6.5 Grendel Availability

[SupressYourself]

Did you try any Hornady Black with the 123 ELDM?
I can't really explain it, but 2 different uppers / different barrel makes absolutely hated the H Custom 123 SST. -- I'm talking like 4-5 inch groups at 100 yards. Meanwhile, one upper averaged about 1 inch and the other averaged about 1.5 with the Hornady Black.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Not_A_LLama...; I agree, it's likely overkill. But since I had the means and the time, I felt it was just a matter of doing due diligence.

Still need to get it (them) out on the range.

I'll be trying to get a set of benchmark groups on the 20", then doing a disassembly to lap/bed the barrel extension and find out what, if any, accuracy difference it makes for my rifle.

Until then, it's all just guesswork.

Greg

 

[Coffee_and_Pipes]

Thanks, @Greg Langelius * , for posting your build process. I’ve been on the fence about 6.5 Grendel, so I’m interested to hear how everything works out for you. Happy shooting.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I'm at the point where it's time to fish or cut bait. There are also 260, 308, and 223/5.56 projects in the queue, waiting for range time.

Unfortunately my schedule is about 80% full with Cardiopulmonary Rehab on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 80 miles away in Tucson. Doesn't leave time for much else, life included. I figure there's 24 more sessions or so left, so maybe three or so weeks to go, or so.

Still trying to work in those range sessions. It will happen, ASAP.

Greg

 

[Greg Langelius *]

The cardio rehab is done, but not the triple digit daily temperatures; and the need for the rehab is just another symptom of the heart issues. Heat tolerance is very low. It's annoying, but indisputable; I have to wait for the temps to die back considerably.

Meanwhile, I have 500rd of Wolf Military Classic Bi-Metal 100gr Steel Case 6.5 Grendel that it's looking like I should not be shooting in my Stainless Barrels.

I'm thinking it could be the basis for some Mexican Match loads with W748 and 90gr TNT's. I'm no stranger to 'Mexi' steel case loads, having done extensive experimentation using Tula Steel Boxer Primed 223 cases with HDY 75grHPBT-Match and Varget. It shot great and I quit reloading them after somewhere North of 5 times. The thing about it, though, was that the cases had less case capacity (2 full grains or more) than brass 223 cases, and the margin for getting a good performance and properly cycling the AR was fairly narrow.

It was a fun experiment, reading pressures was iffy (nothing to read but the primers), and I just didn't really need to be doing it for any compelling reasons; so I left it done and done.

But now I have 500rd of the Wolf, which could signify 500 primed cases, and may just end up being another fun experiment when combined with copper jacketed 90gr TNT's. Since the priming is Berdan, the resulting round could become a 'Throwaway Ragnarok' Round.

Could be getting near time to find out, since shooting is on the back burner until cooler weather rolls around.

We'll see...

Greg

PS, Just ordered 500 90gr 6.5 TNT's.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

News flash, this Upper is back on sale again at $359-ish.

Greg

 

[rlsmith1]

Thoughts on a 12.5" ish Grendel? I like the round but if I'm going to have a 20" barrel I'd just as as soon go with a larger caliber. Glad to hear it suppresses well.

 

[Primus]

Guessing you never handled a 20" large frame and a 20" small frame. A 20" Grendel is an amazing platform and I would take it over every large frame caliber unless I need to shoot past 1200. It will litterly weight 2/3 as much.

 

[rlsmith1]

Weight yes but I've got a 20" small frame and a 16" large frame and they are about the same everything considered. Why not have the best of both? That's my thinking on a 12.5" Grendel. Should be good to 800 or so

 

[Snuby642]

My best 6.5g group of the day.
Details later, guns in safe, time for some Texmex and tequila !

 

[Snuby642]

So a slight delema with my 6.5g .
Groups with factory 123 are decent.
Best was with factory bird cage.
Second best was with 51t adapter alone.
With can installed groups went south.

Scope is tracking.
My recoil management flaws are showing. Trouble sliding down rear bag after recoil barely seeing target after shot . Longest heavier ar 15 than my others but precived recoil is fine due to the weight equals 223 pretty much.
The magpul crt type stocks dont ride a bag so sugestions would be welcome on bags.

Center target was cold bore and sighters, scope tracked well for upper left target.
Other 3 were the wife's shooting right then left hand. When she started to reposition to the left side rso asked me what she was doing. Lol

6.5g lots of fun to shoot !

 

[SD Carpenter]

If you save the brass( and coming out of an AR there will probably be alot lol), and get the dies to reload, you'll have some piece of mind.
I enjoy mine quite a bit.

 

[Snuby642]

Yes dies and other 6.5 reloading gear in work.
First order is reproducing 123 sst round then testing to see of I will be able to get the round right for the can.

The small but annoying group size difference between the bird cage and 51t adapter should be quickly overcome by second set of reloads.

The can tests will come after.
Has worked with 308 win and 300 blk.

