Will A 6.5 Grendel Kill An Elk?

Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter and Outdoorsman.

The 6.5 Grendel was developed to improve upon the 223 Remington or 5.56mm NATO when used in conjunction with the Ar15 platform. Most shooters would consider this a success, but can you use the 6.5 Grendel to hunt, and will it kill an elk?

The 6.5 Grendel has been known to take down elk successfully. It is not, however, the most optimal choice as it is a little on the light side. While it is an excellent cartridge for medium-sized game such as deer and wild hogs, it does not have enough size or power to ensure a quick and clean kill when hunting larger animals like elk.

It is very important to learn about the 6.5 Grendel if you consider using it for hunting, especially for large animals such as elk. Continue reading to learn more about this cartridge and what it excels at.

In this post, we'll cover:

The 6.5 Grendel Cartridge

The 6.5 Grendel was developed as an intermediate caliber that was first released in 2003. Designed by Bill Alexander (the same person who created the 50 Beowulf), the Grendel was built by modifying a 6.5mm PPC casing to provide a very fast, accurate, and efficient cartridge that could work well in the AR platform.

Although it is often misspelled as the 6.5 Grendal, the 6.5 Grendel is a lot bigger and more powerful than the popular 223 Remington that is commonly used in the Ar15.

This cartridge is also very versatile and is widely used for a variety of different tasks such as long-range shooting, tactical and law enforcement procedures, predator hunting, and even some big game hunting.

The 6.5 Grendel gets a lot of its versatility from the wide variety of bullet weights that it has to choose from. Most bullets used with this caliber will range in weight from 90 to 130 grain, with the 100, 110, and 120-grain varieties being the most widely used.

While ammo can still be somewhat difficult to find due to this caliber not being around as long as other more popular calibers, it is quickly rising in popularity thanks to its use in the Ar15 platform and its performance.

Should You Use the 6.5 Grendel for Elk?

Although the 6.5 Grendel is so popular due to the fact that it is used in conjunction with the Ar15, it is not the greatest option for elk. Both bull and cow elk are large creatures, and the smaller size of the Grendel makes it a little light.

The Ar15 platform limits how big the bullets and casings can be, so you are going to be limited on the size and power of the rounds that come out of it.

That is not to say that you can’t use a 6.5 Grendel for your elk hunt if you really want to. It can kill an elk with proper shot placement. If you intend to use a 6.5 Grendel for elk, you will want to use the heaviest bullet you can and ensure that it is made for big game hunting and not target practice.

You will also need to be within a reasonable distance and not too far from the elk.

With proper shot placement behind the shoulder and at a reasonable distance, you can still kill an elk with a 6.5 Grendel. If you cannot get all the conditions just right, you may risk simply injuring the elk instead of killing it.

This is one of the biggest reasons why the 6.5 Grendel is not a very popular elk hunting round and instead excels at things like deer hunting and wild pig hunting.

Why the 6.5 Grendel Makes an Excellent Deer Rifle

Although the 6.5 Grendel may not be the best elk hunting caliber, it is one of the best calibers for hunting deer and other small to medium-size game such as wild hogs or even antelope.

Not only is this caliber very compact and lightweight, but it also has very little recoil and can offer very quick follow-up shots. This makes the 6.5 Grendel a great option for deer hunting, regardless of age or skill level.

And because of its extremely low recoil, the 6.5 Grendel has become a great option for youth shooters or those that are sensitive to a higher recoil.

It can also reach out to 400 yards for deer and other game, making for a small, lightweight round that can provide you with plenty of options for long-range shooting and hunting.

6.5 Grendel Ammo and Bullets

With the rising popularity of the 6.5 Grendel, ammo selection and bullet options are also increasing. Instead of simple full metal jacket target ammunition, there is a wide range of hunting ammunition specifically designed to take down deer, hogs, and predators.

A few companies producing many different types of 6.5 Grendel ammo include Hornady, Barnes, Nosler, and Federal Ammunition.

Final Thoughts

Although the 6.5 Grendel is an amazing round, it is not the ideal elk hunting cartridge. There are plenty of other great elk hunting calibers out there that can provide better power and longer-range capabilities.

So can you use a 6.5 Grendel to kill an elk? Yes, you can. But should you use it to elk hunt with? The answer will depend on your type of hunting and how quick and clean of a kill you want to ensure you get.

Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.

Sources

Was this article helpful?

YesNo