Any reason NOT to build a 6.5 Grendel?
- Thread starter pukindog
- Start date
I like mine, easy to load for, very accurate. It hits yotes hard. I use both Hornady and Lapua brass with equal results. I use Benchmark powder with bullets from 90 gr. to 120 gr. Mine has a 20" barrel and the velocities I am getting from it right there with the published velocities from Hodgdon web site for 24" barrels. Go for it you will like it.
PaPa 260
PaPa 260
I have a 6mm AR Turbo 40 which uses the 6.5 Grendel case. I love it. The Grendel offers great performance in a very compact package, it's inherently accurate and it's not particularly hard on barrels. Just be cautious when you get near max loads since the Grendel is a high pressure cartridge.
The Wolverine
New member
Nope, no reason not to. Just use a Black Hole Weaponry barrel, mine are tack drivers, for a great price.
Tim Merriman Jr
New member
Just wanted one rifle to do about anything I asked it to do. Yotes, Long range Prarie dogs, targets. And so on.
You don't have to have a long bull barrel to shoot it. It's just that the ballistics are so good, that shooting it longer is what it is made for. There are several on ARFCOM with 16-18" barrels. That said, i would buy a 20-24", just because I want the caliber for long range smack downs. If you don't want to reach out, then you might want to look at something else. I have been looking at the Grendel/Creedmore for a few weeks now, just don't know where I would get to take advantage of their advantages.
Rustydust
Active member
You may as well go ahead on and build it, Billy. You don't have an AR in that chambering so I speck that it is high time to be getting you one.
I just wish that you would hurry up and make that .17 Remington AR and then quickly get tired of it and sell it to me. I think that I have been very patient I so I would appreciate it if you would get cracking on it right away.
Rusty
PS You do still have my home address, right?
I just wish that you would hurry up and make that .17 Remington AR and then quickly get tired of it and sell it to me. I think that I have been very patient I so I would appreciate it if you would get cracking on it right away.
Rusty
PS You do still have my home address, right?
The only disadvantages to the Grendel I can think of are:
1) Cost to Shoot/Reload can get expensive.
2) Needs at least a 20" Bbl. to maximize performance.
3) Reliability has been a problem w/ some users,mostly
due to poor magazine design and/or a need to modify
magazines for reliable function.
4) Possible chamber tolerance problems w/ varying chamber
dimensions between the Grendel,264 LBC,6.5CSS & 6.5mm
Sporter Etc.
5) May need specialized bolt/bcg to handle top-end/
hot loads.
Overall though I think its a fine cartridge and has great
ballistics over a wide range up to 900 meters.
1) Cost to Shoot/Reload can get expensive.
2) Needs at least a 20" Bbl. to maximize performance.
3) Reliability has been a problem w/ some users,mostly
due to poor magazine design and/or a need to modify
magazines for reliable function.
4) Possible chamber tolerance problems w/ varying chamber
dimensions between the Grendel,264 LBC,6.5CSS & 6.5mm
Sporter Etc.
5) May need specialized bolt/bcg to handle top-end/
hot loads.
Overall though I think its a fine cartridge and has great
ballistics over a wide range up to 900 meters.
pukindog
New member
Originally Posted By: Doc69er
4) Possible chamber tolerance problems w/ varying chamber
dimensions between the Grendel,264 LBC,6.5CSS & 6.5mm
Sporter Etc.
Can you (or anyone) elaborate more on this? Is there one chambering that is more flexible/works better than the others? In other words, can you shoot Grendel in a 264 LBC but not the other way around, etc.
And thanks for all of the other info in your post.
4) Possible chamber tolerance problems w/ varying chamber
dimensions between the Grendel,264 LBC,6.5CSS & 6.5mm
Sporter Etc.
Can you (or anyone) elaborate more on this? Is there one chambering that is more flexible/works better than the others? In other words, can you shoot Grendel in a 264 LBC but not the other way around, etc.
And thanks for all of the other info in your post.
pukindog
New member
Originally Posted By: RustydustI just wish that you would hurry up and make that .17 Remington AR and then quickly get tired of it and sell it to me. I think that I have been very patient I so I would appreciate it if you would get cracking on it right away.
Chances of me building a .17 Rem are somewhere between slim and none, but I will not entirely rule it out since I may indeed one day run out of AR compatible calibers, if I live long enough.
However, the chances of me building a 6.5 Grendel or similar 264-ish upper are growing by leaps and bounds, thanks much to info from people here.
Chances of me building a .17 Rem are somewhere between slim and none, but I will not entirely rule it out since I may indeed one day run out of AR compatible calibers, if I live long enough.
