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Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - lrgrendel - 02-09-2015
Looking for some info on what is available to get a bolt action Grendel put together here in the US. Actions, bolts, heavy contour barrels etc. If I do this would like to put it in some sort of tactical stock.
Also a bolt gun would offer a little bit more "pressure" right or wrong?
Thanks.
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - KentuckyBuddha - 02-09-2015
BjornF16's thread about his putting together will probably tell you everything you need to know:
http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?4944-Bjorn-s-Savage-Grendel-project&highlight=bjornf16+savage
You might also be interested in something like this however:
http://mdttac.com/lss-chassis-system.html
I would not want to increase the pressure significantly in bolt action as opposed to semi-auto.
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - LRRPF52 - 02-09-2015
The CZ527 in 7.62x39 lends itself well to a Grendel re-barrel.
The Savage is easy to do, but will have a rather long and heavy action for such a short cartridge.
We're looking at Legacy Sports new Howa micro action rifle being chambered in 6.5 Grendel as a factory standard.
In a bolt gun, the 6.5 Grendel can be pushed to 60,000psi if you really want to. You can get a 129/130gr to go 2650fps from a 20" barrel. A 123gr will reach between 2670 and 2769fps from a 20".
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - kmon - 02-09-2015
Just went through this, rifle is at the smiths now. I went the CZ 527 route, Obermeyer barrel, and for now the factory stock with the barrel channel being opened up a little, but will in time replace that with a different stock. Perhaps the Varmint one from CZ or another. Lothar Walther sell barrels already threaded, chambered and contoured for the little CZ.
http://www.lothar-walther.com/
Savage, there are probably more built on Savage actions than any other. The barrels are available and easy to swap out and good chassis style stocks available. Lother-Walther also offers Savage barrels pre-fit.
Remington 700 short action. Bolts and bottom metal to use AR mags are available from Pacific Tool & Gauge. There a ton of stock and trigger options for that route.
http://shop.pacifictoolandgauge.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=308_4_101
Also see the thread on Howa Mini Action. My luck they will offer the 6.5 Grendel very shortly after I get my rifle from the Smith.
http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?9681-New-Howa-Micro-Action-POLL-ADDED
Ruger Compact M77 Hawkeye in 7.62X39 could also be a choice for conversion.
Sako in PPC would be another option but an expensive one.
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - PigOPs - 02-09-2015
I've always thought if I build a bolt gun it will be a creedmoor. You guys are starting to make me second guess myself...
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - LRRPF52 - 02-09-2015
PigOPs Wrote:I've always thought if I build a bolt gun it will be a creedmoor. You guys are starting to make me second guess myself...
Either is a great choice, but the performance difference might warrant one over the other. In a bolt gun, that performance gap closes a lot, but the higher case capacity will of course edge out in any of the 6.5-08's, or 6.5 Hornady TC in the Creedmoor's case.
The main thing that would make me lean to the Grendel in a bolt gun is more affordable ammo, and the very light recoil that allows you to sit at the range all day and just practice without any consideration for recoil fatigue.
The main thing that would make me lean to the 6.5 Creedmoor or .260 Remington is longer range performance at 700-1300yds for target shooting. For common and intermediate range hunting, the Grendel makes more sense if you want a lightweight rifle with faster follow-up shots.
For the hand-loader, when looking at bullets like the 129gr ABLR from Nosler, or the Hornady 120gr GMX, a little mountain or prairie rifle chambered in 6.5 Grendel delivers large game harvesting ability, as well as terminal performance at ranges most hunters are not capable of exploiting. That 129gr ABLR expands down to 1300fps, and has a BC of .561 G1, .285 G7. Spit that puppy out at even a moderate 2500fps (which is doable from even the AR15), and you have expansion out to 925yds. You still have 900ft-lbs of energy out to 525yds.
The Creedmoor will just give you a bit flatter trajectory, and less wind drift, with even more performance that can't be used by most of us. I personally am not taking the shot unless I have a register at those distances past 500yds, and I can register with the Grendel just the same. The Creedmoor with a 129gr ABLR hand load retains 900ft-lbs out past 700yds, and expansion out to 1125yds.
If I'm looking for a dedicated long-range hunting rifle, I think George Gardner has it right with the 6.5 SAUM, which is a very well-balanced rifle, laser-like trajectory, low recoil, and he prefers the 130gr Bergers that expand well at extreme long range. Finding brass for that cartridge is a different ballgame, but those that have the money for long range hunting seem to be able to horde it when they find it.
For the more common hunting distances, especially within 500yds, I think there are several good arguments for the 6.5 Grendel in a bolt gun. I would love to see an offering from Blaser with their straight pull action in the European market especially. I have also approached Nosler with the concept of a lightweight mountain rifle, since they sell Grendel brass, and the new line of ABLR projectiles. A custom Nosler hunting load line of ammunition would go beautifully with a new micro action from them fashioned off the M48 formula.
