09-27-2022, 08:04 PM
I've finally gotten around to posting my review/experience on my Proof barrel in my newest 6.5 Grendel AR build. Parts list would be Proof SS 20" w/rifle length gas, SLR adjustable gas block, Aero M4E1 lower, Nordic Components heavy walled slick upper, Young Manufacturing NM BC and SixFive Ultra bolt, Seekins SP3R 15" rail, Magpul PRS Lite stock and Magpul grip, Triggertech Adaptable trigger, assorted good other small parts, and using one of my Nightforce NXS 5.5×22-50 scopes in a Seekins rail. Whew that was not cheap!
I have shot the Grendel since 2009ish and am already set up for loading this little hot rod. I'm a fan of Lapua brass plain and simple as I've used it since the beginning (if a caliber will take Lapua I'll use it!). As luck would have it, all of my AA/Lapua brass I have will not work in this Proof barrel as it is enough tighter that they just won't fit and I wasn't going to fight it. So new brass was purchased (200 each Lapua and Starline for the heck of it). If I could only have 2 powders for the Grendel they would be 8208 and LeverRevolution and if pressed I'd only use CCI450's (but use Wolf as I still have 5000 or so). I use Forster and Wilson dies for the Grendel and am very impressed with the Wilson FL bushing die.
I wondered if the Proof would ever equal my Satern cut rifled barrel as it started out picky during break-in. Long story short, Lapua or Starline brass as it doesn't matter to this rifle, CCI450, LeverRevolution, 120 SMK pointed, seated long (back to that in a moment) shoots as good as I would hope for. I do not know where my pressure is with this load but I've seen no pressure signs/guesses and the 120's run at 2550 fps with this barrel. Same load, more or less, shoots 2650 fps out of my Satern with 4" more barrel length. I've fired hundreds of that load out of the Satern barreled rifle and the Lapua brass hasn't worn out yet with some at 15 loadings. Did I mention I'm a fan of Lapua brass?
I tend to break-in a barrel at 100 yards as I'm chronographing and cleaning like a mad man, then move to 300 yards to see what it'll do. After 10 - 5 shot groups I'll call the load listed above smile worthy.
I always try to beat the 120 SMK as it just isn't sexy as a 108/123 Scenar, a 107/123 SMK, or a 120 Berger (wish I still had a few thousand more of those!), but they are for me the easiest to tune and flat out accurate bullet I've used in the Grendel (with the exception of the above mentioned impossible to get 120 Berger's).
I mentioned I seat the bullets long and I do. I use PRI 6.8 SPC magazines and cut out the front to allow for approximately 2.330" ish. I run the 120 SMK's .015" off the lands. My Satern barrel will allow for jamming if I choose to but the Proof has a longer throat/leade. As a former Benchrest shooter I jam for my bolt rifles and have jammed with some sucess in the Satern barreled rifle but will typically try -.015" as a starting point if I'm shooting tangent ogive bullets.
Sorry for the long rambling post....
I have shot the Grendel since 2009ish and am already set up for loading this little hot rod. I'm a fan of Lapua brass plain and simple as I've used it since the beginning (if a caliber will take Lapua I'll use it!). As luck would have it, all of my AA/Lapua brass I have will not work in this Proof barrel as it is enough tighter that they just won't fit and I wasn't going to fight it. So new brass was purchased (200 each Lapua and Starline for the heck of it). If I could only have 2 powders for the Grendel they would be 8208 and LeverRevolution and if pressed I'd only use CCI450's (but use Wolf as I still have 5000 or so). I use Forster and Wilson dies for the Grendel and am very impressed with the Wilson FL bushing die.
I wondered if the Proof would ever equal my Satern cut rifled barrel as it started out picky during break-in. Long story short, Lapua or Starline brass as it doesn't matter to this rifle, CCI450, LeverRevolution, 120 SMK pointed, seated long (back to that in a moment) shoots as good as I would hope for. I do not know where my pressure is with this load but I've seen no pressure signs/guesses and the 120's run at 2550 fps with this barrel. Same load, more or less, shoots 2650 fps out of my Satern with 4" more barrel length. I've fired hundreds of that load out of the Satern barreled rifle and the Lapua brass hasn't worn out yet with some at 15 loadings. Did I mention I'm a fan of Lapua brass?
I tend to break-in a barrel at 100 yards as I'm chronographing and cleaning like a mad man, then move to 300 yards to see what it'll do. After 10 - 5 shot groups I'll call the load listed above smile worthy.
I always try to beat the 120 SMK as it just isn't sexy as a 108/123 Scenar, a 107/123 SMK, or a 120 Berger (wish I still had a few thousand more of those!), but they are for me the easiest to tune and flat out accurate bullet I've used in the Grendel (with the exception of the above mentioned impossible to get 120 Berger's).
I mentioned I seat the bullets long and I do. I use PRI 6.8 SPC magazines and cut out the front to allow for approximately 2.330" ish. I run the 120 SMK's .015" off the lands. My Satern barrel will allow for jamming if I choose to but the Proof has a longer throat/leade. As a former Benchrest shooter I jam for my bolt rifles and have jammed with some sucess in the Satern barreled rifle but will typically try -.015" as a starting point if I'm shooting tangent ogive bullets.
Sorry for the long rambling post....