Question for 6.5 Grendel AR owners/ordering a barrel

[mavracer]

It’s your rifle, get what you want. When one says, 24” is too long but 16” is too short, you have to ask, for what? For them, is the answer.

Yep OP asked for people's opinion and gets their opinion.

 

[jmorris]

Yeah, and those vary as much as our uses do. It’s easy to be unsure if a combination is optimal or not, when you don’t know the intended use or conditions.

 

[Ray P]

Yep OP asked for people's opinion and gets their opinion.

And I'm very happy with that. I know my opinion isn't the end-all, and gaining insight into others' opinions helps expand my options

 

[Ray P]

This would be a good compromise but still over 30-oz (32.1): https://shopwilsoncombat.com/BARREL...S-GLASS-BEAD-1-8/productinfo/TR-65GRCRG18FT8/

Faxon makes 18 and 20-inch "Gunner" profile barrels that are very light...just difficult to find in stock these days.

Looks like Carbon6 will make you a 24" 6.5 Grendel threaded barrel with any twist rate you want between 1:7"-1:10" for less than eight bills.

https://carbonsixllc.com/product/carbonsix-ar-style-barrel/

I was thinking my choice was limited to X-Caliber and a few sources for McGowen barrels. You got me looking around again. That Shilen barrel from Midway looks very good, too. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1003479633?pid=833900

 

[Ray P]

(snip) Do you already have the trigger? I have both and I like the Larue MBT better, not enough better that I've replaced the RRA though.

I have the RRA in the lower now, and in four other ARs (5.56, .308, .450 Bushmaster, and .458 Socom), I have a LaRue single-stage in my pistol caliber carbine, and I do like too. The LaRue is not the MBT-1S, but it is one of the smoothest single stage triggers I have ever shot.

 

[Ray P]

For most users seeking a “general purpose Grendel,” a 20” rifle, 1:8” twist in a NM/DCM contour is ideal. Long enough to promote great speeds, but not overlength, heavy enough to promote great stability, but not overweight. (snip)

Varminteer; I think you nailed it, even if I didn't explain it well. A “general purpose Grendel”. Light enough for toting along when climbing hills and ridges, but stiff enough for occasional bench shooting (without being benchrest).

Edited to add: Those are beautiful rifles!

 

[Ray P]

Okay. A day late, but bbl is on order. Went with a Mos-Tek custom bbl. Got the same characteristics as the X-caliber, but with nitride, cryo and fitted bolt at the same cost.

 

[mavracer]

I have the RRA in the lower now, and in four other ARs (5.56, .308, .450 Bushmaster, and .458 Socom), I have a LaRue single-stage in my pistol caliber carbine, and I do like too. The LaRue is not the MBT-1S, but it is one of the smoothest single stage triggers I have ever shot.

Yeah like I said they're close enough I wouldn't switch.
I think you'll be happy with the 20", I've got a 20" Valkyrie it's not too terribly heavy to carry.

 

[Ray P]

Well, I did make a few changes. Picked a profile that is definitely more HBar than the X-caliber Sporter profile. And maybe I'm an ass-hat, but with all the different opinions on length I decided to split the difference and go 22". Not for any reason other than it made me laugh to do it.

 

[small town life]

Barrel lengths that drive my decisions are by distance by velocity by bullet weight. I have only 2 grens, 1 at 20" and 1 at 24". The longer 1 will shoot the heavier bullets 123-130gr and the 20" is for lighter bullets. 2,600fps is my tipping point where I draw the line. With sierra discontinuing their 85gr (my favorite hotrod for 264wm) I'm stuck with the 90s. I use QL for a template (not a 100% believer) for comparing printed data. If I want too shoot low velocity bullets my go to is the 45-70 (1895).

 

[mavracer]

I decided to split the difference and go 22". Not for any reason other than it made me laugh to do it.

LOL I like swimming upstream too.
One problem I had with my 22" was it had a A2 style stock and wouldn't fit in any of my AR cases.

