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+--- Thread: My Grendel build (/showthread.php?tid=14674)
My Grendel build - Kevin. - 11-29-2017
So, I got an unknown upper as a trade, was told it was Aero Precision, but other than the Anchor Harvey forge mark, and the barrel markings I don't know anything else about it. It's never been fired, has a type 2 bolt, and carbine gas, but that's it. Got a simple lower to put it on, and that's about it. The plan is for this to be a lightweight hunting and everything else rifle.
Have been reading a lot, and have seen the recommendation for heavier buffers adjustable gas blocks etc. One question I have is, should I avoid firing it in its current configuration, since that would likely be a bit hard on components?
It seems an adjustable gas block is the best plan, but will a heavy buffer suffice for a while?
And furthermore I know some of the answers will be "shoot it and find out" please understand I am trying to be patient and do this in a thought out manner.
My Grendel build - wags68 - 11-29-2017
IMO, with a carbine gas length barrel, I would definitely get an adjustable gas block first. You can try a heavy buffer, but not sure how much that would help.
My Grendel build - VASCAR2 - 11-29-2017
Kevin if you can post pictures of your upper we might be able to identify the barrel/upper. Depending on the age of the upper will give an indication of the source as there haven’t been many vendors who sold 16” carbine gas 6.5 Grendel.
I have a 16” carbine gas system 6.5 Grendel upper I bought in 2010 from J&T Distributing which is a sister company to Double Star. My upper has a fixed front sight tower with the round military style hand guard. The only functioning issue I’ve experienced with my 16” 6.5 Grendel is an occasional short stroking on 31.0 grains of CFE 223 and 123 grain Nosler CC. I guess the slow powder’s dwell time does not play well with my carbine gas system. All my other hand loads and factory ammuntion have been gtg. I could probably increase the charge weight of CFE 223 but I just use this hand load in my other 6.5 Grendels.
I’m running a standard carbine 3 ounce buffer and spring with my carbine gas upper. I’ve tested this 16” carbine 6.5 Grendel with T-2 and H-2 buffer but decided to stick with the carbine buffer. Personally I’d shoot your upper and see how it functions. If the rifle functions properly you might not need to change anything. If you plan on running a suppressor I’d invest in an adjustable gas block. If the upper proves to be over gassed you can try a heavier buffer or adjustable gas block.
My Grendel build - Dcommoncents - 11-30-2017
VASCAR2 Wrote:Kevin if you can post pictures of your upper we might be able to identify the barrel/upper. Depending on the age of the upper will give an indication of the source as there haven’t been many vendors who sold 16” carbine gas 6.5 Grendel.
I have a 16” carbine gas system 6.5 Grendel upper I bought in 2010 from J&T Distributing which is a sister company to Double Star. My upper has a fixed front sight tower with the round military style hand guard. The only functioning issue I’ve experienced with my 16” 6.5 Grendel is an occasional short stroking on 31.0 grains of CFE 223 and 123 grain Nosler CC. I guess the slow powder’s dwell time does not play well with my carbine gas system. All my other hand loads and factory ammuntion have been gtg. I could probably increase the charge weight of CFE 223 but I just use this hand load in my other 6.5 Grendels.
I’m running a standard carbine 3 ounce buffer and spring with my carbine gas upper. I’ve tested this 16” carbine 6.5 Grendel with T-2 and H-2 buffer but decided to stick with the carbine buffer. Personally I’d shoot your upper and see how it functions. If the rifle functions properly you might not need to change anything. If you plan on running a suppressor I’d invest in an adjustable gas block. If the upper proves to be over gassed you can try a heavier buffer or adjustable gas block.
Agreed. I would always prefer an adjustable gas block on a carbine gas system, but if your upper can't handle running without one you've got bigger issues. If you can afford and are willing to wait to get an adjustable gb, then go for it. Otherwise, run it as is and diagnose any issues and/or upgrade from there. Odds are it'll cycle more smoothly with at least an h buffer, but also run fine with a carbine.
My Grendel build - Kevin. - 11-30-2017
VASCAR2 Wrote:Kevin if you can post pictures of your upper we might be able to identify the barrel/upper. Depending on the age of the upper will give an indication of the source as there havent been many vendors who sold 16 carbine gas 6.5 Grendel.
I have a 16 carbine gas system 6.5 Grendel upper I bought in 2010 from J&T Distributing which is a sister company to Double Star. My upper has a fixed front sight tower with the round military style hand guard. The only functioning issue Ive experienced with my 16 6.5 Grendel is an occasional short stroking on 31.0 grains of CFE 223 and 123 grain Nosler CC. I guess the slow powders dwell time does not play well with my carbine gas system. All my other hand loads and factory ammuntion have been gtg. I could probably increase the charge weight of CFE 223 but I just use this hand load in my other 6.5 Grendels.
