Lightweight hunting Grendel, the expensive way.

[BoxofRox]

In my mind, I needed a lightweight AR, but in a caliber that was capable enough to take medium game at medium ranges. I was immediately attracted to the Grendel, and the rest of the components fell into place over a couple months. Through this forum and the Variant section on the AR forum, I ended up with this chunk of steel. Weight minus bipod is 7lbs 12oz.

2A Armament balios lite upper, lower, and handguard.
2A Armament regulated bolt carrier.
2A ti takedown pins
2A ti gas block
V7 ti sling mount and end plate
V7 thread protector
LaRue trigger
Lilja 319 fluted barrel
AA hard use bolt
B5 enhanced stock
AXTS talon safety
AXTS charging handle
NF 1.375" Unimount
Optic is a vortex 4-16 HS-T

[BoxofRox]

[BoxofRox]

[Fredman]

Very nice! I know you said hunting rifle, but we got to see the groups....

[BoxofRox]

Very nice! I know you said hunting rifle, but we got to see the groups....

With factory SST ammo it's nothing special, but I'm in the process of developing hand loads for it right now. Should know in the next week or so what it likes.

And the bipod is just temporary until I get an Atlas.

[RicosRevenge]

You have a beautiful lightweight rig... but... why do you want to put a heavy Atlas on the front?

Don't get me wrong, I have one and I use it on my .22 Trainer (40XB in AICS); but I much prefer the lighter Harris - especially if I might be shooting standing up for balance on everything else from my AR(s) to my Desert Tech.

Edit... and BTW... I don't need to see groups... I see a fricken' bear!! LOL!! Nice!! BUt, I wouldn't mind seeing your build list.

[biodsl]

2A Armament balios lite upper, lower, and handguard.
2A Armament regulated bolt carrier.
2A ti takedown pins
2A ti gas block
V7 ti sling mount and end plate
V7 thread protector
LaRue trigger
Lilja 319 fluted barrel
AA hard use bolt
B5 enhanced stock
AXTS talon safety
AXTS charging handle

Optic is a vortex 4-16 hst in a LaRue mount for now, planning on going to a 2.5-10 pst in a nightforce mount though. Should shave some weight off. The rifle before optics weighs exactly 6lbs.

Awesome rifle. Congratulations!

[Frank45]

Very nice. Great looking and it obviously shoots plenty good enough.

[BoxofRox]

You have a beautiful lightweight rig... but... why do you want to put a heavy Atlas on the front?

Don't get me wrong, I have one and I use it on my .22 Trainer (40XB in AICS); but I much prefer the lighter Harris - especially if I might be shooting standing up for balance on everything else from my AR(s) to my Desert Tech.

Edit... and BTW... I don't need to see groups... I see a fricken' bear!! LOL!! Nice!! BUt, I wouldn't mind seeing your build list.

I'll look into the Harris a bit more, but I like the function of the Atlas a lot and I know its super high quality. I don't plan on packing the rifle with it on, but I do want a Kinect rail attachment so I can use the QD feature of the Atlas.

[BoxofRox]

Awesome rifle. Congratulations!

Nice, thanks.

The only thing changed is the optic mount. Went to a 1.375" tall 20 moa NF unimount. A couple ounces lighter than the LaRue and I think it's cleaner looking as well.

[danm]

Very well spec'd out rifle! How much do you think you have into it?

[BoxofRox]

Very well spec'd out rifle! How much do you think you have into it?

That's the painful part, I think I'm right around 3.5k without the suppressor. I don't include mags or dies or stuff like that either.

[LRRPF52]

It's beautiful. How does it balance?

[BoxofRox]

It's beautiful. How does it balance?

It feels good to me. That's why I don't mind the B5 enhanced stock, I believe it weighs 12oz, but helps keep some weight rearward. Obviously things change once the suppressor gets on there, but that's only part of the time.

[realtreehunter]

Thanks for posting, I have been wanting to build a Grendel with the balios stuff also, how do you like them?

[BoxofRox]

Thanks for posting, I have been wanting to build a Grendel with the balios stuff also, how do you like them?

Their quality is amazing. The upper and lower have zero slop, they're super light, and very nice looking. I would highly recommend their stuff to anyone.

[Gunn]

Definitely passes the smell test.

[6.5 Grendel]

I have to say that's a very nice bear! Oh and nice 6.5 too.

[Grendelseeker]

Nice looking rig, and at 7#12oz that's great- assuming that's without the suppressor, right? What length barrel?

Did you ever get loads developed that group better than the factory SSTs you mentioned?

Also, what distance was that bear?? One shot? That's a big boy for a 123 starting out at 2500fps.

I'm looking to build up a light one as well, no suppressor, probably a brake.

[BoxofRox]

Nice looking rig, and at 7#12oz that's great- assuming that's without the suppressor, right? What length barrel?

Did you ever get loads developed that group better than the factory SSTs you mentioned?

Also, what distance was that bear?? One shot? That's a big boy for a 123 starting out at 2500fps.

I'm looking to build up a light one as well, no suppressor, probably a brake.

Yup, just the complete rifle, but the Omega suppressor only weighs about 12oz, so it's not much. It's an 18" Lilja fluted barrel.

I haven't had much luck yet with load development, I've tested 2 powders at varying weights and lengths, with not a lot of consistency. Makes me question my abilities.

The bear was 130yds, one high shoulder shot dropped it immediately, it sat still for about 10 seconds then started kicking its back legs and scooting itself forward. One more shot to the spine dropped it for good. I'm going out this weekend for fall bear to see if I can get another one with the Grendel.