6.5 BPC AR Barrel?

[Shivesy]

If I was to purchase a 6.5 BPC AR Barrel from a custom barrel maker could I shoot the Hornady Grendel ammo through it? The barrel maker stated that their 6.5 BPC was basically the same as the 6.5 Grendel and should shoot the Hornady ammo just fine. Anyone here have experience with the 6.5 BPC? The barrel I'm looking at is a McGowen 20" barrel that will be used for deer hunting.

Thanks
Shivesy

[bwaites]

No idea what the BPC is, why wouldn't you want a barrel chambered with a chamber guaranteed to shoot all the Grendel ammo available?

[Shivesy]

No idea what the BPC is, why wouldn't you want a barrel chambered with a chamber guaranteed to shoot all the Grendel ammo available?

I like to think outside the box. I find it self satisfying to try different things to see if they work. When they do work it makes it worth the while and when they don't, oh well it was woth the try for me. Here's an article I read last week that got me thinking

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

There has been a lot of noise and confusion around the 6.5 Grendel® and the similar cartridges that have sprung up around it. Two have surfaced that bear a closer look. The 6.5 BPC has become “the” bolt action chambering that can safely fire Grendel ammo. The differences in the chamber dimensions are minor; the 6.5 BPC was developed by Jim Borden and Dr. Louis Palmisano, the latter of PPC fame. The newest entry into this race is the 264 LBC-AR™ from Les Bear Custom, as the name implies this

Headstamped brass by Hornady
chambering is optimized for the AR platform. The biggest difference between these variations is that fact that the latter two are open use, in other words, anyone can chamber for them, like any factory cartridge.

Some sources call the BPC and the LBC cartridges “improved”. When you compare the drawings this is improved label is pretty hard to understand. There is little difference aside from the tolerances for case expansion, and the throat design. They do have a 30 degree shoulder verses a 28 degree shoulder on the Grendel, however, this will not provide any noticeable change in ballistics as the volume of the case is virtually unchanged. In fact, 2 degrees is barely outside the tolerance limits that most tool makers offer.

http://wildcatintel.com/blog/?m=201003

Any thoughts,
Shivesy

[HammerMTB]

If I was to purchase a 6.5 BPC AR Barrel from a custom barrel maker could I shoot the Hornady Grendel ammo through it? The barrel maker stated that their 6.5 BPC was basically the same as the 6.5 Grendel and should shoot the Hornady ammo just fine. Anyone here have experience with the 6.5 BPC? The barrel I'm looking at is a McGowen 20" barrel that will be used for deer hunting.

Thanks
Shivesy

The short answer is yes, you can shoot the Grendel ammo in the BPC chambered gun.
You may want to get a drawing of the chambers and throat dims so you can better understand the differences.
I built an AR with a .264 LBC chamber, and it shoots Grendel ammo fine. Loads will be more accurate after the brass is fireformed to the slightly different chamber, tho.

[longdayjake]

The short answer to your question is yes you can shoot grendel ammo through a LBC barrel. My guess is that the BPC will work as well. Though I have never heard of it.

[Shivesy]

Thanks for the responces guys. I just received my rifle length vented handguards along with alot of other goodies for this upper build. I plan to have this upper mate up with my RRA lower for the time being. The barrel profile listed below is what I have in mind for this hunting rig. I've never spec'd out a custom barrel before so if you see anything that seems totally out of line please let me know.

Barrel profile is 0.840” under handguards, 0.750” Gas Block Diameter, 0.680” to muzzle. The barrel length is 20" including the M4 style barrel extension and is drilled for a rifle-length gas system. Fluting under handguard and forward of gas block. Approx.8 flutes was my thinking but suggestions are welcome.


AR15 Barrel
Caliber- 6.5 BPC
Length- 20" including barrel extension
Finish- Stainless Steel Bead Blasted
Twist- 1 - 8.75
Crown- 11 degree (Do not thread for flash suppressor)
.75 gas block
Fluting under handguard and forward of gas block for weight reduction
Rifle length hand guards will be used

Thanks,
Shivesy

[bwaites]

Ok, gotcha!

Part of the reason I went with the Grendel initially was because it was unique. I guess trying the variations off the Grendel mean that the Grendel has arrived! We have an established base of Grendels, and now people think that they want something a little different!

As for the chamber "improvements", I am not sure they are. The tighter neck, and different shoulder angles were all investigated prior to Alexander Arms settling on the compound throat, and .300 neck. Bill Alexander saw no significant improvement in accuracy, with some problems with feeding in semi auto and auto modes with the tighter neck and standard throating.

In a bolt gun, a tighter neck probably would be better, at least most competitors believe that, but with a semi/full auto, I'm not so sure.

BUT....one of the great things is we are all free to explore and make our own decisions! (Our own mistakes, too! I've made lots!)

[longdayjake]

Let us know how it shoots.

[Shivesy]

Well after 13 weeks McGowen sent the barrel that I ordered from them. I was quoted 6 to 8 week by Dan but I'm happy it's here none the less. I'm a little picky and there are a few things that I wish were a little different . This was my first AR barrel that I have ever ordered so I'll just chalk it up as experience because I'm not planning on sending it back to the factory, I want to shoot this thing. No groups yet cause I just assembled it late last night. Here are some pics.

[MedicMan218]

Any update on a range report?

[jwilson1985]

its odd that McGowen offers the 264lbc,and this 6.5bpc which this is the first ive heard of it. so many variations of the grendel cartridge has come about that ive lost track lol.

please do a range report when you get the chance. always interesting to see how all the variations do.