Heres how I break down barrel price point/value/performance:
Bartleins and Kriegers cut by Precision Firearms. Youll be in the $675-$775 range depending on what you order and options.
Proof Research carbon-wrapped Bartlein in the $900-$1000 region.
Lilja turned and chambered by Precision Firearms for $675
JP Enterprises for $529 (included enhanced bolt)
Satern Cut-Rifled 6.5 Grendel $523
LaRue (complete uppers and rifles) $800-$2100
Shilen heavy match 20 for $510
Lilja drop-in barrels from Lilja $525-$665, or the industry sub forum here $435
Criterion cut by Precision Firearms for $345 (this is one of the best bangs for your money)
Alexander Arms $285-$330 fluted (another great deal)
Odin Works 20 $323
Wilson Combat $250-$305
Faxon $235-$319
SixFive Outfitters $150-$200
I have owned and/or tested samples of all of the above except for Wilson, Odin, and maybe Shilen. I might have built or Cerakoted a 20 Shilen once, cant recall now. I have shot Wilson Combat .223 AR-15s before, and thought they were pretty much top of the line in the early 2000s. I modeled my build approach for ARs from the early 2000s off of Wilson in terms of fit/feel of the receivers, lighter weight/medium fluted barrels, and coatings with free-float of course.
The most accurate, precision bolt gun-level bug-hole shooting uppers and barrels in Grendel I have shot and tested have been Bartlein from Precision Firearms. Were talking beyond giggle, into nobody is going to believe me if I show them these groups type accuracy.
Proof is great for a really lightweight rifle if you go the CF route, and they shoot extremely well too.
I have 22, 17.6, and 16.5 Lilja Grendels. The 22 is bull, heavy, fluted. The 17.6 and 16 are really lightweight Wasp profile barrels with .650 thin under the handguard, then step up to .750/.740 like an M16A2.
The 17.6 shoots 4rd groups into bug holes, 5rd into .75 to 1, and 10rd groups into 1.2-1.5. I have shot 8 groups at 1000yds with it, recorded and witnessed.
The 16 Lilja shoots .5 with match ammo, .75 with PPU 120gr, and .8 with 123gr SST.
I built a lot of 16 and 18 fluted Alexander Arms uppers for people several years ago, and they were all shooters, very pleasant-handling even being so light. They shot .6 to .9 with different Hornady ammo, including 123gr A-MAX, 123gr SST.
My complete LaRue Stealth 6.5 Grendel 18 FDE limited run rifle shoots great as well. The barrel is more of a heavy/medium contour and the rifle is fit superbly-well, with lots of attention to detail you have to hold and feel to appreciate. Wish he still offered that. The handguard mate-up to the upper receiver doesnt touch the barrel nut at all, and the action is super slick. Funnel mag well and billet receiver fit is really tight, and the furniture is really nice.
I have a 12 build and did another one using the same barrel from Faxon through the forum group buy. Both of these 12 Grendels shoot anywhere from .7 to 1 at 100yds with multiple factory and hand loads, including 123gr ELD-M, 90gr TNT from Federal, and 107gr SMK on 8208 XBR. The only load that shot outside of 1 for me so far was the Federal 120gr Open Tipped Match American Eagle, but I have still used that to shoot steel buffalo at 800yds 9/10 hits.
Just off the top of my head, if money isnt a concern, the 20 Proof is nice for both accuracy and lightweight.
For no-BS super accuracy, the Precision Firearms Bartlein, Krieger, and Lilja options are bragging rights shooters.
JP Enterprises makes a light contour, heavy fore end barrel that can have the ventilator fins attached to it.
For mid-grade performance and price, the AA and PF Criterion are great, along with LaRue.
For economy price but quality and correct dimensions in critical areas, Faxon and SixFive Outfitters cant be beat.
Avoid things that are lower than that unless its a special sale from one of the others I mentioned. There are a few companies I have bad experiences with that I didnt list or mention.
Its hard to go wrong with anything in the above list, as long as your accuracy expectations align with the price point.
