Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · COMPACT RIFLE CARTRIDGE
6.5 Grendel
A compact 6.5mm rifle cartridge with a broad, short case. It is a distinct design from the larger Creedmoor and PRC cases.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.135–2.260 in
54.229–57.404 mm - Case length · max
- 1.520 in
38.608 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2643 in
6.713 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.441 in
11.201 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Compact rifle cartridge
- Bullet specification
- 0.2643 in / 6.713 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 6 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 90–123 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
6.5 Grendel is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 6.5 Grendel. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
The 6.5 name describes a bore class, not a shared case. Do not substitute 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The 6.5 Grendel emerged in the early 2000s through Bill Alexander’s work at Alexander Arms, with contributions from competitive shooter Arne Brennan and Lapua ballistician Janne Pohjoispää. Its case lineage ran through the compact PPC family. The aim was to bring efficient, streamlined 6.5 mm bullets to the AR-15’s limited magazine-length envelope.
In an original interview, Alexander described how contact with Lapua helped turn the idea into a manufacturable cartridge rather than leaving it as an individual experiment. The Grendel subsequently found audiences in target shooting and hunting, with factory ammunition and rifles broadening its reach. Its development illustrates the influence of competition-derived case geometry on a practical sporting self-loader. The name continued Alexander Arms’ Old English literary theme after the .50 Beowulf, although the two cartridges sit at very different ends of the bullet-weight and trajectory spectrum.
Historical sources: Shooting Illustrated: original interview with Bill Alexander ↗ · American Hunter: Grendel collaborators and case ancestry ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited 6.5 Grendel examples, bullet weights are 90, 100, 120, 123 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
90 grains
3,000 fps
SPEER TNT
100 grains
2,730 fps
ELD-VT®
120 grains
2,600 fps
FUSION
Compare all 6 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalAE65GDL90VP | 90 gr 5.83 g | SPEER TNT | 3,000 fps 914 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗ |
| Hornady81513 | 90 gr 5.83 g | CX® | 2,910 fps 887 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| Hornady81521 | 100 gr 6.48 g | ELD-VT® | 2,730 fps 832 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| FederalF65GDLMSR1 | 120 gr 7.78 g | FUSION | 2,600 fps 792 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| Hornady8152 | 123 gr 7.97 g | SST® | 2,580 fps 786 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
| Hornady81528 | 123 gr 7.97 g | ELD® Match | 2,580 fps 786 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
6.5 Grendel: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 90 gr Federal SPEER TNT | Federal | 0: 3000; 100: 2641; 200: 2309; 300: 2002; 400: 1721; 500: 1472 |
| 100 gr Hornady ELD-VT® | Hornady | 0: 2730; 100: 2531; 200: 2340; 300: 2158; 400: 1984; 500: 1819 |
| 120 gr Federal FUSION | Federal | 0: 2600; 100: 2346; 200: 2107; 300: 1881; 400: 1674; 500: 1485 |
| 123 gr Hornady SST® | Hornady | 0: 2580; 100: 2410; 200: 2247; 300: 2090; 400: 1940; 500: 1796 |
| 90 gr Hornady CX® | Hornady | 0: 2910; 100: 2651; 200: 2406; 300: 2174; 400: 1956; 500: 1752 |
| 123 gr Hornady ELD® Match | Hornady | 0: 2580; 100: 2409; 200: 2244; 300: 2086; 400: 1935; 500: 1791 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is 6.5 Grendel?
A compact 6.5mm rifle cartridge with a broad, short case. It is a distinct design from the larger Creedmoor and PRC cases.
What diameter does 6.5 Grendel use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2643 inches (6.713 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
The 6.5 name describes a bore class, not a shared case. Do not substitute 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 1 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 184 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗
- Shooting Illustrated: original interview with Bill Alexander ↗
- American Hunter: Grendel collaborators and case ancestry ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.