Howdy guys - talk me out of a 6.5 Grendel AR pistol build

[Jaeger Heisen]

I'm thinking about a 10-12ish inch pistol for my kids to use deer and hog hunting. I would probably never stretch past 200 because my 300 win mag is more useful for that.

I know that parts are the driest they have ever been so even piecing one together would be tough


anybody have any insights or feedback? the YouTube videos arnt very helpful

[rabiddawg]

[Jaeger Heisen]

what barrel do you have?

[Drillboss]

Talk you out of it? You came to the wrong place for that request.

[lazyengineer]

If you are planning a pistol brace build, I would advice just pursuing a 14.5 pin and weld, as the legal status of a pistol build is pretty spotty right now. Performance wise, the 12" Grendel is the most effective performance/lb of any AR and an exceptional general purpose arm. That said, a 14.5 is going to hit even harder, very close in handling and weight at only 2" longer, and mitigates potential future legal concerns.
Which, At this stage I consider to be highly likely to happen.

While there is plenty of internet bravado, all of a sudden having a gun you cant hunt with, compete with, take to range with, or other use in most settings, is an unattractive reality, that is tomorrows executive order away.

[Jaeger Heisen]

[Klem]

Talk you out of it? NOOOOoooo, DON'T DO IT!!!!

Now that's out the way, you're going to love it.

With such a short barrel I would stick with the lightest bullets in the 6.5 range. Grendel is slower than a wet week anyway so handicapping it even further with a short barrel is going to cost. You can ease the cost with going lightest bullets. And two more inches will make a huge difference easing that 'cost' also. If you really want to be talked out of it, Grendel is not the most efficient calibre to be going pistol length but, hey...

If you are going to pin and weld 16" for legal reasons then you may as well just get a 16" barrel with no muzzle brake and enjoy the extra velocity for the same length.

[fabbrisd]

Welcome to Grendel-Land - populated by Grendel Volunteer's !

Absolutely depending on how-much-you-shoot - with the times we are in - best if you think about a "Grendel-Ammo-Plan" - Grendel Factory Ammo is scarce and pricey - and reloading supplies are quite tight.

That said - if you're set on the Joy-Of-A-Build... you will get awesome feedback from this forum....

For me - I have a bit less time to Build - but I hack out the time to shoot long and grateful we have the right Membership Range for that

I have got two Grendel's in my stable..

For AR - Alexander Arms 10 1/2 (now listed as 11") about $1200 ... "usual" top line slap-in upgrades .... a bitch*n Nightforce NXS scope .... and a modular 4"-10" Titanium Suppressor

For Make-Every-Shot-Counts - Single Shot CVA Scout Grendel 14" (made by Bergara) .... Farrow Tech buffer tube adapter (modded finish) ... Talley rail... Nikon Black FX1000 (steal-of-a-deal) .. swap over my Titanium modular suppressor.. bitch*n

[lazyengineer]

...
If you are going to pin and weld 16" for legal reasons then you may as well just get a 16" barrel with no muzzle brake and enjoy the extra velocity for the same length.

On paper and performance, this is probably true. For some, the muzzle device is an important aesthetic and performance component of an AR platform. After living through Clinton's '94 AWB, I won't run a bare AR15. But others might not be so particular. That, and muzzle devices are natural crown-protectors. As well as help with flash and recoil. I will say, for a .223, the extra barrel length performance of a 16" vs 14.5" is actually a good bit more substantial than one might think, and notably increases the range of that 2700 FPS distance; which is why I've never bothered with that in .223. With Grendel, the round is a lot different, and is a lot more forgiving in performance to barrel length decreases. Which is why a 12" grendel performance is so good. 14.5 will be better, but the incremental increase to 16" from 14.5 isn't nearly so drastic, as is it in .223.

So in the end, it's a matter of personal taste. a 12" is typically closer 14" after muzzle device. it's only ~2 more inches if doing 14.5 pin and weld (or bare 16). But in the end, the pin and weld looks cooler; and that's super important.

[PVBoom]

Don't brace it.

The news today is that Biden's proposed new ATF head will move to reclassify all braced patrols as SBRs.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/547058-biden-to-announce-executive-action-on-ghost-guns-red-flag-laws

[Red*Lion]

Don't brace it.

The news today is that Biden's proposed new ATF head will move to reclassify all braced patrols as SBRs.

https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...-red-flag-laws

Illegal executive orders should be ignored.

[lazyengineer]

Don't brace it.

The news today is that Biden's proposed new ATF head will move to reclassify all braced patrols as SBRs.

https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...-red-flag-laws

Yep. There will be lots of discussion on this I'm sure. But this was as predictable as the phase of the moon. The "victory" in December when the ATF under Trump was going to give free SBR stamps while at the same time declaring they will remain ambiguous on brace status (i.e. no real change), was the most misspent effort I've seen the gun community do; they threw away a gift and spit in ATF's face for it. Biden had already won, and this was an absolute certainty. Dont expect free SBR stamps out of this now, and do expect more draconian interpretations of what an SBR is, than what was offered in December. We'll see, it's a dumb law - but it's on the books, and he can do this. We're not going to win this one, and it was amazing they were ever allowed to get so widespread in the first place.

Don't build an AR pistol today, is my advise. Or at least, build it with a 14.5" Barrel, that you can then pin and weld later. Though... good luck finding a 14.5" barrel. "Easest" path right now, if you know the right people, is to get a used Creedmoor barrel and have it cut down and rechambered. Yea, I know - super helpful.

[Bigs28]

Just do a registered sbr. My 12" is all i use. Rest of guns just sit in the safe

[Jaeger Heisen]

thanks, this is all awesome advice but i fear im way to late in the game for find a 14.5 in barrel. i have a LTC/CHL but it seems overly intrusive to get a SBR

[Bigs28]

Call mark at precision firearms. It might take a little while but it will be the best 14.5" barrel you will find.