If you’re searching for the best scope for 6.5 Grendel rifles, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we cover some of the best optics out there to help you optimize the performance of this flat-shooting, fast-flying cartridge.
If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time for the details, here are our best picks for 6.5 Grendel Scopes:
- Vortex Optics Viper HS-T 4-16×44
- Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24×50
- Athlon Optics Neos 4-12×40
- Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40
- Primary Arms SLX 1-8×24
Table of Contents
What You Need to Know About the 6.5 Grendel?
The shooting world is currently in a serious love affair with 6.5mm cartridges. Although the Grendel is often outshone by the more popular 6.5 Creedmoor, this relatively new cartridge is a superstar in its own right. While the 6.5 Creedmoor was designed specifically for long-range competition shooting, the 6.5 Grendel was designed specifically for the AR-15.
The 6.5 Grendel was developed by Arne Brennan, Bill Alexander and Janne Pohjoispää for Hornday. The trio’s main purpose was to design a cartridge with low recoil that was highly accurate at longer ranges. They also designed the cartridge specifically for the AR-15 platform, allowing this lightweight, semi-auto rifle to deliver effective terminal performance on targets out to 800 yards. They succeeded on every count.
As a hunting cartridge, the 6.5 Grendel is effective on whitetails, hogs, coyotes, fallow deer, pronghorn, and mule deer out to 300 yards.
Why 6.5mm?
6.5mm bullets are long and narrow. This design gives them a high ballistic coefficient. Without getting into all the math and science, a high ballistic coefficient simply means the projectiles experience less air resistance in flight. With less drag, the bullets fly straighter and retain velocity over greater distances. Their high ballistic coefficient makes 6.5mm bullets perfect for long-range shooting.
The 6.5 Grendel and the AR-15
While not every rifle chambered for 6.5 Grendel is an AR-15, most of them are. Afterall, this cartridge was designed specifically for AR-style rifles. If you love the barrel-length, maneuverability, and low recoil of the AR-15, but want to stretch your shooting beyond typical 5.56 NATO ranges, the 6.5 Grendel is an awesome choice.
Although the 6.5 Grendel is capable of reaching targets out to 800 yards, a traditional riflescope may not be your best option. Classic long-range scopes tend to be large, heavy, and have bulky objective lenses. While these qualities are necessary for precision shooting at extreme ranges, they don’t function well on modern sporting rifles. AR-platform weapons work best with compact, lightweight, low-profile optics.
Best Scope for 6.5 Grendel on the Market Reviews
Here are just a few of our favorite options for 6.5 Grendel rifles. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many other outstanding models available to modern shooters. However, space and attention spans are limited. If we left off your favorite model, feel free to tell us all about it in the comments section.
1 Vortex Optics Viper HS-T 4-16×44
The Vortex Viper HS-T provides an impressive magnification range and stunning glass quality, both of which will really assist you in reaching those long-range targets. The scope is made with top-notch, fully multi-coated, extra-low dispersion lenses. The result is excellent image resolution, true-to-life colors, and a bright, clear sight picture.
Built to last, the Viper HS-T is made from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. The main housing is argon-purged and o-ring sealed for reliable fogproof, waterproof, shockproof performance.
Long-range shooters will also appreciate the Viper HS-T’s exposed target-style turrets. These provide precise finger-adjustable, audible clicks, ensuring accurate adjustments every time. The scope also features a reliable zero stop function, a side focus parallax adjustment, a fast-focus eyepiece, and a second focal plane BDC reticle.
Is It Worth It?
Vortex Optics makes some of the most practical and reliable scopes on the market today. Whether you use your 6.5 Grendel for hunting, target shooting, or tactical maneuvers, this scope has tons of high-end features, only it comes without the high-end price tag.
- Extra-low dispersion glass.
- Fully multi-coated lenses.
- Sturdy construction.
- Fogproof, waterproof, and shockproof.
- Excellent quality exposed target turrets.
- Zero stop function.
- Side focus parallax adjustment.
- Fast-focus eyepiece.
- SFP BDC reticle.
Mounting and Accessories
You will need a mount and scope rings to attach the Vortex Viper HS-T to your rifle. We suggest the Vortex 30mm Cantilever Riflescope Ring Mount for AR-15.
2 Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24×50
This scope has everything serious long-range shooters dream about. It features an ample 30mm tube that facilitates 80 MOA of elevation adjustment. It also features some of the best quality multi-turn turrets in the industry. The elevation turret features a Ballistic Stop and the windage turret locks, creating a system that is quick, easy to use, and ideal for shooting extended distances.
The Conquest V4 also features a highly detailed illuminated reticle with ten brightness settings to optimize visibility in nearly any lighting condition.
Zeiss scopes are known for having some of the best optical quality on the face of the planet. The Conquest V4 is made with nitrogen-purged lenses that are treated with T* Six-layer Lens Multi-Coating. The generous 50mm objective also adds plenty of light transmission for a crisp, bright sight picture, even in low light settings. The lenses also feature Zeiss’s exclusive LotuTec hydrophobic coatings to ensure crisp clarity in any weather condition.
Is It Worth It?
The Zeiss Conquest V4 has everything a long-range shooter could possibly want. However, it has a massive 50mm objective lens and is considerably heavy (over 24 ounces). This makes it relatively bulky for a modern sporting rifle set-up. If you’re lucky enough to have a bolt action chambered for this speed demon cartridge, this scope is perfect.
