What do you think.... 6.5 Grendel in a handgun?????

Should be a good round for WT deer. Is a better round than the 6.8 SPC because it is more able to handle heavier bullets.

It should work ok for deer sized game.
You did not say what the project gun was.

If the project gun was a Contender, this would be an excellent chambering. As the Contender is chambered for the 6.8, a 6.5 Grendel should work also I would think. It would be the only 6.5 Contender chambering I can think of for a factory round. I would give it a thumbs up. I like the 6.5 in a specialty handgun mainly due to the selection of good bullets that work at handgun velocitys. Mark Hampton has had a 6.5 JDJ for years, I have had a 6.5x30 JDJ you years, the 6.5 Grendel should be pretty close to them, I would think.

If the project gun was an XP100, Encore, or Striker, I would wonder why not a 260 Remington instead. In a heavier gun format the 260 would shoot flatter, hit harder, and be easier to find or make brass for.

Keep us posted on your project with more information on the gun you are planning to chamber this round for.

Don't have a project gun yet. Contender would do, but how about a BIG revolver! LOL

Normally a tapered case bottle neck cartridge is not a good choice in a revolver. It is also rimless, another problem to deal with.
I would go with a Contender myself. You only need one good shot most of the time. I have never felt that a Contender being a single shot was any disabvantage at all.
A Contender is also a fairly economical hunting handgun, as you can put it together a piece at a time.

Isn't the pressure and backthrust high enough to require an Encore, rather than a Contender?

My thoughts exactly.

From what I can see the 6.5 Grendel is loaded to just under 50,000 psi. That's a bit much for the Contender. I'm thinking the Encore is the platform for that. JD Jones can chamber an AR for the Grendel, call him and ask if it's an option for the Contender. He is the man that would know.

Well I have used a buddy's contender a few years back in a "Earn a buck" area near home here. I had one doe followed by 5 bucks come into my stand. I had to take a doe before I could shoot a buck. I took the doe, and the bucks busted. The biggest one, a nice ten point came closer at around 20 yards. As I fumbled to dump another 30-30 win. down the tube with gloves on and, ding ding ding down the ladder stand. When I finally got a shell in the buck was gone. Thats when I wished I had my model 28!! It would have been funny to have a video going:) I do have a pic. of the doe. I'll try to post it. She is my FIRST deer with a handgun.

I think it would be an excellent choice. I recently had built an XP-100 in 6.5 x 47 Lapua and find it is extremely accurate, recoil is low and there is an outstanding selection of high BC bullets in 26 caliber that work well at handgun velocities.I used Nosler 120 ballistic tips at 2650 out of a 15" barrel but know I can increase that at least another 100 fps.My buddy I hunted with liked it so much he is looking for a barrel for his Encore for the same cartridge.I believe performance from the 6.5 Grendel would be very similar.

You are correct, the 6.5 Grendel would need to be in an Encore. With a base diameter of .439 it will back thrust much harder than a 6.8.

Don't forget, the 6.8 is "basically" a 30-30 necked down to a 6.8. It is VERY close to a 7-30 Waters... You can nit pick, but they are ver y similar...

SSK offers barrels in 6.5 Grendel.