11-21-2016, 04:31 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-21-2016, 04:34 PM by NugginFutz.)
ETA: ^^^ What LRRPF52 said. (He's got this down)
Your LGS's information is quite dated, and only marginally correct. Those days are long gone, though. He's just not up to date. Bolt failures are very much a rarity, these days. Most Grendel bolts are well made, properly heat treated and have failure rates on par with most other bolts, 5.56 included.
Stick with a reputable manufacturer, such as Alexander Arms, Precision Firearms, etc, and you'll do fine. I have one from Les Baer Custom and another from Tactical Ammunition. Both are .135" +/- .001". Both have several thousand rounds on them.
Mind you, too, that when I assembled my uppers, I made it a point to true the receiver face to the barrel extension so that there is no off-axis or uneven force on the bolt lugs.
Which brings up my final point. Some of the "Grendels" being sold are head spaced at .125", which enables them to use the 7.62x39 AR bolts. These bolts have a thinner, less beefy extractor than a standard Grendel bolt, and have a higher incidence of extractor breakage.
Going with a SAAMI Grendel, with the compound throat and .135" Grendel bolt, gives you the greatest chance of success and satisfaction.
Your LGS's information is quite dated, and only marginally correct. Those days are long gone, though. He's just not up to date. Bolt failures are very much a rarity, these days. Most Grendel bolts are well made, properly heat treated and have failure rates on par with most other bolts, 5.56 included.
Stick with a reputable manufacturer, such as Alexander Arms, Precision Firearms, etc, and you'll do fine. I have one from Les Baer Custom and another from Tactical Ammunition. Both are .135" +/- .001". Both have several thousand rounds on them.
Mind you, too, that when I assembled my uppers, I made it a point to true the receiver face to the barrel extension so that there is no off-axis or uneven force on the bolt lugs.
Which brings up my final point. Some of the "Grendels" being sold are head spaced at .125", which enables them to use the 7.62x39 AR bolts. These bolts have a thinner, less beefy extractor than a standard Grendel bolt, and have a higher incidence of extractor breakage.
Going with a SAAMI Grendel, with the compound throat and .135" Grendel bolt, gives you the greatest chance of success and satisfaction.
If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?