Lilja Barrel

[cory]

I was talking with Dan Lilja about the Grendel and we got on the subject of bolt guns. I inquired as to whether he could offer Grendel Barrels for bolt guns. He said they do offer 6.5 barrels for bolt gun and MAYBE they could chamber and thread the barrels.

If you're in need of a barrel for a build, contact Lilja they might be able to help you out.

[BjornF16]

I'm not sure I would want a SAAMI Grendel chamber...maybe a 264 LBC or the Pac-Nor "Grendel Match" (which has a .295 neck and is what I have in my bolt Grendel).

A Lilja barrel would be nice!

[cory]

I'm not sure I would want a SAAMI Grendel chamber...maybe a 264 LBC or the Pac-Nor "Grendel Match" (which has a .295 neck and is what I have in my bolt Grendel).

A Lilja barrel would be nice!

Why's that?

[LRRPF52]

The SAAMI Grendel chamber is designed to run well in the self-loading AR15, hence the .300" neck, and the compound throat.

There is no need for a .300" neck in a bolt gun, since you have more force in the chambering cycle with a manual turn-bolt. BjornF16"s Savage/Pac-Nor shoots phenomenally well for a featherweight profile.

[adamjp]

My Grendel uses a Lilja #2 profile barrel and is chambered using a 6.5 BPC reamer - a bolt oriented variant of the 6.5 Grendel.

The accuracy is exceptional - particularly considering it weighs 6lb 3oz, and will go closer to 6lb even when the Talley Lightweights arrive.

If Lilja was to do pre-fits for the CZ527 and the m85 Zastava they might just open a market niche that does not exist.

[KentuckyBuddha]

Additionally if he wanted to do a Savage drop-in...that would be appealing for a number of folks as well. Even though I already have one in Shillen, I might well want to try one with a different twist from Lilja.

[sneaky one]

Wow, who knew what was up on the forum here, in the boltie section. I had no ideas of dis. Hmmm...

[hm2 clark]

I'll probably need a new barrel next year.

[JASmith]

I'm not sure I would want a SAAMI Grendel chamber...maybe a 264 LBC or the Pac-Nor "Grendel Match" (which has a .295 neck and is what I have in my bolt Grendel).

Take a close look at the top paragraph of page 10 in Volume 1 of the 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbook. The compound throat was inspired by some of the most accurate bolt action service rifles.

The .300 neck does indeed ease feeding for auto rifles. It also helps accommodate challenges when steel case ammunition (we hope soon!) is used.

Now, we ask ourselves, "How is it that the Grendel routinely delivers superb accuracy with such a sloppy throat?"
[INDENT]ANSWER: The compound throat helps ensure precise centering of the bullet without requiring that the bullet touch the lands. The centering is more precise than can be achieved with even the tightest throat that will release the bullet on firing.[/INDENT]
The sloppy throat has no effect on accuracy. At the same time, as LRRPF52 points out, it is probably not needed for reliability in a bolt gun.

[Klem]

I'm wondering what happens to that nicely sculpted compound throat after 1,000rds.

Any thoughts?

[JASmith]

I'm wondering what happens to that nicely sculpted compound throat after 1,000rds.

Any thoughts?

I don't know if anyone on this forum has started a thread polling members on this question. The first post should ask for at least these items: 1) round count; 2) Chamber Spec; 3) An indication of whether the average loads are hot or mild compared to factory ammunition; 4) Nominal accuracy when new; and 5) Accuracy today.

In the meantime, here are some thoughts about your question:

Surf around this forum and you can get a feel for how well the Grendel chamber responds to a lot of shooting.

Also, take a close look at the reamer drawing.

The throat should be no more susceptible to erosion than the more conventional designs.

The bore capacity of the Grendel suggests that the barrel life should be at least 30% more than the 3,000 rounds service life indicated for good (vice excellent) accuracy in the .308 Winchester. An accurate deer-harvesting rifle with an expected barrel life ain't too shabby!

The poll would help validate or refute the expectation.

[bwaites]

I'm wondering what happens to that nicely sculpted compound throat after 1,000rds.

Any thoughts?

Klem,

I went out past 5000 rounds on my first Grendel barrel before I had to change anything to maintain .25MOA groups. I started moving the bullet out about .02 and it came back with its favorite loads. At 6000 rounds I could still shoot sub MOA groups with several bullets, but after having been used to .25MOA, I decided to rebarrel.

I don't have borescope, but its a low pressure round, so I really wouldn't expect much throat erosion. I suspect that its a lot like a .308, you can go to 5000 or more rounds with a good .308 barrel before you start seeing any issues.