6.5mm Grendel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() 6.5mm Grendel showing variety of bullets—144 gr (9.3 g) to 90 gr (5.8 g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Designer | Bill Alexander and Janne Pohjoispää | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Designed | 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent case | .220 Russian | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bullet diameter | 6.71 mm (0.264 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Neck diameter | 7.44 mm (0.293 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shoulder diameter | 10.87 mm (0.428 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Base diameter | 11.15 mm (0.439 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim diameter | 11.2 mm (0.44 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim thickness | 1.5 mm (0.059 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case length | 38.7 mm (1.52 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall length | 57.5 mm (2.26 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case capacity | 2.3 cm3 (35 gr H2O) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rifling twist | 1 in 8" or 1 in 9" | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Primer type | Small rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum pressure | 52,000 psi (AR-15 bolt), 58,000 psi (case strength) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Test barrel length: 24 inches Source(s): Alexander Arms Pressure-safe Load Data |
The 6.5mm Grendel (6.5×39mm) is an intermediate cartridge designed by Arne Brennan, Bill Alexander, and Janne Pohjoispää as a low recoil, high accuracy, 200–800 yard cartridge specifically for the AR-15. It is an improved variation of the 6.5mm PPC. Since its introduction, it has proven to be a versatile design and is now expanding out into other firearms including bolt-action rifles and the Kalashnikov system.
The name "6.5mm Grendel" was a trademark owned by Alexander Arms until it was legally released to allow the cartridge to become SAAMI standardized.
The 6.5mm Grendel design goal was to create an effective 200–800 yard AR-15 magazine-length cartridge for the AR-15 that surpassed the performance of the native 5.56mm NATO/.223 Remington cartridge. Constrained by the length of the 5.56×45mm NATO round, the Grendel designers decided to use a shorter, larger diameter case for higher powder volume while allowing space for long, streamlined, high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets. Firing factory loaded ammunition loaded with bullets ranging from 90 to 129 grains (5.8–8.4 g), its muzzle velocity ranges from 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) with 129- and 130-grain (8.4 g) bullets to 2,900 ft/s (880 m/s) with 90 gr (5.8 g) bullets (similar in velocity to a 5.56 mm 77-grain (5.0 g) round). Depending on their case material and bullet 6.5 Grendel cartridges weigh 14.7 to 17.8 grams (227 to 275 gr).
The case head diameter of the Grendel is the same as that of the .220 Russian, the 7.62×39mm, and 6.5mm PPC cases. This diameter is larger than the 5.56×45mm NATO, thereby necessitating the use of a non-standard AR-15 bolt. The increased case diameter results in a small reduction in the capacity of standard size M16/AR-15 magazines. A Grendel magazine with the same dimensions as a STANAG 30-round 5.56 magazine will hold 26 rounds of 6.5mm ammunition.
Proponents assert that the Grendel is a middle ground between the 5.56×45mm NATO and the 7.62×51mm NATO. It retains greater terminal energy at extended ranges than either of these cartridges due to its higher ballistic coefficient. For example, the 123 gr (8.0 g) 6.5 Grendel has more energy and better armor penetration at 1,000 meters than the larger and heavier 147 gr (9.5 g) M80 7.62 NATO round.
In order to obtain ballistics that are superior to the 7.62×51mm cartridge, a weapon with a longer barrel and firing a heavier bullet is necessary. To achieve the same results from shorter length barrels, even heavier bullets are needed.
Bullet velocity: 24 inch (609.6 mm) barrel | ||||||
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Bullet mass | Muzzle velocity | 1,000 meter velocity | ||||
gr | g | ft/s | m/s | ft/s | m/s | |
Lapua Scenar | 108 | 7.0 | 2,700 | 820 | 1,166 | 355 |
Lapua Scenar | 123 | 8.0 | 2,620 | 800 | 1,222 | 372 |
Lapua FMJBT | 144 | 9.3 | 2,450 | 750 | 1,213 | 370 |
As noted above, the Grendel case is very closely related to the .220 Russian case. In general, each additional grain of bullet weight will reduce muzzle velocity by 10.8 ft/s (61 m/s for each gram) and each additional inch of barrel length will increase muzzle velocity by 20 ft/s (2.4 m/s for each centimeter. Specific details are available as graphs derived from Alexander Arms' public domain load table linked below.
Serbia is in process of adopting a rifle made by Zastava Arms in 6.5 mm Grendel caliber as main armament for its armed forces. An American-manufactured rifle in 6.5mm Grendel caliber may also be adopted in armament for special forces units after it passes testing in Technical Testing Center.[ citation needed ] Three types of 6.5mm Grendel ammunition produced by Prvi Partizan Uzice Serbia will be tested for use with these rifles.