Bartleins and Kriegers cut by Precision Firearms. Youll be in the $675-$775 range depending on what you order and options.
Proof Research carbon-wrapped Bartlein in the $900-$1000 region.
Lilja turned and chambered by Precision Firearms for $675
JP Enterprises for $529 (included enhanced bolt)
Satern Cut-Rifled 6.5 Grendel $523
LaRue (complete uppers and rifles) $800-$2100
Shilen heavy match 20 for $510
Lilja drop-in barrels from Lilja $525-$665, or the industry sub forum here $435
Criterion cut by Precision Firearms for $345 (this is one of the best bangs for your money)
Alexander Arms $285-$330 fluted (another great deal)
Odin Works 20 $323
Wilson Combat $250-$305
Faxon $235-$319
SixFive Outfitters $150-$200
I have owned and/or tested samples of all of the above except for Wilson, Odin, and maybe Shilen. I might have built or Cerakoted a 20 Shilen once, cant recall now. I have shot Wilson Combat .223 AR-15s before, and thought they were pretty much top of the line in the early 2000s. I modeled my build approach for ARs from the early 2000s off of Wilson in terms of fit/feel of the receivers, lighter weight/medium fluted barrels, and coatings with free-float of course.
The most accurate, precision bolt gun-level bug-hole shooting uppers and barrels in Grendel I have shot and tested have been Bartlein from Precision Firearms. Were talking beyond giggle, into nobody is going to believe me if I show them these groups type accuracy.
Proof is great for a really lightweight rifle if you go the CF route, and they shoot extremely well too.
I have 22, 17.6, and 16.5 Lilja Grendels. The 22 is bull, heavy, fluted. The 17.6 and 16 are really lightweight Wasp profile barrels with .650 thin under the handguard, then step up to .750/.740 like an M16A2.
The 17.6 shoots 4rd groups into bug holes, 5rd into .75 to 1, and 10rd groups into 1.2-1.5. I have shot 8 groups at 1000yds with it, recorded and witnessed.
The 16 Lilja shoots .5 with match ammo, .75 with PPU 120gr, and .8 with 123gr SST.
I built a lot of 16 and 18 fluted Alexander Arms uppers for people several years ago, and they were all shooters, very pleasant-handling even being so light. They shot .6 to .9 with different Hornady ammo, including 123gr A-MAX, 123gr SST.
My complete LaRue Stealth 6.5 Grendel 18 FDE limited run rifle shoots great as well. The barrel is more of a heavy/medium contour and the rifle is fit superbly-well, with lots of attention to detail you have to hold and feel to appreciate. Wish he still offered that. The handguard mate-up to the upper receiver doesnt touch the barrel nut at all, and the action is super slick. Funnel mag well and billet receiver fit is really tight, and the furniture is really nice.
I have a 12 build and did another one using the same barrel from Faxon through the forum group buy. Both of these 12 Grendels shoot anywhere from .7 to 1 at 100yds with multiple factory and hand loads, including 123gr ELD-M, 90gr TNT from Federal, and 107gr SMK on 8208 XBR. The only load that shot outside of 1 for me so far was the Federal 120gr Open Tipped Match American Eagle, but I have still used that to shoot steel buffalo at 800yds 9/10 hits.
Just off the top of my head, if money isnt a concern, the 20 Proof is nice for both accuracy and lightweight.
For no-BS super accuracy, the Precision Firearms Bartlein, Krieger, and Lilja options are bragging rights shooters.
JP Enterprises makes a light contour, heavy fore end barrel that can have the ventilator fins attached to it.
For mid-grade performance and price, the AA and PF Criterion are great, along with LaRue.
For economy price but quality and correct dimensions in critical areas, Faxon and SixFive Outfitters cant be beat.
Avoid things that are lower than that unless its a special sale from one of the others I mentioned. There are a few companies I have bad experiences with that I didnt list or mention.
Its hard to go wrong with anything in the above list, as long as your accuracy expectations align with the price point.
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com