However, the chances of me building a 6.5 Grendel or similar 264-ish upper are growing by leaps and bounds, thanks much to info from people here.
Retooferab
New member
They are the same thing. I haven't got my upper from SD yet but I bought AA brass and Redding 6.5 dies to load 264LBC. Les came up with this after AA was charging royalties for the Grendel name. I wish Scott would send me a tracking #. I have all my components and am ready to try the 264LBC. I mounted my scope in the Larue mount so as soon as the upper gets here I am ready!
Originally Posted By: pukindogOriginally Posted By: Doc69er
4) Possible chamber tolerance problems w/ varying chamber
dimensions between the Grendel,264 LBC,6.5CSS & 6.5mm
Sporter Etc.
Can you (or anyone) elaborate more on this? Is there one chambering that is more flexible/works better than the others? In other words, can you shoot Grendel in a 264 LBC but not the other way around, etc.
And thanks for all of the other info in your post.
The problems seem to arise w/ differences in case neck
diameter,case neck length, and compound throat angles...
May also have Issues with bolt geometery w/ regards to
differences in headspace and wall thickness...
Its hard to evaluate the exact dimensions due to no
solid reamer/cartridge prints for the Grendel round
as yet,but supposedly SAAMI is in process of final acceptance as is the .264 LBC round etc...
Supposedly the Grendel has a .300" neck dia. & a com-
pond throat angle and used 7.62X39mm bolt dimensions...
While the .264 LBC has a .295" neck dia. and a single
throat angle.
Here is my pic. of the .264 LBC print:
Well hope this helps explain some of the differences.
4) Possible chamber tolerance problems w/ varying chamber
dimensions between the Grendel,264 LBC,6.5CSS & 6.5mm
Sporter Etc.
Can you (or anyone) elaborate more on this? Is there one chambering that is more flexible/works better than the others? In other words, can you shoot Grendel in a 264 LBC but not the other way around, etc.
And thanks for all of the other info in your post.
The problems seem to arise w/ differences in case neck
diameter,case neck length, and compound throat angles...
May also have Issues with bolt geometery w/ regards to
differences in headspace and wall thickness...
Its hard to evaluate the exact dimensions due to no
solid reamer/cartridge prints for the Grendel round
as yet,but supposedly SAAMI is in process of final acceptance as is the .264 LBC round etc...
Supposedly the Grendel has a .300" neck dia. & a com-
pond throat angle and used 7.62X39mm bolt dimensions...
While the .264 LBC has a .295" neck dia. and a single
throat angle.
Here is my pic. of the .264 LBC print:
Well hope this helps explain some of the differences.
Overwatcher
Member
The Grendel cartridge has really put me in deep..But [beeep] its been worth it.
Few points from my dealings with this grendel monster..
The last few years,factory ammo has been far a few.
Make SURE you are ready to reload for the Grendel before you buy.
With hornady coming out with their 6.5G line of reloading supplies/factory ammo,that should help quite abit.
My 2nd biggest rant is the magazines for the grendel.I don't know how many i have threw on the ground because i didnt modify the feed lip just right.
C-Products is the only company that is currently making mags for the grendel.So kind of stuck with what you have.
The grendel is also grossly overgassed for standard 5.56 plumbing.
An adjustable gas block/gas tube is recommended.
Doc69er hit it on the head with differences in the .264 LBC/6.5 Grendel.
So weather or not you have a BBL chambered in .264 LBC or 6.5 Grendel,you can stick to the regular 6.5 Grendel reloading specs.
I had an hour long conversation with Mr. Bill Alexander himself about the differences in the .295/.300 neck size,and well quite frankly the .295 proves no better advantage over the .300 accuracy wise,as of course the tighter neck in an autoloader,the greater chance you have of a case sticking.
Hold a grain of sand to the claim if you like but i know where i stand.
However the issue with the 6.5 CSS and Hornady Brass/Factory reloads is the neck walls were so thick they wouldn't chamber.
Lapua brass runs .011" to .012" neck wall thickness.
The Hornady runs .015" to .017" neck wall thickness.
Thus causing rounds to be super tight in the .295 6.5 CSS chamber.
Lapua 6.5 Grendel runs great in the 6.5 CSS.
P.S.
No one says you have to get a 26" "sniper" barrel for the grendel
I have 2 18" grendels,and a 20" build that can shoot farther than im good enough to shoot at!
Just what i have learned dealing with this guy.
Oh and final word..man this guy can leave a hole in a coyote!
Few points from my dealings with this grendel monster..
The last few years,factory ammo has been far a few.
Make SURE you are ready to reload for the Grendel before you buy.
With hornady coming out with their 6.5G line of reloading supplies/factory ammo,that should help quite abit.
