08-30-2011, 12:13 AM
JRDale Wrote:I'm new to the AR platform and the 6.5. I plan on purchasing or building a hunting rifle in the 6.5 grendel. I live in southern AZ and most any hunting is long range. I have done long range shooting with my bolt action 7mm. When it comes to cleaning and cooling down the rifle I currently will do 5 shots then run a cloth down the barrel and wait about 15 mins or so. The AR is designed to withstand many rounds, heat etc. For your long range shots do you clean the barrel after x shots or do you need wait for the barrel to cool for any length of time? Also what length of barrel do you recommend? I have spoken with local gunsmiths that do not recommend a barrel longer than 20", due to the barrel weight being too much for the receiver, and complications. However, I have always been taught that longer barrels equals better accuracy. What do you think?
First off...welcome. 7mm is clearly more appropriate for long-range hunting, if we're talking 500 yds and further, especially with the Berger hunting VLD's. The Grendel has been used to hunt Elk out to 405 yds by Mark LaRue up in Wyoming, and makes a great little rifle to carry and hunt deer or medium game with. The longer, heavy barreled rigs are fine for varmints and some distance work, but a Grendel behaves more like a .308 Win as far as trajectory is concerned. A 7mm will smoke a .308, especially if we're talking magnums.
Barrels: Different quality in steel and workmanship will determine how well they hold up to heat and foul. Shorter barrels of equal diameter are inherently more accurate, due to increased resistance to barrel whip, but long heavy pipes resist negative shooter input better, so practical accuracy favors weight. Long barrels of course allow more velocity to be squeezed out of a cartridge and powder charge.
What exactly are you looking to do? What ranges do you hunt/plan to hunt at, and what type of game? Check the hunting threads as well. Again, welcome.