New to 6.5 Grendel

[scott_co]

I have typically been a bolt action (270 Win and 300 Win Mag) rifle hunter for pronghorn, whitetail deer, mule deer, elk, and hogs.

On a recent trip to visit family in TX, I shot a pig with my brother's Bushmaster .223. I really enjoyed the AR platform, but wanted a little more power.

This made me want to to trade in my .270 Win and start looking for an AR such as the 6.5 Grendel. This seems perfect for most game that I like to hunt.

I have done a few weeks of research and saw mixed information about top 6.5 Grendel manufacturers. PewPew Tactical had some recommendations such as Atheris, PSA, ACME, Grendel Hunter, and Atheris. I was not sure of the quality of these manufacturers. And I found Precision Firearms and really liked what I was seeing about their builds.

I would love to get some feed back on some of the better 6.5 Grendel manufacturers especially with a 24" barrel configuration for long range shooting and hunting small/midsize game.

[js8588]

Welcome! My advice is get what you like that won't break the bank. If you can afford Precision Firearms & are a patient man, they'll fix you up with whatever you want. Also, my understanding is if you email them after placing your order and let them know you're a member here you'll receive 5% off.

Now, having said that...

Everyone here is going to tell you a 24 inch barrel isn't necessary, and they'll be correct. 18 or 20 is more than adequate for a hunting/long range target shooting crossover. If you're going with an 18 inch setup, I really don't think you can do much better for the $ than the LaRue Ultimate Upper.

If you really prefer something longer than an 18 inch tube but PF's prices are making your eyes water, Atheris or Grendel Hunter will be very satisfactory.

Once again, welcome to the hoard!

[VASCAR2]

Really an 18” barrel is fully capable of shooting to 800+ yards, especially at higher elevations. If your wanting to buy a complete upper or rifle I suggest you look at the LaRue Ultimate upper in 6.5 Grendel, Wilson Combat, Alexander Arms, Aero Precision/Ballistic Advantage, Odin Works or Faxon.

I have a Cz 527 bolt action in 6.5 Grendel and it has a 24” barrel but I wish it was a little shorter. As a 24” barrel the Cz handles ok but an AR-15 with 24” barrel are basically very difficult to shoot off hand. I have a 20” AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel with plain muzzle and I wouldn’t hesitate using it for hunting.

In my opinion 24” barrel AR-15’s are best shot from prone, bench or shooting stand. For hog hunting I’d prefer a barrel that was shorter and quicker handling. What barrel length did you use hog hunting, I’m betting it was a barrel shorter than 24” in 5.56/223.

[scott_co]

Really an 18” barrel is fully capable of shooting to 800+ yards, especially at higher elevations. If your wanting to buy a complete upper or rifle I suggest you look at the LaRue Ultimate upper in 6.5 Grendel, Wilson Combat, Alexander Arms, Aero Precision/Ballistic Advantage, Odin Works or Faxon.

I have a Cz 527 bolt action in 6.5 Grendel and it has a 24” barrel but I wish it was a little shorter. As a 24” barrel the Cz handles ok but an AR-15 with 24” barrel are basically very difficult to shoot off hand. I have a 20” AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel with plain muzzle and I wouldn’t hesitate using it for hunting.

In my opinion 24” barrel AR-15’s are best shot from prone, bench or shooting stand. For hog hunting I’d prefer a barrel that was shorter and quicker handling. What barrel length did you use hog hunting, I’m betting it was a barrel shorter than 24” in 5.56/223.

I believe the Bushmaster that I used hog hunting had a 16" barrel, had a stock trigger, and was shooting about 1.25" groups.

My thought for a 24" barrel was to maximize velocity and tighten up my groups.

I typically do spot and stalk for pronghorn and mule deer and end up shooting in a prone position or kneeling using a backpack for support. For whitetail deer, I am usually shooting from a blind.

I definitely have some research to do. LaRue, Alexander Arms, Aero Precision, Faxon, and Precision Firearms are on my list.

[js8588]

I believe the Bushmaster that I used hog hunting had a 16" barrel, had a stock trigger, and was shooting about 1.25" groups.

My thought for a 24" barrel was to maximize velocity and tighten up my groups.

