Just wanted to post up a quick recap for anyone interested. I decided to run my grendel in a Border Wars Rifle Series match over this past weekend at Rush Lake Range in Minnesota. There were just over 60 guys in the match and only a handful were using gas guns and I think I was the only one with a grendel. The others were running 6.5 creedmoor AR-10s.
I placed dead in the middle of the pack and only cause I threw away about 8 points between rushing a couple of stages. If I had those points I would have placed top third or maybe a tad higher. Targets were as far out as 880 yards and one in at 180. Targets were sizes ranging from various scaled size IPSC targets, cirlces, prarie dogs, pigs, a black bear, a coyote and deer pieces of steel.
Stages varied from an offhand shot, prone, tank traps, cable fence, a downed tree, and a set of stairs. The course of fire was well organized and I had a great time being my first match of the year and first match since 2016. Took a few things away to learn from and do better my next match.
Notes about the rifle... the 107TMK going 2600fps from my rifle was enough to get solid hits out to 880 although it was pretty tough to call hits on some of the heavier pieces of steel setup so I was very grateful there were flashers setup for impacts. I heard the same thing from guys running 6 dasher or 6br from their bolt guns so not too worried I guess. I ran the whole match supressed and on a couple of the stages with a 12 round count and quick shooting the gas blowback was a little much but not awful. It was very nice on a couple stages to have the ability to stay on the gun and get quicker shots without having to pause and run a bolt.
The brass catcher from tactical brass recovery is awesome and worth every penny. I wish I had a little more magnification but what I had worked well and maybe down the road I will put a little more on it for glass when funds allow. The gun ran flawless and not a single hiccup or issue during the day and course of fire.
Match was 10 stages and round count was right at 95. Had a blast and just can’t wait for the next one to see if I can sneak into a top place finished “just running a grendel” LOL. Rifle specs are somewhere on here but here it is again with any thoughts about changing anything and some of the gear:
- Upper and lower receiver from aero precision
- Aero lower parts kit
- CMC flat single stage 3.5# trigger
- Midwest Industries 15” mlok handguard (might get a seekins handguard for the flat bottom for better stability on certain style props)
- Satern 18” barrel (will swap to a 20” when this ones done for just a little more speed)
- Alex Pro Firearms bolt carrier
- Maxim Firearms bolt
- Area419 hellfire universal adapter
- Silencerco omega with flat cap and Area419 supressor mount
- ASC 15rd magazines
- Vortex Viper PST Gen2 3-15 (MRAD) in 20moa seekins mount
- Magpul MOE SLS stock
- Standard buffer and tube
- JP flat ground buffer spring
- Tactical Brass Recovery brass catcher
- Atlas bipod
- Sierra 107TMK in hornady brass / CCI 450 primers / ARComp powder
- Rifles only FTW Carbine sling
- SandSockGear support bags (large and medium) (medium has seams coming apart and fill coming out so I’m planning on trying the wiebad gear fortune cookie and pump pillow)
- Tab gear large rear bag
I think that’s about it other than some other ancillary gear. If you have any questions about anything let me know!! Thanks!
I placed dead in the middle of the pack and only cause I threw away about 8 points between rushing a couple of stages. If I had those points I would have placed top third or maybe a tad higher. Targets were as far out as 880 yards and one in at 180. Targets were sizes ranging from various scaled size IPSC targets, cirlces, prarie dogs, pigs, a black bear, a coyote and deer pieces of steel.
Stages varied from an offhand shot, prone, tank traps, cable fence, a downed tree, and a set of stairs. The course of fire was well organized and I had a great time being my first match of the year and first match since 2016. Took a few things away to learn from and do better my next match.
Notes about the rifle... the 107TMK going 2600fps from my rifle was enough to get solid hits out to 880 although it was pretty tough to call hits on some of the heavier pieces of steel setup so I was very grateful there were flashers setup for impacts. I heard the same thing from guys running 6 dasher or 6br from their bolt guns so not too worried I guess. I ran the whole match supressed and on a couple of the stages with a 12 round count and quick shooting the gas blowback was a little much but not awful. It was very nice on a couple stages to have the ability to stay on the gun and get quicker shots without having to pause and run a bolt.
The brass catcher from tactical brass recovery is awesome and worth every penny. I wish I had a little more magnification but what I had worked well and maybe down the road I will put a little more on it for glass when funds allow. The gun ran flawless and not a single hiccup or issue during the day and course of fire.
Match was 10 stages and round count was right at 95. Had a blast and just can’t wait for the next one to see if I can sneak into a top place finished “just running a grendel” LOL. Rifle specs are somewhere on here but here it is again with any thoughts about changing anything and some of the gear:
- Upper and lower receiver from aero precision
- Aero lower parts kit
- CMC flat single stage 3.5# trigger
- Midwest Industries 15” mlok handguard (might get a seekins handguard for the flat bottom for better stability on certain style props)
- Satern 18” barrel (will swap to a 20” when this ones done for just a little more speed)
- Alex Pro Firearms bolt carrier
- Maxim Firearms bolt
- Area419 hellfire universal adapter
- Silencerco omega with flat cap and Area419 supressor mount
- ASC 15rd magazines
- Vortex Viper PST Gen2 3-15 (MRAD) in 20moa seekins mount
- Magpul MOE SLS stock
- Standard buffer and tube
- JP flat ground buffer spring
- Tactical Brass Recovery brass catcher
- Atlas bipod
- Sierra 107TMK in hornady brass / CCI 450 primers / ARComp powder
- Rifles only FTW Carbine sling
- SandSockGear support bags (large and medium) (medium has seams coming apart and fill coming out so I’m planning on trying the wiebad gear fortune cookie and pump pillow)
- Tab gear large rear bag
I think that’s about it other than some other ancillary gear. If you have any questions about anything let me know!! Thanks!