6.5 Grendel, an after action report

I have never shot a Grendel........but have always wanted to, and wondered about using it for Whitetails at modest ranges. @spotnspook very nice WT in that first foto, well done. @John Telford Did you shoot any blue wildebeeste bulls? I have shot a few, and they are big and tough. Never weighed one, but I would guess they are around 500 pounds, maybe? Says a lot that your group has taken so much game and regard the cartridge so highly. Already have a 6.5 TCU and a 6.5 JDJ, plus a CM and The big EFH wildcat. Must look and see where it fits in the TCU-JDJ food chain. Enjoyed both of your posts.........thanks..............FWB
 
The Grendel was developed to provide increased firepower in an AR-15 platform. For that it is excellent, as many a feral hog has discovered. In a bolt rifle there are many, many better options in a 6.5.
 
I originally bought a howa mini in the grendel to have a small rifle to teach folks to shoot that has little recoil, is cheap to shoot with decent accuracy. I was surprised at its efficiency and how well the it shoots. With the factory match ammo it holds MOA accuracy out to 300. (Haven't tested it father).
It is a very good deer and smaller game round. Right now it has become my go to varmint rig. Just hits yotes and other small fur bears with authority. Plus if on the off chance you call in a mountain lion (I haven't done it yet but a couple friends who have) it is a better round than a 22cal.
 
I have never shot a Grendel........but have always wanted to, and wondered about using it for Whitetails at modest ranges. @spotnspook very nice WT in that first foto, well done. @John Telford Did you shoot any blue wildebeeste bulls? I have shot a few, and they are big and tough. Never weighed one, but I would guess they are around 500 pounds, maybe? Says a lot that your group has taken so much game and regard the cartridge so highly. Already have a 6.5 TCU and a 6.5 JDJ, plus a CM and The big EFH wildcat. Must look and see where it fits in the TCU-JDJ food chain. Enjoyed both of your posts.........thanks..............FWB

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@FWB - these are the two Wildebeest each taken with a 6.5 MS and Grendel. I am NOT endorsing that you hunt a Wildebeest with a Grendel. It took 3 shots to bring it down - I will try and post the story of the hunt to bring perspective to the test. I try and do at least one hunt every year with a classic so when I used the MS I thought it would be good to also compare the Grendel.
 
But the Grendel shoots much lighter bullets than other 6.5's so not really in the same class.
Its the ideal Impala rifle, taking the crown over the 6x45 and maybe the 7.62x39 that used to be the sweet spot.
My friend has a Howa that he turned the barrel down on and fitted a carbon fibre stock. It feels like carrying a pellet gun but hits hard.
 
John, that M/S looks to have English influence. Since I'm a M/S aficionado, could you tell us more about it.
Its definitely had the stock modified. I can see about 2" added to LOP on the back.
 
John, that M/S looks to have English influence. Since I'm a M/S aficionado, could you tell us more about it.
You are in good company then! I collect English finished MS rifles. This particular one is a Westley Richards with original period scope. I only load 160 g bullets to duplicate the original loads. It points and shoots like a Purdy! It was one of those rare beauties to make it out of Kenya.
 
My daughter's first deer was taken at 50 yards with the grendel. It was facing straight towards us and she shot it in the chest with a 124 grain hammer hunter at 2500 fps. It penetrated the entire length of the deer and came out the ham. Ran about 20 yards and piled up with lung blood everywhere. What does that prove?Nothing that I can think of, but in her hands it was and is effective on smallish medium game at close range (her deer was 108 lbs and 100 yards is a long shot where I live) As with everything, shot placement is key and she can put that bullet wherever she wants. It's the perfect rifle for her currently at 12 years old. I'm sure she'll step up at some point but only when she wants to hunt something bigger.
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You are in good company then! I collect English finished MS rifles. This particular one is a Westley Richards with original period scope. I only load 160 g bullets to duplicate the original loads. It points and shoots like a Purdy! It was one of those rare beauties to make it out of Kenya.
Can we see some photos.
 

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Preparing for the adventure of a lifetime. Looking forward to my 2026 Africa hunt with Van Wijk Safaris in South Africa.
Monster Free range Common Reedbuck!!
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What a great way to kick off our 2025 hunting season in South Africa.

This beautiful Impala ram was taken at just over 300 yards, took a few steps and toppled over.

We are looking forward to the next week and a half of hunting with our first client of the year.
Handcannons wrote on Jaayunoo's profile.
Do you have any more copies of African Dangerous Game Cartridges, Author: Pierre van der Walt ? I'm looking for one. Thanks for any information, John [redacted]
 
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