I am new here

[jmda]

Hello everyone. JM from KY

Have not really looked around much. Planning on buying a 6.5 Grendel upper in the near future.

Mostly for hunting. In Ky most shots are within 150 yards, though a farm I may hunt again has a fire break where up to 400 yard shots are possible.

First of all will a 16 inch barrel be adequate for my needs? (rifle weight is a concern of mine)

Second I've been watching PSA for a "daily deal" on a Grendel upper. Have had a good experience with PSA on my ARs. Opinions from those who have bought one?

Third I've seen Bear Creek Arsenal has uppers for cheap - I'm wary. But for the price are they ok?

I have a Swedish Mauser that shoots 2-2.5 moa - I would like to see sub moa in a grendel. Is this unreasonable?

If you have a minute or two to comment, I'd be most appreciative.

[peak98]

Welcome to the Horde from just down da bayou sir, we glad to have you. My Grendel’s (20”, 18”, 12”x2) are all capable of minute of deer @ 400y IF I do my part. That’s also probably stretching it for my 12” uppers. I’d strongly suggest a 18-20” barrel and much practice if you want to take game out past 300yd. My rifles/pistols are all purpose built for 300y and in, preferably inside 200y. The weight difference between a 16” and an 18” barrel isn’t much. The shorter barrels are much handier in a stand or blind though.
Sub-Moa might be harder to come by, I’d stay away from BCA (my firsthand experience), I’ll never recommend a Grendel barrel from them... I’d take a serious look at Wilson Combat’s 18” barrel or an Aero Precision barrel, AP guarantees sub moa for their barrels and will replace if it doesn’t meet it. My 18” Wilson Combat barrel is new, and is shooting right at moa after only 20rds down the tube. I expect it to continue to tighten up as I shoot it more. I will also put a higher magnification scope on it, currently run a 2-7x, as I want smaller/lighter for hunting.
No one whines or complains about spending money for a top end barrel when the groups are small. My advice is to buy the best barrel you can afford if you really want sub moa performance. If right around MOA is honestly adequate, you have many excellent options available.

peak98

[sundowner]

Welcome to the horde from Wisconsin , I have 3 PSA uppers 2 in PA 10 18" 308 and 20" 6.5 Creedmoor and 1 20" 6.5 Grendel and all shoot sub MOA groups at 100 yards and are dead on at 200 .

[peak98]

The 16” Monster barrel is back in stock as of today, https://www.sixfiveoutfitters.com/product/65g-16/
Would be hard to pass up for the $$ if you’re set on a 16” tube.
peak98

[VASCAR2]

Welcome to the forum jmda! I second the recommendation for a 18” Wilson Combat or 16” Grendel Monster Logo manufactured by Green Mountain. I got these results using a Magnettospeed chronograph a few years ago but this will give you an indication the velocity difference of an 18” barrel compared to a 16” 6.5 Grendel barrel. The choice of bullet can make a significant difference in the expansion of the bullet at different range. The 123 grain SST and 120 grain Nosler Ballistic expand down to 1800 FPS. The 129 grain Nosler ABLR expands down to 1300 FPS. I just checked the Hornady Ballistic calculator and a 123 grain SST at 2430 FPS at 400 yards is 1813 FPS 897 ft pounds of energy. For me I consider 400 yards my maximum range with a 16” or 18” 6.5 Grendel for medium game at 450’ ASL. I used 0’ ASL when using the Hornady Ballistic calculator.


Here is a list of the tested ammo by average velocity for each barrel length.

120 Grain HP BT PPU

16" 2392

18" 2455

20" 2480

24" 2559

110 grain FMJ PPU

16" 2510

18" 2570

20" 2614

24" 2683

123 grain A-Max Hornady

12” 2265 (123 grain ELD-M)

16" 2419

18" 2464

20" 2505

24" 2568

123 Grain SST Hornady

12” 2277

16" 2430

18" 2493

20" 2511

24" 2583

Hand Load 123 Grain Nosler CC, 31.0 grains CFE223, CCI 450

16" 2449

18" 2471

20" 2526

24" 2619

100 Grain FMJ Wolf

12” 2364

16" 2507

18" 2571

20" 2615

24" 2695


Here is the difference between the 18” barrel compared to the shorter 16” barrel which was slower with every load.

120 grain PPU HP BT

63 FPS difference

110 grain PPU FMJ

60 FPS difference

123 grain A-Max

45 FPS difference

123 grain SST

63 FPS difference

Hand load 123 grain Nosler CC

27 FPS difference

Wolf 100 grain FMJ Steel cased

64 FPS difference

[CJW]

Welcome from N. Georgia JM…..

