Thread: Reloading 6.5 Grendel Subsonic ?

Hi Guys, we are going to buy a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel, neat little rifle and mainly for my young fella to use in the bush.
We have seen online guys shooting subs and thought that would be a bonus if the young fella could shoot possums while we away in the bush.
Has anyone had any experiance with reloading for this ? any thoughts, comments appreciated.
Cheers

I cant imagine it being any different than with any other cartridge. I have been sub loading for my 303s, 308, 3030, and bigger stuff for over 20 years. The problem I found was no jacketed bullets gave any expansion, they went straight through carried on. So I used cast ones with a nice flat nose. I know you can buy subsonic jacketed now but Ill never bother.
Give shooter nz a look he does a huge range of cast struff and should be able to give you the right advice.

Thanks, who is Shooter nz ? a store or forum member ?

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I cant imagine it being any different than with any other cartridge. I have been sub loading for my 303s, 308, 3030, and bigger stuff for over 20 years. The problem I found was no jacketed bullets gave any expansion, they went straight through carried on. So I used cast ones with a nice flat nose. I know you can buy subsonic jacketed now but Ill never bother.
Give shooter nz a look he does a huge range of cast struff and should be able to give you the right advice.

Hes a forum member @shooternz will get his attention.

Could be good to carry a couple of subs with you in case you see something on your walk back. I'd use the full load for hares and rabbits as the trajectory and accuracy will be better. Keeo a track of which ammo you have up the spout. I once shot at a sika with a cast bullet from my 303 and was quite surprised to hear the quiet bang not full noise. Fortunately it was close and the shot connected and got it just fine. If I see little critters when I'm out with mine I'm just going to let strip with a standard round. The advantage of .223, grendel etc over 17HMR and 22LR is they are legal to use on Doc land and will deal to a goat or small deer at a pinch. No shooting during hours of darkness on DoC land of course. By the time you set up a load get zero and trajectory they will be more expensive than regular ammo.

Originally Posted by Pete_D

Hi Guys, we are going to buy a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel, neat little rifle and mainly for my young fella to use in the bush.
We have seen online guys shooting subs and thought that would be a bonus if the young fella could shoot possums while we away in the bush.
Has anyone had any experiance with reloading for this ? any thoughts, comments appreciated.
Cheers

For subsonics, use a FAST powder like IMR 2400 or Hodgdon Trail Boss, which are position insensitive (no wadding up front needed to hold the powder up against the primer hole when small loads are used).

Do NOT use a slow powder, danger of detonation rather than conflagration... detonation meaning that a small charge can turn the chamber into a fragmentation grenade. Slow powders CAN be used for subsonics, but with wadding keeping the powder up against the primer hole, but really why bother/risk it when Trail Boss is not that expensive.

Agree it's easier to just use full power ammo for accuracy, but out on DOC land you have the no-rimfire restriction... and full power centrefire ammo is a really shitty idea if you want to shoot things out of trees. For subsonic loads, play with cat's sneeze loads just using lead ball. US #2 buckshot is 6.9mm and can be pressed into a 6.5 case (actual bullet diameter 6.7mm) with a smidge of grease on top. Look up the Trail Boss loads yourself. You won't need a silencer.

But ... while you are thinking over your purchase...why not choose the Howa Mini in 7.62x39 - significantly better for subsonic loads, and much cheap ammo available to the boy.

IMO just use a decent suppressor on your Grendel. Something like a Hardy or even better an ODL.
300 BLK with a big cast lead projectile is probably a better option for a sub sonic rifle.

I use just one load in my 6.5 Grendel, 123gn SST with CFE223 powder.

Thanks Cordite, I have read about some dangers of subs and now I understand ! I plan on getting some ADI 8208 on a recommendation for standard loads, just been thinking everytime were in the bush there's always other pests to shoot, especially lots of possums. I take your point on the 7.62 x 39 and we are thinking probably cant go wrong with either, just think the 6.5G is probably better suited for the general hunting we want to do. Great idea with the #2 buckshot and we may try that if we cant find a bullet that will do the trick.

