6.5 Grendel Ballistics:
This 6.5 Grendel Ballistics chart shows 90 grain Federal American Eagle Varmint and Predator rounds:
| Muzzle | 100 YDS | 200 YDS | 300 YDS | |
| Velocity (FPS) | 3000 | 2641 | 2309 | 2002 |
| Energy (FT/LB) | 1798 | 1394 | 1065 | 801 |
| Drop (Inch) | / | +1.7 | 0 | -8.3 |
This 6.5 Grendel Ballistics chart shows 130 grain Federal Premium Gold Medal Berger Rounds:
| Muzzle | 100 YDS | 200 YDS | 300 YDS | |
| Velocity (FPS) | 2400 | 2251 | 2108 | 1969 |
| Energy (FT/LB) | 1663 | 1463 | 1282 | 1119 |
| Drop (Inch) | / | +2.7 | 0 | -10.4 |
This 6.5 Grendel Ballistics chart shows 123 grain Hornady Black ELD Match:
| Muzzle | 100 YDS | 200 YDS | 300 YDS | |
| Velocity (FPS) | 2580 | 2410 | 2247 | 2090 |
| Energy (FT/LB) | 1818 | 1586 | 1379 | 1193 |
| Drop (Inch) | / | +2.3 | 0 | -9.2 |
6.5 Grendel History:
The 6.5 Grendel is sized in the ever-popular 264 caliber. Only, this one is stuffed down to fit inside the AR-15 platform.
The 6.5 Grendel and the 5.56 NATO are essentially the same length, minus a few millimeters (5.56X45 VS 6.5X39), but the Grendel has extra energy leftover at 300 yards to keep stopping deer sized animals in their tracks with well placed shots.
The 6.5 Grendel traces its roots back to the first few years of this century, with a parent case being the same that the famous 7.62X39 used, the 220 Russian.
This 6.5mm cartridge was developed and introduced to the shooting industry in 2003 by Bill Alexander of Alexander Arms.
6.5 Grendel Uses:
The 6.5 Grendel usually being chambered in an AR-15 platform as one of the more popular chamberings, means the rifles in this cartridge excel in defensive scenarios.
The Grendel utilizes a bigger cartridge case along with a bigger, heavier projectile (ranging from 90 to 130 grains in size).
It’s also a good hunting cartridge being that it’s still offering up over 1,000 FT/LB of energy at 300 yards, depending on the load.
The 6.5 Grendel can safely take white tailed deer with well-placed shots out to 300 yards, and I have heard of some hunters taking elk at 150 yards and under. I’d tread lightly here, however, and use a better round if elk is your goal.
Conclusion:
The 6.5 Grendel is a good cartridge that pulls double duty for defense and hunting purposes and does a good job at both with the right load for each.
