6.5 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Grendel: Which One's Better?

6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creedmoor are two of the most high-performing cartridges available in the 6.5mm lineup. But while they both sling 0.264"-diameter bullets downrange, they each have their pros and cons. Both Grendel and Creedmoor are frequently chambered in the AR platform, and long-range bolt-action bench rifles.

So, which one's better for you? 6.5 Grendel or 6.5 Creedmoor? Let's compare their ballistics and other factors (like application) to help you decide.

6.5 Grendel at a Glance

An improved version of 6.5 PPC. Designed by Bill Alexander, of Alexander Arms. Designed specifically for the AR-15 platform to outperform 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington for hunting American game. Now a favored long-range cartridge for the AR platform for its parts and magazine compatibility. Also frequently found in hunting and bench bolt-action rifles.

6.5 Grendel Specifications

• Bullet Diameter: 0.264"
  
• Neck Diameter: 0.293"
• Base Diameter: 0.439"
• Case Length: 1.520"
• Overall Length: 2.260"
• Case Capacity: 35 Grains
• Max Pressure: 52,000 PSI (SAAMI)

6.5 Creedmoor at a Glance

A necked-down .30 Thompson Center casing fitted with the same 0.264" bullet as 6.5 Grendel and other 6.5mm cartridges. Designed by in 2007 Hornady Senior Ballistics Scientist Dave Emary and competition shooter Dennis DeMille of Creedmoor Sports specifically for long-range competition shooting. Also a favored round for hunting medium-size game.

6.5 Creedmoor Specifications

• Bullet Diameter: 0.264"
• Neck Diameter: 0.295"
• Base Diameter: .0470"
• Case Length: 1.920"
• Overall Length: 2.825"
• Case Capacity: 52.5 Grains
• Max Pressure: 62,000 PSI (SAAMI)

6.5 Grendel vs. 6.5 Creedmoor Velocity

For 6.5 Grendel, 123-grain loads are the most popular. For 6.5 Creedmoor, 140- to 150-grain loads tend to be the most popular, so we split the difference with a 147-grain load. Let's compare their velocities downrange.

Distance	6.5 Grendel (123-gr) 24" Barrel	6.5 Creedmoor (147-gr) 24" Barrel
Muzzle	2,650	2,665
100 Yards	2,481	2,537
200 Yards	2,318	2,410
300 Yards	2,162	2,284
400 Yards	2,012	2,160
500 Yards	1,868	2,037
600 Yards	1,728	1,916
700 Yards	1,594	1,797
800 Yards	1,464	1,680
900 Yards	1,340	1,565
1,000 Yards	1,222	1,449

Although both rounds start off with practically identical muzzle velocities, 6.5 Creedmoor's higher case capacity and ballistic coefficient allow it to retain approximately 18% more velocity by the time both rounds reach 1,000 yards.

6.5 Grendel vs. 6.5 Creedmoor Energy

Let's compare both rounds' energy between the muzzle and 1,000 yards. Energy is measured in foot-pounds for both rounds.

Distance	6.5 Grendel (123-gr) 24" Barrel	6.5 Creedmoor (147-gr) 24" Barrel
Muzzle	1,917	2,318
100 Yards	1,681	2,100
200 Yards	1,468	1,896
300 Yards	1,276	1,703
400 Yards	1,106	1,522
500 Yards	952	1,354
600 Yards	816	1,198
700 Yards	694	1,054
800 Yards	585	922
900 Yards	491	799
1,000 Yards	408	685

The differences between both rounds' energy is greater: Creedmoor starts off with about 21% greater muzzle energy, and retains approximately 58% more energy by the time both rounds reach 1,000 yards.

Creedmoor's ability to retain more velocity and energy is again attributed to its higher case capacity, which allows it to chamber heavier-grain bullets that yield higher ballistic coefficients. Let's compare both rounds' ballistic coefficients across popular loads.

