6.5 Grendel Nosler Bullet Choice - Deer Hunting

[USAF Ret]

I am finally loading for my Grendel. PSA Upper and Stag lower. This is for deer hunting. I have in stock - 120 grain Ballistic Tip, 120 grain E-Tip and 125 grain Partition. Looking at expansion, the Ballistic Tip wins out. However, I would like a pass through for tracking, and that leaves the Partition and the E-Tip. The E-Tip takes a bit more velcoity than the Partition to open up.

Thinking the Partition is maybe the good go between? Use the Ballistic Tip for Coyotes and maybe save the E-Tip for the Creedmoor?

Any real world experience out there? Expert opinion?

 

[D4570]

My little granddaughter uses a Howa mini 20" bolt. Death on deer.
Not just white tail but big Mule deer bucks.
We load here 123 ssts, I don't remember the powder off hand.
11 deer and counting all one shot dead.
From 75 yards to 220 yards.

 

[p_ham]

120 gold dots shoot really well for me. Check out the 100gr Barnes ttsx too.

 

[MThuntr]

I'd keep the Etips for the Creedmoor. They are a tough bullet and I don't think you'd like the expansion with them but if you send one into a shoulder it may do exactly as it needs. Partitions would be a great choice and since you have them would be a top choice based solely on their performance I've had with them in my 270.

I don't remember if the 6.5mm ballistic tip shares construction design as some of the heavier BTs that people use or if it's a thinner jacket. Maybe a search on Nosler's forum may tell you. My experience with Grendel velocities is that I felt the 123 Hornady SST worked perfectly on a whitetail doe I shot at 200 yards last winter. I hit just behind the shoulder and she dropped after 1 or 2 steps. Meat damage was minimal and the bullet went completely through. I was really impressed. If the Ballistic tip is one of the tougher versions and not a thin jacket one (maybe there never was a difference) I wouldn't hesitate for deer. Of course they'd definitely make short work of a coyote.

I think CFE223, XBR8208, or Tac would be top contenders for powders but I know there are a pile out there. CFE223 is not listed for the lighter bullets but a lot of people on the Grendel Forums sing its praises. I need to shoot mine over a chrono to get better information but nearly all loads would shoot 1" so I stopped chasing numbers and had fun shooting.

 

[USAF Ret]

120 gold dots shoot really well for me. Check out the 100gr Barnes ttsx too.

Been having trouble finding those. Gold dots.

 

[USAF Ret]

I'd keep the Etips for the Creedmoor. They are a tough bullet and I don't think you'd like the expansion with them but if you send one into a shoulder it may do exactly as it needs. Partitions would be a great choice and since you have them would be a top choice based solely on their performance I've had with them in my 270.

I don't remember if the 6.5mm ballistic tip shares construction design as some of the heavier BTs that people use or if it's a thinner jacket. Maybe a search on Nosler's forum may tell you. My experience with Grendel velocities is that I felt the 123 Hornady SST worked perfectly on a whitetail doe I shot at 200 yards last winter. I hit just behind the shoulder and she dropped after 1 or 2 steps. Meat damage was minimal and the bullet went completely through. I was really impressed. If the Ballistic tip is one of the tougher versions and not a thin jacket one (maybe there never was a difference) I wouldn't hesitate for deer. Of course they'd definitely make short work of a coyote.

I think CFE223, XBR8208, or Tac would be top contenders for powders but I know there are a pile out there. CFE223 is not listed for the lighter bullets but a lot of people on the Grendel Forums sing its praises. I need to shoot mine over a chrono to get better information but nearly all loads would shoot 1" so I stopped chasing numbers and had fun shooting.

I need to maybe do some searching on any Grendel videos with the Ballistic Tip testing. I have just heard about folks shooting deer and not getting a pass through and having problems tracking.

I don;t have any of those powders on-hand. Got some H335. I was loading Benchmark for a buddy's 308 and saw that there was a load for the Grendel as well, so since I had the powder in the hopper, I loaded some up. I will be comparing that to the H335. I know I can get Tac down the road as well.

 

[p_ham]

Been having trouble finding those. Gold dots.

They've been hard to get for a while.

 

[USAF Ret]

Just picked up a couple hundred 129 grain ABLRs. I need to get some TAC powder, though. Only one I have listed is Varget and it is way slow. I think this will give me what I am looking for.