Robert Whitley Reviews Hornady-made 6.5 Grendel Brass
Robert Whitley of AR-X Enterprises, LLC builds match-grade uppers for AR-platform rifles. Many of Robert’s favorite chamberings are based on the 6.5 Grendel case necked-down to 6mm. Until 2011, Lapua was the only source for 6.5 Grendel brass. As you’d expect, Lapua’s Grendel brass is truly excellent, but it is also pricey, and sometimes hard to find. Now Hornady is producing USA-made 6.5 Grendel brass. Robert Whitley has worked with the Hornady 6.5 Grendel brass for over a year now and he is able to assess its performance compared to the original Lapua version. Writing in our Shooters’ Forum, Robert reveals: “It’s decent brass but hot loads will loosen the primer pockets fast. With moderate loads you will get good case life and service from the brass and it can deliver excellent accuracy as well. Not Lapua but not bad either.”
Robert reports: “I was able to get my hands on some of Hornady’s 6.5 Grendel brass. My big question was how it would measure up, particularly the loaded necks, and whether it would be compatible with our existing 6mmAR and Turbo 40 die sets. As it turns out, this brass looks like a perfect fit for our existing die sets (and obviously 6.5 Grendel die sets too). Accordingly, folks with existing die sets will be able to use the Hornady brass without any issues.” However, as the loaded neck on the Hornady brass is .001″ (one-thousandth) slimmer than Lapua brass, you may want to try a smaller bushing when sizing Hornady Grendel brass.
The Hornady 6.5 Grendel brass has a LARGE Flash Hole, about .078″ versus .0591″ for Lapua brass. Dimensionally, the biggest difference is the shoulder diameter, with the Hornady brass measuring 0.428″ vs. 0.424″ for the Lapua brass. The Hornady is actually a better fit for 6mmAR chambers which are about 0.432″ at the shoulder. Interestingly, case H20 capacity is virtually identical. Water capacity of new, unfired Hornady 6.5 Grendel brass is 35.1 grains, while new, unfired Lapua Grendel brass holds 35.0 grains of H20. Both brands of Grendel brass increase to about 36.0 grains H20 capacity after firing and full-length sizing.
Here are some of the particulars of the Hornady cases:
| Hornady 6.5 Grendel Brass | Lapua 6.5 Grendel Brass |
| Flash hole diameter: ~ .078″ OAL of brass: Average 1.515″ Weight of cases: 111.7 to 113.0 grains Web diameter, unfired: 0.4375″ Shoulder diameter, unfired: 0.428″ Loaded neck diameter: 0.2895″ 6mmAR loaded neck: 0.270″ |
Flash hole diameter: 1.5mm (0.0591″) OAL of brass: Average 1.515″ Weight of cases: 111.0 to 112.5 grains Web diameter, unfired: 0.4385″ Shoulder diameter, unfired: 0.424″ Loaded neck diameter: 0.290″ 6mmAR loaded neck: 0.271″ |
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Tags: 6.5 Grendel, Hornady, Lapua, Robert Whitley
Why the large flash hole? The idea behind the SR primer is the better pressure handling and the better flash consitency of the small hole.
Weird or what?
Have been interested in hearing what other people think of the Hornady brass. Sounds like on paper, should be viable alternative. I have some experience with it and compare to the “standard” Lapua.
I have RW’s 6mm Turbo 40 (love it!). Use for pdogs and been shooting it for 5+ years. My load is 30.0 gr RL15. I have about 1500 pieces of Lapua brass converted and am about on my 6th reloading of the Lapua brass. Very small number of split cases over the years (<10). I bought about 200 cases of the Hornady brass. I have not had good luck with it. I've had a very high rate of split cases, even with the 28.0 gr RL15 Fire forming load. Had a lot split on first firing (+20% or more). Those that didn't split on forming, still had high rate of failures on second loading. A lot of variables in reloading, but shooting right with the Lapua brass and they still going strong.
Wonder what others are experiencing?..,,
I first bought several boxes of Hornady factory ammo, with 123 AMAX. I’m on my 3rd reload on these cases with no split cases or case head separations. I full-size and trim each reload. Recently, I’ve purchased 400 Alexander Arms cases (made by Hornady) and of the ones I’ve fired I’ve had no issues. They were within spec and ready to load. I’m shooting from a 20″ Odin Works barrel and my usual load has been 31 grains CFE-223 with 123 AMAX or 123 SMK. I’ve not used any Lapua cases, so I can’t compare to them, but since I’ve had no issues with the Hornady brass, and it’s half the cost of Lapua, I’ll stay with it.