Hornady’s 6.5 Grendel

John McLain

I would like to know if the 123gr. bullet would be enough for elk and small moose

Hugo Pena

Correction: 123 grain is too small for elk & moose. Minimum 160-165 grain in a .308 caliber. Not the 6.5 Grendel.
Bryon Beaulieu

I can tell you that elk are TOUGH animals. I've seen them take 180 gr '06 rounds and not flinch. Around here (Oregon), you shoot an elk with a light bullet, it heads for the deepest hole it can find. You MAY get it eventually but guaranteed it's a whole day packing or more to get it out, and it's ALL uphill on extremely steep ground. I for one would NEVER use this round on an elk unless I were standing right beside him when I shot.
Sherm

270 Winchester is the minimum for moose and elk, and you want at least a 140 grain, high quality hunting bullet. Most states have a minimum legal cartridge for moose and elk. Your goal should be a clean kill, not to see if you can get by with less.

Hugo Pena

NOPE. Too small. Keep in mind that this is a .22 caliber bullet. Minimum, in my opinion, would be a .308 cal bullet, i.e. 30.06.

Scott Mayer

Hugo, the 6.5 Grendel is .264 cal., not .22. The Swedes have been killing moose since 1896 with that caliber bullet. Not sure the Grendel can push a 140- or 160-grain bullet fast enough for elk or moose, though.
- Ulf Lyng
  
  Yup, swedes and norwegians too. Small Scandinavian test some yrs ago showed that moose hit w a 6,5×55 had shorter path o flight than w .308 or 30-06 (marginaly, but none the less there). Regarding 6,5 grendel and moose, then generaly it would be viewed as not enough for moose, but guess it comes down to bullit, load, distance, shooter – and law.
- E.C. Bartlett
  
  Good shots out West have been taking elk successfully with .243 for a long time. But then again, those are good shots. Karamojo Bell drilled over 1000 elephants, many with a .256 caliber rifle. But he knew elephant anatomy like no other hunter and was a great shot. Contrariwise, if you cannot consistently place shots in the 'boiler room' of elk it will not matter what caliber you choose. A gut shot with a .340 Weatherby Magnum is still a gut shot. My nephew has dropped a dozen or so elk with a .308. Never needed a second shot. Practice hunting varmints out to 300-400 yds. with a good varmint rifle and a great scope. After dropping 100 prairie dogs and or ground hogs at an average of 200 yds., hunting something the size of an elk will seem rather easy. So many hunters are like golfers; many a golfer thinks that if he just buys this driver, or that dynamite golf ball, suddenly he will be a scratch golfer. Neither he nor the hunter who buys primo guns and ammo will suddenly be transformed into a great practitioner of his sport.

Wolf68

As far as elk, it's more than enough as long as it's within about 350 yards. It's still got over 1,000 ft/lbs of energy there, and that bullet will still expand well beyond that distance. The 6.8s in the spec II chambers have been taking them at that range as well, with dead right there results. As long as the round has the energy, and the shot placement is good, the newer designed projectiles are just as devastating as many of the older heavier or larger hunting rounds. Moose I would limit to no more than 150 yards or so if it were me, but it would still be capable at the shorter ranges.

Eli

The Grendel is more than adequate to take moose or elk. You have to put the shot where it needs to go, but the 6.5mm bullets are incredibly efficient and lethal.

And for the record, there have been elk taken at 400 yards with a Grendel and the elk didnt make it far at all….Around 10 yards or so before he fell over dead.

You have to be a marksman to do it but the caliber is capable of it. And if you cant put it where it needs to go….Well, a big '06 or 300 mag wont help you, you'll still be chasing wounded animals.

John

Mark Larue of Larue Tactical recently posted his successful bull elk hunt using the 6.5 Grendel cartridge. As I recall it was over 400 yards and the elk spun and fell. Bullet went straight through. Here's the link: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=2…

johnac

Almost any cartridge within reason will drop an animal if the shot is perfect, that being said, perfect shot placement is pretty rare in the field. I have never hunted elk (I live in Australia) but I have seen big pigs drop to both small and large calibres and they are both dead.

The question really is, are you the marksmen you need to be at the moment of truth and could you shoot a larger bullet just as accurately with better results at what seems to be a tough animal.

Saying that, large tough red deer have been taken regularly with 222Rem for years by very skilled hunters both here and in New Zealand, although they pass up shots more often than not.

Happy hunting

JAG

Many gun writers have said it would be wise to have at least 1500 ft. lbs. of energy at the range the animals are shot, and with good shot placement. Yes, .243 has taken elk, but you have to wait for the perfect shot. I want a caliber and bullet that is tough enough to break bone, preferably the shoulder, and enough energy for good bullet upset and complete pass through on a broad side shot. On my one and only elk, I went a little over kill with a .375 H&H at 20 yrds. But I had my elk at 8,000 ft. Didn't take a step.

Mav714

I used. Thompson Pro Hunter .50 cal muzzle loader at 100 yards up @ 45 degrees angle took a 378 elk!

http://att david

can a 450 take down a big elk

Ron Marvicsin

I only know my .50 cal muzzle loader, T/C Pro Hunter took my elk right down even with a further to the rear shot then should have been made. He turned just as I made the shot making the shoot take out his lungs. He's on my fireplace and looks awesome. Try your 6.5 out on smaller game animals first. Pig, coyote, etc see what others shooters would use for bullet, powered. Go from there.

Sherm

You can kill a moose with a 17 HMR, that's not the point. You should always hunt with an efficient cartridge that provide the energy for a clean kill. Most states require at least a .277 bullet, (270 Win.). Just because you get into the 30 caliber range doesn't mean you have a moose and elk gun, the 30-30 or the 7.62 x 39 are both too feeble to be relied on for a clean kill. The duties of a sportsman require that he is proficient and his weapon is capable. The 6.5 Grendel is basically a .264 x 39 and is too small for animals larger than deer. (The 6.5 Rem. Mag. is illegal in my state for moose because of bullet diameter)

http://n/a Kalena

Kalena

You can make a one shot kill with the right placement of your shot with any animal. I would not go out and try to make a clean kill with a caliber that is under the state requirement for hunting in your state or country. We have no .223 caliber for deer hunting in the Golden State. No FMJ bullets either for hunting at all. You can hunt with a handgun and I like my .357

with 158g HP ammo. I will be hunting with my 30-30 rifle 150g SP in my 20 inch barrel this year. My hunting partner will be hunting with a 30-06 150g SP in a 22 inch barrel semi-auto rifle. This rifle bring home the meat with no problem each year. Good hunting this season to all you rifle men hunters!

Andy

120 grain Barnes X Triple Shock will kill any moose or elk that ever walked.
They are making a 127gr TSX tactical also. I've killed many elk with .264 rifles.
I like a .338 caliber for big bulls in heavy timber, but never felt under-gunned with a 6.5 & premium bullets.

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Hornady’s 6.5 Grendel

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