Ruger’s American Ranch In 6.5 Grendel Part II

Yes, handloading can be fun and rewarding

02/21/2020

Working with the Ruger American Ranch 6.5 Grendel has been a lot of fun. Scoped and silenced, it was tireless at the bench, digesting ammo, putting holes in targets and tolerating without complaint… less than conservative handloads. Yes, comments like that do make manufacturers break out in a rash. They work diligently to be creative in designing product, always staying between the lines for the benefit of their customers and giving clear and concise instructions for safe use of their products. From the product’s manual…

“AMMUNITION: The RUGER AMERICAN RIFLE® is chambered for many of the most popular factory-loaded cartridges manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry practice. The particular caliber for each rifle is rollmarked on the barrel. Use cartridges only of the designated caliber that is marked on the barrel. Please see “Warning – Ammunition” and “Warning – Loading” on page 14.WARNING – LEAD EXPOSURE AMMUNITION (CARTRIDGES) NOTICE WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY WHATSOEVER OCCURRING IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF, THE USE IN ANY RUGER FIREARMS OF FAULTY, OR NON-STANDARD, OR “REMANUFACTURED” OR HAND-LOADED (RELOADED) AMMUNITION, OR OF CARTRIDGES OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH THE FIREARM WAS ORIGINALLY CHAMBERED.

Death, serious injury, and damage can result from the wrong ammunition, bore obstructions, powder overloads or incorrect cartridge components. Even the strongest gun can be blown up by excess pressure. Only use correct ammunition loaded to U.S. Industry Standards. Always wear shooting glasses and hearing protection.”

Subsequently, I am in no way shape or form suggesting or recommending any of the handloads that follow in any AR type firearm. As indicated on the handload table spec box, the SAAMI MAP pressure is 52,000 psi measured by transducer method. The handloads that follow fall between 56,000 psi and 60,000 psi MAP, with this particular rifle, with my smokeless powder, with my primers, with my brass, and with my collection of measurement equipment tools at my disposal. This is an academic exercise, my experiment, to explore the potential of the 6.5 Grendel in a bolt action firearm.

Five bullets for the 6.5 Grendel

The five Bullets pictured above were selected. The first three are hunting types, the last two are match and heavy for the cartridge. L-R: Sierra Varminter 100 grain, Sierra Pro-Hunter 120 grain, Nosler Partition 125 grain, Lapua Scenar L 136 grain, Berger Long Range Boat Tail Target. My preference is for the first three; one varmint and two candidates for medium size, thin skilled game. All are flat based and a little thicker in the ogive to preserve case power capacity. The last two are very slick VLD designs that work well in larger 6.5 cartridges and have really no long competitive shooting applications in the American Ranch, a function of its sporter profile 16.1″ barrel.

Warning: Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different bullets of the same weight. Variations in bullet length will alter net case capacity,  pressure and velocity. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These are maximum loads in my firearms and may be excessive in others. All loads should be reduced by 5% as a starting point for development where cartridges have greater than 40 grains in capacity and 10% for cartridges with less than 40 grain capacity following safe handloading practices as represented in established mainstream reloading manuals. Presentation of these loads does not constitute a solicitation for their use, nor a recommendation.

For loading VLD match jackets with a long tapering ogive and soft jacket and core, it is a good idea to pick up a VDL type seating plug from the associated die manufacturer. All of the major producers offer them at a cost of less than $10. Where necks run tight and are the soul source of bullet retention, seating pressure with a conventional bullet seating plug will damage tips, impacting balance and accuracy.

Cartridge overall length was determined by rifling leade clearance, magazine clearance and bullet seating depth. The AR type magazine never actually came into play as it can contain and feed to an overall length of 3.414″, well beyond SAAMI COL and any assembled length.

Entries on the table, with the charge gains followed by “C”, are compressed in more than a casual way. This is with new and full length resized Hornady brass. Once-fired cases offered a measurable increase in capacity, at least to the extent that a neck sizing die might be the way to go.

6.5 Grendel – For Bolt Action Rifles Only
Firearm Ruger American Ranch
Barrel Length 16.10″
Max Case Length 1.520″ +0.000″/-0.020″
Min – Max COL 2.135″ – 2.260″
Primer CCI BR4 – Small Rifle Bench Rest
Bullet Diameter 0.2643″ +0.000″/-0.0030″
Reloading Dies Hornady
Caution: Loads exceed SAAMI MAP=52kpsi,
< 60kpsi Not suitable for AR applications.

