Please help me either buy, assemble or build a lightweight deer rifle

[6.5G Master]

Just checked the ammo situation online and indeed very difficult to find hunting rounds. I need to check my local shops but I didn’t realize how little ammo there seems to be for this round. Is it any worse than 243 hunting ammo availability?

[Oso Polaris]

In the last crisis, 243 ammo was more widely available compared to other traditional hunting cartridges (308, 6.5 Creedmoor, 30-06, 270, etc). However, I think that the Grendel will be even harder to find ammo since there are fewer options offered on the shelf even during good times. You might consider reloading as the solution.

Go put in a "backorder" directly with Starline Brass for 250 cases. While you are waiting to receive you can start tracking down bullets (100gr - 125gr) at reasonable prices from places like Blue Collar Reloading. Buy a couple of pounds of 8208 XBR, AR Comp or CFE 223. Presto your are shooting. There are several good threads here on forum for hunting bullet selection and powder combinations.

[6.5G Master]

In the last crisis, 243 ammo was more widely available compared to other traditional hunting cartridges (308, 6.5 Creedmoor, 30-06, 270, etc). However, I think that the Grendel will be even harder to find ammo since there are fewer options offered on the shelf even during good times. You might consider reloading as the solution.

Go put in a "backorder" directly with Starline Brass for 250 cases. While you are waiting to receive you can start tracking down bullets (100gr - 125gr) at reasonable prices from places like Blue Collar Reloading. Buy a couple of pounds of 8208 XBR, AR Comp or CFE 223. Presto your are shooting. There are several good threads here on forum for hunting bullet selection and powder combinations.

I’m hoping to avoid reloading as I don’t have any equipment or much time. I used to reload shot shells but that was a long time ago and I recall it being a labor of love. Hope the local shops have some suitable or I may need to rethink things.

[Stinky Coyote]

16" barrels are more than enough, the beauty of these 6.5's is their efficiency gained to the high bc/sd's of 6.5 bullets...so you do more for less powder burned. And slower speed cartridges don't need a lot of barrel length to remain efficient. I only hunt and have 7 head of big game on grendels now including a moose. We've used 16" ruger american ranch to 20" howa, to 24" cz...no difference. Average shot distance so far has been 151 yards and 4.3 yard average recovery distance. So remove any concern over the 16" barrel, it's actually what i prefer now most.

you can put an MDT chassis on ruger or howa and then you have adjustable length of pull using a typical 6-7 position buffer tube and say a magpul ctr butt stock, but they will be a bit heavier going this route, the offset is heavier just reduces recoil even more, i now have 3 rugers for myself and my two boys, in mdt chassis, they are approx. 8 1/4 lbs scoped but we address weight all the way through, strike industries buffer tube 3.8 oz, magpul moe-k grip 1.8 oz, magpul ctr butt stock (yes i could shave a few ounces with mission first battlelink minimalist but i don't like open hook buttstock for prone shooting and left hand support on the buttstock, need the full triangle of the magpul buttstock, also like the adjustment of magpul better), remove factory picatinny rail(approx. 2.5 oz) and use talley lightweight rings instead which direct mount to action and 1" low talleys only weigh about 2 oz, typical 1" tube lightweight scope such as leupolds or what i'm using now is trijicon accupoint 3-9x40 at 13.4 oz but fixed leupold 6x36 would be only 9.5 oz (i have one also).

lots of ways now to build a grendel how you'd like, the ruger option likely most affordable, they have become my fav platform, i had them all, there's still a custom howa project in works but it will cost 3 times your budget because the only thing good on them is the action/barrel, everything else needs to go, rugers need nothing, cz's benefit from wearing in, some polishing, bedding etc. but not totally necessary...rugers are the most gunsmith free option imo

[6.5G Master]

Well, given all the info here and my experience with CZ already I decided to add another one to the collection! Thx to all for the info and suggestions…now to find some ammo!

[riuma]

Great choice. I have the American and Varmint.
Reload. You won't be mastering anything with the cost and availability of ammo these days. You have a better chance of scoring components.~Riuma

[Parabellum55]

22 inch carbon 6 barrel, mack brothers action, stock of your choice and timney trigger makes a hell of a rifle

[Parabellum55]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]17978[/ATTACH] I also have a ruger carbine and it is a great shooting rifle, not the smoothest feeding but with a timney trigger upgrade im shooting 120s at .4. This little rifle begs for a suppressor and if you shoot out of a vehicle they are FAST handling. i cant seem to post a photo but it is the least cost way to get in to the grendel, $527.00 out the door. I also like the 22 inch ruger American, if you want to do a stock or barrel upgrade the 22 inch American is a fine all around rifle without the price point or hassle of a CZ should be close to the same price and there is a big after market for stocks, barrels , triggers etc...the carbine not so much

[6.5G Master]

Does anyone make light weight scope rings for the CZ?

[riuma]

Does anyone make light weight scope rings for the CZ?

My Leupold CZ Mediums weigh about 5 ounces in the package. CZ rings are probably an ounce lighter?~Riuma

[rookie7]

My daughter and I share a Howa HB 6.5 grendel as our primary deer rifle. We sit together in double ladder stands, and I always give her first refusal on deer.

I cut the LOP on the factory plastic to a completed 12.5" with recoil pad. In a heavy coat it fits her well. It's short for me, but I make it work.

I recommend you reconsider the fixed 6x scope. Finding game in the scope is going to be difficult for inexperienced shooters/hunters.

A Leupold VX2 2-7x33 is about perfect for what you are trying to achieve.

Just my opinion, and worth what you are paying for it.

[6.5G Master]

My daughter and I share a Howa HB 6.5 grendel as our primary deer rifle. We sit together in double ladder stands, and I always give her first refusal on deer.

I cut the LOP on the factory plastic to a completed 12.5" with recoil pad. In a heavy coat it fits her well. It's short for me, but I make it work.

I recommend you reconsider the fixed 6x scope. Finding game in the scope is going to be difficult for inexperienced shooters/hunters.

A Leupold VX2 2-7x33 is about perfect for what you are trying to achieve.

Just my opinion, and worth what you are paying for it.

thx! I didn't consider the issue of finding game and was focused on simplicity but you do raise a good point.

[weagle]

Here's one I built on a Howa Mini. I did the modifications myself (very simple), but there are plenty of shops that could do if for you.

https://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthre...ni-project