Decisions - First 6.5 Grendel purchase

[Cowley]

I've been around soaking up as much info as I can about the 6.5 Grendel in an AR platform prior to buying. I have looked from the budget, lower end choice to the semi-custom rifles. This rifle will be mainly for predator and hog hunting. One rifle that recently caught my attention is the Brenton USA Stalker Model in 6.5 Grendel (LBC). I have searched here and all over the internet and cannot find a lot of hands-on information regarding this rifle. Any comments, information or other suggested rifles will be appreciated.

Thanks, Cowley

[LRRPF52]

6.5 GRENDEL (LBC)
Bullet diameter: .264”
Uses: Coyotes, hogs, deer, and elk
Effective Range: 0-600 yds./coyotes, 0-400 yds./elk
Advantages: Packs a whole lot of punch from an AR15 platform. Ammunition is readily available from multiple sources and high quality. The 6.5 Grendel has the advantage over similar cartridges in that the case is of sufficient size to allow generous amounts of powder and at the same time short enough to allow long, high B.C. (Ballistic Coefficient) bullets to be seated at magazine length.
Disadvantages: Ammunition is only available in the most popular configurations. However, this is easily overcome by hand loading.
History: 6.5 Grendel was officially designed in 2003, however, it was long in existence prior to that as various benchrest community wildcats.

I've never head of this company before but here's what I found on their website:

The Stalker Carbon Hunter is Brenton USA’s flagship offering in an 18" barrel. It represents 500 years of improvement to the hunting rifle. Designed with the serious Hunter in mind, it features a NiB coated bolt carrier assembly for reliability under harsh hunting conditions, Brenton’s own 3.5-6.5 lbs. Performance Grade Trigger assembly for custom tunability, HuntSize™ controls for use with gloved hands, MarbleKote™ camouflage for concealment, free-floating performance grade barrel, threaded for suppressor use, Magpul® MOE fixed stock, carbon fiber reinforced RealFeel™ handguard for use on bi-pods and tripods. Our rifles are designed, engineered and tested by serious hunters for serious hunters.

Retail Pricing: $2,253.90

Stock options: Fixed
Brenton Premium Ambidextrous Safety
Brenton Premium Adjustable Trigger: 3.5-6.5 lbs.
18” Barrel: 450 BM, 350 Legend, 6.8 SPC II, 6.5 Grendel (LBC), 223 Remington (Wylde)
Weight:
7.2 lbs. (18”, 450 BM)
Length:
36.25 (18” bbl)
Barrel contour: Medium
One Stainless Steel Magazine included: Use as 5-shot limited or full capacity mag by adding/removing LimitBlock™
MarbleKote™ Camo Colors: Harvest, Foliage, Midnight and Snow
Muzzle threads: 11/16-24 (450), 9/16-24 (350), 5/8-24 (6.8, 6.5), 1/2-28 (223R)
Calibers & Twist: 450 BM/1:24, 350 Legend /1:16, 6.8 SPC II/1:10, 6.5 Grendel (LBC)/1:8, 223 Remington (Wylde)/1:8
Includes Soft Case

[Lastrites]

For me it would be tough to shell out over $2000 for a somewhat unknown brand, heck it's hard enough to do with a brand that I has a great following.

[LRRPF52]

I'm not sure why they would call the 6.5 Grendel "(LBC)".

For me as a very discerning customer, if I'm getting Carbon Fiber handguards and a $259 drop-in trigger cassette with black nitride surfaces, I don't want to see Magpul furniture anywhere on the rifle for that price point at $2,253.

For that price range, I need to see the barrel jump out at me right off the bat, namely one of the high-end pipes. I don't have a problem paying that money, but the components and build need to justify it. Here's how I would break down my expectations of what to find in an AR15 Grendel at that price range:

It better be a Krieger, Bartlein, or Proof Research Carbon-wrapped barrel for that money.

The receivers should be unique to the rifle, either some kind of special forgings with their own specs on machining that offer unique attributes others don't have, or they need to be billet with the same considerations.

The upper fit to the barrel extension should be tight and bedded either with thermo-fitting or another proven method.

The upper receiver face should be square and true, verified with a check station and high standards that are repeatable.

The upper and lower should fit precisely with each other, but still be able to be separated without tools at the TD pin for a hunter at base camp.

