REbarrel time

[Former Cav]

I bought a BCA upper and put it on my match RRA lower (it has a timney trigger and was built by a pro... I used to use it in NRA highpower matches in .223 caliber).
I've worked up about 30 loads and the ONLY one that is consistent is Varget using 27.8 to 28.0 grains with the 123 grain bullets either from Hornady or Sierra. Forget about 120 grain Gold dots....
here are the loads. (worked them up in 2 /10 grain increments.

6.5 Grendel Load work up

120 Gr ELD Hornady
8208 XBR Small Winchester Primer New Hornady Br trimmed to 1.515 COA is 2.235 except for GOLT DOT 120?s 2.215
6th 27.4 Grains 2500 FPS APPROX. (book NOT chronographed)
5th 26.9 Grains 2450 ?
3rd 26.3 Grains 2400 ?

Varget, same bullet as above, same primers, same brass
4th 28.0 Grains 2450 FPS APPROX (book??..
2nd 27.4 Grians 2400 ?
1st 26.4 Grains 2350 ? 1.25 INCH best of these 8 loads

BLC-2, same bullet as above, same primers, same brass
8th 31.7 Grains 2570 (FPS APPROX.(book????.) COMPRESSED LOAD, too much BS to load powder comes out on index
7th 31.5 Grains 2540 ? ? ? ?

123 Gr SST Hornady
AR COMP Small Winchester Primer New Hornady Brass trimmed to 1.515
1st 28.0 grains 2580 FPS APPROX . (book NOT chronographed) BEST of these 5 loads about 1.5 inch
27.8, 27.6,
2nd 27.4,
27.2
123 Gr Sierra HPBT & 120 Hornady Match
Small Winchester Primer New Hornady Brass trimmed to 1.515
1st 27.8 Grains Varget 123 Gr Sierra HPBT A nickel covers center to center 5 shot group 13/16 inch BEST
2nd 27.2 Grains Varget 123 Gr Sierra HPBT
27.8 Grains Varget 120 Hornaday Match
30.2 Grains BLC-2 120 Hornady Match. Too much BS. COMPRESSED LOAD by this I mean, it is FULL of poweder and when you index the dillon 550 press, powder comes out and goes all over!
30.2 Grains BLC-2 123 Sierra HPBT
************************************************** ************************************************12 3 Sierra HPBT, 120 Speer Gold Dot, & 100 Gr Hornady ELD Match
Small Winchester Primer New Hornady Brass trimmed to 1.515
1st 27.8 Grains Varget 123 Sierra HPBT
2nd 27.2 Grains Varget 123 Sierra HPBT
27.8 Grains Varget 120 Speer Gold Dot 2 inch groups ho hum discouraged on the gold dots they are ?LE? bullets
27.2 Grains Varget 120 Speer Gold Dot
31.5 Grains BLC-2 123 Sierra HPBT
31.5 Grains BLC-2 120 Speer Gold Dots samo samo 2 inch plus groups
31.0 Grains 8208 XBR 100 Hornady ELD Match
30.0 Grains Varget 100 Hornady ELD Match

123 Gr Sierra HPBT & 120 Hornady Match
Small Winchester Primer New Hornady Brass trimmed to 1.515 COA on Sierra?s is 2.200 and on Hornadys 2.200 all in these groups below
1st 27.8 Grains Varget 123 Sierra HPBT
27.2 Grains Varget 123 Sierra HPBT
2nd 27.8 Varget 120 Hornady Match
30.0 BLC-2 120 Hornady match
30.0 BLC-2 123 Sierra match
THIRTY LOADS to this point!!
%$#@********************************************** *******************************************
Nov 7, 2019 groups .
120 Gr Hornady ELD & 120 GOLD dot
Small Winchester Primer New Hornady Brass trimmed to 1.515 COA on Sierra?s is 2.200 and on Hornadys 2.200 all in these groups below
32.0 Grains of CFE for both 120 Hornady?s and 120 Gold dot?s
31.0 Grains of CFE ?
30.0 Grains of CFE ?
The 30.0 load was ?best? if you can call 4 MOA ?best. 31 was WORSE, and 32.0 was HORRIBLE.
Had two of the weeks previous loads which have been consistent around 1 inch or less, they are
1st 27.8 Grains Varget 123 Sierra HPBT
27.2 Grains Varget 123 Sierra HPBT

AFTER all this putzin around, I bought a NECO fire lapping kit and did the drill with that. 10 bullets each 200, 400, 800, and 1200 grit.
Cleaned it up took it out this passed Wed 1/15/2020 and Best group was around 3 inches with the Varget load. GET this, with Hornady Black factory loads 123 SST bullets it shot about a 8 inch group!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to have it rebarreled with a Krieger barrel (the championship match barrel brand from NRA highpower and my Palma match barrel is also Krieger). Will keep you posted.