I typically do spot and stalk for pronghorn and mule deer and end up shooting in a prone position or kneeling using a backpack for support. For whitetail deer, I am usually shooting from a blind.

I definitely have some research to do. LaRue, Alexander Arms, Aero Precision, Faxon, and Precision Firearms are on my list.

Just my 2 cents but if you're after accuracy, I'd cross Faxon & Aero off your list right away. You'd be better off with a group buy barrel at that point.

[A5BLASTER]

Just my 2 cents but if you're after accuracy, I'd cross Faxon & Aero off your list right away. You'd be better off with a group buy barrel at that point.

All three in your list are rack grade barrels. They all have the potential to either be a hummer or a junker.

OP. If your hunting terrine and style can support a 24 inch barreled ar grendel, then I would get Mark owner of PF (precision firearms) to either make a barrel with a matched bolt to your choosing and build it or have him build it into a upper for you.

Use a thick walled billet upper, PF sales them

Go with as thick of a contour on the barrel as you can stand to carry.

I suggest a bartlein or Krieger blank, I'm sure Mark will as well but his other blanks are good as well.

Go with rifle gas length at the shortest, extended or rifle +2 length might be a good upgrade.

When it comes to scope mounts do not buy the aero scope mounts. They are not meant or built for accuracy.

Trigger go either with a ssa-e or mbt by Larue.

Barrwl, scope/mount and trigger is the base of your rifles accuracy, the rest depends on being properly assembled, good ammo and you.

Hope this helps sir.

[grayfox]

Roger, there are criterion barrels (either Mark - PF or some mfrs) which would be the min I would go in quality, then lilja, krieger and Bartlein. Mark has them, also there's a direct you can get from Lilja (they're in Montana I think), they have some on the shelf, like their 20" 740 model. It will ring bells and drop critters out beyond 400 yds if you're good enough. Your barrel needs to be accurate for more distant shots and the GH and PSA's of the world are iffy at best for those distances. IMO.

I take from your hunt list you are somewhere out west so I based this on an elev of 5000' just as an example. 450 yds 1010 ft-lbs of 123sst.
123 sst's handloaded or factory have 1000 ft-lb out to around 450 yds., this from my 20" lilja. And accurate yes-sireee.

There are other loads you can do or get too, this is just one fr'instance.

Part of spot n stalk is the weight of your gun, and as it goes out beyond the 20" it gets heavier and more unwieldy, just sayin' if you don't need to go there why do it. The ballistics of the 6.5 cal bullet more than make up for perceived lack of anything else.

There was a video last year of a girl - teenager, shot a bull elk at 392 yds. Three shots on the money and he just sort of sat down and died. Her dad was with her but she did the shooting.

You're going to want a clear scope too, so keep in mind you'll need budget for that.

[Bigs28]

I don't think you would be able to shoot the accuracy difference between a 24" and a 20" barrel out of an ar. "Mel" has been posting pictures of sub half minute groups out of his 20" barrel. Ive shot 8 shot groups out of my 12" krieger under .7".

A 20" quality barrel (krieger, bartlein, lilja, proof) will/should out shoot a 24" faxon, odin, etc. Another thought is get the entire larue kit and then swap the barrel only (and maybe gas block tube) if it doesn't meet your expectations.

[scott_co]

After hiking around the mountains of CO chasing elk with a bow, I know saving weight helps. One of the reasons I want carbon handgaurd and possibly stock.

I feel as if I am narrowing my choice down to Precision Firearms and LaRue, and a Krieger barrel sounds like the type of quality that I am looking for.

I am running a Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50 1FP on my .300 Win Mag and Vortex Viper HS-T 6-24x50 2FP on my .270 Win, and I have found their quality to work for me.

I like a crisp breaking trigger, and I am leaning toward a Timney Competition trigger. The Geissele SSA-E is interesting as well, but I am not sure the break is what I am looking for.

[Bigs28]

I use brigand arms handguard on my lightweight build. Lightest ive found.

[scott_co]

I ended up selecting a Precision Firearms 22" Krieger barrel, Lancer carbon stock and handguard, and Timney trigger.

I know it's going to be a few weeks, but it will be worth the wait.

[Kswhitetails]

Very good choice. Now, the wait for Thor’s hammer commence.

