6.5 grendel build

[FamilyMan]

I am looking to Start building a 6.5 Grendel upper but am not as up to speed in the semi auto/AR components as I am on bolt guns. Some i am looking for some advice on what components are better quality than others and on which ones you recommend. If its any consolation I shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor so the idea of having a faster twist so I can load the same bullets in both would be nice. I am going to be using it as a mid range gun 300 to 800 as I have a 5.56 for short and my Creedmoor and 300wsm for long range. This could very well turn into my coyote/varmint gun but will be primarily for paper/steel.
So what say you. If you need more info just let me know what and ill post it.

What I have now for it is a Aero precision stripped upper but am not opposed to getting a different one, a rubber city BCG but need the 6.5 bolt. I plan to run a scope but o lower power one that starts in the 2-4 power range. Biggest question I have is what barrel and should I ge, and can i get it in a 1:7 or 1:8 twist with a 5/8" thread at the muzzle? Also what gas system length?It will be ran on a Seekins forged lower with Timney trigger

Thanks

 

[SUIScide]

I think most people stick to 123 grain bullets in a Grendel. You may want to save the 140's for the creedmore. Just what some guys I know that shoot this caliber say

 

[bjay]

I have blackhole 20" 1:9 and satern 26" 1:8.75 my friend has lilja maybe im neing bias if i say satern shoot the litle beter from the three using amax 123.but not much beter.it kicks like a 6.8.i like shooting them on midrange.im a loyal geissele so one has dmr trigger and other one has match.

 

[Outlaw45]

I have ordered a Satern 18" with rifle length gas system with 5/8" threads. Mine will be used just as you intend to, paper and steel and maybe some hunting. That's why I went with a 18" barrel. I felt it it is short enough for maneuvering while hunting and long enough to shoot out to 1000 yards. Right now bolts are hard to find. Also I think there is more options for the muzzle with 5/8" threads. I plan on get the Seekins muzzle brake.

 

[Unknown]

20 inch barrel and rifle length gas system seem to give the greatest number of people the best performance. However if you won't be going over 600 yards, a shorter barrel would be quite handy.

I have an 18, and 19.5 inch barrel, the 24 inch was too clumsy, so I got rid of it. You might look at 65grendel.com for more info.

 

[BERTMAN77MK2]

22” Satern is my best long range barrel---truck gun is a 14.5 Stoner barrel

 

[raider1v1]

i have a 24" satern barrel w/ a rifle length system and i love mine! it really likes the 123 amaxes. i have had a very hard time shooting the 120's. the ojive just isnt made for that chamber.

 

[Shotplacement]

NIce weapong. Ive been thinking about buying one of these for awhile.

 

[LRRPF52]

For barrel length, it depends on what velocity you think you need. For reaching out from 600 to 800yds, the 16" barrel with Mid-Length Gas System is plenty fine, which sounds like it goes against reason to many, but my experience with it is that I don't need a long barrel, and will probably do another 16" when I build the next Grendel.

David Fortier owns most of the barrel lengths with the Grendel, and enjoys shooting his 16" and 12.5" the most, with the 16" flattening LaRue sniper targets at 800yds easily.

For projectile weights, most of us shoot 100-130gr bullets. For shooting targets, my little 16" Grendel really likes 123gr for shooting further, but it hits hard on 300yd targets with any bullet weight, to include 90gr TNT's.

Everyone I know at the moment who ordered a Satern barrel hasn't seen it, or heard updates on their orders. Precision Firearms, AA, J&T, JP Enterprises, Templar, Les Baer, & Black Hole Weaponry have been delivering 6.5 Grendel Rifles and uppers steadily, but usually with extended waits in the current madness.

For reloading, there is a new 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbook that will steer you well as to gas system considerations, barrel length with velocity estimator, detecting pressure signs, loading for variant chambers, as well as the inclusion of industry manufacturer load data from AA, Lapua/Vihtavuori, Hodgdon's, Ramshot, and Accurate Powders.



For a dual-use coyote/intermediate-long recreational target gun, 16" MLGS would be the shortest I would personally go, and I really enjoy it in this configuration:



The Grendel ruined my plans for a 16" or 18" .308 AR10, as I have owned 5 different AR10's-all 24" or 22", to include two .260 Rems, one of which I currently use for a heavier long-range self-loader. I've been working with the Grendel now for 4 years, and enjoy it more each time I use it. No matter what projectile I load for it, I get the same general accuracy from this economy button-rifled barrel, which is just under .7 MOA to 1.2 MOA for 4 and 5rd groups, so I can't complain.

There are more projectiles available to load for it than you'll ever buy in a lifetime, with new offerings from Hornady, Lapua, Nosler, Sierra, and others coming on board. The Hornady 123gr SST just came out last autumn, and is doing really well on game, to include excellent expansion through pigs, as well as complete pass-throughs on double-shoulder shots.

