My first 6.5mm Grendel Project - after 3 .223 Rem AR-15s

[montana]

Factory 123 grain Hornady A max and SST ammo have shot excellent in my rifles. 27.8 grains of IMR 8028 XBR powder with 123 grain Sierra match Kings, Hornady 123 grain SST and A Max bullets have shot very good with my AA and Lilja barrels. I use Lapua brass and Hornady brass. All these loads shoot sub MOA in my rifles. I would have to say the Hornady 123 A Max ammo is the standard for factory ammo to use.

[ejkoechling]

Here comes a pic of the freshly lasered FailZero Bolt Carrier:



The whole rifle will be a hommage to the Grendel Forum, the Grendel head will be found on several parts

I would like to laser that Grendel skull into my new lower receiver, would someone be so kind and provide a .dxf, .ai or .eps file? Your help is highly appreciated!!Thanks in advance!

I'd assume you got this file , with it being on your bolt. I was wanting to do the same on dust cover and my AA lower.
Also, who did the ecthing for you?

Any info you could pass on would be appreciated.

[Kohoki]

@Montana
Do you mean 8208 XBR?

I am looking for the absolute top notch load, like 42 grs VV N140 for the 168grs SMK @308 Win.

Shall I go for a lighter bullet like 90 grs. or shall I try heavier bullets like the 136 grs Lapua? Whats more promising, heavier or lighter? Faster or slower?

[montana]

Yes I did, my mistake. It is IMR8208 XBR. There has been a lot of information on this forum with people trying to find the best universal 6.5 Grendel load. I have tried some peoples pet loads with dismal results and some with excellent results. I have not tried CFE223 powder as to date but many people have had great luck with it. I would have to say the best round to date for most peoples rifles is the factory Hornady 123 grain Amax. This round has shot as good as most of my personal loads and seems to be the best in most peoples rifles as far as a universal round to compare ones load to. A lot of people have had good luck using the 120 grain Sierra match king bullet and seems to be more consistent as compared to the 123smk grain bullet . The best load for you would be determined by what distance you plan on shooting from and what you tend to shoot at. The Grendel reloading manuals both one and two are a great place to start if you haven't purchased them yet. Mine or other peoples pet loads may or may not be the best for your rifle. I know this isn't the answer you were looking for but it is the best advice I can give to you from my experience.

[cory]

@Montana
Do you mean 8208 XBR?

I am looking for the absolute top notch load, like 42 grs VV N140 for the 168grs SMK @308 Win.

Shall I go for a lighter bullet like 90 grs. or shall I try heavier bullets like the 136 grs Lapua? Whats more promising, heavier or lighter? Faster or slower?

With your location, I'd give some N540 a try with the 123+gr projectiles. I'd love to try it with the 140gr bullets, but the stuff is rarer than hen's teeth in the states.

[bwaites]

CFE 223 starting at 28 grains and working up to around 31.5 grains under a 123 Amax is really tough to beat. XBR 8208 at 26 working up to 28.5 is a great load as well.

120 Nosler BT over 29-31 grains of BLC-2 is a great load.

(The VV load for 168 SMK's doesn't shoot so good in the .308's I've tried, but for some its almost like magic. I've given up on there being a universally good load.)

I do agree that the Hornady factory load is the closest I've seen for the Grendel!

[Kohoki]

Thank you all for these first hints! I will definately tryout the CFE. Do manufacture your handloads to max. allowable case length (57,40mm/2,259")?

I do have 200 Lapua Scenar-L bullets available 4PL6019 GB546 136 grs.

I will definately setup some loading ladders next weekend according to both reloading manuals.

What do you say to these ladders:

123 grs. Lapua Scenar
Hornady Case
CCI450 Primer
COAL: 57,10mm
Powder: CFE223
five rounds each:
28,0 grs
28,5 grs
29,0 grs
29,5 grs
30,0 grs

123. grs Sierra MatchKing
Alexander Arms Case
CCI450
COAL: 57,10mm
Powder: BLC-2
five rounds each:
28,0 grs
28,5 grs
29,0 grs
29,5 grs
30,0 grs

136 grs. Lapua Scenar-L
Lapua Case
CCI450
COAL: 57,10mm
Powder N140 or similar
five rounds each:
26,0 grs
26,5 grs
27,0 grs
27,5 grs
28,0 grs
No data in Quickload to this bullet, maybe I´ll write an email to Mr. Brömel!