Grendel Ballistic Coefficients

• Hornady 123-grain ELD: .506 BC
• Alexander 123-grain HPBT: .527 BC
• Federal 130-grain ELD: .530 BC

Creedmoor Ballistic Coefficients

• Federal 130-grain Edge TRL: .545 BC
• Hornady 140-grain A-MAX: .585 BC
• Berger 140-grain Hybrid: .607 BC

6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor Max Range

The max effective range of 6.5 Grendel is 1,000 yards. Beyond this distance, the round loses supersonic velocity, and thus stability. Bullet drop and wind drift also become too great to produce consistent shot placement.

The 6.5 Creedmoor's max effective range is 1,200 yards. Creedmoor remains supersonic at this distance, with manageable bullet drop and wind drift.

So, Which Round is Better?

With the ballistic data compared, you may think 6.5 Creedmoor is the universally better caliber. But this may not be the case. 

Both calibers perform similarly up to 500 yards, and the 6.5 Grendel round provides some practical benefits over 6.5 Creedmoor. Let's compare.

Barrel Length

6.5 Grendel

Bill Alexander designed the 6.5 Grendel cartridge to perform best with a 20" barrel. The charts above show Grendel's ballistic performance using a 24" barrel -- but you see only marginal improvements in velocity and energy with this longer barrel.

Firing the same 123-grain load from a 20" barrel results in just a 2.7% loss in muzzle velocity. The compact size and weight savings of the Grendel's shorter barrel can be significant, especially when building a tactical rifle.

6.5 Creedmoor

Meanwhile, 6.5 Creedmoor was designed exclusively for long-range shooting from a bench. Its higher case capacity -- and all the extra powder it burns -- means Creedmoor needs a 24" barrel to achieve optimal ballistic performance. This longer, heavier barrel can become a burden if you're doing anything other than shooting from a bench.

Barrel Life

The 6.5 Grendel round also enjoys a barrel life that's nearly double that of 6.5 Creedmoor. Grendel barrels maintain good accuracy for at least 5,000 rounds. Creedmoor barrels tend to loose accuracy after 2,000 to 3,000 rounds.

Magazine Compatibility

Creedmoor provides one advantage here: It uses standard AR-10 / LR-308 magazines without modification. Grendel loads can become problematic when fed through regular 5.56/.223 magazines, and Grendel-specific magazines are typically required to ensure reliable feeding. They cost a bit more than the average "factory" AR-15 magazine.

Ammo Availability & Cost

6.5 Creedmoor ammo will burn a hole in your wallet. The average 20-round box of 6.5 Creedmoor retails for between $26 and $50. 

The average 20-round box of 6.5 Grendel retails for $20 to $25 -- that's up to 50% cheaper.

AR Parts Compatibility

Parts compatibility is mostly a concern for AR builders. The 6.5 Grendel cartridge relies on the 5.56/.223 AR-15 platform, while the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge requires the larger .308 AR-10 platform.

The market for AR-15 components is vast, while the market for AR-10 parts is relatively small. It's far easier to source receivers, bolts, magazines, fire control components, handguards, and other custom parts for the AR-15, making the 6.5 Grendel a more attractive choice for AR owners.

"Which Round Should I Pick?"

If you're interested in just long-range shooting, and if you prefer bolt-action rifles over semiautomatic actions, 6.5 Creedmoor will likely be the better investment.

But if you're interested in an all-purpose cartridge that's more affordable, and if you prefer the semiautomatic, compact, customizable AR-15, the 6.5 Grendel is the better choice.

Recap

We covered a lot info, so here are the key takeaways to remember if you're deciding between 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creedmoor:

• Both cartridges are 6.5mm and use 0.264" bullets.
• Grendel's max effective range is about 800 yards.
• Creedmoor's max effective range is about 1,000 yards.
• A Grendel rifle performs best with a 20" barrel.
• A Creedmoor rifle perofrms best with a 24" barrel.
• The Grendel is designed to fit in the AR-15 platform.
• The Creedmoor is designed to fit in the AR-10 platform.