Seeking Decent 6.5 Grendel Complete Drop-In Upper

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Crowman

Crowman

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This may have already been covered in a previous thread, but couldn't find any (guess it just didn't slap me hard enough...). o_O

I am an unabashed 6.5mm cartridge fan. I have several bolt action hunting rifles chambered in the .260 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor. What I want to do is procure a complete drop-in AR platform 6.5 Grendel upper probably after the holidays, when the near empty checking account gets reloaded :(. The operative wording here is "want" and not "need". I already have a complete lower assembly. It is a new Ruger Elite lower, the one with the Magpul grip and stock, and Ruger's Elite trigger. I also already have a spare Nikon 2-7x scope handy. I'm not a target competitor; rather, I plan on taking it in the woods for busting Whitetails. I already have a couple of AR's in 5.56mm NATO that are set-up for "repell all boarders" events. This one will be a basic semi-auto Bambi Buster play-toy.

I am ONLY interested in the 6.5 Grendel cartridge. I don't care how wonderful other similar AR15 platform cartridges might be. I reload 6.5mm cartridges and keep a ready supply of components on hand. Also, I want to purchase a COMPLETE drop in assembly that is...assembled. I do not want to fiddle around with building one out of parts. Don't have the patience anymore, fingers are getting stiff and closeup eyesight is getting fuzzy.

So...I'm looking for feedback from folks who both have and use a complete 6.5 Grendel upper assembly and what experiences you have had with the various manufacturers with regards to fit, function and customer support. I want to keep the upper well under a grand.

I know Alexander Arms originated the clambering, and should have first leg up. Does anybody gave any experience doing business with them? Is the product decent?

Some other folks uppers and prices look to be in the "too good to be true" category, and I do not want to get stuck with a cheap, sorry "dog" that won't fit together or function.

Also, I will want feedback on which 6.5 Grendel magazines run trouble free and which to avoid.

Any thoughts?
 
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Alexander arms is good to go. I have also heard good things about the JSE Surplus http://www.jsesurplus.com/65grendel.aspx and DSA Arms offers uppers with Odin Works Barrels which are very accurate https://www.dsarms.com/c-784-upper-receiver.aspx?SearchTerm=6.5 . I dont have direct experience with either of these, but they are solid from everything i have read

ETA: For a value option Bear Creek Arsenal has complete uppers on the cheap. They get generally decent feedback, but i have read about some people with issues. They do have a warranty and would be an option if you dont want to spend over $400 or so. Wolf also offers a 6.5 upper as well that isnt to expensive
 
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Depends on what you want to do with it. Longrange target punching--pick a manufacturer that uses a premium barrel which you will pay for in the cost which usually means those established AR 15 firms like those listed below that allow adding premium barrel options to existing uppers or sell you the parts to build as many do. Firms that allow you to pick and choose things like handguards, barrel profiles, types, gas blocks, etc. will generally cost more than those offering you a less configurable package.

Hunting and reliability, go with companies making AR's that offer the Grendel option with good reputation including Alexander Arms, JP Enterprises, Precision Firearms, etc. Les Bauer is another famed maker that more or less cloned the Grendel with slight chamber differences .264 LBC which officially makes it a wildcat (unless he got SAAMI approval now) but fires Grendel ammo.

The one advantage that AA has is that their Grendel bolt was redesigned to be deeper with more support--using cartridges with bigger case heads within AR 15 receivers which means less material around the case to make it fit the AR 15 5.56 bolt specifications. The early designs of the Grendel bolt had reports of lugs cracking etc. because they were based on the 7.62x39 bolts already around. The later tweak that Bill Alexander came up with gave the case head more support by making the bolt deeper. The old design are type 1 bolts and barrels. The new one is type 2 bolt and barrel. As long as you don't mix the wrong type bolt with the wrong barrel, both can work and partisans are still arguing about it. The type 1 is cheaper generally but Grendel consensus tends toward the type 2. I believe that my Grendel bolt is a type 2 (got a package deal where it was cheaper to buy the whole bcg than a good bolt carrier for my 6.8 SPC build) but will have to measure the bolt head when I do a Grendel build sometime next year. Too many projects right now involving bolt actions.

There is a cheap clone of the Grendel cartridge labeled 6.5 Sporter or some other nonsense. Generally avoid those makers for other reasons.

There is one thing though you might want to consider, if your lower is setup for 5.56, you will probably have to play around with buffers, perhaps, gas tube lengths, bolt carriers (m-16 v. Ar-15), or perhaps go with an adjustable gas block as the cycling for the Grendel or other cartridges is a bit different. The easiest if you don't want to switch out buffers, springs, bolt carriers, would be to buy from a mfg that includes a good adjustable gas block that has detents for easy switching between calibers.

