6.5 Grendel

[atlas3025]

So I am getting into this game. I have found a 24" Shilen BB for an AR with a 10 twist. I am thinking the 120 grain bullets are probably best for that rate. Am I wrong? Would something else work better? Is this length appropriate?

Any help is appreciated!

[Clod Stomper]

120 grain range bullets are pretty much the standard. Though you shouldn't have a problem with pretty much any standard bullet weight. The 120's will be be fine with that twist.

By length, I assume you mean barrel length. Plenty of folks use a longer barrel to wring every last bit of velocity out of the Grendel. It depends on what you're going to use it for. If you want to hunt, 24" may be a bit heavy, depending on the profile. But if you're main interest is shooting paper, especially at longer ranges, a 24" barrel is well-suited.

Personally, while most of my shooting is at paper (never from a bench though), I have an 18" barrel. When I get back to hunting, I'll want the lighter barrel. I originally bought a 28" barrel a few years ago when nothing else could be had (post-election panic) and cut it down to 18". I think I only lost about 100 fps velocity. Well worth it to me for a much handier barrel length. I built my wife an 18" and my brother a 16".

Are you fireforming cases, or buying factory? Just curious. When I got into the Grendel, fireforming was the only way to get cases in a reasonable amount of time. Now brass is (or was) easily available.

Have you been over on the Grendel forum? Plenty of good info and good people over there. http://www.65grendel.com/forum/

While I'm not the all-time Grendel expert, I'm certainly a Grendel Nut. So I'm happy to discuss all you want.

Will

Edited October 5, 2012 by Clod Stomper

[1gewehr]

I went with the 20" barrel as the best compromise between maximum velocity and good handling. My upper is from J&T and has been very accurate and reliable. I've had it about 18 months and it has given me no problems at all.

http://jtdistributing.net/store/page170.html

I've shot a lot of the Wolf Gold, both the 120gr MPT (400rds) and the 123gr SP (200rds). I got just under 1moa with the 120gr, and about 1.5moa with the SP at 100 meters. I won't be buying any more of the SP as reports are that the MPT is an excellent hunting cartridge for deer and hogs.

Some folks complained about cracks in the necks of the Wolf cases after one reloading. I have not yet reloaded any of mine more than once, but have yet to see any cracks in the necks.

Wolf is supposed to have inexpensive steel-case plinking ammo early next year. If they can keep it under $6/box, I'll probably stack it high.

I am really sold on this cartridge as the best all-purpose round available for the AR-15 platform.

[atlas3025]

Thanks to both of you for the comments! I am just wanting to punch paper with it, and am not too concerned about weight. Or course I don't want it to be needlessly heavy, but this would never be a brush gun.

Only lost 100FPS while losing 10 inches of barrel!? WOW...I may have it cut down to 22 or 20 then since I have a 30 cal suppressor coming that I may want to run on it.

I haven't got a reloading plan yet. I already have a couple of boxes of Hornady loaded ammo, so I will have 40 pieces of brass from that. I may try some wolf too...hopefully the necks will hold up for a few loads. I don't expect to shoot tons out of it like I would a 223 or 300BLK, but you never know. With those, I like to shoot steel, and sometimes burn through a bunch of ammo. But with shooting paper, will be much more controlled to try and build good groups. I think I will stick with 10 round mags just to keep from getting too blast happy.

[Clod Stomper]

Thanks to both of you for the comments! I am just wanting to punch paper with it, and am not too concerned about weight. Or course I don't want it to be needlessly heavy, but this would never be a brush gun.

Only lost 100FPS while losing 10 inches of barrel!? WOW...I may have it cut down to 22 or 20 then since I have a 30 cal suppressor coming that I may want to run on it.

I haven't got a reloading plan yet. I already have a couple of boxes of Hornady loaded ammo, so I will have 40 pieces of brass from that. I may try some wolf too...hopefully the necks will hold up for a few loads. I don't expect to shoot tons out of it like I would a 223 or 300BLK, but you never know. With those, I like to shoot steel, and sometimes burn through a bunch of ammo. But with shooting paper, will be much more controlled to try and build good groups. I think I will stick with 10 round mags just to keep from getting too blast happy.

Well, it was 100-something fps, but nowhere near 200 fps. I'll try to remember to check my notes when I can tomorrow. Regardless, I'm happy to have the 18 over the 28.

With the Wolf ammo, you're more likely to get loose primer pockets before split necks. At least that was my experience with some older Wolf.

LIke 1gewehr said above, Wolf is supposed to have some steel case coming out soon. Of course that has been the case for a couple years now. I'm not holding my breath, but I hope I'm pleasantly surprised.

Will

Edited October 6, 2012 by Clod Stomper