Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

[Goldbeachman]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

I love my Satern barreled Grendel 24" Alexander Arms GDMR. But I'm biased, I love all my guns. It keeps up with my .308 all the way to 1k no problemo. As against my 260 GAP, maybe not so much.

If its going to be the "wife's gun" I think its a great idea for it to be constructed with a 20" barrel or similar and other components keeping it light in weight. In fact, that is on my list of todo's with misc. AR parts, receivers, etc I've got lying around. Some day.

To respond to the OP question, I haven't read (or can remember, too much crown...) a reply yet that is a vote for why not and I frankly couldn't think of super strong reasons not to (besides the typical one user but multi-caliber proliferation problem and new dies, brass, etc) Pretty easy and cheap for you to slap one together it sounds like. So I gotta go with, why not? Build the wife's. Then build your own. Good luck!

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Olin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I love my Satern barreled Grendel 24" Alexander Arms GDMR. But I'm biased, I love all my guns. It keeps up with my .308 all the way to 1k no problemo. As against my 260 GAP, maybe not so much.

If its going to be the "wife's gun" I think its a great idea for it to be constructed with a 20" barrel or similar and other components keeping it light in weight. In fact, that is on my list of todo's with misc. AR parts, receivers, etc I've got lying around. Some day.

To respond to the OP question, I haven't read (or can remember, too much crown...) a reply yet that is a vote for why not and I frankly couldn't think of super strong reasons not to (besides the typical one user but multi-caliber proliferation problem and new dies, brass, etc) Pretty easy and cheap for you to slap one together it sounds like. So I gotta go with, why not? Build the wife's. Then build your own. Good luck!</div></div>

The only drawback I found was it was hard on brass. Part of that was it was on an AR platform. I was getting a ring around the base (web area) of the case. I don't know if that was a chamber malfunction or the bolt was unlocking a shade early? Don't know. I do know I lost a bunch of brass due to that.

Something that I know was an issue initially with these and that was breaking bolts. I just thought the other night that the ring around the base issue maybe being unlocking early might also have been what's breaking bolts. Torsional stress while the bolt was still loaded with pressure vs. pure compression of the pressure being too much coming straight back. Anyways if you look at the reloading data you will see there is a very narrow margin of powder weights to get this rifle to function. But it's certainly doable if you reload. Just follow the recipe.

 

[Goldbeachman]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

I haven't had the exact problem with problem with brass that you describe Sandwarrior (that seems to sound like incipient head separation). I'm up to 6th reload on several lots of brass that I have, but they do get dinged around a bit more than on a bolt rifle. Some dudes are like up to 20 or something crazy; at least as described on 65grendel.com My gun is picky chambering though and so I check each handloaded round through a Sinclair case guage after seating the boolet and if it passes its for sure good to go, so far.

The 6.5 AA GDMR that I have weighs 13.2 pounds with scope, bipod, unloaded, no mag. A lighter version would be really cool. The breaking bolt problem is a known issue and getting at least two would be a good idea...that I have not implemented...but should upon thinking about it.

Definitely a handloaders caliber at the moment. Although, Hornady's blammo may change that, a bit. They don't carry that in my local sporting goods store where my city's population is 2000.

I'd like to push the popularity of Grendel for team spirit but have to admit its certainly not for everyone. For the OP though, fine O. The IRA-X looks like an incredible product but I take it you are building that for you in a non-grendel like the .260 and 6.5 cm, etc. I know some have thought that the solid billet upper is necessary to hang a heavy barrel like mine off of but I'll tell you I haven't had any problems with a 24"" barrel hooked to what is a standard AR receiver. Good luck bro. Everyone should have such problems.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Olin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The IRA-X looks like an incredible product but I take it you are building that for you in a non-grendel like the .260 and 6.5 cm, etc. I know some have thought that the solid billet upper is necessary to hang a heavy barrel like mine off of but I'll tell you I haven't had any problems with a 24"" barrel hooked to what is a standard AR receiver. Good luck bro. Everyone should have such problems. </div></div>

You are right, the IRA-X will most likely be a .260, but I am going to try to keep it as light as possible as well. One of the primary reasons for the gas gun in competition is you can shoot it from uncomfortable positions fairly fast. I want to keep it light or at least well balanced for unsupported shooting. We will see how it goes. I have some time to get that build wound out.

