6.5 Grendel for B. Bear?

Joined
Aug 31, 2019
Messages
35
I don’t mean to start up a shit storm but wanted to ask y’all if 6.5 Grendel is an adequate cartridge for Black Bear . I use the Grendel for hunting blacktail so I’d be nice if it could help me fill my bear tag as well ... thanks


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280Ackley

WKR
Joined
Jun 4, 2014
Messages
810
Location
Idaho
I carried mine last year on the kids bear hunt but never got a chance to use it. I had it loaded with 130gr SGK. I figured it would be good out to 150-200.
 
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
4,807
Location
Colorado
Carried mine this past season for bears, deer and elk. Didn’t get a chance to use it. If the opportunity came up I wouldn’t hesitate. A good buddy shot nice bear in Montana with his Grendel.
 
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bbell

WKR
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
346
Our family has killed 2 blacktails with a Grendel and after those I have no doubts about bear with it. We used the hornady black eld-m ammo. Zero tracking and pass throughs on both. 125yds and 60yds. We took it elk hunting as well, but never was able to get a shot.
 
Joined
Nov 10, 2020
Messages
307
My brother has a 6.5 grendel that's been commandeered by his wife as her whitetail gun. With it's mild velocities even bullets like the 123 SST hold together really well and always seem to pass through. I don't think his gun has ever dropped a deer but blood trails have always been heavy and short. I'm no bear expert but I would have zero qualms taking one hunting for bears so long as shots were less than ~300 and conditions were good for blood trailing.
 

Jim1187

Lil-Rokslider
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Mar 7, 2020
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195
Location
New Brunswick, Canada
I'm spoiled since we have a very long spring and fall bear hunt, no draw, and can get a second tag (at least as a resident) here. Passing on a less than ideal shot is easy for me. We are also allowed to bait so most of our bears are killed close, although I have yet to get a bear over a bait. I like to look for an eating sized (under 300lb) bear for my first tag and don't really find them any tougher to kill than a whitetail, although good blood trails can be harder. Big bears can seem to take more convincing that they are killed.
It wouldn't be my first pick but I wouldn't feel at a distinct disadvantage if someone handed me one said to kill black bear with it.
 

BAKPAKR

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Joined
May 10, 2018
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1,477
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Appalachia
I haven’t used a Grendel but I have used a 6.8mm SPC on two bears. Both were one shot kills. One was with a 115 gr Federal Fusion and the other was with a 95 gr Barnes TTSX. Ballistics for the 6.8 are similar to a Grendel at 150 yards or less.
 

Titan_Bow

WKR
Joined
Dec 10, 2015
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1,116
Location
Colorado
I wouldn't hesitate. While I don't own a 6.5 Grendel, I do have a 6.8SPC, and my son and I have taken a lot of game with that little rifle and it always impresses me how well it performs. I've been using 110gr Nosler Accubonds with good success. 6.8SPC and 6.5GR are basically identical, ballistic ally speaking, with 200 yards and in.
 

14idaho

FNG
Joined
Jan 5, 2021
Messages
94
Not wanting to start a debate regarding the 6.5's. I've owned an outfitting business and guided mainly in Northern Idaho. I've employed dozens of local men and women as guides and wrangler's . I always took interest in the weapons that they brought to camp. They consisted mostly of 30/06, 300 win. Mags and 7 mm. Most clients used these calibers as well. We all know that a 6.5 can kill a bear, but in my professional opinion it's marginal. I've been involved in one way or another with the killing of dozens of bears and it's from this experience I speak. I think we have a moral responsibility to kill our game as quickly and humanly as possible. In Northern Idaho most of the area is thick and brushy. A wounded bear is often a lost bear. They typically don't bleed well and can go a long way even though they are mortally wounded. I've used dogs to find wounded bears and you'd be amazed how far they can go. Most of my fellow outfitters that run bear with dogs are critical about the calibers their clients carry as well. They don't want a mortally wounded bear fighting and killing dogs. I am not biased toward any caliber, but I believe in using a proven caliber that is more than capable of humanly killing the intended animal under all conditions. Just my opinion for whatever it's worth.
 

crossone

FNG
Joined
Jan 20, 2018
Messages
70
I would tend to agree except for maybe baiting situations. I know a guy who lives south of CDA who almost exclusively uses a 25-06 on bears and he's killed more big bears than almost anyone i know. I've hunted N Idaho for bears a fair amount and I've seen everything from a 280 Rem to a 338 Win used and they all worked fine. I agree about shooting something bigger if possible but if not, using quality, large for caliber bullets will help smaller calibers. I can' totally testify to bears not bleeding much and N Idaho being thick and bears disappearing. They're good at it.
 

Dinny

FNG
Joined
Jan 18, 2021
Messages
28
As mentioned above it's all about shot placement and hunting conditions. I carried mine this year while I was hunting bears with dogs. I didn't get a shot but have no doubt a treed bear would fall when shot in the head with a 120gr Corelokt.

Thanks, Dinny
 

Goatie

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
293
Location
Minnesota
My 18” 6.5 Grendel (123sst) hits steel so hard at 300 yards I’d be shocked if it couldn’t take a bear humanely at sub 200 yards. However, 14Idaho seems to have some experience and no one wants to wound or not find a hit critter. I’d say if you’ve got bigger use bigger, if not then Grendel. I would not question using mine on bears here in MN as it’s mostly baited and close distances.
 

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