Built For American Patriots · Independent · Constitutional Absolutist
Guide

6.5 Grendel Ammo 2026: Hunting, Match and Range Loads From the Makers

By , EditorUpdated How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 12 current 6.5 Grendel loads on Federal's, Remington's, Hornady's and Nosler's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 3 from Federal, 1 from Remington, 4 from Hornady and 4 from Nosler. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 4 makers, not every 6.5 Grendel load sold.

Grouping follows the usage label Federal and Remington print on their own pages. Hornady and Nosler are listed in their own tables, because Hornady prints no usage label, and Nosler uses a different one. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses.

Hunting loads

These are the loads Federal label Big Game on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Fusion MSR6.5 GrendelF65GDLMSR1120 gr Fusion Soft Point2,600 fps1,801 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Available

Match and range loads

These are the loads Federal and Remington label "Competition, Target Shooting", "Predator, Varmint" and "Target Shooting".

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker status (Nov. 4)
Federal American Eagle Rifle6.5 GrendelAE65GDL1120 gr Open Tip Match2,610 fps1,815 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Available
Federal Varmint & Predator6.5 GrendelAE65GDL90VP90 gr Speer TNT Jacketed Hollow Point3,000 fps1,798 ft-lbNot listed on maker page50Available
Remington Premier Match6.5 Grendel21205130 gr Berger Open Tip Match2,400 fps1,663 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line, such as BLACK Match, CX Custom, SST and V-Match. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table.

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady BLACK Match6.5 Grendel81528123 gr ELD® Match™ Hornady BLACK®2,580 fps1,818 ft-lb24 in20Not listed on maker page
Hornady CX Custom6.5 Grendel8151390 gr CX® Custom2,910 fps1,692 ft-lb24 in20Not listed on maker page
Hornady SST6.5 Grendel8152123 gr SST®2,580 fps1,818 ft-lb24 in20Not listed on maker page
Hornady V-Match6.5 Grendel81521100 gr ELD-VT™ V-Match™2,730 fps1,655 ft-lb24 in20Not listed on maker page

Nosler loads

Nosler lists a use line on each page ("Deer Sized Game", "Target/Match" and "Varmint"). The status is from Nosler's online store. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each page's ballistics table.

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker status (Nov. 4)
Nosler Ballistic Tip6.5 Grendel61023120 gr Ballistic Tip2,400 fps1,534 ft-lb24 in20In stock (Nosler store)
Nosler Custom Competition HPBT6.5 Grendel44501123 gr Custom Competition2,400 fps1,573 ft-lb24 in20In stock (Nosler store)
Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond Long Range6.5 Grendel60146129 gr AccuBond Long Range2,350 fps1,582 ft-lb24 in20In stock (Nosler store)
Nosler Varmageddon FB Tipped6.5 Grendel6518290 gr Varmageddon2,800 fps1,567 ft-lb24 in20In stock (Nosler store)

Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each maker's ballistics table. Test barrel is the length the maker lists. "Box" is the round count per box. Status is the maker's own wording on its product page, and it changes daily. All pages checked November 4, 2026.

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Loads in our table run from 90 gr to 130 gr. The lightest is Federal Varmint & Predator (AE65GDL90VP) and the heaviest is Remington Premier Match (21205). The fastest listed muzzle velocity is 3,000 fps, Federal Varmint & Predator 90 gr (AE65GDL90VP), with no test barrel listed. The highest listed muzzle energy is 1,818 ft-lb, Hornady SST 123 gr (8152), from a 24 in test barrel. Because test barrels differ or are not listed, compare across makers with care.

The makers label loads for game or for target use. They don't tell you one weight is right for a species. The right choice depends on bullet construction, range and your state's rules. Check your state hunting rules and your state wildlife agency before you buy.

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 12 loads, 8 list 24 in, 4 list no test barrel. The loads with no test barrel are from Federal and Remington. A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's test barrel for the 6.5 Grendel is 24 in.

No barrel-length-velocity page exists yet for the 6.5 Grendel, and we have not charted one. Our barrel length vs velocity data covers other cartridges. The closest we have are 6.5 Creedmoor barrel length data and 7.62x39 barrel length data, for the 6.5 Creedmoor (a 6.5 mm cartridge) or the 7.62x39 (another AR-pattern and short-action cartridge), so do not read those numbers as 6.5 Grendel data.

