Hornady vs Barnes Expansion 6.5 Grendel

[@blipcat3382]

The Barnes, hit like a freight train.

[@dougreid2351]

Thanks, my top two contenders compared. Barnes us the answer, Subscribed tonight. DOUG out 😊

[@Rickkari7]

Took two deer this past season at 175 yards with my 20 inch BCA 6.5 Grendel using Hornady Black ELD-M 123 grain factory ammo. First was a double lung that ran 40 yards and died. Second blew out both upper legs and heart and went 10 yards and expired. Good 200 yard dead hold round.

[@chadmcswain5389]

Best factory ammo for the Grendel.....

[@bigjimmy6690]

The Barnes 100-grain TTSX bullets at a little over 2,700 FPS work best for me in the Grendel. I have killed a boat load of hogs using them with great results. I killed a 300-pound 31-inch Aoudad at about 150 yards with a quartering-away shot behind the shoulder with that load as well. He only went about 75 yards before dropping dead. Velocity is the key with copper bullets and light for caliber is the way to go. I also use a 130-grain Barnes TTSX at 2,900 FPS in 308 for hunting as well and it is an absolute hog destroyer.

[@nospam3409]

Agree. I use a 105gr MKZ in mine and it has done great.

[@mitchculpepper738]

I will definitely be finding some LRX bullets to load. I love the SST and Speer Gold Dot for accuracy but at Grendel velocities, the Gold Dot will not expand fully, even at 100 yards. I regularly shoot these out to 500 yards with superb accuracy but get almost no expansion from the Gold Dot and marginal performance from the SST. If the LRX will expand past 400 yards, it’s a game changer!

[@phild9813]

I think pushing the 6.5 grendel to past 400 yards with a copper bullet will not yield much expansion. I limit the 6.5 creedmoor with copper bullets to about 400-450 as far as expansion goes.

[@chadmcswain5389]

Yea I've done a lot of whitetail depredation work with the Grendel and never could get the Federal Fusions to open up correctly (basically same bullet as Speer gold dot). They will penetrate like crazy and were fast (2650fps average out of 16 inch Ruger Ranch bolt gun) but they always just seemed to pencil through. The ELD-Ms were the best performer as far as factory ammo in that little Ruger Ranch and actually the best in my longer barrel Ruger predator bolt gun also

[@anthonykaiser974]

​@@chadmcswain5389what was your range/approx impact velocity? It is a bonded bullet, so that would make sense if you were shooting some distance. Most shots on deer here in Indiana are well under 100 yds.

[@chadmcswain5389]

All ranges from 25 yards to 450+

[@LRRPFco52]

Get the 6.5 Grendel Handbooks. They have full spectrum impact velocity gel tests from max down to where expansion ceases. Hundreds of load data points too.

[@stephenhair5501]

What Handbooks? Where are these sold for the Grendel? Thanks!

[@LRRPFco52]

@@stephenhair5501 Search: 6.5 Grendel Handbooks Vol I & II

[@jonkonerza5643]

I like the 127 Gr Barnes, definitely thinking of loading me some of those up. Great video.

[@nospam3409]

I can personally recommend the 105gr mkz if you reload. A little on the expensive side, but performance has been amazing for me.

[@brian6697]

Barnes makes a specific grendel 115 gr Tac-tx bullet that expands down to much lower velocities same as their 110 and 120 gr blackout Tac-tx bullets designed to expand at lower velocities

[@idontwantahandle323]

Common misconception. The 115gr has one of the highest expansion velocities, which is utterly baffling since that's what Barnes loads in their factory ammo. The 100gr TTSX and 127gr LRX have the lowest. Here are the expansion velocities for their 6.5mm lineup (grabbed from a forum, but also matches what customer service gave me): 100 gr TTSX = 1600 fps 120 gr TTSX = 1700 fps 127 gr LRX = 1600 fps 120 gr TSX = 1800 fps 130 gr TSX = 1800 fps 115 gr Tac-Tx = 1800 fps

[@blakejoyner5609]

How many grains of powder are you loading

[@ibrahim10910]

Good post. Thank you.

[@blackfam972]

Cool comparison ide like to see 120gr Nosler etip vs barnes 120gr TTSX.

[@LRRPFco52]

Both of those have a hard time expanding at Grendel velocities once you get out past 200yds. Maker TREX and Cavity Back bullets expand down to much lower impact velocities.