[drewthebrave]

I ended up selecting a Precision Firearms 22" Krieger barrel, Lancer carbon stock and handguard, and Timney trigger.

Excellent choices. I think you're going to be very happy with that rifle!

[scott_co]

Very good choice. Now, the wait for Thor’s hammer commence.

Once Thor's hammer arrives, I'll be curious to see what shoots best out of it.

I am planning on trying Hornady Custom SST 123, Hornady Black 123 ELD, Barnes LRX 127, and perhaps the Nosler Trophy Grade 129-grain AccuBond.

[FLshooter]

The single most important thing for accuracy is the barrel. Krieger is a great choice.

[scott_co]

The single most important thing for accuracy is the barrel. Krieger is a great choice.

My focus on accuracy definitely starts with the barrel. Then I am looking at the trigger and scope.

I feel a Timney Competition single stage matches my style for shooting. I have a Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50 on my .300 Win Mag that I really like, so I am going to put one on the 6.5. I looked at Athlon Cronus, but just felt comfortable with the Razor HD.

[Klem]

Scott,

Late to the conversation but I think 24" in an AR15 is starting to get out of proportion to the spirit of what an AR15 is. It is also a nod to the shortcomings of the Grendel which is its lower velocity relative to other 6.5's. Rather than buy a Grendel and then immediately seek to overcome the velocity issue in such a drastic way I would embrace it and go a 18-20" barrel which is more proportional, especially in a hunting rig. You can more easily lift the velocity by choosing lighter bullets, which will shoot straighter yet still eclipse the lighter-still 223 range. You won't be lugging and swinging around 4"-6" of extra barrel weight. My point is, don't make this a Creedmore otherwise you may as well get a AR10 with an 18" barrel in Creedmore or 260Rem.

Lilja is a top tier brand of barrels and you won't be disappointed. The extra couple of hundred dollars from an average barrel will be quickly forgotten. In the scheme of things, with all your other purchasing, including ammo, $200 is the difference between a Ferrari and a truck. We only hunt with one gun at a time so you may as well get one really good one.

The longer length of barrel is not going to tighten up your groups, in fact it may even make it worse with more accentuated whip. Shorter, stiffer barrel from quality manufacturers tighten groups. Longer barrels just lift velocity, but there is the law of diminishing returns meaning the longer the barrel the less incremental gains you realise. You will increase velocity between 20-24" about 100fps. You could also choose a lighter bullet like the 100NBT and realise 200-250fps faster than the lightest in the range you mentioned. At hunting ranges the 100NBT will do the business on small-medium game. Probably better than your heavier bullets mentioned.

[tdbru]

Scott,
in spite of all the advice on barrel length here, and it's good advice, when i put my Grendel together, and it was on a tighter budget, i wanted a 24" tube, and so that's what i got. your choice is a good one. i just like longer barrels. i can see the short ones are handy. but, i'm still very happy with a 24" tube. it's just me. the downside of course is weight.

it's impossible to find a 24" barrel that is contoured. they're all as fat as they come. and heavy. i'd like to find a 24" medium weight contoured tube w/o any muzzle threads. just straight to the end and crowned. so far i haven't found anyone making such a thing. so, i'd say get the bbl length you want. i've seen 28" grendel tubes as well. i think they're called "overwatch". but since you already picked one up, and a good one, i think you're in for some fun ahead.

Klem had good advice on don't try to make it something it's not. but... i like longer tubes for both velocity AND for lower muzzle blast. if you're going to suppress it, that matters not, but i've lost enough hearing to gunfire in my life. longer tubes have lower muzzle pressure, and it's further from my ears. if suppressors weren't so regulated and taxed, i'd have them on my firearms for sure.

welcome to the 6.5 Grendel. i think you'll be impressed.

-tdbru

[scott_co]

As with most decisions, there are compromises to me made.

I wanted to maximize velocity, but also was looking for a rifle that did not have a huge weight penalty. I think the Lancer carbon handguard and stock will offset some of the weight penalty for a Krieger 22" barrel.

I know the 6.5 Grendel does not have the power of the the Creedmore, but it should do fine with small/midsize game for me.

[PNWTargets]

Good advise here by the horde. I have a Faxon/Lancer CF handguard on my 16 inch Grendel and it works good. Post up pics when it is done!