Good luck with your decision. Spent a lot of time deciding between the 6.5 Grendel vs. 6.8 SPC and doing the research. Ended up building an SPC simply because that cartridge has more hunting ammo options in the store right now while I build up my brass stock to reload and the 6.8 shines in shorter barrels while the Grendel shines best in a bit longer one. Given the steel cased ammo support, the Grendel also has a cheaper plinking round via Wolf. Both are darn good cartridges that fit the AR confines and ballistically very similar out to about 500 yds. Given I wanted a 16 inch build, the SPC ended up being my choice but a Grendel build is in the future--after all, I already have the bolt, so I will then need to get a barrel, so I will then need to get a .....Black Rifle Disease is insidious once you catch it.
 

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As a big fan of the .260 and Creedmore (add 6.5x55 in my case) I suspect that you might end up a bit disappointed in the Grendel's ballistics. A 6.5 AR10 is still on my bucket list for that very reason.

Mike
 
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I went down this road a while ago and was ready to buy an upper but then I decided I wanted to to get a CZ 527 chambered in the Grendel instead. If I went the AR route, I wanted a longer barrel, and it seemed like Alexander Arms was about the only place I could find a complete upper without building it myself. Since then, Radical Firearms may offer a longer barreled option now.
 
I've got an AA upper and it's been really good, I interchange it with a .223 upper using a rifle weight buffer with no problems.
 
My money for a NON-build 6.5 Grendel would be Ritch Johnson of Ritch's Precision Guns. He builds on Black Hole Weaponry barrels, and I've not yet had one which wouldn't shoot inside 3/4" at 100yrds, and Ritch does a damned good job putting them together and making them run. It'll be a little more of a semi-custom than a pure Custom AR like Mike Milli's Dtech uppers, but it'll also come with a semi-custom price more competitive with factory uppers, instead of the high cost of pure custom stuff.

What are you looking to spend? Lots of guys can build an upper for you - no FFL.
 
browningguy said:
I've got an AA upper and it's been really good, I interchange it with a .223 upper using a rifle weight buffer with no problems.
Click to expand...

I agree that if you use a rifle buffer, you should have ok cycliing. Nowadays though, most people have adjustable carbine stocks where cycling can get to be an issue if the buffer is not swapped out. I went ahead and got the detent adjustable gas block for my upper simply so I could use either of my lowers--one fixed, the other adjustable.

Eventually I'll probably build a lower with a Luth Ar that allows some adjustment while using a rifle buffer tube/buffer just for the 6.8 and future Grendel uppers.
 
boom boom said:
Do you mind telling us more? I've seen reviews but it is always useful to get first hand info from someone that has one.
Click to expand...

Have about 100 rounds of Wolf through it without any problems. Cheap plinking ammo at about $5 a box. Also have a box of 123 Hornady down the pipe. No issues so far. Goes bang every time I pull the trigger. Mounted on my PSA midlength lower. Accuracy at 100 is around 1.5" +/- with the Wolf and under an inch with the Hornady. Bought a Redfield one piece mount from Basspro when they were on sale and have a Vortex 3.5-10 Diamondback mounted on it. Only thing I might do to it is change the handguard. Bolt is the type 2 style.
 
viking499 said:
Have about 100 rounds of Wolf through it without any problems. Cheap plinking ammo at about $5 a box. Also have a box of 123 Hornady down the pipe. No issues so far. Goes bang every time I pull the trigger. Mounted on my PSA midlength lower. Accuracy at 100 is around 1.5" +/- with the Wolf and under an inch with the Hornady. Bought a Redfield one piece mount from Basspro when they were on sale and have a Vortex 3.5-10 Diamondback mounted on it. Only thing I might do to it is change the handguard. Bolt is the type 2 style.
Click to expand...
That is pretty doggone accurate. Thanks. Did not know what to expect from wolf.
 
viking499 said:
Youtube review......

Click to expand...

You have been patient but a few more questions if you do not mind: do you have an adjustable stock and what kind of buffer are you using with the grendel along with what gas system did they install on the upper--carbine or mid length.
 
Adjustable stock - Yes. My lower is a PSA complete MOE blem that I bought when they were on sale that I have used for my midlength 223 and the Grendel upper. I have not added, adjusted, tweeked or twerked anything. Everything is as it is from factory.
 
Varminterror said:
What are you looking to spend? Lots of guys can build an upper for you - no FFL.
Click to expand...