[@blackfam972]

@@LRRPFco52 I would like to see them actually tested together.

[@LRRPFco52]

@@blackfam972 There’s a big thread on all the Lead-Free Projectiles on the Grendel Forum. We even used cut-down GMXs back in the day. I shot some 94fr GMXs at 2800fps. Performed well for several hunters. Anything 120gr is too long to get a lot of velocity from, unless the maker uses softer alloy like Maker and Cavity Back did with 105s and 118s.

[@blackfam972]

@@LRRPFco52 Yes i know you banned me from the Grendel forum remember ? but you are wrong with the 120 Nosler Etips velocity is decent better than the GMX or TTSX. I get about 2540 from my 22in and 2500 from my 20in with CFE223. Thats without pressure signs on the brass i can't swear thats below 52K but good for my purposes. I think my load is around 30.5g of CFE223 r if i remember right. . With a BC of .500 thats good for several hundred yards. I killed a mule deer with one but as it was a pass through head and neck shot i could not determine expansion.

[@LRRPFco52]

@@blackfam972 I’ve only banned spammers. It must have been another moderator if I recall. They will all kill, but the 120gr lead-free bullets are often hard to get to expand as-designed.

[@nateaggie]

I cannot find any Barnes LRX-BT 127 gr load data but Copper Creek sells a 127 LRX Grendel round with a muzzle velocity of 2340 ft/s from a 24" barrel. How are you getting 2500 ft/s out of an 18" AR???

[@highcountryadventures9606]

This was a load I worked up using CFE 223. At the time I did not have any load data to go off of. Since then, nosler has some load data using 130 grain bullets posting very similar velocities to what I was getting with these LRX bullets. Obviously there can be differences from one gun to the next. Just because I'm getting 2500 ft a second doesn't mean that someone else will get that without seeing pressure signs. However, in long heavy bullets for the Grendel, I personally have found that CFE 223 is king for velocity

[@nateaggie]

Thanks for the response! I know the LRX bullets are typically longer than their grain weight suggests, and I know that any AR platform cartridge is limited in head height, so I was worried that even though you may get these velocities out of typical jacket-core bullets at 130 gr, you may not get them from similar weight monometal copper bullets, since with the latter you may have to seat them lower and thus reduce powder capacity. This is very promising! I'm thinking of getting a Grendel myself and this is a key bullet in my decision process. VhitaVuori has some load data on the Grendel too but velocities are pretty low; they've got a 123 gr Lapua Scenar maxed out at 2431 fps on a 24" barrel.

[@michaelegert1284]

The barnes looked much more intense. More energy transfer and better expansion

[@anthonyfairbanks2952]

The Etips are great bullets I had them in my 6.5cm they had more kick then a 143 Gr bullet

[@eugeneromanov8357]

It's simple: Hornady makes his bullets like .45 cal., and Barnes goes higher and makes them like .50 cal. ))

[@stephentraveler5291]

Shoot deferrent type ammo from 100 to 123 grain and in my reality the 100 grain shoots higher and further then 123 out 16 inch barrel.

[@Swampytheroot]

I watched it 2x It's odd for very similar bullets, similar velocity, for the more expanded bullet to penetrate deeper. I'm sure there's a reason, but it escapes me. Maybe it started to open deeper?

[@bigjimmy6690]

A higher sectional density and more mass is the reason for deeper penetration. The 127-grain bullet is longer and heavier than the 120-grain bullet.

[@coreymerrill3257]

Gmx is" guilding metal expanding" . guilding metal is a copper and zinc alloy. Barnes is a pure copper bullet. It is some what softer and more maliable than guilding metal . Hornady does now offer a pure copper bullet since Barnes pattent expired. If youchand load ,Try you some cutting edge raptors and safari solids. The 155 grain wide meplat solid at about 2000fps will hit like a freiaght train and penetrate almost as deep.

[@wwaldok]

What’s the rifling twist rate on your rifle?

[@nateaggie]

Is that really an 18" barrel? You are exceeding the max load velocity in the Hornady manual by 100 ft/s for GMX 120, which also uses an 18" barrel. How do your cases look? Any signs of overpressure?

[@LRRPFco52]

Yes, those speeds were a bit spicy. You can get a little more velocity by increasing the COL and adding a little charge weight, as long as you don't jam the lands and mags will allow longer COL. CProducs mags allow longer COL than Elanders.

