Posts: 72
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2020
Looking for a little help with loading for my new Grendel. I have questions. My rifle was built in my shop. Has 200 rounds thru it as of today. Specs-20 BA DMR SS barrel rifle length gas, toolcraft BCG, superlative arms adjustable gas block, aero lower, CMC trigger, standard carbine buffer. I just started reloading for it but have some experience with loading 223. I would love to take this rifle to 1000 yards some day. Will the 123g SMK get me there or or should I go 129-130g? It seems to like 27.6g AR Comp @ 2.260 with 123g SMK. Also I tested today 129g ABLR with 26.6/26.8/27.1g of AR Comp @ 2.260. Shot .880 at 100 yards with 27.1. That was my best group today. I had slight ejector swipes. It really is different reloading this cartridge with me only have 223 experience. I just cant tell if Im to hot with these. Primers dont really look terrible but I really dont want to end up breaking my bolt or worse. Can anyone suggest a bullet? And maybe give me some advice on reading these pressure signs better? Thank you all in advance. Also I live in NC and would love to meet up with an experienced reloader I can talk with. I dont know anyone else that reloads.
Posts: 6,193
Threads: 170
Joined: Mar 2015
What altitude do you live and shoot at?
For me down here in the ballistic soup we call air of northwest Louisiana. I have too get my bullets going min of 2630 fps to reach 1000 yards supersonic.
I shoot the 123 eld-m and 129 ablr.
I use ar-comp with the eld-m and h4895 with the ablr.
Couple of questions and suggestions.
Do you own a chrongraph?
Don't try to read the brass and primers, it's just going to mislead you. The graph plus looking for the signs on the brass will give you the real picture.
Also are you sure your gassed properly? Being over gassed will give you false pressure signs.
Posts: 72
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2020
No sir I dont have one yet but that is on the list to get real soon. I live and shoot in the foot hills of NC. Around 1000 above sea level. And as far as gas goes it could be. My brass is actually ejecting at about 4-4:30 and seems weak actually. I know my GB is right because I checked that. Its adjustable I can turn it down and give it a shot. It is fully opened up at the moment. But I am getting dents on the shoulder and sometimes the side of my cases. I will definitely start working on getting a chrono.
Posts: 72
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2020
Thats makes sense about the chrono. I had not looked at it that way.
Posts: 415
Threads: 1
Joined: Oct 2018
All of A5's advice is sound.
The ejection pattern is on the verge of under gassed. The dents in your brass are likely from an overly long ejector spring. There are a few threads here explaining how to trim that to tune it for Grendel.
Posts: 72
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2020
I will check out those threads and I will check my GB again tomorrow. Should be able to see where its sitting from the carbon it has now. Ill report back.
Posts: 72
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2020
FRB6.5 Wrote:All of A5's advice is sound.
The ejection pattern is on the verge of under gassed. The dents in your brass are likely from an overly long ejector spring. There are a few threads here explaining how to trim that to tune it for Grendel.
Thinking more about it now. BA sizes their gas ports on the small side for folks that run suppressors. I have read that in several threads. I will tune that spring and see how she runs.
Posts: 171
Threads: 12
Joined: Jan 2020
You measure yours before assembly?
I have a older Hanson/16 and it came with a .079 port, wouldnt cycle shit, drilled it out to .076 and all good now,
Just some food for thought
Posts: 989
Threads: 64
Joined: Feb 2019
You don't need anything special to get hits at 1000 yards!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcnunlqzjE8
Posts: 72
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2020
Gas port measures .089. I did adjust it a little of the shoulder but it had full flow.
Posts: 72
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2020
I did just find where my key mod rail screws have been touching the barrel. It looks like when Im shooting with bags or my bipod.
Posts: 1,397
Threads: 48
Joined: Jun 2019
06-07-2020, 04:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-08-2020, 11:08 AM by FLshooter.)
I never had the opportunity to shoot out to 1000 yards. But I shot out to 850 yards on my friends property for years.123 g SMK will shoot out to 1000 yrds.But, the accuracy is up to you.Use a Chrono and ballistic app to make it easier to dial-in.
Posts: 72
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2020
I have been using my Nikon spot on app for years for standard factory loads. But I need to look around for one that is tailored to reloading. The chrono will be a must for that. I believe I am going to stick with the 123g SMK and try some 123g ELDM because they are really available. Thank you all for the advice. I will work on getting a chronograph.