My 2nd biggest rant is the magazines for the grendel.I don't know how many i have threw on the ground because i didnt modify the feed lip just right.
C-Products is the only company that is currently making mags for the grendel.So kind of stuck with what you have.
The grendel is also grossly overgassed for standard 5.56 plumbing.
An adjustable gas block/gas tube is recommended.
Doc69er hit it on the head with differences in the .264 LBC/6.5 Grendel.
So weather or not you have a BBL chambered in .264 LBC or 6.5 Grendel,you can stick to the regular 6.5 Grendel reloading specs.
I had an hour long conversation with Mr. Bill Alexander himself about the differences in the .295/.300 neck size,and well quite frankly the .295 proves no better advantage over the .300 accuracy wise,as of course the tighter neck in an autoloader,the greater chance you have of a case sticking.
Hold a grain of sand to the claim if you like but i know where i stand.
However the issue with the 6.5 CSS and Hornady Brass/Factory reloads is the neck walls were so thick they wouldn't chamber.
Lapua brass runs .011" to .012" neck wall thickness.
The Hornady runs .015" to .017" neck wall thickness.
Thus causing rounds to be super tight in the .295 6.5 CSS chamber.
Lapua 6.5 Grendel runs great in the 6.5 CSS.
P.S.
No one says you have to get a 26" "sniper" barrel for the grendel
I have 2 18" grendels,and a 20" build that can shoot farther than im good enough to shoot at!
Just what i have learned dealing with this guy.
Oh and final word..man this guy can leave a hole in a coyote!
Last edited:
MPFD
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: HPWI don't have any personal experience as I am waiting on my upper from Specialized Dynamics. But I did a bit of research before I chose my next upper and what I found was a round that offered bullets with good BC and SD. That is important to me if I want to stretch the range a bit out here. I can use 95 gr vmax for yotes and 123 gr for pronghorn and even 140 gr for muleys.
Mags are easy to come by now and I heard good things about Cmags products. They have a 5, 10 and 20 rd.
I went with Hornady brass instead of Lapua. About half the price. I didn't have any issues when loading this up, but still haven't fired any. Dies took a little shopping as price difference and availability was iffy. The newest Hornady book even has load data, although the test gun had a 14.5 inch barrel.....[beeep]
I went with an 18 inch barrel because I wanted something I could pack around with me in the field. A 24 inch barrel to me is a bench gun for paper and PD, I'm not lugging it with me hiking.
Overall it seemed to fit the bill for a few things I was looking for. Most importantly was the fact that I wanted one. There are so many cartridges available these days for the AR that you could never find a specific use to justify one from the next. If you want to get a Grendel then go for it.
You can't go wrong with SD, the quality is awesome!
Mags are easy to come by now and I heard good things about Cmags products. They have a 5, 10 and 20 rd.
I went with Hornady brass instead of Lapua. About half the price. I didn't have any issues when loading this up, but still haven't fired any. Dies took a little shopping as price difference and availability was iffy. The newest Hornady book even has load data, although the test gun had a 14.5 inch barrel.....[beeep]
I went with an 18 inch barrel because I wanted something I could pack around with me in the field. A 24 inch barrel to me is a bench gun for paper and PD, I'm not lugging it with me hiking.
Overall it seemed to fit the bill for a few things I was looking for. Most importantly was the fact that I wanted one. There are so many cartridges available these days for the AR that you could never find a specific use to justify one from the next. If you want to get a Grendel then go for it.
You can't go wrong with SD, the quality is awesome!
chz
New member
Just out of curiosity, have you looked into any of the 6mm AR offerings out there that are based off of Grendel brass? (6mm RAT, 6mm AR Turbo 40) From what I understand, they shoot considerably flatter and carry as much or more energy.. Something to think about perhaps.. Whichever way you go I'm sure you'll be happy..
pukindog
New member
I ordered an 18-inch Grendel barrel from Midway along with a PRI Adjustable gas block and a couple of boxes of Hornady ammo.
I'll still have to pick up a couple of parts then see how it goes. Once I get to reloading for this caliber I might build another upper with a longer barrel.
This probably won't be the last caliber in an AR for me, but it's my next. Thanks to everyone for your imput.
By the way, Midway has their promo code thing going until the 20th of this month. Save $30 spending over $300 etc.
I'll still have to pick up a couple of parts then see how it goes. Once I get to reloading for this caliber I might build another upper with a longer barrel.
This probably won't be the last caliber in an AR for me, but it's my next. Thanks to everyone for your imput.
By the way, Midway has their promo code thing going until the 20th of this month. Save $30 spending over $300 etc.