When it comes to the world of intermediate cartridges, nowadays, few rounds are as popular as the 6mm Creedmoor or the 6.5 Grendel. Both of these rounds have undeniably made their name in the industry and are both rounds often used for the same tasks. However, these two rounds still have their differences. So, in this article, I will cover these two cartridges in depth to see which one is better and why.
Here is the short answer:
The 6mm Creedmoor has more power and better ballistics than the 6.5 Grendel. However, the 6.5 Grendel is a more popular and more versatile round that can be found in a much broader array of rifle actions.
Now that we have looked at the short short answer, we can look in-depth at each cartridge, their ballistics, and how they compare in-depth.
In-depth look at the 6.5 Grendel
The 6.5 Grendel was designed in 2003 and it was specifically created to be a cartridge you could hunt deer with by changing the upper out in an AR-15 style rifle. This would allow millions of more people to simply but a new upper for their rifle and instantly have a better caliber that could perform vastly better at long range.
The 6.5 Grendel is a pretty versatile cartridge. This round can be used to hunt but is also inexpensive enough it could be used as a plinking cartridge. Additionally, this round has very minimal recoil making it ideal for smaller framed shooters or shooting for long durations.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6.5 Grendel with a 120-grain soft point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2600 | 1801 |
| 50 | 0 | 0.2 | 2471 | 1627 |
| 100 | 0 | 1 | 2346 | 1467 |
| 150 | -1.6 | 2.5 | 2225 | 1319 |
| 200 | -4.9 | 4.5 | 2107 | 1183 |
| 250 | -10.2 | 7.3 | 1993 | 1058 |
| 300 | -17.5 | 10.6 | 1881 | 943 |
| 350 | -27.4 | 14.9 | 1776 | 840 |
| 400 | -40.3 | 20.2 | 1674 | 747 |
| 450 | -56.1 | 26.4 | 1578 | 663 |
| 500 | -75.3 | 33.3 | 1485 | 588 |
In-depth look at the 6mm Creedmoor
The 6mm Creedmoor was designed in 2007 by Hornady Manufacturing Company as an improvement on the 243 Winchester. Much like the 243 Winchester, the 6mm Creedmoor is based on the 308 Winchester necked down to a .243 (6mm) bullet. However, the 6mm Creedmoor is better equipped to handle longer higher BC bullets due to its longer neck length.
One of the main advantages that the 6mm Creedmoor has over other cartridges in its class is the fact that it can be used with higher BC bullets making it a better candidate for long range shooting than most other intermediate cartridges. Additionally, the 6mm Creedmoor is a cartridge that is very effective against deer sized game due to its high close range energy.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6mm Creedmoor with a 107-grain boat-tail hollow point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 3000 | 2138 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2912 | 2014 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.5 | 2826 | 1897 |
| 150 | -0.9 | 1.2 | 2741 | 1785 |
| 200 | -2.9 | 2.2 | 2658 | 1679 |
| 250 | -6.1 | 3.5 | 2577 | 1577 |
| 300 | -10.7 | 5.2 | 2497 | 1481 |
| 350 | -16.6 | 7 | 2418 | 1389 |
| 400 | -24 | 9.3 | 2341 | 1302 |
| 450 | -33 | 12 | 2265 | 1219 |
| 500 | -43.8 | 15.1 | 2191 | 1140 |
In-depth comparison
When comparing the 6.5 Grendel and the 6mm Creedmoor, there are a few key differences to consider. The first and most notable difference is the energy and ballistics of these two rounds. The 6mm Creedmoor has more energy, less drop, and less wind drift than the 6.5 Grendel. this is, in large part, due to the higher BC bullets and larger overall case size of the 6mm Creedmoor.
Another important difference is the availability of rifles and ammunition. While both cartridges are gaining popularity, the 6.5 Grendel is a more popular cartridge that has been around longer and has seen more commercial success.
When it comes to cost, the 6.5 Grendel is a cheaper cartridge. Due to the fact that it is more popular than the 6mm Creedmoor and the fact that steel case ammunition is available the cost per round is much cheaper.
Recoil-wise, the 6.5 Grendel is the better cartridge. The 6mm Creedmoor, due to its larger case size and therefore larger case compacity, has more recoil than the 6.5 Grendel. So for shooting for long periods of time, the 6.5 Grendel is the better round.
Conclusion
Overall the choice between these two rounds depends on intended use. If you desire long range performance and maximum energy, the 6mm Creedmoor is the better cartridge. If you want a cheaper and easier to find round the 6.5 Grendel is the way to go.