Rem 700SA 6,5 Grendel project.

[Second]

I will be using a AICS type of magazine.
Either a steel one for .308W that I will modify or maybe a P-Mag. Will try the P-Mag first.
There is conversion-kits for this type of cases. I will probably make my own rework on either of the mags.

[Kswhitetails]

Whew, this is exciting to my wallet too.

700 SA donor in decent shape, 4-600 bucks.
Bolt from PT&G, 2-260 bucks.
Barrel for 700 SA, ~~ 4-600 bucks. Shilen/Bartlein/
Optic and accessories 6-2500 bucks.

Custom Coyote/Ground hog rifle of my vewwy own, PRICELESS!

If I were to do this, I'd ask for a, 22" threaded medium profile 6mm Grendel, and top it with a NF 2-10. I'm getting pumped.


AAAAAAAND the Ruger 1 pops in the head again... dammit, too many cool ideas!

I saw a 223 Ruger 1 that was beautiful at the last gun show for 380 bucks. Barrel was shot out. With lots of extras, case-rings-cheap Simmons-gun sock. Should have jumped on that, and I knew it then too... These don't need a bolt at all, so yea, should have bit on that hook... oh well.

[ricsmall]

Most dealers can get an action for $350-360. I’m using internal box mag that I’ve yet to modify, but it works as is 95% of the time if I load the cartridges forward in the box. Too far back and they nose dive every now and then. It’s a fun rig for sure.

[Second]

Interesting to see the prices you have for a Rem 700SA.
Thought that a 700Sa in USA would be a lot cheaper.

My donor for this built was $306, and the rifle was in great shape.
I have found out that I was very lycky to get this one for this price, but there is several 700SA here in Sweden for $300-600.
The .308W are a bit more priced, but the .222 and .223 are not that highly priced.

[Klem]

I will be using a AICS type of magazine.
Either a steel one for .308W that I will modify or maybe a P-Mag. Will try the P-Mag first.
There is conversion-kits for this type of cases. I will probably make my own rework on either of the mags.

Just fed a Grendel round into a couple of plastic AICS P-mags; a 223 and a 308 mag. They both fit.

On a Tikka (with AICS magwell) the bolt works perfectly on the 308 P-mag. The 223 mag fits fine but pushes the round to the front of the mag where it rides over the top and jams. The 700 action is the acid test but I don't have my action available at the moment. The Tikka is a pretty good indicator though.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11366[/ATTACH]

The 308 mag is from MDT
https://mdttac.com/collections/polymer-m...2963894726

[Second]

Got the KRG Bravo chassis yesterday after almost 4 months of wait.
Really easy installation and now it is ready for the range.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11369[/ATTACH]

There was a Magpul picatinny rail in the box and i´ve used it to have my Nord Arms bipods attached.

[Second]

Just fed a Grendel round into a couple of plastic AICS P-mags; a 223 and a 308 mag. They both fit.

On a Tikka (with AICS magwell) the bolt works perfectly on the 308 P-mag. The 223 mag fits fine but pushes the round to the front of the mag where it rides over the top and jams. The 700 action is the acid test but I don't have my action available at the moment. The Tikka is a pretty good indicator though.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11366[/ATTACH]

The 308 mag is from MDT
https://mdttac.com/collections/polymer-m...2963894726

I´ve bought a MDT-mag for a .308W yesterday. The same as the one in your link.
I tried it with 5pcs of Grendel rounds. Removed the firing pin first, of course.
The rounds chambers without any problem if i work the bolt hard and in one motion. If i slowly push the round toward the chamber, it will not work. When the round releases from the magazine lips, the bullet have not yet entered the chamber. The bullet gets stuck against the wall of the chamberand neds to be fiddled a bit with to chamber. It looks that when there is more that one round in the magazine, the tound to be chambered, rides on top of the next one and when the round releases from the magazine lips, the back end of the chambered round are supported to low, and in the rear of the round so the ip of the bullet faces the wall of the chamber.

Solution?
Not sure. Might work better if the lips from the magazine is opened a bit si that all rounds reaches higher in the magazine and therfore holds the previous round higher.
Or maybe som type of spacer so the rounds are moved forward in the magazine. But if the round is slowly pushed with the bolt, the problem might not be solwed with that.

But it works as it is right now. As long as I chamber the rounds in one determinate way.

The installed M16 extractor seems to work fine also.
Will test the rifle on the range later today. Just sight in and a speedcheck on the first loads.

[Second]

Have now test fired this little thing and all seems to work just fine!

The initial load for the test shooting are as follows:
23,5gn Vithavouri N133
123gr Lapua Scenar
COL 57,1mm

Avarage speed over 9pcs of rounds: 671m/s (Appr. 2201 fps)

Will continue to see where my node of speed is on this components.
But should get more speed out of it.

VV have listed 26,7gn as maxload for the N133 and 123gn Scenar. But I think I can try a bit more. Will take this slow, the goal is not a speed monster Grendel

[Second]

Continued yesterday the load development.
I use a Magnetospeed and the Scott Satterlee approach. But I fire al lot more rounds to find the best load for me. I might not need to but i like so shoot and all shots fired is one more chance to be a better shooter, and all data is saved.