As far as spending, the AA complete upper with 20" barrel is affordable. I already bought the complete Ruger Elite lower and have it in the box now. Just want a factory drop-in upper that I can pop on without spending money for a custom or semi-custom build job. As far as doing the work myself, I can do it from parts & components, just don't wanna. I do have a complete AR armorer's tool set and a bunch of maintenance parts for several weapons. I've done a fair amount of Gunsmithing on both rifles and handguns that I own but no longer have the patience or eyesight to screw around with it. Waaaaay back in the day, I was a machinist...but do not have a machineshop set up, nor do I want one now. Time isn't an issue. I'm retired with a fondness for good food, hard cider and bourbon.

The idea is for a quick and dirty Bambi Buster on an AR15 platform. It will be a dedicated 6.5 Grendel rifle. I'm thinking of a 20" barrel for hunting. Already have two AR's in 5.56 NATO with 16" barrels, so want a deer hunter in a 6.5mm flavor, NOT a target gun. AA is the only mfg., that I've read about, so far, and there seems to be a consensus that their products are top drawer. The guy in your post might be pricy...how does he compare to AA? Feedback on the other manufacturers from folks who own them would be appreciated or purposes of making an informed decision. Particularly interested in problems experienced with installing and shooting these cheaper uppers. Same for magazines.
 
Everready73 said:
ETA: For a value option Bear Creek Arsenal has complete uppers on the cheap. They get generally decent feedback, but i have read about some people with issues. They do have a warranty and would be an option if you dont want to spend over $400 or so. Wolf also offers a 6.5 upper as well that isnt to expensive
Click to expand...

Weeelll, I am trying to avoid the issues. Yes, I will spend between $500.00 to $1,000.00 for a good upper. Anything over a grand is more than I want to spend, so won't go there. Never heard of Wolf. Do you have any direct experience with them? Magazines?
 
boom boom said:
Depends on what you want to do with it. Longrange target punching--pick a manufacturer that uses a premium barrel which you will pay for in the cost which usually means those established AR 15 firms like those listed below that allow adding premium barrel options to existing uppers or sell you the parts to build as many do. Firms that allow you to pick and choose things like handguards, barrel profiles, types, gas blocks, etc. will generally cost more than those offering you a less configurable package.

Hunting and reliability, go with companies making AR's that offer the Grendel option with good reputation including Alexander Arms, JP Enterprises, Precision Firearms, etc. Les Bauer is another famed maker that more or less cloned the Grendel with slight chamber differences .264 LBC which officially makes it a wildcat (unless he got SAAMI approval now) but fires Grendel ammo.

The one advantage that AA has is that their Grendel bolt was redesigned to be deeper with more support--using cartridges with bigger case heads within AR 15 receivers which means less material around the case to make it fit the AR 15 5.56 bolt specifications. The early designs of the Grendel bolt had reports of lugs cracking etc. because they were based on the 7.62x39 bolts already around. The later tweak that Bill Alexander came up with gave the case head more support by making the bolt deeper. The old design are type 1 bolts and barrels. The new one is type 2 bolt and barrel. As long as you don't mix the wrong type bolt with the wrong barrel, both can work and partisans are still arguing about it. The type 1 is cheaper generally but Grendel consensus tends toward the type 2. I believe that my Grendel bolt is a type 2 (got a package deal where it was cheaper to buy the whole bcg than a good bolt carrier for my 6.8 SPC build) but will have to measure the bolt head when I do a Grendel build sometime next year. Too many projects right now involving bolt actions.

There is a cheap clone of the Grendel cartridge labeled 6.5 Sporter or some other nonsense. Generally avoid those makers for other reasons.

There is one thing though you might want to consider, if your lower is setup for 5.56, you will probably have to play around with buffers, perhaps, gas tube lengths, bolt carriers (m-16 v. Ar-15), or perhaps go with an adjustable gas block as the cycling for the Grendel or other cartridges is a bit different. The easiest if you don't want to switch out buffers, springs, bolt carriers, would be to buy from a mfg that includes a good adjustable gas block that has detents for easy switching between calibers.

Good luck with your decision. Spent a lot of time deciding between the 6.5 Grendel vs. 6.8 SPC and doing the research. Ended up building an SPC simply because that cartridge has more hunting ammo options in the store right now while I build up my brass stock to reload and the 6.8 shines in shorter barrels while the Grendel shines best in a bit longer one. Given the steel cased ammo support, the Grendel also has a cheaper plinking round via Wolf. Both are darn good cartridges that fit the AR confines and ballistically very similar out to about 500 yds. Given I wanted a 16 inch build, the SPC ended up being my choice but a Grendel build is in the future--after all, I already have the bolt, so I will then need to get a barrel, so I will then need to get a .....Black Rifle Disease is insidious once you catch it.
Click to expand...

Thanks. That was detailed and informative.
 
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