 

Bullet Type Bullet
Weight

Grains
Net H2O
Grains
Capacity
COL” Powder Type Powder
Charge

Grains
Muzzle
Velocity

fps
Muzzle
Energy

ft/lbs
3 Shot
100 Yard
Group
Sierra Varminter 100 34.0 2.185 AR-Comp 31.0C
2836 1786 0.4
Sierra Varminter 100 34.0 2.185 H335 32.5 2844 1796 0.5
Sierra Varminter 100 34.0 2.185 Norma 201 32.5C 2864 1822 0.3
Sierra Varminter 100 34.0 2.185 Win 748 34.0C 2837 1788 0.7
Sierra Pro-Hunter 120 32.9 2.260 AR-Comp 29.5C 2632 1846 0.5
Sierra Pro-Hunter 120 32.9 2.260 H335 30.0 2600 1802 0.6
Sierra Pro-Hunter 120 32.9 2.260 CFE223 34.5 2781 2061 0.5
Sierra Pro-Hunter 120 32.9 2.260 Norma 201 30.5 2591 1789 0.8
Nosler Partition 125 31.3 2.240 AR-Comp 28.5 2559 1818 0.9
Nosler Partition 125 31.3 2.240 H335 29.5 2522 1766 0.5
Nosler Partition 125 31.3 2.240 Norma 201 29.4 2538 1788 0.8
Nosler Partition 125 31.3 2.240 Win 748 30.5 2450 1666 0.9
Lapua Scenar L 136 29.1 2.240 BL-C2 29.5 2326 1634 0.4
Lapua Scenar L 136 29.1 2.240 RS TAC 29.0 2486 1867 0.6
Lapua Scenar L 136 29.1 2.240 Norma 203B 28.5 2296 1592 0.8
Lapua Scenar L 136 29.1 2.240 Win 748 28.5 2285 1577 0.6
Berger LRBT Target 140 29.1 2.260 AR-Comp 26.0 2301 1646 0.5
Berger LRBT Target 140 29.1 2.260 BL-C2 29.0 2253 1578 0.7
Berger LRBT Target 140 29.1 2.260 CFE 223 30.5 2336 1697 0.4
Berger LRBT Target 140 29.1 2.260 Win 748 28.0 2211 2211 0.5

What can I do with a 6.5 Grendel bolt action rifle? Actually, quite a bit

The 6.5 Grendel proved to be, as many others have found, an efficient cartridge; a modest amount of propellant is required to drive a bullet through a short barrel to produce flat shooting and medium game killing power. In the example of the 140 grain Berger, the Grendel has a point blank range of 217 yards and retained kinetic energy and flat enough trajectory for medium size game out to 400 yards. Remarkable performance for 30 grains of power and a 6 lb +/- rifle with a 16.10″ barrel. Yes, the selected bullet is for target work, but Berger and others offer the same VLD design, with the same high ballistic coefficient, in an expanding, hunting bullet.

 

Berger 140 Grain LRBT Target
Near-Zero – Yards 21 Mid Range -Yards 114
Far-Zero – Yards 203 Max Ordinate – Inches
+3.0
Point Blank – Yards 217
Best Zero +3″ Ordinate –  Range 0 – 500 yards
Yards 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Velocity – fps 2336 2271 2206 2143 2081 2020 1961 1902 1844 1788 1732
Energy – ft.-lbs. 1696 1603 1513 1428 1346 1269 1195 1124 1057 993 932
Momentum – lbs-sec 47 45 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 36 35
Path – in. -1.50 1.56 2.93 2.52 0.21 -4.10 -10.54 -19.24 -30.34 -44.00 -60.38
Drift – in. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Time Of Flight – sec. 0.00 0.07 0.13 0.20 0.27 0.35 0.42 0.50 0.58 0.66 0.75

 

For those of us who live with trees and shorter shooting distances, the 120 grain Sierra soft point would outperform the 140 grain Berger inside 300 yards. The space between trees and brush in Maine is about ten feet. Yes, that is an exaggeration for dramatic effect. Thank you for noticing.

 

Sierra Pro-Hunter 120 grain
Near-Zero – Yards 25 Mid Range – Yards 130
Far-Zero – Yards 229 Max Ordinate – Inches +3.0
Point Blank – Yards 243
Best Zero : Range 0 – 500 yards
Yards 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Velocity – fps 2781 2653 2528 2407 2290 2176 2065 1958 1854 1754 1657
Energy – ft.-lbs. 2060 1875 1703 1544 1397 1261 1136 1021 916 820 732
Momentum – lbs-sec 48 45 43 41 39 37 35 34 32 30 28
Path – in. -1.50 1.24 2.74 2.88 1.52 -1.50 -6.36 -13.25 -22.42 -34.11 -48.63
Drift – in. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Time Of Flight – sec. 0.00 0.06 0.11 0.17 0.24 0.31 0.38 0.45 0.53 0.61 0.70

 

So what about the Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 6.5 Grendel?

Yes, that is a silencer. I am ambivalent relative to their use, but my ears are big fans. In this case, the silencer brings even the supersonic dB level well below 130. The American Ranch’s threaded muzzle makes its use possible with even inexpensive direct mounts.

The American Ranch is light, 6 lbs +/-, compact and well balanced. Recoil is less than modest and operation is slick. Accuracy is excellent as is the rifle’s price. Done with the review and handloading exercise, personal time was spent shooting and handloading for an additional week with no greater reason than enjoyment… even in 5°F Maine winter weather.

Comments appearing below are posted by individuals in a free exchange, not associated with Real Guns. Therefore RGI Media takes no responsibility for information appearing in the comments section. Reader judgement is essential.

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