Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 6.5 Grendel Barrel?

I have an AA 6.5 Grendel carbine. I LOVE this firearm! I would like to stretch the barrel out a bit though. I am a few hundred fps slower than the book loads, it's loud and I think that I can improve down-range accuracy. My inclining is to go with a 20".

What vendor would you recommend for quality and availability? I am dabbling with longer range shooting with this AR; i.e. 400 to 600. I am consistent with the gong at 400, however I haven't put it on paper at that range. Certainly sub-moa at 100 yards.

Shooting 123 gr A-Max 48.6gr H4895 and CCI450. Hitting aroung 2400 on the Chrono.

Thanks.

Good luck getting a barrel anytime soon.

Yup, I hear ya. However I was able to get my 6.5 from Alexander in about 4 months! I am still waiting for a backup bolt and another lower (working on about 4 months right now). I am patient. This will be a great winter project. I am going to upgrade the trigger as well.

I'm sitting on a 24" complete upper and am not sure just yet what I want to do with it.

Loads suggestions? Factory ammo?

Most of the load data publications list a 24" for the test loads, so I think you will be fairly consistent with the results listed.

That being said, one of the more recommended powders is the AA2520. I experienced some serious overpressure issues with this powder; i.e. failure to eject, brass flow, etc. As I listed above, my best load is with H4895 48.6gr., Hornady A-Max 123gr and actually a bit under book.

Other powders that I have seen recommended are CFE123, Benchmark, and Western Tac.

I compared small rifle primers and magnum small rifle primers (CCI 400 and 450) and did not realize much of a difference on the chrono or the paper. I suppose in colder temps the magnum primers may be better.

So, I am zero at 200 yards, 3 moa at 300; 7 moa at 400; and calculated 15 moa at 550 (haven't been successful on this one yet).

I am by no means an authority on this but that is what I know.

I say clip the upper on and give it a shot, even with factory ammo if you can find it. Enjoy

Must be a typo with 48.6grs of H4895? The Grendel is a 30gr cartridge.

I have good accuracy with Benchmark and H335...

oops... 28.6... thanks for pointing that out. I must have been thinking about the '06!

I noticed that MCGowen is making AR barrels now, not sure if this caliber is yet available from them though

Thank for the tip. I'll look them up.

Probably the most recommended powder is the CFE223, it usually gives top velocity and shoots some almost unbelievable groups in a lot of rifles. My bolt 6.5 Grendel is super accurate. Check us out at:

http://www.65grendel.com/forum/forum.php


Steve...........

Check out J&T Distributing. I know they have a 20" 6.5 Grendel Upper Receiver Assembly that I would dearly love to get if and when I can save up the $$$. I believe they also have kits and barrels on their site as well. I have heard / read good things about J&T Distributing and from what I understand they are a sister company to Double Star.

Larry

Thank you. I have been to the J&T site a while back. A recommendation or post of experience with a vendor is a great thing.

For longer work I would not go with anything less than 24. I did some of the early testing of that round at 600 for Arne, before it changed from 6.5 ppc to the Grendel name. I don't think that a 20 inch tube would do quite what it needs to IMHO. At least for what you are talking about.

Thank you. That is great information. I am practically a clueless novice. What can you tell me about the barrel harmonics in a 24" vs. 20"? Can that be compensated? If so, how does one go about figuring that out?

Over 20" you really need an extended length gas system.

I don't see any major advantage with going over 20" in the Grendel.

123gr A-max out of my 16" is 2450fps and list out of a 24" is 2580fps. You can get 2500fps with a 123gr and CFE223 out of a 18" barrel.

I went 16" and 20" but if I was going to do it from start again I would just go 18".

I would get in touch with Satern Custom Machine and get one of their cut rifle barrels 20" in a SPR contour.

I ordered from Satern in April and I am still waiting. They keep me informed and I knew it was going to take a while when I ordered, but don't expect to get one in a hurry.

got this email from McGowen today, my question was "Will the 6.5 Grendel chambering soon be available?

It is available now.

Dan J Wynne
General Manager
McGowen Precision Barrels, LLC
American Gun Company, LLC
4051 Hwy 93 South
Kalispell, MT 59901

P) 406-755-4907 F) 406-755-2969

Bear in mind that the barrel that is 18" stock is just $225!!!! Here is a link to the site - you can get additional lengths - I think that they are about $10-20 per inch, and fluting too!

http://www.mcgowenbarrel.com/ar15.htm

Thank you for the information.