6.5 Grendel Build

[patrick021]

this is my first grendal looking for thoughts on a 12” barrel and what brand ?

[biodsl]

I think it's fair to say Horde members love their 12" barrels. Head over to Six Five Outfitters. No better Grendel barrel for the money.

https://www.sixfiveoutfitters.com/product/monster-12/

[VASCAR2]

Here is my 12” 6.5 Grendel build using the GM Monster barrel next to my Tavor. I used a cheap hand guard from Right to Bear, a LaRue MBT 2S trigger and PSA lower. I’m using the supplied buffer and spring which came with SB3 Tactical brace and it is properly gassed. I don’t notice any difference in blast than when shooting a 16” 6.5 Grendel. I’m using a A-2 flash hider on all my threaded 6.5 Grendel AR-15’s.

[2jokerswild]

If you think it'll fill a hunting role I'd suggest a 16" at least.

[Harpoon1]

If you think it'll fill a hunting role I'd suggest a 16" at least.

+1

[LRRPF52]

If you think it'll fill a hunting role I'd suggest a 16" at least.

10.5” Grendel that has been used to kill multiple bucks by another forum member using 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip:






10.5”-12.5” Grendels are great for hunting in thick brush and forest where shots are within closer ranges, but will still keep a 123gr ELD-M expanding out pretty far.

129gr ABLR from the short barrels is an excellent performer as well. Expands down to 1300fps, has a very high BC.

[LRRPF52]

Here are some 12”, 16”, 17.6”, and 18” velocities for reference:

12” Faxon Group Buy Barrels
90gr TNT 2683fps
120gr Federal OTM 2384fps

16” AA barrel
123gr Scenar 2452fps
123gr A-MAX 2439fps
120gr SMK 2470fps

17.6” Lilja Grendel
90gr TNT 2893fps (10 shot sample)
120gr Federal OTM 2484fps (20 shot sample)
120gr Scenar-L 2511fps
123gr SST 2457fps

18” LaRue Stealth Rifle
123gr Hornady American Gunner 2441fps
123gr A-MAX on 31.2gr CFE223 2519fps

Not a big difference in velocities between 12” to 18”, as you can see. 10.5” drops off a bit more, but still kills just fine within common hunting ranges.

[Jake TN]

Any chance you could share the load for the 120 BT. I have a new 12.5 inch upper that will be my suppressed deer hunter. I have about 150 of those and thought they might do well in the Sbr. The 129 ablr is just unobtainable right now. I have some of the 95 grain trex with tac loaded for a test run. Only have 50 of them and they are out of stock again. I am out of xbr. Options available are cfe, tac, or h322.

[VASCAR2]

Midsouth Shooters Supply has Nosler 129 grain AccuBond Long Range ammo in stock. Not cheap but Midsouth also has Hornady 123 grain SST ammo in stock. The Nolser 129 grain ABLR bullets are out of stock.

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i...-20-rounds

[LRRPF52]

Any chance you could share the load for the 120 BT. I have a new 12.5 inch upper that will be my suppressed deer hunter. I have about 150 of those and thought they might do well in the Sbr. The 129 ablr is just unobtainable right now. I have some of the 95 grain trex with tac loaded for a test run. Only have 50 of them and they are out of stock again. I am out of xbr. Options available are cfe, tac, or h322.

There are 25 different loads in the 6.5 Grendel Handbooks for the 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, 6 from Alexander Arms, 4 from Western Powders, and the rest from various forum members.

For TAC, start at 27.5gr and work up to 28.8gr.
For CFE223, start at 29.5gr and work up to 31.2gr. This one will run your gas system pretty hard if you don’t choke the gas and spring it stiffly.
For H322, Nosler has some very conservative data, which is lumped in with the 120gr E-Tip monolith, so I’m not sure what the actual top end is for H322 under the 120gr Ballistic Tip.

Of all those powders, I think you might like TAC the best.

How do you have your 12.5” configured?
Gas port diameter?
Recoil spring length?
Buffer type/weight?
Carrier?
Gas block?

[Jake TN]

[quote=VASCAR2]Midsouth Shooters Supply has Nosler 129 grain AccuBond Long Range ammo in stock. Not cheap but Midsouth also has Hornady 123 grain SST ammo in stock. The Nolser 129 grain ABLR bullets are out of stock.

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i...-20-rounds[/

Thanks for posting. Sweet Jesus on the price. Will stick with the stock pile of reloading supplies I have for now.

[Jake TN]

There are 25 different loads in the 6.5 Grendel Handbooks for the 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, 6 from Alexander Arms, 4 from Western Powders, and the rest from various forum members.

For TAC, start at 27.5gr and work up to 28.8gr.
For CFE223, start at 29.5gr and work up to 31.2gr. This one will run your gas system pretty hard if you don’t choke the gas and spring it stiffly.
For H322, Nosler has some very conservative data, which is lumped in with the 120gr E-Tip monolith, so I’m not sure what the actual top end is for H322 under the 120gr Ballistic Tip.

Of all those powders, I think you might like TAC the best.

How do you have your 12.5” configured?
Gas port diameter?
Recoil spring length?
Buffer type/weight?
Carrier?
Gas block?

Thanks for the load data. I have 8lbs of TAC so I will probably start there for the 120BT. Will save the H322 for 5.56 and lighter Grendel loads.

How do you have your 12.5” configured? 12.5 inch lilja from Rebby
Gas port diameter? .073. Carbine length
Recoil spring length? Gen 1 JP silent capture (honestly don’t remember if it was the standard or H2. I have always used an adjustable gas block when possible)
Buffer type/weight? Same as above
Carrier? JP full mass
Gas block? Wojtek adjustable

It will have the dead air sandman short as the can. With my 18 inch upper it was a little to front end heavy for stable non-supported shots with the suppressor, hence the SBR upper build. My hope was that the 120 BT will still expand within 200 yards. If I hunt further than that, I will just take the 6.5 creed out. 99% of my hunting is within 150 yards.

[LRRPF52]

120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip is a pretty soft bullet with rapid expansion, which opens down to 1800fps.

Even assuming 2300fps mv with reduced BC of .425 at sea level in 59 degree weather, it will expand out to 275yds.

You can work up to 2350fps with 28.8gr of TAC from a 12.5” barrel.

You should have anywhere from 23"-26” of penetration at the minimum impact velocity with maybe ~70% weight retention.

For your actual ranges within 150yds, impact velocity will be over 2000fps with around 1100ft-lbs or better.

It’s a killer combination with expansion around .430” or better within 150yds.

[Jake TN]

120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip is a pretty soft bullet with rapid expansion, which opens down to 1800fps.

Even assuming 2300fps mv with reduced BC of .425 at sea level in 59 degree weather, it will expand out to 275yds.

You can work up to 2350fps with 28.8gr of TAC from a 12.5” barrel.

You should have anywhere from 23"-26” of penetration at the minimum impact velocity with maybe ~70% weight retention.

For your actual ranges within 150yds, impact velocity will be over 2000fps with around 1100ft-lbs or better.

It’s a killer combination with expansion around .430” or better within 150yds.

Greatly appreciate the info. That is more than enough to take down anything I will be shooting at as long as I do my part. Will post some results when I can get some time at the range. Hoping the new barrel is amazing as every one claims. I heard nothing but good things about lilja. Thanks again

[bjdiaz3190]

Any thoughts on the components sold by Aero Precision for a 6.5 Grendel build?