Howa mini-action in grendel to be released in mid-2016

[stangfan94]

We appreciate all the info! I would definitely be in for at least one rifle in a group buy, or even magazines if that is available. Speaking of, do you know the MSRP of the 5 and 10 round mags?

[Matt @ LSI]

Is there a lefty model in the making and if so when?

Unfortunately Howa does not make any left handed models.

[Matt @ LSI]

We appreciate all the info! I would definitely be in for at least one rifle in a group buy, or even magazines if that is available. Speaking of, do you know the MSRP of the 5 and 10 round mags?

Both will have an msrp of $52.

[MrDraco]

Matt, will a bull or heavy barrel be offered?

[mongoosesnipe]

will there be threaded barrels on the bolt guns or only target crown

[Sputnik]

Matt, will a bull or heavy barrel be offered?

I hope so! But the description weights seem a bit lite for a heavy version

[usmcm16a2]

Just placed my order with my FFL, spoke with the folks at Legacy Sports. You can place orders, first come first served. July delivery. A2

[Drift]

I can wait till mine is actually built. I want a HMA30602KHC. That should be their shortest ( 20 barrel) lightest (5.7lb) Grendel with Kryptic camo. I can do my own scope.

[Matt @ LSI]

Matt, will a bull or heavy barrel be offered?

Absolutely. #6 contour 20"

[Sputnik]

Absolutely. #6 contour 20"

Fantastic! So that would be either the HMA90622KHC Highlander or the Yote KMA90622YOTE I believe. I gotta find a source. I think Eastern Outfitters deals with Ya'll.

[BluntForceTrauma]

I read on another thread here on the forum that the twist rate on the prototypes is 1:9. I strongly recommend 1:8 for the 6.5 Grendel.

If you go to Berger Bullet's Twist Rate Calculator and enter in data for a sort of worst-case scenario — 6.5mm 130 Berger AR Hybrid at 2450 fps at temperature 0 and altitude 0 with a 1:8 twist — you get a "comfortable" stability factor of 1.61. Good article on this by Litz here.

Changing only the twist rate to 1:9, you get "marginal" stability of 1.27.

To get back to comfortable stability with a 1:9 in those conditions — let's say you're on the Alaskan coast in winter — you'd need a muzzle velocity of 4,000 fps!

Howa: Please, change the twist on your 6.5 Grendel mini-actions from 1:9 to 1:8 before these go into production!

P.S. If you're trying to be efficient by using the same barrels as your 6.5x55s, they, too, will benefit going to 1:8.

P.P.S. Bryan Litz tested velocity loss from twist rate increase and found it averaged only 1.33 fps per inch of twist rate. So if your 1:9 shoots 2601.33, then your 1:8 will shoot 2600 fps.

[Matt @ LSI]

I read on another thread here on the forum that the twist rate on the prototypes is 1:9. I strongly recommend 1:8 for the 6.5 Grendel.

If you go to Berger Bullet's Twist Rate Calculator and enter in data for a sort of worst-case scenario — 6.5mm 130 Berger AR Hybrid at 2450 fps at temperature 0 and altitude 0 with a 1:8 twist — you get a "comfortable" stability factor of 1.61. Good article on this by Litz here.

Changing only the twist rate to 1:9, you get "marginal" stability of 1.27.

To get back to comfortable stability with a 1:9 in those conditions — let's say you're on the Alaskan coast in winter — you'd need a muzzle velocity of 4,000 fps!

Howa: Please, change the twist on your 6.5 Grendel mini-actions from 1:9 to 1:8 before these go into production!

P.S. If you're trying to be efficient by using the same barrels as your 6.5x55s, they, too, will benefit going to 1:8.

P.P.S. Bryan Litz tested velocity loss from twist rate increase and found it averaged only 1.33 fps per inch of twist rate. So if your 1:9 shoots 2601.33, then your 1:8 will shoot 2600 fps.

Sounds good. Well pass this along.
From my personal experience... And I'll upload pictures tomorrow... I shot nothing but sub 1" three shot groups at 100yards with factory Hornady superformance sst 123gr rounds. Wind was around 10-12mph. I managed to keep the 20" HB to .800" center to center and the 22" std bbl to .720" with the 1-9 twist.

[GSPHunter]

I read on another thread here on the forum that the twist rate on the prototypes is 1:9. I strongly recommend 1:8 for the 6.5 Grendel.

+1

My 20" 1:9 twist J&T keyholes 127LRX's at 100, and shoots the 140SGK's with mediocre accuracy. If I were to buy another AR grendel barrel, it would definitely be a 1:8 twist. I'd still be seriously interested in a 1:9 Micro, but even more so a 1:8 :-)

[Matt @ LSI]

+1

My 20" 1:9 twist J&T keyholes 127LRX's at 100, and shoots the 140SGK's with mediocre accuracy. If I were to buy another AR grendel barrel, it would definitely be a 1:8 twist. I'd still be seriously interested in a 1:9 Micro, but even more so a 1:8 :-)

I have personally shot all three models, and achieved sub 1" groups with factory Hornady ammo. This from a 20" rifle with a 3-9 power scope. I really don't think you'd have to ever worry about keyholing @100 with this setup.

[Matt @ LSI]

These were shot on 12/23/15 with the new Howa mini action samples. 22" std on top and 20" HB on bottom.

Weather that day was 20% humidity. Winds of 10-12mph and temps were at about 40 degrees at 4500 ft elevation.

[BluntForceTrauma]

GSPH, right on! There are a lot of us here just dying for something like this.

Doing it right the first time with a 1:8 will just compound the success, as glowing accuracy reports start coming in from all ranges, bullets, and conditions.

According to Litz, having a less-than-optimal BC doesn't necessarily affect accuracy at 100 yards, only that it "means, in practical terms, that your bullets drop more quickly and deflect more in the wind."

[KentuckyBuddha]

If you have the axiom stock as an option, and I reckon you will be as good as printing money!

[Matt @ LSI]

If you have the axiom stock as an option, and I reckon you will be as good as printing money!

If only it were that easy!

[GSPHunter]

I have personally shot all three models, and achieved sub 1" groups with factory Hornady ammo. This from a 20" rifle with a 3-9 power scope. I really don't think you'd have to ever worry about keyholing @100 with this setup.

Matt, the same rifle that keyholes 2 out 5 Barnes 127gn LRX's will average 5 123gn sst's into 1.25" with nice round holes :-)

[kmon]

Glad to see these rifles on the way. One configuration that I think would be $ is a youth model, there is not a better youth cartridge IMO than the Grendel, rifle can be light weight, accurate, smaller sized and still not recoil while being effective further than most should be shooting.