Our crew lays out your options for the best 6.5 Grendel ammo.

Built for moderate-range deer hunting with less kick, the 6.5 Grendel is a fast and accurate cartridge that has gained a massive following among the shooting community. The top manufacturers in the industry are taking notice, offering a wide variety of options, including target, competition, varmint, and deer loads.

But what’s the best 6.5 Grendel ammo? What’s the best for each specific purpose? To help you make the right choice, here are our favorite options for deer, coyote, plinking, and more.

Our Picks – Best 6.5 Grendel Ammo

Best Overall 6.5 Grendel Ammo: Federal Fusion Rifle 120-grain Soft Point
Top for Deer and Medium Game: Prvi Partizan 120-grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
Varmint and Coyote: Federal American Eagle 90-grain Jacketed Hollow Point
Superior Competition 6.5 Grendel Ammo: Hornady V-Match 100-grain ELD-VT
Best Value for a 6.5 Grendel Ammo: Sellier & Bellot 124-grain Full Metal Jacket

Best Overall 6.5 Grendel Ammo

Federal Fusion Rifle 120-grain Soft Point

Bullet weight: 120 grain
Bullet type: Soft Point
Muzzle velocity: 2,600 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,801 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Boat tail increases accuracy
• Soft point provides expansion with weight retention
• Reasonable price

Disadvantages:

• Not ideal for high-volume target shooting

The Fusion brand from Federal Premium Ammunition is a leading hunting option used by outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. These bullets, which are found in numerous cartridges, offer the “largest expansion and highest weight retention” according to the manufacturer. For the 6.5 Grendel, this 120-grain soft point is the best option, as it combines power, accuracy, affordability, and effective terminal ballistics into one package.

The cartridge carries many features that make it the best overall 6.5 Grendel, but users will especially appreciate the round’s outstanding terminal performance. The bullet is electro-chemically bonded to the core, creating a uniform jacket less likely to break apart on impact. This drives penetration while allowing the bullet to expand as needed.

The round also has a good price, especially if you buy in bulk. This makes the round practical for hunting as well as target practice, although there are lower-priced options for high-volume shooting where terminal performance is less important.

There are many top-quality options for the 6.5 Grendel, but if you want the best combination of power, accuracy, and terminal ballistics, choose this 120-grain option from Federal.

Best for Deer and Medium Game

Prvi Partizan 120-grain Hollow Point Boat Tail

Bullet weight: 120 grains
Bullet type: Polymer tip
Muzzle velocity: 2,580 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,818 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Excellent speed and muzzle energy
• Highly accurate with consistent grouping
• Smooth feeding in a semiautomatic rifle
• 1,000+ ft-lbs at 400 yards

Disadvantages:

• Higher price

The 6.5 Grendel has become a well-established deer-hunting option, prompting manufacturers to create a variety of ammo choices, including the previously-mentioned Federal Fusion round. The best deer-hunting round, however, is the 120-grain polymer-tipped from Prvi Partizan, which has a steeper price but delivers excellent downrange performance.

The round is accurate and effective to distances of 400 yards or more, far exceeding the reach of most hunters. At 400 yards, the round maintains over 1,000 ft-lbs of energy and a speed above 1,900 fps. Combined with the aerodynamic polymer-tipped bullet, this ensures effective performance from the barrel to the target.

The price is high (nearly double the Federal Fusion), but for deer hunting at any range, this is the premier 6.5 Grendel option.

Top 6.5 Grendel Ammo for Hunting Varmint and Coyote

Federal American Eagle 90-grain Jacketed Hollow Point

Bullet weight: 90 grains
Bullet type: Jacketed hollow point
Muzzle velocity: 3,000 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,798 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Light bullet for smaller animals
• Blazing speeds
• Straight trajectories

Disadvantages:

• Too small for most deer
• Too costly for high-volume shooting

This round has all the characteristics of a leading varmint and coyote cartridge. Most notably, it carries a 90-grain projectile, a relatively small load for the 6.5 Grendel. This allows for increased accuracy and less damage to the pelt. This may not be a concern for all, but coyote hunters are often concerned with pelt quality.

This is perhaps the fastest 6.5 Grendel ammo available on the shelves. With a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps, it delivers blazing speed from muzzle to target. It may not be a long-range deer hunting or target round, but it will have one of the straightest trajectories at the range. Compared to heavier bullets, the downrange energy is reduced, but it remains an effective option for coyote and varmint. With accurate shooting, this cartridge can easily drop a coyote or prairie dog at 400 yards.

6.5 Grendel Ammunition for Competition

Hornady V-Match 100-grain ELD-VT

Bullet weight: 100 grain
Bullet type: Polymer tip
Muzzle velocity: 2,730 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,655 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Flat trajectories with match-grade accuracy
• Premium components and clean-burning primers
• Can be used for competition or varmint hunting

Disadvantages:

• Too light for medium game animals, such as deer
• Higher price

Competition shooters know the value of a high-quality cartridge. They need something accurate, delivers a straight trajectory, and provides tight groupings over and over (and over and over) again. Hornady’s V-Match line is a popular choice, and their 100-grain ELD-VT bullet is the best 6.5 Grendel option for competition.

The round delivers impressively flat trajectories. For instance, when zeroed to 200 yards it only drops 8.3 inches at 300 yards. This allows users to place long-distance shots with confidence anytime they step to the starting line. If you are competing in a rifle-shooting event, give yourself every advantage by selecting these rounds from Hornady.

Top Value for 6.5 Grendel Ammo

Sellier & Bellot 124-grain Full Metal Jacket

Bullet weight: 124 grains
Bullet type: Full metal jacket
Muzzle velocity: 2,576 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,826 ft-lbs

Advantages:

• Low price
• High-quality components
• From a trusted, reliable brand

Disadvantages:

• Not a good option for hunting

While you can find cheaper 6.5 Grendel ammunition, you’ll have a hard time finding a better value for your dollar than these 124-grain full metal jacket rounds from Sellier & Bellot. The ammunition will be easy on your wallet and, thanks to the copper jacket, easy on your barrel.

The ammunition is for target shooting only (we wouldn’t recommend it for hunting), but it makes high-volume shooting more manageable. The heavier bullet performs well from the muzzle to the target, while the FMJ round ensures less fouling in the barrel. It all adds up to the best value from any 6.5 Grendel ammunition.