New Build Debate

[GrendelDO]

Hello all. New here but not new to guns or 6.5 Grendel. I am in need of a new upper. I want 16-18” to save weight as I’ll be carrying it as a mountain rifle in West Virginia. I would love subMOA performance out to 200-300. So the debate is high quality complete upper such as Aero or LaRue vs part it out with high quality barrel and BCG. Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

[VASCAR2]

All the feed back on the LaRue ultimate upper I have seen has been positive and I think it is a good value. Precision Firearms is well regarded if you don’t mind waiting. Lilja, Compass Lake Engineering, Craddock Precision get good reviews for quality barrels. JP, and Wilson Combat also get good reviews. If you buy a cheaper barrel it is luck of the draw on accuracy. With the price of ammo and fuel to go to the range it gets very expensive to find out your cheap barrel is a dud.


I think a 16” or 18” 6.5 Grendel would fill your requirements and I’d seriously consider a carbon fiber hand guard for weight reduction. In very cold weather or very hot weather the aluminum hand guards require gloves. In my testing an 18” barrel gets from 25 to 65 FPS more velocity than a 16” barrel. Using the 129 grain Accu Bond Long Range (ABLR) which expands down to 1300 FPS makes the shorter 6.5 Grendel barrels appealing. My 16” barrel chronographed 123 grain Hornady SST at 2430 FPS which should stay above 1800 FPS for most typical hunting distances in W Virginia.

[CJW]

Vascar2 , if all of the uppers that you mentioned were the same price, which one would you buy?

Die with memories not dreams,

Chuck

[VASCAR2]

Honestly Chuck my most expensive 6.5 Grendel is a Shilen 20”’1:9 twist I got in about 2010. I have three Monster barrels from BFT group buy (12”, 16” & 18”). I don’t have specific accuracy requirements and have been satisfied with my 6.5 Grendel AR-15’s. For someone wanting excellent accuracy I think the barrel is the most important component.

I feel sure I could be satisfied with LaRue, JP or Wilson Combat. I have assembled four 6.5 Grendel AR-15 uppers myself and purchased all my components. I really liked assembling AR-15’s and the 6.5 Grendel is addicting.

I was trying to give a reasonable response to the OP question from my own experience and being a forum member. I’m in a unique situation where I can shoot at my house and have Friends that also are firearms enthusiast with places to shoot. I also reload and don’t shoot very much factory ammo.

Deciding on your budget and goals makes a difference on the best coarse of action IMHO.

[CJW]

Thanks Vascar2

[Tx264]

Importance.
Barrel
Tight upper
Trigger
Scope
Right now:
Wilson combat 18" fluted barrel(15% off)
Geissele super duty receiver set($225 bronelles)thermo fit
LaRue s2s
Scope on you

[myrifle]

Do you handload or factory ammo only?

It's almost a bit to close too deer season to get a custom barrel, so your better off looking at off the rack if your going to build yourself.

Me I'm always going to be in the build yourself camp. But that's because no company offers a upper/rifle configured the way I want it, so its always cheaper and less hassle to do it myself.

[CJW]

Just ordered the LaRue, it is just smokin hot!!


Loading since 1964, I shoot factory shotgun shells, zero rifle or pistol factory ammo purchased in over 50 years.

I am not a target shooter anymore, I only want to see the blood blow out of their nostrils….

[GrendelDO]

Sorry I’m a night shifter and just now getting around to reading replies. I have built 3 Grendel ARs so far but nothing very “high end”. The last was a 16” from Grendel Hunter that has a Liberty barrel. It’s only had about 20 rounds through it but seems to shoot very tight so far. This one will be my personal rifle. I hand load, target shoot and hunt. I don’t really need this rifle to be 1/2 MOA but I would like it to be precise so I am confident in a kill when I pull the trigger. I have scoured the interwebs and options seem vast. I have considered starting with a Barrel from wilson combat, faxon, ballistic advantage, etc. Also I have found a great deal on an Aeroprecision 20” upper. I understand these have Balllistic Advantage barrels, carry a subMOA guarantee and have great customer service. This definitely will not be a competition rifle but I do want it lightweight. I think the difference in a 16” and 20” heavy profile barrel is about 5oz. With so many, it’s hard to make a decision and I feel like we might be racing the clock…

[myrifle]

Sorry I’m a night shifter and just now getting around to reading replies. I have built 3 Grendel ARs so far but nothing very “high end”. The last was a 16” from Grendel Hunter that has a Liberty barrel. It’s only had about 20 rounds through it but seems to shoot very tight so far. This one will be my personal rifle. I hand load, target shoot and hunt. I don’t really need this rifle to be 1/2 MOA but I would like it to be precise so I am confident in a kill when I pull the trigger. I have scoured the interwebs and options seem vast. I have considered starting with a Barrel from wilson combat, faxon, ballistic advantage, etc. Also I have found a great deal on an Aeroprecision 20” upper. I understand these have Balllistic Advantage barrels, carry a subMOA guarantee and have great customer service. This definitely will not be a competition rifle but I do want it lightweight. I think the difference in a 16” and 20” heavy profile barrel is about 5oz. With so many, it’s hard to make a decision and I feel like we might be racing the clock…

Pick up a sixfivearms 16 inch barrel and build it. Good handloads and it will do everything you want and be lighter weight.

Add the sixfivearms flashhider
Carbonfiber handguard
Lowmass bcg and adjustable gas
And go rock that thing.

[Bonas]

Part it out. Go 16". If you're not buying in-stock, carefully research your seller's reputation for meeting the lead time they give you. I would not expect sub moa from an Aero Precision upper. They use Ballistic Advantage barrels. I have two and like them, but they're not precision grade.

[LRRPF52]

These are really tempting:

[GrendelDO]

Just ordered a Wilson Combat 16” with gas block and tube. What’s the consensus on a quality upper receiver?

[Tx264]

I like thermofit receivers.
Bcm
Solgw
Geissele
Possibly zev,can't find one to measure.

[GrendelDO]

So I ended up with Wilson Combat 16” barrel, gas block and mid-length tube, San Tan upper (thermo fit), Presma 12.5” lightweight hand guard, Wilson Combat Nib BCG, and a Witt Machine SME linear brake. I think this brake is too bulky but it does a good job at decreasing the decibels at the shooters ear.

[Harpoon1]

These are really tempting:

They are awesome, except they weigh a “Ton”! Comparatively speaking. “Horses for courses!” LaRue makes quality, high end stuff and I’m a huge fan but, if you want a “Moutain Rifle” there may be better options out there! IMO. What is the mission?

Again, huge fan of wha LaRue does, in general, especially his MBT-2S trigger. IMO, the best “value” trigger out there. But………his uppers, are heavy. If one wants a “Mountain Rifle”, “light is right”!