 

[cz777]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

my reasons not- the 6.5 is the ammo itself cost vs.available also chamber design etc ...if the military would go with it ,yes!not to side track but also the Q/C of the gun parts need to be improved and standards need to made for all to follow etc!

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

Olin,

I'm thinking that I would have to agree with you then that the onset of what appeared to be the initial stages of incipient case head separation was due to the bolt not remaining fully locked through the pressure curve. If you're not seeing signs of it at 6 loadings. I know BR shooters who've shot 6PPC and various improved versions of that in 6/6.35/6.5mm for BR are getting up to 50 loadings in a bolt gun. So I'm thinking there had to be a problem with my rifle not the design. Anyhow, it's the next guys problem and I pointed it out to him. I'm thinking I could really do this again though.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cz777</div><div class="ubbcode-body">my reasons not- the 6.5 is the ammo itself cost vs.available also chamber design etc ...if the military would go with it ,yes!not to side track but also the Q/C of the gun parts need to be improved and standards need to made for all to follow etc! </div></div>

Try to keep it within the scope of the original question.

Most of the current competitive chamberings are not even being considered by the military and are not going to be. I care not about ammo availability because the only factory ammo I shoot is issued to me. Everything I shoot in competition is hand loaded.

This is a game gun. Not a Sniper Rifle.

Unless I missed something I see little issue if I purchase an AA 6.5 Grendel barrel and then the Redding Dies they offer. I would hope that the Dies were designed for the chamber reamer that Alexander Arms is using.

So far I have been doing well with the .308 at these matches. I really don't see any way that my wife would be under-gunned with the Grendel versus just having her shoot my .308.

 

[marduk185]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

id suggest you get the new 500 baddass. much better but really, 6.5 is good if you like to catch trendy fads on the way out...

 

[Goldbeachman]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marduk185</div><div class="ubbcode-body">id suggest you get the new 500 baddass. much better but really, 6.5 is good if you like to catch trendy fads on the way out... </div></div>

Oh yeah man, too bad the 6.5 fad is only taking like a 100+ years to fade away....

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cz777</div><div class="ubbcode-body">my reasons not- the 6.5 is the ammo itself cost vs.available also chamber design etc ...if the military would go with it ,yes!not to side track but also the Q/C of the gun parts need to be improved and standards need to made for all to follow etc! </div></div>

Try to keep it within the scope of the original question.

Most of the current competitive chamberings are not even being considered by the military and are not going to be. I care not about ammo availability because the only factory ammo I shoot is issued to me. Everything I shoot in competition is hand loaded.

This is a game gun. Not a Sniper Rifle.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Unless I missed something I see little issue if I purchase an AA 6.5 Grendel barrel and then the Redding Dies they offer. I would hope that the Dies were designed for the chamber reamer that Alexander Arms is using.</span>

So far I have been doing well with the .308 at these matches. I really don't see any way that my wife would be under-gunned with the Grendel versus just having her shoot my .308.</div></div>

That is the case.

Also, not to pick on the issue, but some folks would want a military caliber. If the Grendel isn't going to be the next caliber selected then it may be a factor in deciding for or against going with a particular cartridge. It was one of the reasons (not the main one) why I sold my Grendel. Also, my plan for my 7mm-08 was to neck down LC brass. I ended up getting a great deal on Lapua brass. My point though is if comparability/adaptability was one of your factors then the post made sense. At least now we know it's not a factor in your decision.

 

[generalquark]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

I can't think of a good reason not to get it if you want something in an AR platform. I like mine alot.

 

[Hummerdawg]

Re: Any good reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel ???

Any update on this? What route did you end up going?