For blasting coyotes, a lot of hunters like the shock force that a high-velocity projectile imparts to the animal, so you might consider using lighter bullets running fast from a 20" gun for that, but plenty have used 123gr A-MAX to kill dogs, so I would weigh the wind-bucking considerations more since dogs like to keep their distance, and are quite savvy as to unusual scents or human presence in their areas. This is where the .223 starts losing gas as you push past 200yds in both wind deflection and retained energy, and where the Grendel starts to shine. When you shoot steel even with the light varmint pills at 300yds, there is an authoritative "smack" on plates or pepper poppers, which it drops with ease.

 

[raider1v1]

For barrel length, it depends on what velocity you think you need. For reaching out from 600 to 800yds, the 16" barrel with Mid-Length Gas System is plenty fine, which sounds like it goes against reason to many, but my experience with it is that I don't need a long barrel, and will probably do another 16" when I build the next Grendel.

David Fortier owns most of the barrel lengths with the Grendel, and enjoys shooting his 16" and 12.5" the most, with the 16" flattening LaRue sniper targets at 800yds easily.

For projectile weights, most of us shoot 100-130gr bullets. For shooting targets, my little 16" Grendel really likes 123gr for shooting further, but it hits hard on 300yd targets with any bullet weight, to include 90gr TNT's.

Everyone I know at the moment who ordered a Satern barrel hasn't seen it, or heard updates on their orders. Precision Firearms, AA, J&T, JP Enterprises, Templar, Les Baer, & Black Hole Weaponry have been delivering 6.5 Grendel Rifles and uppers steadily, but usually with extended waits in the current madness.

For reloading, there is a new 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbook that will steer you well as to gas system considerations, barrel length with velocity estimator, detecting pressure signs, loading for variant chambers, as well as the inclusion of industry manufacturer load data from AA, Lapua/Vihtavuori, Hodgdon's, Ramshot, and Accurate Powders.



For a dual-use coyote/intermediate-long recreational target gun, 16" MLGS would be the shortest I would personally go, and I really enjoy it in this configuration:



The Grendel ruined my plans for a 16" or 18" .308 AR10, as I have owned 5 different AR10's-all 24" or 22", to include two .260 Rems, one of which I currently use for a heavier long-range self-loader. I've been working with the Grendel now for 4 years, and enjoy it more each time I use it. No matter what projectile I load for it, I get the same general accuracy from this economy button-rifled barrel, which is just under .7 MOA to 1.2 MOA for 4 and 5rd groups, so I can't complain.

There are more projectiles available to load for it than you'll ever buy in a lifetime, with new offerings from Hornady, Lapua, Nosler, Sierra, and others coming on board. The Hornady 123gr SST just came out last autumn, and is doing really well on game, to include excellent expansion through pigs, as well as complete pass-throughs on double-shoulder shots.

For blasting coyotes, a lot of hunters like the shock force that a high-velocity projectile imparts to the animal, so you might consider using lighter bullets running fast from a 20" gun for that, but plenty have used 123gr A-MAX to kill dogs, so I would weigh the wind-bucking considerations more since dogs like to keep their distance, and are quite savvy as to unusual scents or human presence in their areas. This is where the .223 starts losing gas as you push past 200yds in both wind deflection and retained energy, and where the Grendel starts to shine. When you shoot steel even with the light varmint pills at 300yds, there is an authoritative "smack" on plates or pepper poppers, which it drops with ease.

Excellent write up! From the offerings I chose the 123gr amaxes vs the 90gr tnt's because out past 150yds the 123's do better anyways because of their significantly higher BC.

 

[FamilyMan]

LRRPF52,
Thanks for the write up, I have read a bunch of your posts here as well as at 6.5Grendel.com and have learned a ton from them. I was really leaning towards the the 16" but ended up getting an 18" cause I am already sending in a form 1 for a lower and once that's through I am going to build a 14.5" like you reccomend so it made a little more sense to go with the 18". Also the link to that reloading info isn't working maybe you could post the address. I have brass and dies on their way so I will be very interested in what is there. Also I noticed ur in SLC maybe sometime we should meet up and u could teach me a thing or 2 with AR's. I'll pay food and fuel if your interested.

 

[LRRPF52]

LRRPF52,
Thanks for the write up, I have read a bunch of your posts here as well as at 6.5Grendel.com and have learned a ton from them. I was really leaning towards the the 16" but ended up getting an 18" cause I am already sending in a form 1 for a lower and once that's through I am going to build a 14.5" like you reccomend so it made a little more sense to go with the 18". Also the link to that reloading info isn't working maybe you could post the address. I have brass and dies on their way so I will be very interested in what is there. Also I noticed ur in SLC maybe sometime we should meet up and u could teach me a thing or 2 with AR's. I'll pay food and fuel if your interested.

Thanks for your kind words. We have a Designated Marksmen Course coming up next month, May 17th-18th, down at the new $5.4 million North Springs Shooting Range, just outside of Price. We ran it last month and had a great course.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...ignated-marksman-course-ut-may-17th-18th.html

Grendel Reloading Handbook can be found here: Home Page: ar15 builds