20" or 12.5" 6.5 grendel for deer

DD_Dinosaur

Established Member
Oct 25, 2020
83
50
South Alabama
Trying to see if anyone has any personal experience with a 12.5 grendel for hunting. I shouldn't be shooting over 300 yards. Just trying to decide if I should keep my 20" or go with the 12.5"
 

Xero

Established Member
May 20, 2021
73
53
Auburn
No personal experience but why would you need a 20" Grendel for deer? 12.5"barrel is more than capable. If the rifle is going to pull double duty as your long range rig then I could see going with the 20" barrel.
 

DD_Dinosaur

Established Member
Oct 25, 2020
83
50
South Alabama
Well the 20" is what I have now. I went 20" because it was going to be my long range gun too but mainly hunting. Now that I have had to carry it in the stand and blinds a couple times I was thinking of going shorter but I've read reviews saying it won't be very effect to a deer at 300 yards so that's why I was asking.
 

Xero

Established Member
May 20, 2021
73
53
Auburn
As long as you have a quality barrel (manufacturer with great QC practices), accuracy isn't going to be an issue either way. I'd be more worried about muzzle velocity if you're trying to take deer at 300 yards. That's a lil sketchy for a couple reasons. I want whatever I hit to go down immediately or be easily tracked. Assuming I trust myself enough to freehand that shot, if I have to move 300 yards just to start tracking, there's no telling where that deer may end up if it runs. I guess with the way I'd do it, the 12.5" barrel would be perfect for me. If you're hunting from a stand and you trust your aim and the round, either barrel should be fine. 6.5 Grendel retains a lot of energy out to range so you really need to know more about the terminal ballistics of the round you're sending than anything else.
 

DD_Dinosaur

Established Member
Oct 25, 2020
83
50
South Alabama
As long as you have a quality barrel (manufacturer with great QC practices), accuracy isn't going to be an issue either way. I'd be more worried about muzzle velocity if you're trying to take deer at 300 yards. That's a lil sketchy for a couple reasons. I want whatever I hit to go down immediately or be easily tracked. Assuming I trust myself enough to freehand that shot, if I have to move 300 yards just to start tracking, there's no telling where that deer may end up if it runs. I guess with the way I'd do it, the 12.5" barrel would be perfect for me. If you're hunting from a stand and you trust your aim and the round, either barrel should be fine. 6.5 Grendel retains a lot of energy out to range so you really need to know more about the terminal ballistics of the round you're sending than anything else.
I know out of a 12.5" barrel should have about 900lbs of velocity if I remember correctly and not to sure on the speed. Honestly out of a 20" barrel at 200 yards I do good to get 3 out of 5 shots in 2 inch groups so it's probably not the best for me. Lol
 

cutt

Established Member
Jul 11, 2020
355
240
st.clair county
I have a 20'' barrel on my grendel. I think it was made by Green Mountain . Killer at 300 yards. I don't know you will hunting 100' or closer. If so stay with the 12.5 barrel .
 

DD_Dinosaur

Established Member
Oct 25, 2020
83
50
South Alabama
20" BCA 6.5 grendel upper, on a spikes viking lower with milspec internals, prs gen 3 stock and vortex crossfire ii 4-12x44 shooting Hornady black 123gr
 

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DD_Dinosaur

Established Member
Oct 25, 2020
83
50
South Alabama
7

Awesome looking rifle you have there! what do you think of 6.5 grendel vs 6.5 creedmoor?
I have not shot a creedmoor. Even though I have a savage axis II precision in creedmoor I don't have a scope so im in the process of selling it. And thanks
 
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Bigbore

Established Member
Nov 19, 2020
15
4
alabama
I use an 18" barrel on the grendel. Very pleased. Personally i wanted a 20" but the 18 was all that was available at the time. Not much difference in velocity between the 18 and 20. However you're going to lose a lot more if using a 12.5 barrel
 

MadMaxXx

New Member
Dec 17, 2021
4
2
Alabama
I’d go with 24”
Like this spikes, alexander arms, odinworks Frankenstein: 9DF69409-C30E-4EC8-9E33-3EA908B51C93.jpeg
 

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