Think I will try cfe 223 first and varget second since they are on hand.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

This is made for a specific chassis, but the idea is clear enough.

What you want is to find/adapt/fabricate a horizontal shoe that attaches to the rear sling stud, and prevents the buttstock from diving as it recoils.

I am doing all my handloads with W748 so far. Hoping that the heat will recede now that July's past, so I can get out and shoot initial groups.

The Hornady 10th Edition reloading handbook shows loads for this propellant. So far, I'm loading the 90gr TNT, and the 123gr SST in an attempt to duplicate/improve on the AE and Hornady factory loads.

Greg

 

[Primus]

Anyone try solids yet?

 

[Snuby642]

From @Greg Langelius *
What you want is to find/adapt/fabricate a horizontal shoe that attaches to the rear sling stud, and prevents the buttstock from diving as it recoils.

Exactly what I'm thinking, use for bench rest testing, remove for real world.

Have the fabrication skills no shop,
The magpul prs stock looks nice .
Short on funds for now.

May make functional mock up.
Don't want to interrupt magpul functionality on thier crt stocs, I like them.

Diving stock is exactly what is bothering me on bench shooting.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

This is my solution for a rear bag rider stock. The rear portion requires no shoe. It can also be adjusted to accommodate my 6 1/2ft tall frame. IMHO, it's also a lot more affordable than the Magpul PRS.

I had to remove the adjustable cheek rest because the rest, even at its lowest adjustment, was too tall for me; but it should work well with taller scope risers.

You might also add this.

Finally, I just received my order for AR Stoner 25rd 6.5 Grendel Magazines. They took the prescribed 25 rounds (of Wolf 100gr Steelcase) without any issues. They are made from Stainless Bodies with black Teflon coating. Hoping to get out soon and test them for fit and feeding.

Greg

 

[Crews]

Thoughts on a 12.5" ish Grendel? I like the round but if I'm going to have a 20" barrel I'd just as as soon go with a larger caliber. Glad to hear it suppresses well.

You’re barking up the right tree here. It all just depends on what you are looking for. I have a rifle that I shoot long range with (AIAT.) And then I have a practical rifle that is compact, handy. and does everything I could possibly need to do from 0-300 yards. For me, this means an AR-15 SBR with a LPVO and a 12.5” barrel. Nothing is safe out to 300 yards with this setup and 6.5 Grendel. A whitetail? No problem. A big group of hogs running across a pasture? No problem. I can even bang some steel targets out to 600 yards for the hell of it if I want to. Home defense, shoot cheap Wolf ammo at the range if that tickles your fancy, whatever you like. A 6.5 Grendel SBR is pretty awesome if you’re not just an internet ninja that compares numbers and spreads rumors all day.

 

[rlsmith1]

What barrel would you run?

 

[newguy2k3v2]

You’re barking up the right tree here. It all just depends on what you are looking for. I have a rifle that I shoot long range with (AIAT.) And then I have a practical rifle that is compact, handy. and does everything I could possibly need to do from 0-300 yards. For me, this means an AR-15 SBR with a LPVO and a 12.5” barrel. Nothing is safe out to 300 yards with this setup and 6.5 Grendel. A whitetail? No problem. A big group of hogs running across a pasture? No problem. I can even bang some steel targets out to 600 yards for the hell of it if I want to. Home defense, shoot cheap Wolf ammo at the range if that tickles your fancy, whatever you like. A 6.5 Grendel SBR is pretty awesome if you’re not just an internet ninja that compares numbers and spreads rumors all day.

Full agreement here. It took me a long time to try it but 6.5 Grendel does seem to be about the most versatile caliber for the AR-15 across all barrel lengths.

What barrel would you run?

I have a lilja and BA premium in 12-12.5 lengths. The BA really doesn't give up anything to the lilja with Hornady factory loads even though it was half the cost.

 

[Crews]

What barrel would you run?

Faxon, Ballistic Advantage, Precision Firearms, Alexander Arms... Pick one and get to work.

 

[rlsmith1]

Love it. Probably will end up with BA. The barrels I've gotten from them before were great

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Just completed transfer on three PSA PA15 M4 Classic Complete Lowers. These should remedy the disparity in owning seven Uppers and only two Lowers.

They appear flawless. The triggers might invite an upgrade. Will need to work this out on the range to be sure.

Edited to add:

The three are parsed out, two are now on the Grendel uppers, the last is on the AR Stoner lightweight 16" 5.56 Upper.

The stocks are short for me; but even with that, the scope mounts on the Grendels can be slid forward on the full length rail. Giving it a try now.

Yep, back. The UTG mounts are set up with the front cross bolt in the first slot of the receiver rail. With stock extended and nose on the charging handle, eye relief is perfect. The Caldwell brass catcher lug is set up about 3/8" behind the mount, and the catcher evenly straddles the eject port.

Looks like everything is copacetic.

Greg