[@Tony_Seed]

127 gr going 2500! You need to share some load data with me! That’s awesome

[@308blr2]

I get the comparison for your video. If the bullet is for hunting then I would try the 100 grain Barnes. They certainly would attain greater velocities. That should give flatter trajectories; and would perhaps attain greater expansion.

[@swampbiologist]

Bought a box of Barnes TTSX 100 gr for my 6.5 Grendel today! Going to work up a load with this bullet! What powders do you guys like?

[@highcountryadventures9606]

Imr 8208xbr would be my go to for that weight and bullet. It's also hard to come by. I would put benchmark or ramshot tac on that list too

[@NachalYahu]

Great test. This just solidifies the fact that the grendell is a legitimate inside 200yd hunting caliber. Going farther out is rollin the dice with speed and expansion. Awesome cartridge!

[@LRRPFco52]

Depends on the bullet. 129gr ABLR expands down to 1300fps, has a really high BC at .562 G1. Maker TREX and Cavity Back monoliths expand down to lower impact speeds in the 1600fps region.

[@surq0784]

@hernanderforce That statement couldn't be further from the truth. I've taken out several mule deer at 800m with Barnes 120gr TSX. Regardless of the caliber and bullet characteristics, shot placement is crucial. Barnes is the superior bullet, as far as solid copper projectiles and expansion have always been consistent within the parameters I've taken my shot.

[@LRRPFco52]

@@surq0784 Which cartridge were you using at 800m for the 120gr TSX?

[@goodcitizen3780]

​@@surq0784 Yeah this guy is crazy. They're taking out elk at 400 and mule and antelope way out at 800+

[@nospam3409]

I load a 105gr MKZ and run it at 2800 fps from a 24" barrel getting 1/2 moa groups or better. Farthest shot so far on a deer was 297 yds and he was quartering away heavy. Entered behind the ribs, through the heart, and out the brisket. Field dressed 180 lbs. Not a monster, but not Bambi either. Based on the internal wounding, I'd say the projectile expanded nicely and penetrated roughly 30" before exiting.

[@DougCutler-tn2ey]

I think the Barnes didn't flatten as much because of fewer pedals. I would have liked a length measurement.

[@rickvann3489]

I wonder if the dead deer gives a crap which one killed it.

[@lyerger8232]

Take 6 oz DEF of to a gallon of water and spray a 1,000 sq feet area of your yard and it will get greener. Just a other use for DEF :>)

[@williamgaines9784]

Those orange your everyday apples.😏 They have a core more like a pineapple. I don't think one would go wrong with either. I would rank them by how they group and then by cost & availability.

[@donlovell6708]

127gr Barnes at 2500fps hits with better energy and penetration. I love the 125gr Nosler Partition at 2500fps and I shoot alot of 129gr Hornady interlock because I scored a bunch cheap, but that Barnes LRX is going to be loaded next Grendel rounds on my bench.

[@idontwantahandle323]

I loaded GMX in my 8mm and they perform terribly on deer. MV of ~2600fps if I remember correctly, and 4/4 now have failed to, or barely expanded. They're now discontinued, of course, and I've read in several places that poor performance and customer complaints drove that. The new CX are supposed to be a bit better. Honestly, I'm surprised you were able to get the GMX to expand this well.

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

SST's would be quick death on deer.

[@lancelamoon6743]

Barnes is all I use in everything except shooting suppressed with subsonic then its Hornady SubX

[@N101RG]

I don’t understand why you don’t use the Barnes 120 gr copper bullet. Then they would be identical weight and similar velocities. It’s flawed from the start.

[@Thousand_yard_King]

Gun? 🤯 Guns are for fun! What you have there is a rifle. Or a pistol and or a sidearm.

[@nospam3409]

With that kind of penetration, they would both beca good choice for elk or moose at that distance....

[@SteveChishamSr]

Barnes would be my choice. I like both

[@jctoth]

Go lighter weight and higher velocity with the Barnes and you’ll see the terminal performance you’re looking for. They’re awesome hunting bullets and provide match grade accuracy to boot.

[@fotispapadopoulos6933]

GMX is a fine bullet but they made it too "hard".... The Barnes expands better at lower velocities.

[@RogSmith-t7t]

May not be worth the price for deer hunting.