Personally for the use you described I'd seriously consider the 16" barrel from AA. The recoil is so light I really don't think you need a muzzle brake. My 16" 6.5 Grendel came with a Phantom Flash Hider with the same thread pitch as the AA barrel. My 20" 6.5 Grendel barrel is unthreaded. AA sells an A-2 Flash Hider with the correct twist and J&T distributing sells the Phantom Flash Hider on my 16" barrel.
A Friend just recently bought an 18" Brownell's barrel so I'll get to see how it shoots. Brownell's now states the source of their barrels is Saturn. I would prefer a SAMMI Grendel chamber over the Saturn Grendel II. The Brownell's 18" barrels ship with a large gas port. You really need an adjustable gas block with the Brownell's 18" barrel.
I have had no experience with the Spinta barrel so I can't help you there.
If I were buying a 6.5 Grendel bolt I'd prefer an AA, J&T Distributing who sells AA bolts, Precision firearms, JP or maybe a Maxim or Underground Tactical but they would least preferred. But if you buy SAMMI 6.5 Grendel it should take a .136 bolt face depth. Many barrels come with a headspaced bolt.
If you go with a 16"-18" barrel I think a forged upper is fine just make sure the the face where the barrel slides into the receiver is square (Brownell's and others sell a lapping tool for this purpose).
A Friend just recently bought an 18" Brownell's barrel so I'll get to see how it shoots. Brownell's now states the source of their barrels is Saturn. I would prefer a SAMMI Grendel chamber over the Saturn Grendel II. The Brownell's 18" barrels ship with a large gas port. You really need an adjustable gas block with the Brownell's 18" barrel.
I have had no experience with the Spinta barrel so I can't help you there.
If I were buying a 6.5 Grendel bolt I'd prefer an AA, J&T Distributing who sells AA bolts, Precision firearms, JP or maybe a Maxim or Underground Tactical but they would least preferred. But if you buy SAMMI 6.5 Grendel it should take a .136 bolt face depth. Many barrels come with a headspaced bolt.
If you go with a 16"-18" barrel I think a forged upper is fine just make sure the the face where the barrel slides into the receiver is square (Brownell's and others sell a lapping tool for this purpose).