Anyone here shooting 6.5 Grendel?

[SavageShooter2k]

Recently I just got hooked on the idea of building an AR in 6.5 Grendel because I really want a semi auto rifle that can reach out to the longer distances and have some versatility for hunting. I love my 6.5 creedmoor because of the high ballistic coefficient and the availability of great match ammo over the counter so my hope was that I could build its lighter little brother. Unfortunately I didnt have much luck. I bought a medium contour AR stoner barrel from Midway with the Grendel II chamber and it does not shoot the Hornady Match ammo very well. I handload for my other rifles but my goal is not to shoot this with factory Hornady match ammo like I do my 6.5 creedmoor.

So does anyone have a 6.5 Grendel setup that is achieving Sub MOA accuracy with box ammo? Specifically 123 Amax or SST?

 

[primalmu]

I think I'd invest in a decent barrel. A quick Google search shows that AR Stoner barrels (apparently Midway's house brand) are not exactly the best.

 

[TIMC]

Mine is most definitely a sub moa shooter but it has never had any factory ammo in it so I'm no help there.

 

[SavageShooter2k]

TIMC, what barrel are you running in yours? Do you mind sharing what handloads you have been using and your results? The reason I would like to stick with factory loaded ammo is more to do with the time available to do it. I am already handloading for three other rifles and I dont want to add one more if I dont have to. However if that is the only chance I have to get the results I will do it.

I am hoping to find a happy medium where I can handload for supperior accuracy if I want to but still shoot well with off the shelf ammo when I dont have the time. My 6.5 creedmoor deos this for me already as well two other rifles I own in .308 and 7.62x39.

Thanks for the input.

 

[TIMC]

I have the 18" hunter from Alexander Arms with 1:7.5 twist. My pet load is with 129 grain Hornady SST's and 27.0 grains of H335.

Time for loading is a relevant thing, I just cut some of my sitting on my butt in front of the TV down and found I had plenty of time to load for the 18 calibers I do load for.

 

[SavageShooter2k]

How is that load grouping for you?

 

[TIMC]

1/2" at 100 yards.

 

[SavageShooter2k]

Awesome, thanks for the info. I might have to just start playing with some different loads. Looks like I need to buy set of dies and some powder.

 

[SavageShooter2k]

So to update this thread. After some research I decided to purchase a Black Hole Weaponry 18" 1x9 twist barrel after talking with one of their reps and finding a deal on one at Surplus Ammos website. I figured I would just try another barrel to see how it shoots and I will sell the one that under performs.

Well, let me just say I am blown away by the results. I broke int the barrel in one trip and then came back for another. I was shooting factory Amax and SSTs bullets and the thing was blowing me away with the factory loaded SSTs. Attached are pictures of my two best groups with the SST ammo, one is a 6 shot .670" the other a 5 shot .310" !!! I was also nailing bulls eye after bulls eye after making the adjustment to zero on my scope.

I was hoping for something that could shoot around 3/4 MOA with the occasional great group with factory ammo and I think this barrel may surpass that goal. I ordered more ammo to see if I just got a lucky batch. If I can repeat the results I will be thrilled.

 

[horsemen61]

Glad to hear she worked out for you now post a pic of her so I can see this little beauty

 

[bfoosh006]

While I am late to the thread....

AR Stoner barrels are indeed bottom of the barrel... well, er.. barrels.

Glad to see your BHW barrel worked as well as hoped for !

Nice groups !

 

[SavageShooter2k]

As requested, here is a pic of the rifle. It has a Bushnell 3200 fixed scope on it right now. I will be swapping it for a Vortex Viper I have on another rifle once my new rings come in the mail. What is awesome is this thing weighs less than 10 pounds with a full mag in and the bipod. I will easily be able to carry this in the bush.

 

[TIMC]

Very nice! I'm going through a rebuild of my Grendel right now, hopefully it will be done by next week.

 

[rromeo]

Are the Satern Liberty barrels okay? This is a hunting gun, so I don't need a single ragged hole at 500 yards. If I can put 5 shots inside 1" at 100, that's quite good enough isn't it?

 

[SavageShooter2k]

Very nice! I'm going through a rebuild of my Grendel right now, hopefully it will be done by next week.

Are you re-barreling your upper? What barrel are you going to use?

 

[SavageShooter2k]

Are the Satern Liberty barrels okay? This is a hunting gun, so I don't need a single ragged hole at 500 yards. If I can put 5 shots inside 1" at 100, that's quite good enough isn't it?

From what I understand Satern makes the AR stoner barrel I used for my original build. If your okay with 1" groups this should work for you as this is what I experienced. My first day at the range I was shooting 2" but I was also breaking it in and I was running solvent patches through it which messes with your point of impact. After coming back a second day I was putting up 1" groups at 100 with factory 123 Amax and I had two groups around the 3/4 inch mark. Being that they cost about the same I would advise you to go with the black hole weaponry barrel. Surplus ammo has the one I bought for $270ish right now and it comes with a free upper receiver. Purchase a 7.62x39 bolt carrier group and your good to go. I am going to be selling my upper the Satern/AR stoner barrel. if your interested shoot me a PM, it has 60 rounds through it.

 

[Dentite]

So to update this thread. After some research I decided to purchase a Black Hole Weaponry 18" 1x9 twist barrel after talking with one of their reps and finding a deal on one at Surplus Ammos website. I figured I would just try another barrel to see how it shoots and I will sell the one that under performs.

Well, let me just say I am blown away by the results. I broke int the barrel in one trip and then came back for another. I was shooting factory Amax and SSTs bullets and the thing was blowing me away with the factory loaded SSTs. Attached are pictures of my two best groups with the SST ammo, one is a 6 shot .670" the other a 5 shot .310" !!! I was also nailing bulls eye after bulls eye after making the adjustment to zero on my scope.