Originally Posted by Cordite

For subsonics, use a FAST powder like IMR 2400 or Hodgdon Trail Boss, which are position insensitive (no wadding up front needed to hold the powder up against the primer hole when small loads are used).

Do NOT use a slow powder, danger of detonation rather than conflagration... detonation meaning that a small charge can turn the chamber into a fragmentation grenade. Slow powders CAN be used for subsonics, but with wadding keeping the powder up against the primer hole, but really why bother/risk it when Trail Boss is not that expensive.

Agree it's easier to just use full power ammo for accuracy, but out on DOC land you have the no-rimfire restriction... and full power centrefire ammo is a really shitty idea if you want to shoot things out of trees. For subsonic loads, play with cat's sneeze loads just using lead ball. US #2 buckshot is 6.9mm and can be pressed into a 6.5 case (actual bullet diameter 6.7mm) with a smidge of grease on top. Look up the Trail Boss loads yourself. You won't need a silencer.

But ... while you are thinking over your purchase...why not choose the Howa Mini in 7.62x39 - significantly better for subsonic loads, and much cheap ammo available to the boy.

@Cordite if you have a min. can you jump over to this link and see if any of these powders apart from trail boss (dont really need 1.5kg and out of stock) would be suitable. Cheers
https://www.broncos.co.nz/hunting/reloading/gun-powder/

If you are serious about subs forget the Grendel no one makes a decent subsonic cast bullet mould in 6.5, you are better off with the 7.62x39 I have a cast hollow point 151 grain that
works well in the 39 Check TM robertw1 Listing #: 1827383245
They can be loaded up to 1800 fps, at 900fps they will expand to .400" heart/lung shots on goats and fallow will penetrate right through,
Cordite got his powders mixed up 2400 powder is Alliant and not that fast, Trail Boss is IMR/ADI and the easiest powder for sub loads
6.0gr is about right to start with, ADI 2207 is good for higher velocity loads.

Unique on that page is a fast pistol powder but I never used this myself.

Link to some discussions on cats sneeze loads:
https://www.levergunscommunity.org/v...ic.php?t=62726

Yes, I rrmember 2400 used to be made by Hercules! TB is fine. My cats sneezes are with trail boss. NB Some shops sell smaller amounts.

Thanks for the input guys - not serious about subs in the sense that is what we want the rifle for, just my young fella always wishes he had his .22 when were in the bush and just thinking if he could safely shoot the odd possum or whatever then bonus. Besides we will be reloading for the cartidge so why not. The empahsis is safely so it sounds like Trail Boss is the way to go. Thanks again.

Ive loaded a few for shits and giggles and they are fine for possums and head shooting goats..
Trail boss is best but something fast like 2205 or AP70 works well too. Find the cheapest and lightest bullets for them too as even a 1-8" twist in grendel wont stabilize a 140gr or 123gr at sub speeds. Loading the heavier bullets backwards will shoot better but they are expensive plinkers

Originally Posted by Wingman

Ive loaded a few for shits and giggles and they are fine for possums and head shooting goats..
Trail boss is best but something fast like 2205 or AP70 works well too. Find the cheapest and lightest bullets for them too as even a 1-8" twist in grendel wont stabilize a 140gr or 123gr at sub speeds. Loading the heavier bullets backwards will shoot better but they are expensive plinkers

Yes, if stuck... buy cheap milsurp 7.72x39 FMJs, pull the bullets and discard the powder, charge with a subsonic/sneeze load of trail boss and reseat bullet in reverse.

Yet don't count on them expanding as well as @shooternz's cast bullets, so just for possums or rabbits.

I've done this. 100gr Sierra hollowpoint, seated to 2.120 IIRC, over 6.9gr of Trail Boss and a CCI 450 primer. Reasonably consistent velocities but not as quiet or as accurate as my 22LR. Given the 40gr 22LR subs expand pretty well, it really didn't accomplish much. Still, it was a fun experiment and was easier than .223 subs, given the 1:8 twist barrel and larger diameter bullets being easier to stabilise.

I would be tempted to try the 160gr round nose bullets, but at subsonic speeds they're definitely not going to expand.