Interesting numbers Vascar2.

Chuck.

[just_john]

Welcome to the clan, jmda, from the great nation of Texas! First, let me warn you, Grendels are extremely prolific. Start with whatever barrel you want, but soon there will be more. They are born in a variety of sizes and colors and configurations and some will be MSR's and some will be bolt guns. I have used several barrels in a variety of lengths from PSA with good success. I have used barrels from BCA with mixed results. They went thru a bad spell for a long time but seem to have gotten their act together. Hard to say. My first was a 24" from a local bottom feeder shop, but the first 3 rounds gave me a 3/8" group at 100yds. I sold it to a guy from Houston who later sent me a pix of a 600 yd kill on a hog.
There are folks here across these pages that have offered reports of all barrel lengths doing awesome things at incredible ranges. The real key is how you mount the berrel to the upper receiver. A poor assembly with high dollar parts will yeild poor results but surprisingly good results can come from mediocre parts properly assembled. What ever you start with, enjoy the learning process.

[Pootyng]

Welcome to the site from Ky. It’s been stated Grendels are addictive. I started with a 20” Ballistic Advantage fluted barrel and after it’s 1st deer season and multiple different weight sub moa 200 yard groups I went with a 16” BA barrel for a lighter compact hunting rifle. It shoots sub moa too but a little slower. Last season I had a drt at 267 yards with the 16”. Both these rifles shoot anything I’ve fed them quite well from wolf 100gr to my loads. Best of luck. If you want an accurate rifle you may not want to skimp on the barrel. Aero Precision and Ballistic Advantage are sister companies.

[tlen]

BCA is fine. My 24" SS shoots less than 3/4" @ 100 yards. Go for a 20" barrel.

[LRRPF52]

Welcome aboard!

PSA are hit and miss, mostly hit. BCA are miss and hit, with a very high return rate for defects. Some people roll the dice and land, many don’t.

If you really want 1 MOA or less, it’s best to just pay for it out of the gate and increase your odds.

Brands I have had success with over the past 13 years:

Bartlein turned and chambered by Precision Firearms, which is more for surgical target work.

Krieger from PF, same as above.

Satern offered by Alexander Arms in their top-end rifles, no longer available.

Lilja from PF, generally in the 3/8s to 3/4 MOA range, better price point.

Lilja directly from Lilja, which I have 3 of myself, and have built many using, ranging from 16” to 23”.

Criterion from PF

Alexander Arms 16”, 18”, 20”

Group Buy Faxon 12”

A 10.5” and longer will cover 150yds easily. 400yds I would lean on bullet selection, or a combo of bullet and barrel length built on top of a lot of quality training, not one-off shots.

With all but one of your cup and core hunting bullets, your expansion threshold will be limited to 350yds assuming 2400fps mv with a 123gr SST and a more accurate BC of .462 (advertised BC is .510, which is pre-doppler radar/pre-Litz).

At 2300fps mv (more common to 11.5”-12” Grendel with 123gr SST factory), you’ll have 1800fps expansion out to 275-300yds.

There are different barrel length max effective expansion ranges you can base off this way, assuming 123gr SST:

10.5” ~260yds
11.5” ~300yds
12.5” 300-350yds
14.5” 330-400yds
16” 380-420yds
18” 400-440yds
20” 430-490yds
24” 500-520yds

Here’s a basic image that shows each at the bottom end performance where they hit 900ft-lbs:


This kind of data and much more are included in the 6.5 Grendel Handbooks:



If you use the 129gr ABLR, you’ll have expansion much farther than any of those, even with the short barrels, but it’s a premium bullet. It expands down to 1300fps, so even at 2300fps muzzle velocity, it has 852ft-lbs at 400yds, 1725fps impact velocity.

More important that anything though is training from field positions at 400yds for those occasional long shots across farm fields.

For the rest of the time, you’re fine with a short barrel, compact hunting Grendel.

I have become quite fond of my 12” 6.5 Grendel, just got another 12” barrel from SixFiveArms. I’m almost exclusively shooting steel targets with it for fun.

[LRRPF52]

Here are 4 different barrel lengths with 129gr ABLR:

[7stw]

As has been said, welcome to the clan. I'm a boltgun kinda guy, and own a very accurate Howa mini, heavy barrel. Lots of good people here, who are ready and willing to help.
All the best.

[jmda]

Thank you all. I really appreciate the warm welcome, and time spent addressing my questions. Especially the velocity numbers on different lengths, that was very helpful.