I was hoping for something that could shoot around 3/4 MOA with the occasional great group with factory ammo and I think this barrel may surpass that goal. I ordered more ammo to see if I just got a lucky batch. If I can repeat the results I will be thrilled.

That is awesome.

Do you have chronograph numbers? What kind of velocities are expected from an 18" barrel in 6.5 Grendel? What weight bullets are you shooting?

Thanks.

 

[SavageShooter2k]

I havent had the chance to use a Chrony on this set up yet. Hornady advertised 2620 as the muzzle velocity for the SSTs. I am pretty sure those numbers are for a 24 barrel but I am sure chamber matters as well because there are two different Grendel chamberings. I have heard the Grendel I chamber gets more pressure and as a result more velocity than the Grendel II. Mine is technically a 264 LBC so I am not sure how that comes into play. I would imagine thought that since I have an 18" barrel compared to the 24" they use for those numbers that I am down about 100 fps from the advertised velocity. All I know is I have a friend with a 16" barreled Grendel and I have watched him easily shoot steel at 1000 yards so I know the bullet is supersonic at that distance with a 16 inch barrel. It is a really cool round.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I get about 3/4 moa on a good day w factory SST through my Alexander Arms upper w 20" Shilen barrel.

http://youtu.be/OBghUXgq5IY
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z3ZYGNfSk3k#

It's my hunting rifle.

 

[SavageShooter2k]

I get about 3/4 moa on a good day w factory SST through my Alexander Arms upper w 20" Shilen barrel.

http://youtu.be/OBghUXgq5IY
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z3ZYGNfSk3k#

It's my hunting rifle.

I guess the 6.5 Grendel is the round of Texans as 90% of the people I have found online with this round are in Texas. Maybe its just that we own 90% of the guns in the country so so statistically....

I watched the first video, that second Yote just dropped in his tracks.

 

[TIMC]

Are you re-barreling your upper? What barrel are you going to use?

Not a re-barrel just a look change. Going to an ultra slim free float aluminum hand guard and different stock.
Her is how she looks today...

 

[rromeo]

From what I understand Satern makes the AR stoner barrel I used for my original build. If your okay with 1" groups this should work for you as this is what I experienced. My first day at the range I was shooting 2" but I was also breaking it in and I was running solvent patches through it which messes with your point of impact. After coming back a second day I was putting up 1" groups at 100 with factory 123 Amax and I had two groups around the 3/4 inch mark. Being that they cost about the same I would advise you to go with the black hole weaponry barrel. Surplus ammo has the one I bought for $270ish right now and it comes with a free upper receiver. Purchase a 7.62x39 bolt carrier group and your good to go. I am going to be selling my upper the Satern/AR stoner barrel. if your interested shoot me a PM, it has 60 rounds through it.

Thanks, but I've already put down $100 at the LGS for the Satern barrel. It comes with a bolt, and he's making a deal on the rest of the upper parts.

 

[SavageShooter2k]

No problem, just thought I would offer it up since it sounded like you were going down that path.

 

[Dentite]

I havent had the chance to use a Chrony on this set up yet. Hornady advertised 2620 as the muzzle velocity for the SSTs. I am pretty sure those numbers are for a 24 barrel but I am sure chamber matters as well because there are two different Grendel chamberings. I have heard the Grendel I chamber gets more pressure and as a result more velocity than the Grendel II. Mine is technically a 264 LBC so I am not sure how that comes into play. I would imagine thought that since I have an 18" barrel compared to the 24" they use for those numbers that I am down about 100 fps from the advertised velocity. All I know is I have a friend with a 16" barreled Grendel and I have watched him easily shoot steel at 1000 yards so I know the bullet is supersonic at that distance with a 16 inch barrel. It is a really cool round.

Thanks for the info.

I have a .260 Rem (bolt action) and really like the ballistics of the .264 bullets.

I have a pretty stock 6920 that I enjoy but would like to build an AR put together just the way I want it for hunting and occasional long range shooting.

I need to do some research but as far as I understand it, the parts that are unique to the 6.5 Grendel would be the barrel, bolt and mags?

Everything else is standard AR/223/5.56 parts?

I think the 6.5 Grendel is the cartridge I'm most interested in when it comes to building another AR.

So is 264 LBC dimensionally the same? You shoot 6.5 G labeled ammo with no problems? What about dies? Do you just use 6.5G dies for your .264LBC chamber?

Sorry for all the questions, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[SavageShooter2k]

Thanks for the info.

I have a .260 Rem (bolt action) and really like the ballistics of the .264 bullets.

I have a pretty stock 6920 that I enjoy but would like to build an AR put together just the way I want it for hunting and occasional long range shooting.

I need to do some research but as far as I understand it, the parts that are unique to the 6.5 Grendel would be the barrel, bolt and mags?

Everything else is standard AR/223/5.56 parts?

I think the 6.5 Grendel is the cartridge I'm most interested in when it comes to building another AR.

So is 264 LBC dimensionally the same? You shoot 6.5 G labeled ammo with no problems? What about dies? Do you just use 6.5G dies for your .264LBC chamber?

Sorry for all the questions, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Yes, you need a bolt, barrel, and 6.5 mags. Everything else is just standard 5.56 including the firing pin. I mistakingly said I was using a SOTA arms bolt carrier group earlier. Im using a redx arms NIB 7.62x39 bolt. The 264 lbc shoots the 6.5 grendel cartridge. You use 6.5 grendel ammo, brass, and dies. You need to know if your barrel uses the type 1 or type 2 bolt. Type 1 is 7.62x39.