I did NOT Chronograph ANY of those loads as the only one worthy of checking was the 27.8 Varget loading and 123 bullets.

Total round count on this disaster is about 600. I've been working on this since July 2019. I can't get out every week.

[LRRPF52]

If you were to place a dollar value on all your time, components, gas, and costs related to trying to get that barrel to shoot, what would that number be?

Who will be turning and chambering your Krieger pipe and what reamer will you use?

[Former Cav]

I'm retired so it's a hobby type deal. I've dialing in Prairie dog rifles and usually it only takes 8 different loads x 6 bulllets each and 2 cold barrel shots.
Usually would shoot 3 round groups on the 8 x 3, then come back and do it again to prove out a flinch or other BS deal.
Then say for example, I had the best group of (.243 ammo) of 39.3 grains of Varget, I would then load 10 rounds of 39.2, 10 of 39.3 and 10 of 39.4, and do 5 round groups twice and the best was it. So that would total out to 80 rounds. NEVER h ad a rifle like this one.
Now, if you were talking about a RETAIL price (I was Hoping I would luck out on the BCA upper)
Well, you got the brass cost. I bought 400 of them and then I bought 200 of the Hornady Black factory loads at almost a buck a round, 123 ELDS.
Powder, I tried what, 4 or 5 differernt powders at 25 to 30 per pound. driving is a gallon of gas each way (17 miles to the Ben Avery rifle range one way)
So what's a good guess on these above items...?? say $500 NOT counting any "labor". oops, add another 200 or so for the projectiles themselves at retail bu ying them at 100 a time.
here is the cost to "get started" with that cheap upper and NEW caliber (to me) BELOW...

6.5 Grendel COST$
Well, the motivation was this: I've had heart work done. On blood thinners and my beloved .308 caliber M1A's KICK my azz and the doctor is worried I will get blood clots from all the black and blue.
I even down loaded some test rounds 125 grainers instead of 150's and 2600FPS vs 2760 Nato Spec. Still KICKS my azz.
SO.... I sold my M1A's and one FAL stg58 done by gunplumber.
So... I "NEED" something for the TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it). I don't have a lot of faith in the .223 from my vietnam experiences.
So I am downshifting and trying to do it on the THRIFTY side. Since I have a couple of AR 15's, what caliber can I convert to?
After reading and talking with people about 6.8 SPC, 7.62 x 39 (the AK round), and 6.5 Grendel which will all FIT in the AR 15 magazines, the 6.5 is supposed to be the best in accuracy and POOF DUH.
So below is what I got into it SO FAR!!
Now I know why I didn't go out and jump on buying a 10 MM handgun when I already owned a 41 Magnum revolver. Even though I wanted a 10.
By the time I get done and "situated" this will be a $1500 solution!!

upper $190 Bear Creek

2 mags $ 49 JobBobOutfitters

sights $150 TomsTacktical brand is MBUS PRO

tool hd $219 Dillons tool hd and conversion kit

Dies $45 Grafs (lee brand 3 die set)

boolets $219 LuckyGunner (loaded 123 Hornady)

SUB $872

300 brass $115

Powder $60 AR comp and 8208 ONE pound each
More Powder $60 BLC-2 and some other chit… I already have 16# of VARGET from my NRA HP days.

CASE GAGE $30
Brass trimmer 45
NEW TOTAL $1183


still have to buy primers, bullets, powder and more brass !! finding ACCURATE load data is another "hunt".
Bob

So, we got 1183 + 700 or so.
Not Bad for a hobby. Don't tell my wife. GRIN

[Kswhitetails]

Look into the reloading manuals at ar15buildbox.com - well worth the investment. Includes much of the early test and proof data for Grendel, authored by some folks that were with Bill from the outset...

https://www.ar15buildbox.com/shop/c/p/65-Grendel-Reloading-Handbook-Combo-Volumes-1-2-x9555123.htm

[Former Cav]

thanks kswhitetail
I ordered them

[austin smyth]

Former Cav I went through the same exact thing you describe. Put a 20" bear creek upper on my RRA natl match lower. Sent it back to bear creek once and the best i ever saw was about 4-5" groups.
I knew better and cut my loses on the bc barrel and went ahead and ordered a Bartlein 20" from Mark at Precision Firearms. Had the upper reciever face trued, shimmed the extension with .001" stainless shim stock.
What I have now is a true 1/2 moa with factory ammo AR. Ive decided its true that only a rich man can afford cheap stuff.