Mini MK X barrel?

[se3388]

Well my Mini MK X is about to go under the knife and be converted to 65. Grendel with a XX Douglas barrel. I am wondering what twist would be proper for the bullets I plan on using, 100 gr to 139 gr. also would a 22 inch barrel look out of place in the factory stock? I am leaning toward the 20 in. or 22 in. Is there series 2 or mark 2 Grendel or something like that and what is the 6.5 BPC, my Smith is going to rent a Grendel reamer should he look at the 6.5 BPC? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks for any info or advice.

Steve E...........

[Variable]

I would think a 1 in 8" twist ought to pretty well cover you for most bullets in that barrel length. Mr. Alexander chose 1 in 7.5" for the short barrels (10.5") to reflect their lower velocities. You would probably even be fine with a 1in 9" twist, as I know some of the other manufacturers use it, and I don't recall anyone having any troubles because of it.

If you plan on ever using a suppressor and firing heavy bullets at subsonic velocities then I'd likely opt for 1 in 7.5" like the shorties use.

I can't help on the other parts, but I'm sure the more knowledgeable chambering folks will drop in soon.

ETA: barrel length-- Are you keeping it as a hunting rifle, or going heavy? That will likely somewhat steer people's opinions on what is the better length. Big and beefy? I'd go 22". Svelte and going game stalking? I wouldn't go any longer than 20" (perhaps even shorter depending on it's intended usage and expected distances).

[se3388]

I was thinking maybe an 8 twist.
It will be a Deer rifle, I believe the stock barrel is a 20 inch, an extra 2 inches shouldn't make it unwieldy.

Steve E............

[hm2 clark]

My 2 bolt action Grendels both carry 18" barrels. 1 is 1in8.5 twist, the other is 1in9. I cant tell the difference. I also have 2 Grendels in 24 inch barrels. (1 an AR and 1 a singles shot) I can easily tell the difference while hunting with the different barrel lengths. There is little difference in accuracy and all kill game out to as far as I shoot. But for me the difference is clear; the shorter barreled rifles are easier to carry and easier to point at running animals. The shorter barrels are much easier to move around in a tree stand.

[se3388]

Should I tell the smith to get a 6.5 BPC reamer or the regular 6.5 Grendel.

Steve E...............

[hm2 clark]

I fail to see any advantage one over the other. Now that the trademark problems are over the Grendel should eat up the copycat compatition. Go with the best deal.

[adamjp]

My Zastava will run a 21inch 1:10 twist barrel when it is rebarreled. The current barrel is a 19.5inch 1:8twist barrel.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2595[/ATTACH]

[Whelenon]

I'd recommend the 1-8 twist and the Grendel reamer.

[Von Gruff]

What has made you change from the 8 to a 10 inch twist. Have you put enough rounds through the present barrel to need replacment or has some other aspect of its performance or your choice of bullet weight indicated the need to change.

[adamjp]

The original barrel was made very well by PacNor. Unfortunately the steel it was made from was made very badly by a US steel mill. The barrel has 'inclusions' which have essentially caused the crown to rot out very quickly. I did have it cut and re-crowned but the inside of it clearly has parts of the rifling stripping off and accuracy has dropped to 3inches @ 100m. PacNor have replaced the barrel at their cost which is great support.

I ordered a Lilja #2, 1:10 twist as I won't be using anything heavier than 120gn out of this cartridge. When installed at 21inches it should make the entire rifle small enough to use, under 6.5lb in weight, and deliver a 100NBT at 2950fps or so. A perfect little spotlighting gun for areas where I am as likely to light up a pig / fallow as I am a fox. I have access to one property where the owner has given clear instruction to kill the deer eating his cattle pasture, another that is beset with large numbers of pigs.

The replacement PacNor was ordered as a 1:8 polygonal barrel that will become the accuracy centre of my Ruger No.1 6.5/06.

[hm2 clark]

I have a "surplus to needs" Mini mk x. A few years ago I was considering making it into a 358 Gremlin but that cartridge seems to have died out. Another Grendel wont hurt... I like my barrels fluted. I'll probably go with about a 20 inch tube this time.. So... have we decided that the PacNor barrels are the way to go? Or Mcgowen?

[se3388]

My Smith is using Douglas XX barrels, I'm thinking about 100 to 120 gr. bullets, probably won't be using the 139/140 gr bullets. Should the 8 twist should work great for that range of bullets? Lets hear some recommendations for the twist rate. I'm going with a 20 inch barrel. I had him rebarrel a Ruger 44 mag to a 357 x 44 Bain & Davis and in a five shot group on the bench three of the shots will be touching and all five shots will be right at one inch.

Steve E.................

[LRRPF52]

A buddy of mine had CZ's custom shop barrel a CZ527 with a Douglas 22" Select Match Stainless barrel chambered in 6.5 Grendel for him. He runs the 139gr Scenar at 2650-2700fps on top of N140 I think. He reports .25" groups with that load at 100yds. Even with a 1/9 twist though, you're still good with the 139/140 long bearing surface pills as long as they are at a decent speed. You could go 1/8.5" or 1/8", but if you're planning on mostly shooting 120gr, 1/9 is great. I wouldn't write off the 140gr and even higher, like the most excellent 156gr Norma Oryx, which is an awesome bullet on game.

The 129gr SST seems perfect for the bolt-gun Grendel, as does the 130gr Scirocco. You practically have a 6.5 Swede with way less powder.

[se3388]

That is some impressive velocities and groups. I'm thinking that if I go with a 9 twist I would be ok with 100 gr up to 130 gr at least.

Steve E..............

[adamjp]

Not so much the barrel, but just noticed these stocks at Stocky for a really good price...http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the...ton/Detail

They won't ship out of the USA, but for all those inside the USA, these are a nice stock for the price.

[VASCAR2]

My 1:9 twist Shaw AR-15 barrel in 6.5 Grendel shoots 85 grain, 90 g, 100 g,120 g and 123 grains into 1 inch or less at 100 yards from a lead sled. I have some 125 grain Nosler partitions to load and ordered some 100 grain partitions to try.

[se3388]

I'm going with a 20 inch 1-9 twist matching the factory contour. It will be using a Douglas XX barrel. I'll be shooting a little paper and some deer.

Steve E...........