Lightweight AR 6.5

[CraigC]

I've proven I can't build a cheap one but I finally succeeded in building a light one, relatively speaking anyway. I wanted to do a lightweight hunting AR in 6.5Grendel, since the last one (Grendel Hunter) ended up heavier than I wanted. This time I started with a B. King's builder set in burnt bronze cerakote, B5 furniture in coyote brown, a Faxon lightweight 16" barrel and BCG, with a Geissele trigger. In my opinion, most of the 30mm optics are stupid heavy. I started out with a Leupold 1" tube 1.5-4x and may go back to it. For now, it's topped with a 10oz Vortex 5x prism and I will probably add a Leupold Deltapoint in a 45° mount. Package weighs right at 7lbs unloaded. I have more plans for it, including a suppressor and a Lantac Dragon muzzle device but right now it's going to the woods with 120gr Gold Dot handloads. Of course I'll be hunting with 5rd mags.

 

[gotboostvr]

Oh man, I was just talking about starting a build similar to this.

Even down to the cartridge, weight, and optic.

 

[CraigC]

Oh man, I was just talking about starting a build similar to this.

Even down to the cartridge, weight, and optic.

Great minds think alike!

 

[horsemen61]

Love it mine is no lightweight but I am a 6.5 fanatic so I get why you chose a 6.5 Grendel

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’ve got a BCA upper. I agree that a “hunting” 6.5G should be lighter.
My only disappointment is how heavy it is.
It’s got a 20”bbl that’s a “Heavy barrel contour” but has spiral flutes. It’s a fine range toy and bench rifle but too heavy for woods carry.
It presently has a 6-24x scope that doesn’t help. I’ve got a light weight 2x-7x I’ve been planning on putting on it.

I too am using the 120gr Speer GoldDot bullet over H335 for 2,500fps. Most accurate is a 90gr Speer TNT at 2,800fps however.

 

[Bartojc]

Craig that is about the perfect whitetail rig. The weight is very good.

Cheap and light don't necessarily go together

-Jeff

 

[Charlie98]

Package weighs right at 7lbs unloaded.

That's pretty admirable. My lightweight 5.56mm carbine is about 6.5#... mostly because I went with a medium-weight barrel.... but, as Bartojc said...

Cheap and light don't necessarily go together

True that.

 

[CraigC]

Cheap and light weren't the same rifle. That said, I don't think these two were bad at all at around $1500.

My "budget" build ended up costing more than buying a complete rifle.

The new one ended up being about $100 less than the Grendel Hunter, with a 2" shorter barrel and just over a pound lighter. Of course, the UBR stock didn't help either.

 

[mavracer]

I built my lightweight hunting rig in 350 Legend since I mostly pig hunt. For a deer rig the 6.5 is a sweet one.
It's a smidge over 7.5# with suppressor and an empty mag.

 

[CraigC]

I dig it! What suppressor you running? I've got a Hybrid in jail but was wanting to get an Omega 36M for the 6.5's and .30's and maybe a Saker for 5.56. All using the Lantac Dragon or similar as a quick mount.

 

[Gtscotty]

Very nice rig. I don't know why but I love the "50 shades of FDE" vibe, great for a hunting rifle. I'm putting a similar optic PA 3x micro-prism on my Ruger SFAR for hunting. I have a run of the mill 3-9x scope on my lightweight hunting Grendel, but might switch it over too if I wind up liking the prism on a woods rifle.

 

[gotboostvr]

Very nice rig. I don't know why but I love the "50 shades of FDE" vibe, great for a hunting rifle. I'm putting a similar optic PA 3x micro-prism on my Ruger SFAR for hunting. I have a run of the mill 3-9x scope on my lightweight hunting Grendel, but might switch it over too if I wind up liking the prism on a woods rifle.

I've got one of those PA micro 3x's on my lightweight 556 AR. I like it alot. I'm hoping they roll out a 5x version.

 

[mavracer]

I dig it! What suppressor you running? I've got a Hybrid in jail but was wanting to get an Omega 36M for the 6.5's and .30's and maybe a Saker for 5.56. All using the Lantac Dragon or similar as a quick mount.

If you're asking me it's a Torrent T9K I'm using Griffin Taper mount system I like the fact that it's a super short and relatively light QD system. The can is all titanium tubeless design it's not real quiet but for a hunting rig IMHO it's perfect.
ETA I also use it to tame my 5.56 SBR possibly the loudest suppressed gun in existence lol.