Best 6.5mm Grendel Ammo

The 6.5mm Grendel represents one of the most significant advancements in AR-15 cartridge development, offering shooters exceptional long-range performance from a compact, lightweight platform. Developed by Bill Alexander and Janne Pohjoispää at Alexander Arms in 2003, this innovative cartridge was specifically engineered to overcome the range limitations of the 5.56 NATO while maintaining compatibility with the AR-15 action through a simple bolt and barrel change.

What makes the 6.5mm Grendel remarkable is its ability to deliver 6.5mm projectiles with high ballistic coefficients at velocities that maintain supersonic flight well past 1,000 yards. The cartridge utilizes a shortened .220 Russian case (parent of the 7.62x39mm) necked up to accept .264 caliber bullets typically ranging from 90 to 130 grains. This design provides significantly better sectional density and ballistic performance than the 5.56 NATO, translating to flatter trajectories, less wind drift, and substantially more energy retention at extended distances.

Hunters have embraced the 6.5mm Grendel for medium game like deer, antelope, and wild hogs, appreciating its moderate recoil, excellent accuracy, and terminal performance. The cartridge strikes an ideal balance between the lightweight handling of a standard AR-15 and the downrange capability typically associated with larger platforms. Whether pursuing precision target shooting at distance, competing in practical rifle matches, or hunting from a lightweight semi-automatic rifle, the 6.5mm Grendel delivers capabilities that were previously impossible in the AR-15 format.