6.5 Grendel: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "6.5 GRENDEL [6.5 GREN]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, its centerfire rifle standard (approved Feb. 10, 2025). The cartridge drawing was issued 01/17/2011 and revised 11/18/2021. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 52,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 520 in psi/100). Crusher pressures are not established. Cartridge overall length runs from 2.135 in minimum to 2.260 in maximum. Case length is 1.520 in (−.020), and bullet diameter is .2643 in (−.0030). Bore is .256 in and groove is .264 in, with 6 grooves and a twist of 1 in 8.00 in, right-hand (marked optional). SAAMI reference velocities are Not yet verified, because the PDF text does not clearly pair each bullet weight with its velocity. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.4 PDF.

SAAMI says all standard rifle test barrels are 24 in long and that exterior ballistic data for centerfire rifle cartridges is based on that length. Its listed exceptions (7.62x39, 277 Sig Fury, 30 Carbine, 300 AAC Blackout, 300 HAM'R, 350 Legend, 350 Remington Magnum, 360 Buckhammer, 400 Legend and 44 Remington Magnum) do not include the 6.5 Grendel.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Rifles for 6.5 Grendel

The 6.5 Grendel is a rifle cartridge, and the loads in the tables run from 90 gr to 130 gr. See also new rifle releases and the new hunting rifles of 2026.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal, Remington and Nosler show availability on their own product pages (Nosler shows it in its online store). Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see 6.8 SPC ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 6.5 PRC ammo, 7.62x39 ammo, 300 Blackout ammo, 6mm ARC ammo, 5.56/.223 ammo, the barrel length vs velocity data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Compare: 6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for 6.5 Grendel?
SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 52,000 psi for 6.5 Grendel, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 (the table shows 520 in psi/100).
What grain is 6.5 Grendel ammo?
In our tables the bullets run from 90 gr to 130 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your rifle is set up to shoot.
How fast is 6.5 Grendel ammo?
In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 2,350 fps to 3,000 fps, and muzzle energies from 1,534 ft-lb to 1,818 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.
What does test barrel mean?
It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box.
Do you list prices or stock for 6.5 Grendel ammo?
No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

Sources

  1. Federal: Federal American Eagle Rifle 6.5 Grendel 120 gr Open Tip Match, item AE65GDL1 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  2. Federal: Federal Fusion MSR 6.5 Grendel 120 gr Fusion Soft Point, item F65GDLMSR1 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  3. Federal: Federal Varmint & Predator 6.5 Grendel 90 gr Speer TNT Jacketed Hollow Point, item AE65GDL90VP (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  4. Remington: Remington Premier Match 6.5 Grendel 130 gr Berger Open Tip Match, item 21205 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  5. Hornady: Hornady BLACK Match 6.5 Grendel 123 gr ELD® Match™ Hornady BLACK®, item 81528 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  6. Hornady: Hornady CX Custom 6.5 Grendel 90 gr CX® Custom, item 81513 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  7. Hornady: Hornady SST 6.5 Grendel 123 gr SST®, item 8152 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  8. Hornady: Hornady V-Match 6.5 Grendel 100 gr ELD-VT™ V-Match™, item 81521 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  9. Nosler: Nosler Ballistic Tip 6.5 Grendel 120 gr Ballistic Tip, item 61023 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  10. Nosler: Nosler Custom Competition HPBT 6.5 Grendel 123 gr Custom Competition, item 44501 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  11. Nosler: Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond Long Range 6.5 Grendel 129 gr AccuBond Long Range, item 60146 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  12. Nosler: Nosler Varmageddon FB Tipped 6.5 Grendel 90 gr Varmageddon, item 65182 (checked Nov. 4, 2026)
  13. SAAMI: ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 centerfire rifle standard, 6.5 Grendel drawing (checked Nov. 4, 2026)

Keep exploring

Free weekly email

The Gun Release Report

Get new gun releases and NFA law updates. Free, weekly. Unsubscribe at any time.

About the newsletter · Privacy

Subscribe free on beehiiv