 

[marksman13]

I ended up with an 18” Draco’s barrel on my 6.5 Grendel. It shoots lights out, but ended up heavier than I’d like. For a hunting rifle, I would absolutely stay in the 18”-20” range and I’d go with a lighter weight barrel. Nobody enjoys carrying extra weight when they don’t have to.

 

[Ray P]

LOL I like swimming upstream too.
One problem I had with my 22" was it had a A2 style stock and wouldn't fit in any of my AR cases.

Pretty sure there's some long pelican boxes at the exchange. But if not, the soft case that can hold my RPR should work a bit of double duty for a while.

So now it's a race. Which will arrive first, my barrel which is expected to be 5 months out, or an SBR stamp which I applied for in December.

 

[Ray P]

I ended up with an 18” Draco’s barrel on my 6.5 Grendel. It shoots lights out, but ended up heavier than I’d like..

Good friend did much the same with his first 6.5 Creed more build on an older Savage action. Between a heavy profile, a 24" bbl, a very heavy laminate stock, and a long can on the end, he only carried it once in the field.

 

[marksman13]

Good friend did much the same with his first 6.5 Creed more build on an older Savage action. Between a heavy profile, a 24" bbl, a very heavy laminate stock, and a long can on the end, he only carried it once in the field.

I think I’m right at ten pounds with no suppressor, so it’s not terrible, but it’s not my favorite rifle to tote out in the field.

 

[citizenconn]

I've assembled about two dozen 6.5 Grendel ARs, barrel lengths ranging from 10.5" to 24". I've shot a light 16" barrel out to 800 yards, 20 & 24" out to 1000 yards. My match grade 20" barrels are the most consistent out past 600 yards. All with a 1:8 twist. I think I have four with 24" barrels, light to medium heavy fluted design. I do get a bit more velocity with the 24" barrels, but the lighter ones can have considerable whip to them. I would recommend a good brake and a fairly heavy buttstock for anything over 20".

 

[Ray P]

I've assembled about two dozen 6.5 Grendel ARs, barrel lengths ranging from 10.5" to 24". I've shot a light 16" barrel out to 800 yards, 20 & 24" out to 1000 yards. My match grade 20" barrels are the most consistent out past 600 yards. All with a 1:8 twist. I think I have four with 24" barrels, light to medium heavy fluted design. I do get a bit more velocity with the 24" barrels, but the lighter ones can have considerable whip to them. I would recommend a good brake and a fairly heavy buttstock for anything over 20".

Excellent advice, thank you! Hmmm. That sounds like a good argument for an A2 stock with a high-power weight in behind the trap door. It's not like I'd keep an M16 cleaning kit in there

 

[Varminterror]

Excellent advice, thank you! Hmmm. That sounds like a good argument for an A2 stock with a high-power weight in behind the trap door. It's not like I'd keep an M16 cleaning kit in there

Remind yourself here - putting a heavy buttstock on a 20” rifle makes it balance more like a 16” carbine… which, in part, defeats the purpose of the longer, heavier barrel - balancing between the hands is a DISadvantage for a long range rifle.

For example, I had to add almost 2lbs of weight to the forend of my 24” rifle pictured on the first page to make it balance properly against the Magpul PRS2 buttstock… even using a semi-bull contour, heavy before the journal, and 0.875” nominal muzzle. A lighter stock would have allowed a full pound lighter rifle with better balance - so the heavy PRS2 was a disadvantage in the weapon design.

 

[gunmechanic]

I have built several grendels.They are all different lengths and twists.The sweet spot for a bench/ hunting gun in my opinion is 20".The 24" is my personal choice but i like bench guns.I would not use a 16", i think you are not getting the full potential out of the cartridge .

 

[Ray P]

Barrel won't be here until early July, so I have plenty of time to look at stock options. Not going to commit to any furniture until the barrel arrives, anyway. My comment re the A2 was really more of me reminiscing about guns past.