Messing with the idea of getting one, either converting a 243 to one or buying a howa.

What weight range of bullets can you shoot with a Grendel? I assume for hunting the 100-120 grain range will be preferred to keep velocity, but could you load 140 or 160 grains if you could find them for subs in a factory twist and still be stable?

What's the barrel twist on the Howa mini action 6.5 Grendel? Sub stability will be based on that.

Most shoot the 123 grain bullets in the Grendel, but that's in an AR platform. Going to a bolt gun, you will gain about 100 fps, if not more. I have loaded some Berger 130 grain AR bullets in the Grendel, and this would be a really good bullet in a bolt gun.

Exactly the bullet I would load in it.

Sorry Chad, have not been able to find what the factory twist is. I'm not sure if the gun is available yet.

Yes, I looked it up, and didn't see it in their specs. I can't stand it when mfg do not post the twist rates on rifles these days.

Twist rate on the Howa is 1:8, the first imported as prototypes that a few got to try out were 1:9 but the production ones are 1:8.

The chambers are SAAMI spec chambers not CIP and there are a few minor differences between the 2.

The Berger Hybrid 130gr AR is a very accurate bullet from both of my Grendels. I have switched to the Nosler LR Accubonds for grendel hunting bullets this year. The 123gr Hornady SST are very good hunting bullets for the Grendel as are lots of others.

Powder CFE 223 is one of the more popular ones, Leverevolution is getting more popular and getting some good velocities.

With the 1:8 twist the 130 hybrids will work very well. My boltie has a 22 inch 1:8.4 Obermeyer barrel and it has no problem with the 130 gr hybrids or Accubonds or long range accubonds.

Matt that works at LSI joined the 6.forum and has provided quite a bir of info for the Mini action Howa and took input from that forum back to Howa from that forum. Couple discussions about the Howa Grendel Link1 Link2

Matt there are people loading 85 to 154 gr bullets as far as I know with the Grendel with most using 100gr to 130gr bullet weights. Hornady actually made the 123gr Amax and SST for the 6.5 Grendel. At the velocities the Grendel is able to obtain cup and core bullets work well but for more penetration there are options like the 100 and 125gr partitions, 129 LR accubond or 130gr accubond from Nosler, 130gr Swift Sirocco, Hornady GMX and Barns TTSX and if you want to go real heavy 155gr Lapua Mega.

Subs I read more about using the 160gr Hornady bullet, donot think it is really popular caliber for shooting subs though some do.

For general hunting most just use the 123gr SST or A-Max. Guess in the future there is going to be an ELD from what I have read in the 123 gr weight as well from Hornady.

The 120gr ballistic tip also has a following for hunting with the Grendel.

A few on here tried to talk me out of building a bolt action Grendel. I am glad I didn't listen to them. That little rifle has become my favorite hunting rifle, balance and shootability is very good, a little over 7lbs scoped and accuracy is fantastic.

Thanks for the info. If cabelas would stock a 6.5 mini action I think I would get one asap.

Mine shoots 142 grain, but likes 120 and 123 for accuracy

Are you still shooting the Savages?

A newcomer to the 6.5 Grendel bullet selection is Cavity Back bullets. (http://www.cavitybackbullets.com/Default.asp)

They have 105 and 120 grain offerings. As they are solid copper, you will get great penetration with impressive expansion. I have a couple boxes of the 105 grainers that I am working up 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 TCU loads with them. Trying to get a good load together for a doe meat hunt in a couple weeks.

AA2520 is my powder of choice for the Grendel.

Looking forward to your report back on those bullets. Haven't really been a fan of the monolithic bullets but those interest me. For those that don't know in small powder capacity bullets like the Grendel a bit of case capacity is taken up by the bullet, the cavity back ones have a milled hollow base basically the length of the boat tail allowing for powder capacity to be increased a little. I have watched some of the videos of hogs being shot with them and they are impressive on taking of game. Accuracy is reported as being good. Waiting on a report from a long range Grendel shooter on how they do out to 1K or further.

http://www.cavitybackbullets.com/category-s/114.htm