Custom 6.5 grendel

[farmerboy78]

Well I just bought a grendel off gunbroker today. It has a 23" lilja barrel, geiselle trigger, magpul prs stock, Harris bipod, spikes lower. Well you get the picture! What kind of velocity should I be able to attain with accuracy? I ordered some Hornady 123gr amax and federal made American Eagle 120gr otm ammo today as well. I plan to run ramshot tac, since I have 8lbs already, but will probably try ar comp too. Load data please!!!

 

[LoonWulf]

Sounds like a very nice set up!

I havent run either powder you list, Ive only used cfe223 and 8208.
From my 24" tube I was getting 2600-2650 with a stout load, from my 20 i was only getting 2500. I modified my mag (cut a big notch in the front) to run a longer coal also.

 

[farmerboy78]

Well my rifle shipped today and I received the ammo I ordered from sportsman's guide (blazing fast shipping). I think I'm going to put my ior valdada 3-18x42 on it, that used to reside on the Creedmoor I had. Still would like some load data please!

 

[LoonWulf]

my current load is 31.5grn of cfe223 behind the 123 amax (this is a hot load, one upper showed no signs, the other was starting to swipe). I cant remember the coal i use now, but before i modded the mag it was just shy of touching the mag so 2.29ish. Shot under 1" out of my 24" barrel. I havent accuracy tested the 20" since it came back from being turned down. Im hopping to get out and test it tomorrow. I worked up a load of 8208, which again i cant remember off hand but i can get the data when i get home, that shot really accurately but was significantly slower in my 24" upper.

Cant find my 8208 data, or one of my older short rounds....my current loads is 31.5, 123amax, 2.362 coal, velocity 2540avg..ooops 2500 didnt notice the 4

 

[Onewolf]

65grendel dot com forum has lots of load data and other grendel info. My 20" LBC 264 provides about 2475 fps with Scenar 123s.

 

[farmerboy78]

Well my rifle should be delivered today. I just hope it's in time to put a little range time in before dark. I will put up some pictures as soon as I can.

 

[farmerboy78]

Well here she is! I mounted my ior valdada 3-18x42 on it which is slightly low, so i ordered some 1/2" tall risers to get it 100%. Shot her today to 500yds. With factory hornady amax ammo, it shot 2-2.5" 5 shot groups @ 500. I don't care much for the grip and it will be replaced with a hogue and I need to adjust the trigger a little. But all in all its a fantastic rifle. All but the scope is how it delivered.

*lilja ar-24 6.5 grendel barrel
*youngs 15" handguard
*vltor upper
*AA bolt and carrier group
*Harris bipod
*spikes tactical lower (skulls)
*geiselle sa trigger
*magpul prs stock
*jpe silent capture
*ior 3-18x42 illuminated in seekins rings
*hogue grip (future)
*2 magazines

 

[farmerboy78]

Well I have an update! I've been shooting some of the hornady amax factory ammo and it is sub-moa. I did some load work today with the 123gr amax, hornady once fired brass, cci primers, and tac... so far 27.4gr shot about .4" cloverleaf and 27.6gr was about .55"... can someone tell me the max charge for tac? I worked to 28.2gr and didn't see any noticeable pressure signs, just want to keep it safe. I think my next node will be just above the 28.2gr.

 

[LoonWulf]

Sweet looking rig, sounds like it shoots good too! Ramshot lists 28.2 as max, if your going to go above that do so carefully, and dont take someone elses recommendation for what will be a "max" load. Keep an eye on pressure signs and step up slowly.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Nice shooting rifle congrats on your purchase. Be careful with TAC and other ball powders as they have been pretty sensitive for me shooting during hot weather. During cold weather the accuracy and velocity just isn't there.

My 20" Grendel likes the 123 Amax and SST with 27.3gr of IMR 8208 at 2.230 COAL. It's stupid accurate and very consistent across weather changes. Another load the people really like and shoots well in alot of barrels is 28-28.3gr 8208 with a 123 bullet.

 

[Casefull]

Congrats farmerboy. I would love a rifle with that accuracy. I need another ar like I need a hole in my head. lol

 

[farmerboy78]

Congrats farmerboy. I would love a rifle with that accuracy. I need another ar like I need a hole in my head. lol

Thank you! I used to think the ar was something that I didn't need because the m16a2 I used was pitiful in the accuracy department. But about 11/2 yrs ago I actually needed on for a shoot and picked up my first using a white oak upper that is scoped with a rock river lower. I now have more than 1 since I've seen huge potential in the ar accuracy. So that led me to this buy.

 

[LoonWulf]

Seems like you made a good choice

 

[farmerboy78]

Update:

Took 2 deer this afternoon with this rifle using the hornady amax factory ammo. One @ 326yds and the other @ 278yds. The rifle dropped the rounds exactly where I was aiming. It really is an amazing rifle. The 326yd shot was facing right at me and all I could see was the tops of the shoulders up. Put the cross hairs right above the sage grass and hit it in the lower neck and dropped it right there. The second was broad side 278yds, and I punched him right behind the shoulder. And with a big mule kick to start, he ran about 75yds and piled up. This is now my go to rifle inside 500yds for hunting.

 

[LoonWulf]

congratulations!!! glad your happy with it, and good shooting!