A Fighting Carbine

[biodsl]

After many years I’ve finally got around to building a Grendel carbine. This is not a hunting rig, though you could use it for that. No, I wanted to configure something for fighting. We often have conversations on this forum regarding the Grendel as a replacement for the 5.56. This is my interpretation of that weapon. The philosophy of use is similar to the M4. I didn’t build this as a DMR. For that role I’d likely choose a different barrel.

This rifle is built around three primary components; the barrel, BCG and optic. The barrel was Nitride finished by Precision Firearms. The bolt carrier group is also one of Mark’s nitride units. The scope is a SWFA SS 1-6 HD.

As Vascar mentioned in another thread recently, choosing an optic can be difficult. This is especially true for the Grendel. The cartridge is so capable that it’s challenging to find one scope that can exploit everything it has to offer. I was looking for something in the 1-6 or 1-8 range that didn’t involve a reticle designed specifically for the 5.56. I was looking for something that would work across the room but would allow for accurate fire out to 600 yards or so. This scope weighs a ton (22 ounces and almost two pounds with the La Rue mount) but hopefully brings a lot of capability and durability to the game. I may swap the mount for one of my Nightforce Ultralites that are pulling duty on other rifles right now. That would save a quarter of a pound.

Lower; 2.6 lbs
Receiver; PSA Blem
Stock; Magpul ACS-L
Grip; Magpul MOE
Trigger; CMC 3.5 lb curved
Buffer system; JP Silent Capture Spring
Safety; mil-spec

Upper; 4.1 lbs
Receiver; Precision Firearms Forged
Barrel; AA 16” lite, nitride finish by Precision Firearms
Muzzle device; AA A2 style
Handguard; MI SS Gen 2 (perhaps to be replaced by a longer ALG M-Lok)
BCG; PF Nitride
Gas Block; YHM low pro, non-adjustable

Optic; 1.9 lbs
Scope; SWFA SS 1-6x24 HD
Mount; La Rue LT158 10 moa cant