6.5 Grendel barrel suggestions

[LRRPF52]

So sounds like I need to try working up a load with some different powders then. I should do my due diligence and give this barrel a shot by doing so serious load development on it before I call it quits. I’ll post back later with what I can figure out.

Mid 2500fps range is top-end for 20” Grendels with 120-123gr.

2460fps is normally 16-18” velocity with 123gr. Some of the rifling types are a bit faster, but the spread from 8.5” to 20” is not that significant.

8.5” Grendel will shoot 123gr at 2100-2140fps.
10.5” 2140-2200fps
12/12.5” 2250-2320fps

The 8.5” will out-run a 16.3” or even 20” 7.62x39 within pretty short range just because of BC.

When I’m shooting 12” vs 18” at distance, I’m not seeing much more than maybe .1 mils wind drift between the 2. The rest is hold or dialing for range anyway, so doesn’t matter. Twist rate is so tight that they stay stable out really far.

 

[Bevo]

Mid 2500fps range is top-end for 20” Grendels with 120-123gr.

2460fps is normally 16-18” velocity with 123gr. Some of the rifling types are a bit faster, but the spread from 8.5” to 20” is not that significant.

8.5” Grendel will shoot 123gr at 2100-2140fps.
10.5” 2140-2200fps
12/12.5” 2250-2320fps

The 8.5” will out-run a 16.3” or even 20” 7.62x39 within pretty short range just because of BC.

When I’m shooting 12” vs 18” at distance, I’m not seeing much more than maybe .1 mils wind drift between the 2. The rest is hold or dialing for range anyway, so doesn’t matter. Twist rate is so tight that they stay stable out really far.

Do you know anything about the old Black Hills 123 SMK ammo that they loaded for Les Baer? I bought a case of it from someone (mostly for the Lapua brass) and it runs right at 2700 fps from a 20" bbl with some of the lowest SDs I've seen from a gas gun. Must be a very compressed load. I need to shoot some from my CZ MTR and see how fast it runs.

 

[LRRPF52]

Do you know anything about the old Black Hills 123 SMK ammo that they loaded for Les Baer? I bought a case of it from someone (mostly for the Lapua brass) and it runs right at 2700 fps from a 20" bbl with some of the lowest SDs I've seen from a gas gun. Must be a very compressed load. I need to shoot some from my CZ MTR and see how fast it runs.

Yes, it was notorious for being hot. 2580-2650fps is top-end speed for 24” barrels with 123gr SMK loaded at standard COLs.

 

[Thomas Geistman]

Sorry if I hijacked this thread but I did some more load development this evening. I used some 100 grain ELD-VT and Leverlution. COAL on them all was 2.278” which barely fit in the magazine. Leverlution still seems slow to me. I really think this barrel is slow too though.
I’m gonna try some TAC with the 100s and see what that does. Might pick up some different projectiles too.

29.5, 2462avg, 30ES, 11.7SD

30.5, 2541avg, 31.8ES, 11SD, compressed

31.0, 2570avg, 14.2ES, 5.3SD, compressed

31.5, 2592avg, 36.7ES, 12.8SD, compressed(powder at neck)

 

[Vodak]

Stay away from Satern Grendel barrels. I had what I consider a terrible customer service experience with them on the one I bought. Chamber advertised as SAAMI spec, but it wasn’t at all. No throat, and chamber taper was wrong, tight at the shoulder and too wide at the web. Causes excessive case stretch at the web because it’s oversized. Their answer after much arguing and showing them pictures of a chamber cast and measurements was to shove another reamer in and open up the shoulder and throat. So now there’s a transition on the body, and the webs still poorly supported. All this years after they screwed over a whole group buy from the 65grendel forum with a similar issue. I would never recommend them to anyone after that.
And the Black hills ammo was pretty good, but it was definitely loaded HOT with a supposedly proprietary powder blend. Lot of people used to chase the numbers they got from that load well beyond safe pressures.

 

[FuhQ]

Looking for suggestions on 6.5 Grendel barrels. Budget is around 300 or less. This is mainly going to be a hunting rifle so I’m looking for a lightweight 16”. Preferably moa or sub moa. I’ve been exploring Faxon and Wilson combat as an option just seeing mixed reviews. Are there any better bang for your buck barrels that are around 1.5lb? Thanks in advance.

Faxon has worked well for me, and for my buddy. I have a 20" Faxon 5R Match 6.5 Grendel barrel, and it shoots sub-1/2" groups @ 100.

I have buddy who has the same barrel, but in 6 ARC, and his shoots the same.

 

[bobke]

Don’t have any experience with Satern button barrels (1:8 twist), though the two cut rifled 1:8.75 twist barrels are two of the most accurate and consistent of 7-8 different mfg barrels that stay in pretty constant rotation. That said, a 20” Wilson Combat shot a 5 shot group at 100yds yesterday under .6 with a 5x PA micro prism. A converted 20” Bartlein from a 6.5x47 barrel is equally accurate. And my ‘go to’ is a 20”’Proof CF. 120 Scenars over 27.0 AR Comp and CCI450’s seems to shoot well all of them. Much depends on good ammo prep and what each barrel likes to be fed. Even a shitter can shine on occasion.

 

[LRRPF52]

Stay away from Satern Grendel barrels. I had what I consider a terrible customer service experience with them on the one I bought. Chamber advertised as SAAMI spec, but it wasn’t at all. No throat, and chamber taper was wrong, tight at the shoulder and too wide at the web. Causes excessive case stretch at the web because it’s oversized. Their answer after much arguing and showing them pictures of a chamber cast and measurements was to shove another reamer in and open up the shoulder and throat. So now there’s a transition on the body, and the webs still poorly supported. All this years after they screwed over a whole group buy from the 65grendel forum with a similar issue. I would never recommend them to anyone after that.
And the Black hills ammo was pretty good, but it was definitely loaded HOT with a supposedly proprietary powder blend. Lot of people used to chase the numbers they got from that load well beyond safe pressures.

It’s important to distinguish between actual cut-rifled Satern pipes and button-rifled Liberty barrels.

A good place to start with the Satern barrels is with a blank and let a reputable rifle smith do the finish work, chambering, extension, threading, etc.

AA used to use Satern barrels for the really high-end SKUs, where a lot of QC was put into all the parts before assembly and testing. Those rifles were extremely accurate and reliable. They dropped the tiered offerings many years ago though, so those are basically collector’s guns now.

 

[Vodak]

Mine is a Satern, not their Liberty brand. The barrel itself is probably fine, and issues are just with their reamer and customer service. I took the chance based off of their past history, but would not do so again.