Im running a standard carbine 3 ounce buffer and spring with my carbine gas upper. Ive tested this 16 carbine 6.5 Grendel with T-2 and H-2 buffer but decided to stick with the carbine buffer. Personally Id shoot your upper and see how it functions. If the rifle functions properly you might not need to change anything. If you plan on running a suppressor Id invest in an adjustable gas block. If the upper proves to be over gassed you can try a heavier buffer or adjustable gas block.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10293[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]10294[/ATTACH]
Not sure if you can tell from the photo, the barrel is "M4" contour with the indent for attaching a grenade launcher. Sadly mine is backordered.........
My Grendel build - VASCAR2 - 11-30-2017
From the pictures this a stainless steel barrel 1:8 twist. By looking at the Key Mod hand guard and barrel markings I’d say it is probably a Bear Creek Arsenal barrel and hand guard. Might be a home built or purchased as a complete upper. Either way I’d shoot it with some factory ammo first and see how it functions.
If you decide to switch to an adjustable gas block you need to figure out how you’ll reach the adjustment screw. If you get an adjustable gas block with the screw on the front your going to have to remove the hand guard or get a an extension for the allen wrench. You might get lucky on a front adjusting GB to reach it through a key mod hole on the side with an angled allen wrench. If you get an adjustable gas block that adjust from the side you might get clearence. You can always drill a small hole or modify the hand guard to get to the adjustment screw if it’s on the side.
My Grendel build - grayfox - 11-30-2017
Kevin,
There are several factory loads for the Grendel, the 3 that seem more reasonably priced to me are the Federal AE- 90gr TNT (box of 50), the Hornady Black 123-Eldm, and Hornady 123sst. All 3 of these work well in most barrels so you should be able to get some baseline performance from your upper with these IMO.
My Grendel build - Dcommoncents - 11-30-2017
It does look like a BCA barrel. BCA doesn't currently sell clamp-on style handguards to my knowledge and instead uses a proprietary barrel nut for attachment. But, the handguard brand is really neither here nor there for your original question.
My Grendel build - Kevin. - 11-30-2017
Found it!
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/bca-ar-15-complete-upper-assembly-16-416r-stainless-steel-m4-contour-barrel-1-8-twist-6-5-grendel-type-ii-ua6-5cm41618-ss
So, is it being BCA a good thing or bad? Lol
My Grendel build - wags68 - 11-30-2017
I like my BCA barrel very much... great performance with Hornady 123gr ELD-M.
My Grendel build - Dcommoncents - 11-30-2017
Kevin. Wrote:Found it!
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/bca-ar-15-complete-upper-assembly-16-416r-stainless-steel-m4-contour-barrel-1-8-twist-6-5-grendel-type-ii-ua6-5cm41618-ss
So, is it being BCA a good thing or bad? Lol
Well, there are other barrel makers I would prefer for the same price, but I have been very happy with my BCA barrel. Myself and others have discussed BCA pretty extensively on this thread, among others: http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?14537-Bear-Creek-Arsenal-Complete-Uppers
My Grendel build - Kevin. - 11-30-2017
Thanks for the link, between that and the others I have found, I think this rifle should do whatever I want from it. Honestly 2 MOA is likely plenty for my purposes, but I have a bad habit of always wanting more.
1/4 MOA guns spoil you....
My Grendel build - Dcommoncents - 11-30-2017
Kevin. Wrote:Thanks for the link, between that and the others I have found, I think this rifle should do whatever I want from it. Honestly 2 MOA is likely plenty for my purposes, but I have a bad habit of always wanting more.
1/4 MOA guns spoil you....
I think everyone here can sympathize with wanting more accuracy and more guns period! For what it's worth, my 18" BCA barrel easily shoots sub moa when I do my part. 1/4 moa, I doubt, but I don't know if I'm even a 1/4 moa shooter if the barrel was capable of it.
My Grendel build - mateba - 11-30-2017
From my experience with adjustable gas blocks you need a margin of space for the rail system to go over the gas block. If you have a handguard that is less than 1-3/4" inner diameter it might not fit. I used a superlative arms and a 15" ALG handguard, fits fine. So this is not as simple as putting an adjustable gas block on your your carbine. But you could put both on for $200. Replacing the barrel is just a little more. Would a 18" rifle length gas need any adjustment? http://graniteridgeoutfitters.com/Ballistic-Advantage-18-65-Grendel-SPR-Rifle-Length-Barrel-BABL65G003P.htm
My Grendel build - Kevin. - 12-02-2017
Talked to the guys at Bear Creek, just to ask what they recommend, they said they put 3 ounce buffers in all their 6.5 Grendels. So I went ahead and test fired it. Just a few rounds, to see how it ejected. They all went to about 4 O'clock. This was Wolf ammo, so that's a mild load to begin with I think.
My Grendel build - VASCAR2 - 12-02-2017
I think you would be safe to fire brass cased ammo like Federal or Hornady. Even if it was over gassed a few rounds shouldn’t damage anything. I personally want a rifle/carbine that will function in sub zero weather so I tend to put up with a more brisk action which is likely to occur in hot weather. The 6.5 Grendel AR-15 don’t generate a lot of recoil and I’m normally not as concerned with fast follow up shots or rapid pairs with my 6.5 Grendels.
My Grendel build - munchie3409 - 12-03-2017
Your barrel does look just like my 16" BCA barrel that I just purchased.