Here’s what you can expect from this top-notch long-range scope.
- 30mm main tube.
- 80 MOA elevation adjustment range.
- Multi-turn target turrets.
- Illuminated ballistic reticle.
- Ten brightness settings.
- Incredible optical quality.
- LotuTec hydrophobic coatings.
Mounting and Accessories
Mounting the Zeiss Conquest V4 requires a set of 30mm scope rings.
3 Athlon Optics Neos 4-12×40
A perfect entry-level option for target competition, the Athlon Neos riflescope comes in at a price point that won’t hurt your budget. Just don’t be fooled by its affordable price tag. The Neos performs like a much more expensive optic.
The Neos features a 4-12x magnification range, an illuminated BDC reticle, high-speed tactical turrets, a side focus parallax adjustment, and a rapid return to zero function. All of these features are included with long-range shooters in mind.
This scope also has impressive optical quality for a budget model. With fully multi-coated glass, the Neos is designed to reduce glare while increasing light transmission. The result is a bright, clear sight picture, even when lighting conditions are less than optimal.
The Neos is also surprisingly durable. Crafted from sturdy aircraft-grade aluminum, the main body is nitrogen purged and o-ring sealed. This scope is fogproof, waterproof, and shockproof.
Is It Worth It?
The Athlon Neos is perfect for serious shooters who don’t have serious cash to invest in an optic. Here are just a few of this scope’s notable features.
- Illuminated BDC reticle.
- High-speed tactical turrets.
- Return to Zero feature.
- Side focus parallax adjustment.
- Fully multi-coated optics.
- Sturdy construction.
Mounting and Accessories
Topping your modern sporting rifle with the Athlon Neos requires one-inch rings and a mount. We highly suggest Burris AR-P.E.P.R Tactical Riflescope Rings with Mount.
4 Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40
Leupold specializes in optics for outdoorsmen, so if you plan to use your 6.5 Grendel for hunting, the Leupold VX-Freedom is a great tool for the job. This scope features a practical 3-9x magnification range
The VX-Freedom has a heavy-duty construction. Built from 6061-T6 aluminum, the scope is completely waterproof and fogproof. It also features a matte black finish and scratch resistant lenses, making it perfect for rugged outdoor pursuits.
As a hunter, my favorite feature is Leupold’s patented Twilight Light Management System. This system of quality glass and proprietary coatings works together to provide a crisp, clear sight picture. Designed to maximize light transmission, Leupold claims their Twilight Light Management System can actually add up to 20 extra minutes of shooting light at dawn and dusk when game animals are generally most active.
Is It Worth It?
Whether you’re hunting hogs, coyotes, or whitetails, the Leupold VX-Freedom will help extend your shooting accuracy and the effective range of your rifle. Here are just a few of our favorite features.
- Practical 3-9x magnification range.
- Durable construction.
- Scratch-resistant lenses.
- Twilight Light Management System.
Mounting and Accessories
The Leupold Mark AR Integral Mounting System provides an ultra-lightweight mounting system for the VX-Freedom.
5 Primary Arms SLX 1-8×24
This compact, lightweight riflescope from Primary Arms is perfect for modern sporting rifles chambered in 6.5 Grendel. Its modest size won’t compromise the balance or maneuverability of your rifle, yet the optic is designed for long-range shooting.
The SLX features a first focal plane (FFP) reticle, red reticle illumination, a fast-focus eyepiece, and low-profile, finger-adjustable turrets. Tactical shooters will love the red dot style reticle, which performs well at low magnification for CQB or close-range target engagement. When you dial up the magnification for longer-range shooting, the SLX uses an Advanced Combined Sighting System (ACSS) reticle that allows you to make on-the-fly holdovers for more precise distance shooting.
The SLX is also incredibly durable. The body of the scope is crafted from 6061-aluminum and features an anodized matte black finish. Nitrogen-purged and o-ring sealed, the SLX is reliably fogproof and has an IP67 waterproof rating.
Is It Worth It?
If you’re running an AR-15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel, this lightweight, low-profile 1-8x optic won’t weigh you down or compromise the tactical look of your rifle. It also has features that make it as versatile as your AR. Here are the scope’s most significant features.
- Lightweight, compact design.
- FFP illuminated reticle.
- Red dot style reticle.
- Advanced Combined Sighting System.
- Fast-focus eyepiece.
- Low-profile turrets.
- Backed by a lifetime warranty.
Mounting and Accessories
The Primary Arms AR15 Basic Scope Mount works well for mounting the SLX on most modern sporting rifles.
Final Thoughts
Although the 6.5 Grendel may not be as popular as the 6.5 Creedmoor, this awesome cartridge has plenty to offer modern shooters, especially shooters fond of the lightweight maneuverability and low recoil of the AR-15. The best scope for 6.5 Grendel is one that enhances the cartridge’s precision accuracy without compromising the best aspects of your modern sporting rifle.
Whatever optic you choose to mount on your rifle, the best thing you can do is spend plenty of time practicing. Even the fanciest, most expensive optic is no substitute for solid shooting fundamentals, and the best way to develop those fundamentals is by sending lead downrange.
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