A new barrel and bolt option

[Bennybone]

Whilst in search of a barrel for my bolt action for a completely different caliber I came across this information today.

Sharing for the horde in case anybody is $$$ LOADED $$$



http://www.riflebarrels.com/products/ar.htm

BB

[LRRPF52]

As I predicted. The group buy showed how much demand there is for this caliber, to the point that people will jump on the opportunity to buy premium barrels without hesitation.

[explorecaves]

I am not surprised Lilja would place these 4 contours from the group buy on their site. In fact it would be stupid not to. Time spent to set up the machine is the difficult part. Wouldn't take much time to run a few dozen extra contours when it is already set up and have them wait for final lapping until the individual order is placed. And the pricing is the same for all of Lilja's barrels.

[Bennybone]

Silly me - I wasn't aware of the group buy.

What was the final price of each barrel and what is the cost of the bolt?

Granted Dan's pricing is posted on the link above for new orders.

Having scanned the final page of the GB thread, the 75 barrels are going to be mixed headspacing based on user demand???

I hope not as the secondary owners likely wouldn't know which bolt to use...

BB

[explorecaves]

All are head spaced to the 0.136" bolt. There were just some minor variances between bolt manufacturers that the option for specific bolts was offered. As for price, due to the volume, we were able to get a little bit lower price than the 5 barrel option and the bolt was not part of the GB price and are not part of the price in the link above. You can buy the MF bolt from Mark at Precision Firearms.

[LRRPF52]

The Maxim bolt is made to the same external dimensions as an AA bolt, to the best of my knowledge. At least everything that has to do with head-spacing is the same. I think Lilja is just covering their bases, since they have no control over how the bolt is made.

[cory]

All are head spaced to the 0.136" bolt. There were just some minor variances between bolt manufacturers that the option for specific bolts was offered. As for price, due to the volume, we were able to get a little bit lower price than the 5 barrel option and the bolt was not part of the GB price and are not part of the price in the link above. You can buy the MF bolt from Mark at Precision Firearms.

This is incorrect. They're headspaced to the bolt of which the buyer selected. There are some variances which is why Dan put that note on the website.

I've actually talked to Dan about this in length over the last several weeks. He's still finalizing the details of how he'll offer them that's why I didn't say anything to this point. He may be offering them with a bolt due to the variance he has seen in the different bolts.

These variances in different bolts will hinder the progress of the Grendel. There needs to be a streamlined bolt design.

[explorecaves]

This is incorrect. They're headspaced to the bolt of which the buyer selected. There are some variances which is why Dan put that note on the website.

I've actually talked to Dan about this in length over the last several weeks. He's still finalizing the details of how he'll offer them that's why I didn't say anything to this point. He may be offering them with a bolt due to the variance he has seen in the different bolts.

These variances in different bolts will hinder the progress of the Grendel. There needs to be a streamlined bolt design.

Was not aware they were that different… Would be nice to see the info posted in a stand alone thread. (hint hint hint)

[LRRPF52]

It makes sense to just use the existing standard, namely the AA Grendel bolt. Metallurgy and some dimensional changes deal with the larger case of the Grendel.

That provides the most options for customers and manufacturers.

[Tman2ks]

Is there any difference between the maxim and AA bolt as far as what steel or other parts they use?

[cory]

It makes sense to just use the existing standard, namely the AA Grendel bolt. Metallurgy and some dimensional changes deal with the larger case of the Grendel.

That provides the most options for customers and manufacturers.

From a supply stand point I disagree. I know Dan has talked to Frank, and it appears Dan is confident in that supply chain.

[jurassic]

It makes sense to just use the existing standard, namely the AA Grendel bolt. Metallurgy and some dimensional changes deal with the larger case of the Grendel.

That provides the most options for customers and manufacturers.

I totally agree! If Maxim bolts are something other than an AA / SAMI spec (which works fine with my LBC bolts) I'll call tomorrow and cancel the order for the barrel I just bought from Lilja.

[Drifter]

Since AA developed the chamber, cartridge, and bolt, took part in what was submitted to SAAMI, etc, it seems only natural that AA's version would be considered the industry standard. I think any bolt or barrel manufacturer that deviates from that standard will be limiting their own opportunities. And even a barrel maker that offers variations based on bolt design will likely cause more headaches and confusion. We've already seen it with BHW barrels and "Type 1" or "Type 2" bolts. Similar stuff with CSS barrels and "CSS" or "OEM" bolts.

[aclark]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the AA bolt and the LBC bolt? I know the cases are slightly different, but what about the bolts themselves?

[LRRPF52]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the AA bolt and the LBC bolt? I know the cases are slightly different, but what about the bolts themselves?

The cartridges are the same. The chamber is different with a tighter neck and no compound angle in the freebore. Not sure where LBC sourced their bolts from, but I suspect materials are totally different (8620 steel).

The Les Baer chamber is called the .264 LBC-AR, whereas a lot of variant chambers are called .264 LBC by the particular barrel maker. There's a chapter on it and other chamber variants in the 6.5 Grendel Volume I Reloading Handbook, which basically emphasizes that you need to load for your chamber.

[Bennybone]

How much of the variance in Grendel is due to other manuafactuers taking the position that a bolt or chamber tweak will enhance the caliber vs straight up parts availability?

The above is not asking about 264 LBC or CSS or 6.5 Sporter but rather a barrel maker wants to use the "Grendel" barrel chamber but then things go screwy when it is time to headspace to a bolt.

This to me is the oddest occurrance with Grendel in that it isn't a wildcat cartridge however I find myself doing as much research as though I was building or loading for a wildcat and if you try to sell on the B-market (Used) then values plummet because it is truly hard to convince the buyer that you have a true Grendel and that AA bolts MF bolts will work.

I am fresh off of a 264 LBC debacle and back to Grendel but when I read through the group buy thread and Lilja's website that AA bolts aren't guaranteed I kinda got that hair standing on the neck feeling.

BB

[aclark]

The cartridges are the same. The chamber is different with a tighter neck and no compound angle in the freebore. Not sure where LBC sourced their bolts from, but I suspect materials are totally different (8620 steel).

The Les Baer chamber is called the .264 LBC-AR, whereas a lot of variant chambers are called .264 LBC by the particular barrel maker. There's a chapter on it and other chamber variants in the 6.5 Grendel Volume I Reloading Handbook, which basically emphasizes that you need to load for your chamber.

Sorry, I meant chamber and not cartridge. What I mean though, does the LBC bolt have the same dimensions as the AA bolt? My Lilja barrel will have the 6.5 Grendel chamber headspaced to an LBC bolt, but I would think because I have the correct chamber, that an AA or MF bolt would work just as well.

[cory]

Sorry, I meant chamber and not cartridge. What I mean though, does the LBC bolt have the same dimensions as the AA bolt? My Lilja barrel will have the 6.5 Grendel chamber headspaced to an LBC bolt, but I would think because I have the correct chamber, that an AA or MF bolt would work just as well.

Ok so I've intended to keep my mouth shut until I get my comments verified. I'm currently waiting an email back from Dan. Side note once I get it I'll be mailing in final payment as I have it all now.

Anyways we're talking about an AR15 bolt here. There's some play built into the design. Many people here on the forum have used an AA bolt in a LBC type II chamber just fine and vice versa. I don't see any reason it'll be any different here.

I've got the measurements of the MF bolt in a thread somewhere. The bolt group buy thread or one of the Lilja group buy threads, I don't remember. The bolt face depth was either 0.135" or 0.136". Talking with LRPF52 the OAL matched his AA bolt. It was an exact match for my bolt that came with my PF Grendel.