I'm building a H&R Handi Grendel. Wayne York of Oregunsmithing is reboring and rechambering a 22" .22 Hornet barrel on the stronger SB2 rifle action. We decided on a 1:9" twist since I don't plan on shooting bullets heavier than 130gr. I might try some 140s just to see though.  I plan to glass and pillar bed the forend, tune the trigger and shorten the hammer. These mods should allow for the greatest accuracy potential. Also, we spoke about throating the chamber for a longer COL, 2.488". Given that it's a single shot rifle I won't have to worry about magazine length restrictions.
I won't be home until January, but Wayne's turnaround time is roughly 8 weeks. I bought a variety of AA factory ammo and will give them a try when I return. I'll keep updating this thread as I get more info.
Anyone have any build advice or load recommendations?
Thanks, Dinny
no advice, but it sounds like a neat build. Keep us posted.
I too am interested in how this goes for you. I love single shot rifles and I love the .22 Hornet, so that makes me sad that there will be one less Hornet alive but glad that it will be resurrected as a 6.5 Gredel.
Several years ago I took a .22 Hornet singe shot to Africa with me as my only rifle. I was primarily after pygmy antelope and it was perfect, but on one stalk of a Duiker, I had to sneak through a herd of Cape Buffalo to get to him, I made it undetected, but facing a cape buffalo at under 20 yards with only a .22 Hornet made me wish for something bigger. In that moment a 6.5 Grendel would have made me feel much more comfortable, ha 
Bob
That's a neat project!
The longer COAL will help develop higher velocities in your handloads.
There is a possible flip side. It would likely be evident only if you are looking for accuracy better than, I think, 0.5 moa with factory ammunition. That longer throat looks like you might get about .02" more jump.
Since it sounds like your go-to mode of shooting will be with handloads you work up, it should not be more than an occasional inconvenince.
I'm hoping that other, more knowledgeable, contributors can help tell us more.
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Dinny, what do you plan on hunting?
I would think the 129 SST and 130 Berger and Scirocco would be ideal for your project.
I'm waiting on a new barrel to convert a Savage 10 bolt gun from 7.62x39 to Grendel...those are my planned pills.
That's going to be cool. You'll get a lot more case capacity with that throat/COAL, and the base of the projectiles will be more aligned with the neck/shoulder junction.
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Pretty cool. Just going to throw this out there... If you go with 1:8 or 1:7 rifling, you can shoot some of 175 grain subsonic bullets I'm having made... That rifle with a can and subs would be spooky quiet.
I plan to hunt hogs, coyotes and deer with this rifle. I sent Wayne a dummy round with a 125gr NP seated for throating. It along with the 129gr Hornadys, 120gr NBT and perhaps a Barnes bullet will be my go-to bullets after the factory rounds are all fired.
Although I currently reside in OK, a can is out of the question for me. I move about every 3 years and the Army doesn't always send me to gun friendly states. My last assignment was in Illinois.... 
Thanks, Dinny
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Then I would add the soon to arrive Hornady 123 SST to your stable...
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I found this article on making the Handi rifle shoot better. As I suspected one of the points it made is to float the handguard so the barrel can vibrate freely. Check it out: http://www.varminthunters.com/tech/nef.html
Thanks for the info. I belong to (IMHO) the very best resource of H&R/NEF information already, Greybeard Outdoors Forum. http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html. Additionally all of my Handi rifles have been fully customized and shoot better than most people ever imagine. I like to call them "sleepers".
Thanks, Dinny
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Very cool. I've got a ton of H&R 20ga. slug guns for me and my boys and always thought it'd be cool to Grendelize one. Will be watching this project!
John
:: 6.5 GRENDEL Deer and Targets :: 6mmARC Targets and Varmints and Deer :: 22 ARC Varmints and Targets
:: I Drank the Water :: Revelation 21:6 ::
Wayne just shipped my completed H&R Handi rifle in 6.5 Grendel. It should be at my house on Christmas Eve. I sure wish I could be home then.  Anyways, it will likely be the end of January before I will get my hands on it and have a chance to shoot it. If this rifle shoots half-way decent, you can bet I'm selling a few other guns to buy more ammo. 
Thanks, Dinny
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I'm likin' this!
John
:: 6.5 GRENDEL Deer and Targets :: 6mmARC Targets and Varmints and Deer :: 22 ARC Varmints and Targets
:: I Drank the Water :: Revelation 21:6 ::
I'm back from A-stan! My H&R Grendel in cleaned, scoped, and ready for the range. Family comes first so it may be a few more weeks.
Thanks, Dinny
I am definitely interested in your results.
Pics not visible. Glad you're back from the crackistan. Pics not uploading...
LRRPF52 Wrote:Pics not visible. Glad you're back from the crackistan. Pics not uploading...
Family first, pics and range report come later.
Thanks, Dinny
Quote:Family first, pics and range report come later.
Thanks, Dinny
Roger that daddy. Family first.
I've got a handi rifle in .223 that I wouldn't mind doing this to.
How much did he charge you? Can you forward his contact info?
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