6.5 Grendal AR-15 build help

[Draco877]

Trying to help a buddy build an AR-15 in 6.5 Grendal leaving out the buttstock, pistol grip and handguard, which he wants to get his hands on to feel some different ones first before deciding, I am wanting some parts suggestions. He also wants to do it on the cheaper side.
Some of my parts ideas for the build.
Timney or Gissele trigger.
a 18 or 20 in barrel
muzzle break
maybe an Anderson Arms upper and lower to save money for him being cheap
he is also thinking offset red dot on it. so a mount and a small light red dot with good battery life.

on the lower level of parts stuff that he wants to get hands on first before deciding.
A Magpul PRS or LUTH-AR MBA stock look like good suggestions for this build.

 

[Peter Laurvick]

I run a 20” 6.5 Grendel with a Timney 3lb Trigger and MagPul PRS Gen3.

I love the MagPul PRS stock, it’s solid and very comfortable. It is rather heavy but I think that does add a level of control and accuracy. I routinely hunt and shoot mine well past 500yds.

I dont think you could go wrong with ether trigger. See if you could go to a gun show somewhere and test each one out. I’ve used and own other 3lb drop in triggers but the Timney is by far my favorite and I actually swapped triggers around to put the Timney in my Grendel. I think it helps me make precise shots much easier.

I’d say go with a 20” Barrel unless you don’t really plan on needing 500yd plus shots. That extra velocity is nice at distance.

As for the upper and lower set. Don’t go cheap. Go solid and if you can, do a billet matched set

 

[Draco877]

I will see what I can talk him into. I keep telling him buy once cry once he is starting small right now with a new sling and sling points for his current rifle.

 

[CaptNemo]

Use a Bravo Company Upper - They are machined for a tighter barrel extension / upper main bore fit ( I had to heat the last one so that the barrel would fit in )
Use what ever lower that's in spec for the lower build. If there's a little wiggle and it bugs him, throw an Accuwedge in there for a couple of dollars.
Spend his money on a good barrel and BCG to make the rifle accurate. The rest of the stuff and be easily upgraded later at low cost.
I have a gissele trigger in one of my rifles, and I swap it to other lowers when I need to generate small groups on paper.
The other place to spend money is on the optics and mounts. I'll shave costs on a build to put good glass on a rifle.

 

[Birddog6424]

I would get the XLR AR stock over the Magpul PRS. I have both, and much prefer the XLR. The Luth is ok. It's less money for a reason.

For AR platforms the best triggers I have found are the Geissele and AR Gold, both in 2 stage. If you are building something you will use as a precision rifle, the 2 stage trigger is a great option. Single stage triggers don't really get rid of that creep or heaviness like a 2 stage trigger, they have to maintain a certain weight to alleviate the accidental bump fire. You can get away from that in the 2 stage. The AR Gold is probably the nicest precision AR trigger I have found.

No cheap Anderson upper for this build. Get something decent and use the cheap stuff on a regular AR15 that you aren't trying to shoot under 1 MoA at 800 yards.

For a an offset red dot, Burris makes the Fastfire III in 2 and 8 MoA with a scope tube mount that is very cool. I run one on my 6.5 Creedmoor that I built for the PRS Gas Gun Series.

 

[Draco877]

oh trust me Bravo Company is one of the major parts guys I will be stearing him to as I have a bravo upper that is a work horse and pretty accurate. I need to be nice and calm some day and see what sort of grouping I can get out of it. also got a new barrel for a different build from BCM and hoping for good performance from it too.
He has a current AR-15 from Ruger so he is thinking build a new upper at first and then get a new lower and build it up and then put the old rifle back together.
Focusing on the Barrel what are some good choices? Good deals would be liked.

 

[krw]

Go to 65Grendel.com. Good bunch over there too. Buy the 2 reloading books they sell strictly for the Grendel. Wealth knowledge on bbl lengths, velocitys, and downrange ballistics. Well worth the money. I have 20”, Lilja bbled upper. I do not want anything shorter than 20”. Good Luck on ur pending build! Krw

 

[Draco877]

thanks. I am enjoying doing a build where I am the help and not the wallet too. I am trying to drive my friend towards good choices but can only do so much in that area.

 

[koshkin]

Good barrel goes a long way. I have built a bunch of Grendels and there are some really nice options out there. In terms of bang for the buck, I think AR Performance barrel and bolt are the best I have seen yet. Last tow Grendel builds I did used ARP barrels and bolts and I am very impressed with how well they shoot given modest cost. I think they are switching to 3R rifling now, but the barrels I have messed with are 5R.
With triggers, I would lean toward Geisselle DMR. It is easy to adjust to be just right. Most of my ARs have either DMR or SSA-E.
The only deviation from that is Triggertech Competitive AR trigger with flat lever. I havn't had it for too long, but it has been reliable and very impressive. It is a nice precision trigger.
As far as receivers go, barrel to upper fit can be important, so I would strongly consider one of Bravo uppers, or if you find a properly trued upper (I do not see them a whole lot).
With stocks, XLR is the next one I will try.