123 grs.Hornady AMAX
Hornady Case
CCI450
COAL: 57,10mm
Powder: CFE223
five rounds each:
28,0 grs
28,5 grs
29,0 grs
29,5 grs
30,0 grs
30,5 grs
31,0 grs
31,5 grs

[Kohoki]

Does anyone of you guys own one of these HIPERTOUCH triggers? I installed a Wilson Combat 3G TTU in The Grendel but I am experiencing a light pre-travel with that trigger - should I switch to the HIPERFIRE 24C? What are your experiences?

[Kohoki]

Done, changed the Wilson Combat 3G TTU to the Hiperfire 24C:

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[KentuckyBuddha]

Please tell us what you think!

[45r]

A very accurate load I've been using is 27.6 grains AR-comp under 123SST's and rem 7 1/2 primers.
AR-comp is made in Sweden for Alliant.
It is similar to RE-15 and optimized for AR's.
It shoots sub MOA in my Grendel and 264LBC.

[Kohoki]

@45r
Thanks for the advice! We will try it asap, AR-Comp is available in Germany. By now we made very good experiences with XBR 8208 26.5 and 27 grain combined with 120 grs. SMKs and 123 Nosler BT.

@Kentucky Buddha
The Hiperfire 24C replaced my Wilson Combat 3G TTU, both triggers are excellent if you are looking for a trigger with almost zero creep in the first stage, i think the Hiperfire represents the technical maximum these days.
The advertisment says "virtually zero creep" - they mean "virtually" because there is a very very very small creep (but there is a creep!) and as soon as you are experiencing the creep it is too late and the shot breaks. I think the Wilson´s creep is a bit longer. But we are talking about 1mm to 1.5mm difference between both triggers. I really like the adjustability of the Hiperfire 24C, due to competition regularities, I am able to change the setting between 900 grams and 2000 grams. I measured the lightest setting (trigger shoe in most extended position and grey springs installed) with 908 grams (mean value 10 measurements with Lyman trigger gauge). The trigger shoe enables you to put your triggerfinger exactly on the same spot again and again. I think this is the main advantage of the trigger shoe.

[KentuckyBuddha]

Thanks! That is interesting. I have also been considering a Geisele S3G as well. I am probably ok with the stuff I have though. LOL

[Kohoki]

I am facing precision troubles, the best groups I was able to realize with my setup were about 24mm/ 0.98" with

Lapua Brass
27 grs XBR 8208
123 grs Lapua Scenar
57.1 mm C.O.A.L.
CCI 450 Primer

I used a benchrest rifle rest setup like these: Benchrest rifle rest

This setup usually enables me to realize 5 shot groups of sub moa size with all my rifles.

What do you guys suggest?

[JDub]

If you have not been measuring and recording your velocities with a chronograph, that would be the next step.

You are so close. The difference between .98in. and what your rifle is truly capable of may come down to shooting conditions or other external conditions not related to your load.

[Kohoki]

Hmmm...I have to admit, that a five shot group @100m with a diameter of .98"/24mm is not what I am about to accept. I am able to compare that rifle with my Sabre Defence XR-15 M5 in .223, this rifle produces 12 - 18mm groups with almost every 52 grs. or 55 grs HPBT ammo on the market (preferably Remington Premier Match or GECO). I am expecting this also from my Grendel but we tried about 20 different loads up to now with 24mm as top load...:confused:

[A.D.D. AR]

Kohoki- have you gone above 27.0 grains XBR in your load testing? If not , I would try working up in .2 grain increments to about 28.0 grains, somewhere in that range is where most guys see their best accuracy with 123gr bullets.
But once you go past 28.0 grains, pressure can spike quickly, so be careful.
-hope this helps,
mike

[Kohoki]

@ A.D.D AR
Thank you very much, I haven´t tried your suggestion yet but I definately will!

Furthermore I will measure the max. C.O.A.L according to the chamber Lothar Walther cut into my rifle. I think the chamber might be a bit too long for my previously used C.O.A.L. of 57.1 mm / 2.248 inch - this could result in a lack of precision.

The next loads will be 57.4 mm / 2.259 inch long.

Yesterday evening I measured the max. C.O.A.L. with this tool: Hornady OAL Gauge

The max. cartridge over all length is about 61.18 mm / 2.408" (measured with a Sierra Matchking HPBT #1727)

Let´s consider I´ll load 57.4 mm / 2.259" loads in future, I am facing a free travel of about 0.1488"

Hornady recommends a free travel of 0.040" - everything longer than that should result in a loss of accuracy.

I think I found the root cause for the lack of precision - what is your free travel? Does anyone of you has this kind of long free travel space and is able to create sub moa groups?

[Kohoki]

See also the


Share your max. C.O.A.L. thread...

[Kohoki]

Hi guys,

the results of my tests reached thoughtful ears, I will receive a new barrel with minimal free travel/jump. Awesome customer service @LW in Germany!!