets from an estate.
One included was a box of 7500 Hornady 100 grn SP. So, that's what my Grendels get fed.
Generally, 2700+ fps can be obtained in rifle length barrels. That's only 100 fps behind the 250 Savage which has an excellent reputation on deer sized critters...
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,622
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Post by jeffh on Jan 16, 2023 11:12:59 GMT -5
Jeff, do you need some Sierra 160’s?? I can spare some Trapr
No, Sir, but thank you for such an amazingly gracious offer. Very thoughtful.
I was looking to the future and for others who use or may someday use the old, low-pressure 6.5s. I used to get Hornady "blems" for $10/c and snag a couple bags every time I placed an order with Midsouth, so I am set myself. As I began to convince others of the versatility of the 6.5x55, it got to the point where I sold them on something they couldn't support over the long term.
Thank you again and thanks for the link to the article. I bookmarked it to read when I get my "chores" done.
Oh, for others, regarding these long, blunt bludgeons, my brother knocks down a deer or two a year with these in a 6.5x55 in SC. He's used all manner of chamberings where he hunts and says "it almost don't seem fair to the deer shooting them with the 160 RNs." Anecdotal, I know, but the point regarding the old "cup-n-core" bullets at moderate velocities is golden.
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Post by tdbarton on Jan 16, 2023 17:19:21 GMT -5
Per Huey
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Post by Encore64 on Jan 16, 2023 17:22:04 GMT -5
Thanks Tim...
Thought that'd be helpful for those interested in this fine little cartridge.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,622
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Post by jeffh on Jan 16, 2023 20:02:48 GMT -5
Makes for a dandy little, viable carbine.
I've never been one to chase the last little bit of velocity and tend to hunt close, so those numbers do not look too bad to me. I bet that'd make a neat little 5.5# varmint gun with the 85 grain HPs too.
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Post by CraigC on Jan 24, 2023 12:31:48 GMT -5
It's a great little cartridge. I started out with an 18" AR that I put together with a Grendel Hunter upper. Took a couple does with it and the factory Federal Fusion last season. The Magpul UBR buttstock is not exactly lightweight but it doesn't pull the hair out of my lip either. I wasn't satisfied with the weight of the above rifle, so this year I built a 16" gun with a lighter barrel that came in at 7lbs empty. Started with a BK Arms burnt bronze builder set, added a Faxon barrel and BCG, along with a Geissele trigger and B5 furniture. The barrel profile is thinner and the Vortex 5x prism is about half the weight of the 1-6x on the gray one. The B5 stock is much lighter and shifts the balance forward. Hunted with it this season using 120gr Gold Dot handloads but lucked out. I also finally found a Ruger American Ranch in the Grendel and ordered one, adding a Skinner scout rail and Leupold Scout 1-4x. No pics of it yet. Then a couple months ago I got three SSK Contender barrels in .300Whisper, .44Mag fast twist and a 14" 6.5Grendel.
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Post by Encore64 on Jan 24, 2023 13:47:57 GMT -5
That should be three fine barrels. Covers a lot of hunting needs too...
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Post by CraigC on Jan 24, 2023 23:46:15 GMT -5
Gonna be interesting to see how the Grendel compares to the JDJ.
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Post by onegoodshot on Jan 25, 2023 8:54:38 GMT -5
HEAD UP A$$. Thought I was contributing but completely different round. Have 2 Grendel ar15’s and the contender is 6.8spc
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Post by Encore64 on Jan 25, 2023 9:00:05 GMT -5
The 6.5 Grendel is made from 220 Russian/7.62x39/PPC Brass.
6.8 SPC can be made by shortening 30 Remington. This one makes an excellent Contender Cartridge too...
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Post by junebug on Jan 25, 2023 10:22:20 GMT -5
The 6.5mm has a definite advantage in pistols. Since most of the 6.5 Cartridges originated in the late 1800s, bullets are made to expand at more moderate than those that were introduced during the Magnum Era. As powder has improved, better velocities are obtainable with smaller cases too. It's sad that the Single Shot Pistols are out of favor. There's so much going for them these days...
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Post by junebug on Jan 25, 2023 10:31:48 GMT -5
It's sad that the Single Shot Pistols are out of favor. There's so much going for them these days...[/quote][/quote] Not around this house they aren't!!!! I've had a love affair with them for the last 49 years and counting.
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