ILya

 

[Draco877]

I chanced upon Bear Creek Arsenal in my random searching for a barrel. Are they any good or should I stear clear? The price point makes me wonder on quality though I know there are some deals that are actually deals.

https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ba...50-steel-black-nitride-finish-b6-5rhb2018-msf
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ba...-flutes-416r-stainless-steel-b6-5rhb2018-sssf

 

[Draco877]

If it was me doing the build I would be spending more on it but I am just helping out a buddy build his. I have various ideas for what I want to do if it was mine. though first I am more wanting to finish what I have started and I want to do a .308 AR too. With my friend it is like "get the prybar out and use it on your wallet." I just bought a proof research barrel for my bolt-action.
He is liking the idea of a spiral fluted barrel though but not the price. which the one I was showing him that fit every need was around $450 which he didn't like the price that much. it was a barrel from X-Caliber.

 

[J.Boyette]

We specialize in 6.5 Grendel. Look our customers up on IG and FB.

John

 

[bigjake83]

We specialize in 6.5 Grendel. Look our customers up on IG and FB.

John

Who is we??
​​​​​

 

[hdrolling]

I chanced upon Bear Creek Arsenal in my random searching for a barrel. Are they any good or should I stear clear? The price point makes me wonder on quality though I know there are some deals that are actually deals.

https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ba...50-steel-black-nitride-finish-b6-5rhb2018-msf
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ba...-flutes-416r-stainless-steel-b6-5rhb2018-sssf

I read a lot of complaints on the BCA 6.5 Grendel barrels not being very accurate. I have one of their 223 wylde barrels that I received for free on Veterans day (BCA gave away 5000 barrels to Vets)and it shoots better than I thought it would.

It's sounding like your trying more for budget than precision, if he just wants a 6.5 Grendel with Okay accuracy at 100 yds looks at Faxon or maybe Odin barrels. I'm thinking your not wanting to get into the $500-700 barrels.

 

[padom]

I keep recommending this barrel. So many 6.5grendel threads going with the same info in them. Best bang for the buck barrel out there and comes with a matching bolt.

heres the fluted one

http://www.jsesurplus.com/wilsonarms2065grendelhbarssflutedstr-1.aspx

same barrel not fluted


http://www.jsesurplus.com/wilsonarms2065grendelhbarssstrippedw136matchedbolt.aspx

 

[bigwatchpilot]

Ballistic Advantage has 6.5G barrels and bolts I have a 18" that is great. I also picked up a Bear Creek 6.5G on Black Friday for $50 and Bolt for $60...put together a rifle out of spare parts and it is laughable how nice it shoots. Buy once cry once is B.S. have fun build what you want within your budget. I built mine for hunting so I kept them as light as possible, don't over think the accessories.

 

[J.Boyette]

Who is we??
​​​​​

"We" is my signature line.

T-Box Barrels
Business Development Manager
[email protected]
919-428-5265

 

[Draco877]

I am trying to stear my buddy towards something towards longer range like he wants but he is like a bird, cheap cheap cheap. trying to break him of that with guns. I keep showing him what I spend. somewhat just to see his reaction, but also to show him a pretty average cost of quality stuff. And I know three ways he is making more than I am. one higher rank two BAH at higher rank three location. The first two it is just by one rank but it is by one of the big jumps for pay with just one increase in rank. I would have some good stuff listed for mine after some research. I will say there is some truth and bs to "buy once cry once" if it fails if is on the cry especially. I have told him with lower cost stuff I will help him but I will be rigging a string to the trigger when we test it if I do not feel comfortable with the part choices.
On the other hand I think he might be leaning towards the 400+ dollar barrel from x-caliber. He is wanting a longer range precision rig but like I keep saying I have to break him of some of his cheapness.
That BCA free to vets barrel thing a one time deal or something that they do for veterans day routinely? I have a very hard time turning down free stuff.

 

[hdrolling]

That BCA free to vets barrel thing a one time deal or something that they do for veterans day routinely? I have a very hard time turning down free stuff.

I'm not sure if they do it every year or not, and not enough people knew about it because they didn't end up given away all 5000. I heard about it on the 65 Grendel forum, they only had two choices to pic from. Both were 223 wylde, I requested the SS version. After I received the barrel I decided to try my first "budget" build and also bought a BCA stripped upper/lower/handguard that was already coated in burnt bronze for $250. Threw it together with some of my leftover parts. I have since liked their facebook page so I can see when they are doing giveaways from now on.

IMG_9201 by hd_rolling, on Flickr

 

[Draco877]

hdrolling what sort of accuracy are you getting out of your bca barrel? and nice looking rig too.and how would you rate it overall? any issues?

 

[hdrolling]

hdrolling what sort of accuracy are you getting out of your bca barrel? and nice looking rig too.and how would you rate it overall? any issues?

Most of my builds use higher end parts like BCM, Knights and Noveske. Holding a Knights or BCM stripped lower and holding the BCA lower you could see and feel a lack of quality, but everything fit correctly and it functions and fires great.

With the exception of the BCA barrel and stripped upper/lower/hand guard and the cheap SPARC AR optic the rest of the parts used are leftover BCM/Noveske and Geissele parts that I had laying around.

The barrel does shoot very well, like I said this was 223 wylde SS barrel. While breaking in the barrel I used my EOTech G33 magnifier behind the SPARC AR optic and was able to shoot 1moa groups at 100 yds. I was very surprised and happy.

But from reading on the forums the BCA 6.5 barrels seem to be a crap shoot on whether or not you get one that performs well, on the plus side BCA has swapped barrels for free for owners that have too large of a bullet spread. Their site claims 1 MOA for their barrels with good ammo, not a guarantee but what you should be seeing from theri barrels.