Shot a string of loads yesterday, totally 16 rounds.
From 23,5grs to 28,0grs. 0,3gr increments.
The top load of 28,0grs was maximum in terms of what i could fit in the case without drop tube. And with the results on the range, this is my maximum load for this bullet and powder.

Got 780 m/s (approx. 2560 fps) with this load.
The bolt opened without any problem, but there is a small noticeable marking from the ejector on the case.
So I will stop here. The MAX-load for this bullet and powder is 26,7grs, and with 28,0grs I´ve passed that a bit.
Picture of the case:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11438[/ATTACH]

There is also markings on the primer from the firing pin, but I have got this crater/markings from the smallest load also so I look only for markings on the case in terms of pressure signs.

Will load up some more tonight and see if I gan find the node with the magnetospeed.
Also try to use the drop tube and see if the powder will pack better.
I might have some more room in the case if I make the round a little longer, but that will be for later.

[Klem]

Sounds great and you've obviously got it under control. How is it feeding from the mags?

[Second]

Sounds great and you've obviously got it under control. How is it feeding from the mags?

You can read the post #27 here above.
Haven´t tried any more changes so far.

[ricsmall]

I’m not sure if you have access to cfe or lvr in Sweden, but if you do try them both. I reached 2750 with those. I’ll have to dig out data to find exact starting loads if needed.

[Second]

I’m not sure if you have access to cfe or lvr in Sweden, but if you do try them both. I reached 2750 with those. I’ll have to dig out data to find exact starting loads if needed.

Sweden have not that much differens powders.
And that sucks. Norma and Vihtavouri is the easiest ones to get a hold of. Hogdon exist, but I need to bay for freight and that usually is very expensive.
Will try to use VV powders at first, and Norma as second choice. Of that don´t work to satisfy me, then I might look at other powders for sure.

[Second]

Have found two loads that seems to have a node where the speed flattens between the charges.
I will, when the time is right, try this two loads with 10 rounds each.
Hopefully will one of this loads give a low ES/SD.

The loads are: 24,9grs and 25,9grs of N133.
The speeds should be about 700m/s and 725m/s V0 when I´m done.

Anyone that have a guess how far I can shoot this bullet in this speed without any significant problems? Is there any "maximum" distance where this setup will lose its use?
We are talking about paper and steel targets only. No hunting in long range.

[Sticks]

Right around the trans-sonic range is your limit...and your abilities.

[Second]

Allright!

So if i´m not using the ballistic app wrong, this should be around 650-700meter. (My abilities not in the calculation )

[Second]

This saturday, I shot the two loads for ED/SD test.

Temperature were -1 degree celcius.
Powder is Vithavouri N133
Bullet is Lapua Scenar 123grs.

5 shots were made for sight in with a low charge.

Then the 24,9grs were shot, a minimum of 1 minute between each shot.
Average: 702 m/s (2303 fsp)
SD: 2
ES: 8

This seems like a good load. Will continue to test this on target and see how it looks.

The other load 25,9grs was then shot.
Average: 727 m/s (2385 fps)
SD: 4
ES: 13

Not as good as the lower charge, but still OK I think.

But the speed is what is bugging me.
I thought that I could get more speed out of this cartridge with a bolt action. I think that I have got stuck in a thought that I could get about 800 m/s with this, but this seems not likely with this powder.
I have read about the AR15 that have 2650-2700 fsp without pressure signs and also read that a bolt action can go even higher than a AR15.

I´m not really sure WHY I need more speed if i find a load that shoots well in 2300 fps. Have no direct plans to shoot on target >1000 yards anyway

[Sticks]

A 20" barrel should be getting in the 2500fps (762ms) area with factory ammo, so finding the right powder is the task. I have not read anyone getting north of 2600fps with an AR and 123s. Mid 2400s to low 2500s.

My 24" Lilja barrel finally picked up some speed and shoots 2508 avg with my reloads that are a little hotter than Factory (Factory ammo shot in the low 2400s when I first got Lilly) She runs slow as it is.

If you can duplicate the ES and SD, and groups well, then stick with it.

[Second]

A 20" barrel should be getting in the 2500fps (762ms) area with factory ammo, so finding the right powder is the task. I have not read anyone getting north of 2600fps with an AR and 123s. Mid 2400s to low 2500s.

My 24" Lilja barrel finally picked up some speed and shoots 2508 avg with my reloads that are a little hotter than Factory (Factory ammo shot in the low 2400s when I first got Lilly) She runs slow as it is.

If you can duplicate the ES and SD, and groups well, then stick with it.

Might be bolt action speeds that I´ve read. :o

The powder is a problem here in Sweden. I can get VV-powder and maybe Norma, but more than that will cost a small fortune in freightcost.

Sorry. Can you clarify "If you can duplicate the ES and SD, and groups well, then stick with it"?

[Sticks]

Load up the same loads again, go shoot them, and if the ES, and SD -

...
Then the 24,9grs were shot, a minimum of 1 minute between each shot.
Average: 702 m/s (2303 fsp)
SD: 2
ES: 8

This seems like a good load. Will continue to test this on target and see how it looks.

The other load 25,9grs was then shot.
Average: 727 m/s (2385 fps)
SD: 4
ES: 13...

- stay the same (single digits) and group well, then stick with them, screw the high speed chase.