Anybody Round Here Doing The 6.5 Grendel Thing?

Dirk72

Dirk72

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You read the gun rags and they're all the same: this is the latest, greatest calibre that does it all!!!! Then a couple years later nobody's heard of it!

Round here a lot of guys are running the 300 BLK and that's cool but not my cup of tea; but I am taking notice of the 6.5 Grendel and it seems like some of the suppliers want to as well... but the ones I have spoken to so far don't really support it the way they do with the 300 BLK or the 6.5 Creedmore, etc. Are there any suppliers in your neck of the woods that can qualify as authorities on the 6.5?

I just learned about a new outfit here in Edmonton called TOA (Tier One Armament) and I've been to their shop and it seems they might be able to help me out - have any of you guys dealt with them? I would really like to get into the 6.5 and would appreciate any comments you may have about it.
 
TOA is an awesome shop run by top notch fellas. They know their stuff there. I heard the same thing. I say if you reload, go for it!
 
We got dragged into the 6.5 Grendel market pretty much kicking and screaming for our Modern Varmint rifle.
After having run a bunch of ammo through it I have to humbly say I am impressed. more so than with the 300 Blackout.
Hornady has a good number of offering for ammo, our Varmint just loves their "Black" line of ammo.
Mags and bolts are a tad harder to find, but are out there.
Reloading components have not been a problem for us to get and the cartridge is no harder to load for than any other. Keep in mind small base dies are almost mandatory for any of the AR style rifles due to how much of the casing is unsupported.
 
I'm in a long wait for XCR 6.5 Grendel barrel. It use to get a lot of press and died out .. I have no idea why. Ammo prices I've seen the US make it really worth while there. On paper, it's performance and component availability isn't bad. I personally can't wait to get started with it. I also bet the MH in 6.5 Grendel is stellar.
 
I've seen Prophet River bring in some of the Howa 6.5 mini bolt guns. Most sponsors are sold out of ammo, but there is a good deal on at Barton's Big Country. In the last few weeks I've seen the Alexander Arms brass jump in price, you can still find some good deals on Hornady or make your own from 7.62x39 brass, but you'll have different primer pockets.
 
I did a lot of research on various AR 15/STANAG type calibers, Grendel did not make the cut though. The conversions that did were the 7.62x39 and 50 Beowulf (shared bolt) and then the Remington 30AR and 450 Bushmaster (shared bolt and magazines)

as far as performance the Remington 30AR is at the top of the performance chart in a STANG magazine. Factory ammo is readily available from Remington, the only unfortunate part is outside of Remington or custom conversions nobody is offering parts or rifles even though it is not proprietary like the 50 Beowulf

Until someone comes up with a NR, accurate, light weight, 308, semi auto, the Remington 30AR is unlikely to be replaced as my hunting rifle
 
I was also introduced to the 6.5 Grendel by some acquaintances south of the border. They swore by it in their AR platforms. I am personally waiting for vendors to bring in some CZ 527's chambered in it
 
Problem with Grendel is there was and continues to be lots of confusion on bolt / chamber comparability

Short version of long story is : the AA 6.5 Grendel bolt is not the same recess (depth ) to bolt face as a 7.62X39 ...even though they share the same bolt face diameter .

Difference in depth is about .011 " . Grendel bolt is about .136"

Early days CSS started doing a 6.5Grendel but with 7.62X39 bolt depth ( they now have their 6.5CSS ) because they didn't want to pay royalties and buy the 6.5Grendel bolt for AA

They even changed bolt depth for the 6.5CSS in about 2006 ! Aaarrggg !


Fast forward to 2011 when AA submitted 6.5Grendel becomes SAAMI cartridge

In the 6.5 Grendel and variant world they refer to these are type I and Type 2 bolts / Chambers . Lots of information online

This is a good read : htt ://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_121/696465_.html

Lost of confusion too form same manufacturers using both types over the years ( like Black Whole Weaponry )

Common versions are the 264LBC ( uses grendel depth bolt , slightly different reamer dim )

Good Points

Obviously the BC of the Sierra 123 Gr MK and Lapua 123 Scenars

Can't argue the external ballistics of the 6.5Grenel are not impressive

The quality of the brass is outstanding ( Lapua Brand ) . Norma brass is also outstanding , but doesn't have annealed necks like Lapua

The Hornady brass is just " good " but get what you pay for . Needs prep

Downside is you are always trying to recover all your brass since its spendy !