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - KentuckyBuddha - 02-09-2015
Interesting you frame it that way LRRPF52, I went with .243 for 700-1000 and maybe a bit more purely for hitting paper or steel. The cool kids seem to think there can be an advantage in how slick you can get the pills. Plus, it would be just a little bit softer shooting as well to go with your other point.
For the range anyone would ever need for hunting in a woodland environment a Grendel is fine. I just quipped to my cousin from Kentucky that where he is hunting "if you can't get all the deer you want in archery range...there is something profoundly wrong with your hunting skills" LOLz of agreement ensued. That said, if I lived where you do, I would probably desperately want a 338LM or 408 Cheytac or something that would be completely nuts in this part of the country.
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - Drift - 02-09-2015
As above, the only off the shelf actions are CZ 527 and the addition of the Interarms Mini Mk X /Remington 799/ Zastava 85. All are different names for the same action. Available in 7.62x39 and cheap enough. Someday, maybe someone will do a Grendel on a old Sako Vixen action but I doubt it. The Howa mini action is conjecture and I'm ready to buy a Grendel from them if any are made. And yes, I push more pressure through those actions than an AR, kinda creeping up on a 6.5x55.
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - adamjp - 02-10-2015
My Zastava m85 based Grendel is catalogued in this section of the forum.
I am spitting the 100gn NBT out at just on 3000fps and it works very well. The 50 cases have done 4x reloads so far and all but ten hold primers like they should. Those ten hold primers but they are easy to put in there. I suspect that those ten cases were the ones I went overpressure in my workup of loads for the bolt gun. The other 150 cases have either not been loaded or have only done two reloads so I don't count them on case life.
If your AR can match a 100gn bullet @ 3000fps from a 21in barrel 6.5lb rifle then I would be surprised. The bolt gun does permit additional pressure to be used in the case.
A factory offering in the new Howa micro action would be awesome. Not going to sell my Zastava to buy one, but...
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - BluntForceTrauma - 02-10-2015
LRRPF52 Wrote:I think George Gardner has it right with the 6.5 SAUM, which is a very well-balanced rifle, laser-like trajectory, low recoil
Just a quick sidetrack on the 6.5 SAUM. Anyone know the difference between the 6.5 SAUM and the 6.5 SAUM 4S? What does the "4S" mean?
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - LRRPF52 - 02-10-2015
BluntForceTrauma Wrote:Just a quick sidetrack on the 6.5 SAUM. Anyone know the difference between the 6.5 SAUM and the 6.5 SAUM 4S? What does the "4S" mean?
There were some chamber variations as the testing moved forward with that cartridge. The 6.5 SAUM 4S is GAP's version of the 6.5 SAUM wildcat, which had already been done by someone before GAP. This is indicated on the GAP website for the Xtreme Hunter. I had an opportunity to handle the Xtreme Hunter at SHOT, and it is a very well-balanced rifle with a perfect barrel taper and balance to it, so that it responds to your moves and hold extremely well.
It's a very well thought-out system, including the optics from Bushnell that were designed with heavy input from George and his team. All of the input for the rifle and optics was generated from real-world field-testing and GAP's in-house knowledge on building rifles. The stock is Manners Super Lite stock that is 90% carbon fiber. The action is buttery-glass smooth. Everything is a combination of precision machining and hand-fitting to result in a .5 MOA rifle with super flat trajectory and a lot of retained energy. George has had best results with the 130gr Bergers, which is the same bullet I found to work best for me in the .260 Remington.
I think the 6.5 SAUM is a .264 Win Mag killer, if you're looking for that kind of performance. For anyone that owns a rifle like that, a little 6.5 Grendel bolt gun configured similarly in a micro-action would be the perfect training and shorter range hunting partner.
Availability "off the shelf" Bolt-Action Grendels - adamjp - 02-10-2015
The "4S" stands for "Super Secret Squirrel Shit".
I have a 6.5 SAUM 4S built on a Rem700 short action with a 25.6in Lilja 3 Groove 1:8 twist. Topped off with a 3.5-18 Swarovski Z5 it is very light at 7lb on the spot.
Recoil is there but not difficult, trajectory is flat, accuracy is very good. The cartridge is everything it is cracked up to be and as LRRP indicates, it is a 264 Win Mag replacement.
Since these photos were taken, I have painted the stock, inlet flush cups and am waiting for the bolt to come back with it's handle replaced with a PTG straight handle. Then the whole lot will be Cerakoted in Sniper Grey.
Deer season starts on 1 March and I already have 6 weekends straight booked in the bush to cover off the Red and Fallow rut prime times. As we have no bag limits on deer (in fact in some states they may be shot year round in any way you want as they are a declared pest) I will be thinning out the population by doing some herd management. The 6.5 SAUM will be my preferred rifle this year as I still hope to get to NZ in October after Himalayan Tahr and the 6.5 SAUM was built for this very purpose.