Non free float grendel build

[ricsmall]

Alright guys

I know there are no absolute answers for my question but here goes.

My BIL is wanting an ar that he can hunt deer with so I naturally suggested the grendel. Then he says he wants wood furniture, so i tell him it's doable. Then I start looking at free floating the wooden forearm, which has been done, but it looks like it can be iffy.

Question is this, what kind of accuracy have you guys experienced with non free float rigs in any caliber, in the ar platform of course. Also, have does anyone here have a rock river arms national match free float tube? I'm looking for measurements.Thanks for any input.

ETA: in all likelihood the furthest shot he will ever take is 200-250 yds, 9 out of 10 being 100 yds or less.

Richard

[NugginFutz]

Richard,

I imagine that you should be able to build your BIL an acceptably accurate hunting rifle without free floating. My only non-free floated AR also happens to be the least accurate of the bunch: 1.5 MOA vs. sub-MOA for the rest. I will also mention that this same rifle is ringing prairie dog sized steel plates at 220 yards with an AimPoint Micro H-1 with FMJ (8/10 from a bag). I lapped the upper receiver face, and bedded the barrel with Loc-Tite blue, but that was about it for accurizing. 16" barrel and carbine length gas system.

Only issue I see, though, might be weight. I haven't actually handled any of the "Organic" AR's, but it just seems to me that the wood might make the final weight of the rifle a bit much for slinging through the brush. If your BIL isn't hard set on an AR, you may want to consider the Howa micro action we've been reading about, these last few weeks. Might make a better hunter, if wood is important.

[AZ. Old Guy]

SunDevil Manufactureing has wood. http://www.shop.sundevilsales.com/Rifle-...SD-WSS.htm

[Nick]

Richard,

I imagine that you should be able to build your BIL an acceptably accurate hunting rifle without free floating. My only non-free floated AR also happens to be the least accurate of the bunch: 1.5 MOA vs. sub-MOA for the rest. I will also mention that this same rifle is ringing prairie dog sized steel plates at 220 yards with an AimPoint Micro H-1 with FMJ (8/10 from a bag). I lapped the upper receiver face, and bedded the barrel with Loc-Tite blue, but that was about it for accurizing. 16" barrel and carbine length gas system.

Only issue I see, though, might be weight. I haven't actually handled any of the "Organic" AR's, but it just seems to me that the wood might make the final weight of the rifle a bit much for slinging through the brush. If your BIL isn't hard set on an AR, you may want to consider the Howa micro action we've been reading about, these last few weeks. Might make a better hunter, if wood is important.

+1. I shoot my stock m&p 556 at 12" steel at 200 yards no problem and dropped a coyote 175 yards.

[VASCAR2]

I have got a J&T/Double Star 16" 6.5 Grendel with CAR handguards. This is the heavy profile Chrome Moley barrel and I think it shoots good. I normally shoot off a Harris bipod or off hand and can't tell a significant change in POI. Granted I don't really shoot with a tight sling torquing on the barrel. I have shot factory A-Max out to 600 yards off my bipod with rear bag off the back of a pickup truck with MOA or less hits. The rifle is generally 1.5-2" or less at 100 with most any load but Wolf steel case 100 grain FMJ.

I also have a 20" H-Bar 5.56/223 Colt that shoots way better than I can and a 16" chrome lined 5.56/223 Bustmaster heavy contour barrel which shoots really good, neither of which are free floated. Me personally, I'd rather have a free floated light weight barrel but the heavier contour barrels I don't mind mine that are not free floated.

[ricsmall]

NFutz, he's pretty well set on an ar. It started out as a bolt gun then changed up. I'm anxious to see some reports on these mini howa grendels. Most everything from howa I've ever shot drove tacks. I'll put it together without floating first and test for accuracy, and go from there. Thanks for input.

AZ, thanks for link, he wanted a thumb hole and I located 1 of the very few in existence that I know of.

Thanks for input nick.

Richard

[ricsmall]

Thanks for the info vascar. I think with a quality barrel it should shoot fine, we'll soon see.

Richard

[ah1whiskey]

i think you'll do fine without a FF for all but the most demanding types of target shooting.

i have both kinds , off the bench i do get slightly tighter groups, from a hunting stand or off hand -- not so much better. and at hunting ranges what is a .30" ??

a decent barrel and good ammo a 6.5g will flat shoot lights out regardless.

[Clays23]

My grendel has a standard A2 style DPMS handguard and I have had good luck with it on deer using factory hornady SST loads. He should be fine

[Clays23]

i think you'll do fine without a FF for all but the most demanding types of target shooting.

i have both kinds , off the bench i do get slightly tighter groups, from a hunting stand or off hand -- not so much better. and at hunting ranges what is a .30" ??

a decent barrel and good ammo a 6.5g will flat shoot lights out regardless.

Exactly

[CPT.CRAZY]

I built a 223 with wood stock and forearm a few years ago. I was getting 2.5-3 MOA with that. I don't know how it shot without the wood furniture ,but u was not impressed.