I want to hear more about what types of processes and coatings were used inside the upper receiver to help suspend lubrication, working off the baseline of a TDP upper where the inside has dry film lube baked onto a true Type III hard coat anodizing that acts like case-hardening for the 7075 T6 aluminum.

There needs to be some kind of documentation about the performance of the trigger/FCG module, preferably from an independent lab discussing surface hardness, cycles without wear, spring quality, US parts sources, etc.

The BCG needs to have a correct Grendel bolt with the correct 2.810" OAL, .135-.136" face depth, and for that price, I would love to see AerMet forgings used for the bolt before it was finish-machined and MPI tested, not HPT cracked.

I would also want to see a discussion about the extractor and how the challenges of 6.5 Grendel were addressed in the metallurgy and processes of making their extractors.

I couldn't care less about NiB coatings, but I guess they're ok for the bolt carrier. I do not want NiB on the bolt or extractor.

I do like that they are using the Aero Precision no Forward Assist upper receiver for a slick, streamlined feel of the rifle. Some hunters will argue that they want to be able to quietly chamber a round in the deer stand. I personally just chamber with a slingshot method before going into the hunting area. This is an opportunity for the side-charger argument to step in.

For that price though, I don't want to see anything from Magpul, unless it's a precision rifle with the PRS stock as an option vs something else. Nothing against Magpul, who I love, but something about the fixed stock on a $2200 rifle turns me off as a potential buyer.

For their descriptive information, it will immediately turn people like me off when I see that the cartridge isn't named correctly. There is no such cartridge as a 6.5 Grendel LBC, a .264 LBC, etc. There's a .264 LBC-AR, but it's best to just name it chambered for 6.5 Grendel and make sure it is actually a 6.5 Grendel chamber in a quality pipe, not some imitation cutting corners to make volume reamers for low quality shops who only care about volume.

In the AR15 market, even from a perspective of the higher-end guns, a lot of customers are going to want a specific grip and stock unless yours is just phenomenally-good and unique like something from Cobalt Kinetics or JP.

It's very hard to differentiate yourself in a market where everything is user-configurable.

[HuntTXhogs]

Original Poster :

The reason you aren’t finding any info on Brenton is because they are a new enterprise .

Formerly they were in whole or in part known as Bartz Manufacturing.

See here: https://www.brentonusa.com/bartz-manufac...rentonusa/

So rerun your searches for Bartz Grendel for some semblance of what to expect with regards to quality and performance...

[bbqncigars]

For just a little more money, I'd go with a Revolution DI. Ammo would be easier to get in a wider variety as well.

[Kswhitetails]

For just a little more money, I'd go with a Revolution DI. Ammo would be easier to get in a wider variety as well.

Yet, as a 308, I question if it would even chamber and safely fire a Grendel round?

[Cowley]

Thanks for the information and replies. I have since communicated with several Brenton owners and their opinions of the Brenton USA were all very positive. The Brenton rifle appears to have checked the items I want in a hunting AR. If I go this route I will report back.

[RobertFL]

About 3 years ago when I was looking to buy a 450 Bushmaster upper Bartz/Brenton was said to be a very good choice.

[Cowley]

Quick update:

Again, thank you for the replies posted. After receiving some communication and information from other sources I purchased a Brenton in 6.5 Grendel. I cannot confirm on the component list, but I can report that most appear to be custom or proprietary parts. After running several hundred rounds through the Brenton, I can report:

I would not hesitate purchasing another Brenton.
The Brenton return policy and warranty are good.
The Brenton has fit and finish that are top notch.
The Brenton ergonomics fit my frame and shooting style better than any AR platform rifle I have experienced.
The Brenton's accuracy meets my expectation of a 1/2-3/4 moa rifle under my operation.
The Brenton meets my expectations for a top quality hunting platform. Wannabe Rambos do not need to consider.

I hope that this brief response will help anyone considering the Brenton USA rifle.

Cowley

[Mesa1978]

pam?

[Cowley]

Mesa,

No spam, just my opinion and reply to the previous information or lack of. What leads you to question my comments as spam? My comments come from actually owning this rifle, not by commenting on a topic I have no first hand knowledge of just to gain post count.

Cowley