For plinker loads its very easy to make 6.5 Grendel case from 7.62X39 brass

My initial fireform load will cycle action

Scrap rate is surprisingly low ( less than 5 out of 100 split neck )

Parts for Build

I have built on Sabre Defense button rifle , Satern cut rifle , Satern Liberty ( 5R button rifle ...they make them for Brownells )

The one upper I kept was the Satern Cut Rifle .

Reloading

IF you decided to get all out on dies , like the Redding Competition , just make sure you get the VLD seating stem . You will put ring on those ###y Scenar / SMK bullets when seating

Also , Redding does not recommend seating compressed loads with their competition stems . Found that out the hard way belling out the seating stem .

They are cheap enough but something to keep in mind because if you don't watch for the belling of the mouth, it will eventually get to a point where you can't remove it from the floating sleeve

Biggest Downside

I would say the biggest problem with building a AR based Grendel is you really can't get the most of the cartridge unless you have access to over 200 yrd range

I build mine on what started to be a MK12Mod1 clone . Its probably my least shot upper since I only have up to 200yrds at local ranges

I find bench shooting my ARs are not as enjoyable as shooting steel with AR offhand ...but thats just me .

I have way more fun shooting Non Restricted precision rifle out to 500+

Not sure why you would build a bolt precision rifle on 6.5 Grendel when its easier to build 6.5Creedmore, 6x47 , 260 etc

I know there are Mini actions available ( Howa , CZ ) but not sure if the barrels are accurate enough to really make the 6.5Grendel shine at 500+yrds
 
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xdmer said:
^What was your reasoning or criteria Brian46?
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I believe my post touched on both?

Other then the 50, ammunition is readily available in canada for the calibers I did (factory loaded). NR status, rifle weight, ammunition cost, performance down range on game (hunting) are all what I considered.
 
Blackleaf Ind. in AB is an Odinworks dealer; OW has grendel AR bits 'n pieces (incl. type 2 BCG's) on up to complete uppers and rifles in the calibre.
 
I get the bolt decisions assuming those are the calibers you chose. For some reason I had hunting performance or precision shooting on my mind, and was wondered how that fit in to your choices if at all.
Brian46 said:
I believe my post touched on both?

Other then the 50, ammunition is readily available in canada for the calibers I did (factory loaded). NR status, rifle weight, ammunition cost, performance down range on game (hunting) are all what I considered.
Click to expand...
 
xdmer said:
I get the bolt decisions assuming those are the calibers you chose. For some reason I had hunting performance or precision shooting on my mind, and was wondered how that fit in to your choices if at all.
Click to expand...

For hunting the 450/30AR setup can not be beat. Can basically take any game available in North America.

The 7.62x39 has cheap ammo for plinking along with being able to take medium sized game with ease, the 50 is more of a novelty now that the RCMP have effectively neutered the capacity to 2 along with basically no factory ammo available.
 
Okay I understand. I figured distance was really limited with the 450 and 30AR, but would hit like a freight train within typical hunting range. The 450 and 30AR are really new to me and I haven't seen them around either. On paper various 6.5 Grendel rounds have a lot to like, and I really like the 7.62x39 too.

Brian46 said:
For hunting the 450/30AR setup can not be beat. Can basically take any game available in North America.

The 7.62x39 has cheap ammo for plinking along with being able to take medium sized game with ease, the 50 is more of a novelty now that the RCMP have effectively neutered the capacity to 2 along with basically no factory ammo available.
Click to expand...
 
Hirsch Precision and Wolverine Supplies both offer brass and dies for it. Bullets can be found in many places, like Higginson Powders.

http://www.hirschprecision.com/inde...087f9196ca0543fdfc37f53bd&keyword=6.5+Grendel

https://www.wolverinesupplies.com/SearchByKeyword?word=6.5 Grendel&sortValue=0

http://www.higginsonpowders.com/

Other than that I don't know much about it, although it does look like an interesting caliber. It can achieve some pretty high velocities with the different bullet weights offered for it.
 
xdmer said:
Okay I understand. I figured distance was really limited with the 450 and 30AR, but would hit like a freight train within typical hunting range. The 450 and 30AR are really new to me and I haven't seen them around either. On paper various 6.5 Grendel rounds have a lot to like, and I really like the 7.62x39 too.
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the 30AR in Remington hog hammer line travels at 2800fps with a 125gr tsx. 400yds on medium sized game. To get that speed out of a Grendel you need a lighter bullet and are giving up a lot of knock down power limiting it's effective range. The 450 is more 200yds and under but will kill anything.

https://images.remington-catalog.com/57a0adef797dc
 
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