Wandering into the 6.5 world
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Wandering into the 6.5 world
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09-12-2017, 01:07 AM
I am contemplating getting a grendel upper for deer season. I built a 308 AR, but it just wound up too heavy. My question is about barrel length. Most of my shots are less than 300 yds. Would an 18 inch barrel be worth the extra weight and length over a 16 inch, or would 16 be sufficient?
Welcome aboard!
I don't have a 18" but if I have a 300 yd shot possible I'm probably carrying one of my 20"s. I wouldn't hesitate to take a 300 yd shot with my 16's but would rather have the length. If you only gonna have one gun, go with an 18" fluted. I wish I had fluted one of my 20".
Knowing everthing isnt as important as knowing where to find it.
Mark Twain http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthrea...-Whitetail
09-12-2017, 03:17 AM
MD,
I run an 18in Grendel. I think it is more than enough for you described. I use my rifle in NRA matches out to 600yds. That is primarily what it was built for. I went 18in because I was not interested in waiting for a custom barrel and had a 20in max barrel length for the matches, so anything longer was out. I shot 2 does last Thanksgiving with my Grendel and was more than enough. My post on it includes pics with exits using factory hunting ammunition. It is posted in the hunting section after Thanksgiving '16. My rifle weighs in under 10lbs with scope, bipod, and a 5 round loaded magazine. When I built it, weight was not a concern since it was primarily for competition. Hope that helps. SY
09-12-2017, 01:35 PM
I just built my first gren for the same reason. I went with a bear creek 18" heavy barrel but with flutes. It's pretty handy if you ask me. Definitely lighter than the 18" 223 wylde Hanson profile barrel from ballistic advantage that i use on my only other precision oriented upper.
09-12-2017, 04:22 PM
Welcome aboard. I have both, and have had several samples of each barrel length, to include AA 16" and Lilja 16", AA, Satern/AA, and Lilja 18" barrels.
After chronographing these over the years, there just isn't much of a difference in speed between them I've found. With 123gr Hornady factory AMAX and SST, I've always been in the mid-2400fps range with all of them. With hand loads, I can reach 2500fps under a 123gr SST with them, without exceeding maximum loads using CFE223. With 8208XBR, 2700fps is obtainable with the 100gr Nosler Ballistic Tip from both 16" and 18" Grendels without exceeding the book max for that powder/bullet combo as tested by Hodgdon's. If you want a handy, lightweight gun for hunting within 350yds, the 16" makes a lot of sense. I like them both, and have been shooting my Lilja 318 almost exclusively for the past several years for all of my rifle work at distance. 17.6" Lilja barrel: 123gr Hornady SST factory 30JUN2015 2441 2467 2477 2489 2481 AVG: 2471fps 123gr Hornady SST factory 17MAY2016 2451 2449 2473 2456 AVG: 2457 120gr Scenar-L Precision Firearms Factory Load 2505 2504 2532 2518 2498 AVG: 2511 90gr TNT Federal American Eagle load 2882 2900 2886 2922 2875 2903 2878 2893 2883 2904 AVG: 2892fps Federal 120gr OTM MATCH 11MAR2017 2441 2339 2473 2522 2494 2460 2495 2530 2492 2505 2470 2474 2506 2501 2504 2488 2491 2466 2494 2539 AVG: 2484 18.5" Lilja barrel: 123gr Hornady SST factory 30JUN2015 2468 2441 2421 2495 2453 16" AA/Shaw barrel: 123gr Lapua Scenar Precision Firearms factory 03APR2012 2447 2451 2454 2450 123gr Hornady A-MAX factory 25MAY2013 2365 2470 2422 2470 2460 100gr Nosler Ballistic Tip 30.4gr 8208XBR 2675fps 120gr Sierra Match King 28.8gr TAC 68˚-72˚F 2481 2477 2439 2473 2479 AVG: 2470fps These have all been with a Chrony Beta model, 15ft from the muzzle. The 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks have a ton of data and barrel length estimator graphs.
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here: www.AR15buildbox.com |
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