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Posted: 6/7/2018 12:21:03 AM EDT
[#1]
Been debating building one. Looking at the 18" or 20" yet 18" just seems more practical. Yet I would hardly use it for hunting and more for just target shooting thus the debate. From what I have read it is really a toss up between the 18 & 20" for accuracy which both out preform anything shorter. Yet there is a guy here with a 6.5G pistol shooting out to 400+ yards that posted some time last week. Yet I prefer rifle over pistol for long range yet that is just me.
ETA: Rifle gas on both the 18 or 20" |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 12:33:32 AM EDT
[#2]
12.5"
eta: because i have a stupid long can, full length configuration is 9" long can +12.5" barrel = still long but shorter than a 16" or 18" barrel. |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 1:44:32 AM EDT
[#3]
If you’re not suppressing, I think 18” is good to go.
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Posted: 6/7/2018 1:47:13 AM EDT
[#4]
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Posted: 6/7/2018 6:00:19 AM EDT
[#5]
18” |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 6:14:10 AM EDT
[#6]
I like a 16in AR, handy, still has reach, no stamp or stupid brace. For punching paper, it really won't matter. I hunt with mine so the handy part is important to me.
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Posted: 6/7/2018 6:21:03 AM EDT
[#7]
I have a 20" shilen. It's a tac driver. But big and heavy. Next one will be as light as possible and somewhere in the 12"-16" range.
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Posted: 6/7/2018 8:26:26 AM EDT
[#8]
I currently have no Grendel, but the more I read and look, I am leaning hard towards 12"/12.5" as it will make a killer SBR given wolf ammo and the ability to shoot farther effectively than my 14.5" 5.56 with the proper loads.
But it means now I feel the need to build a new upper at a minimum. 
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Posted: 6/7/2018 10:31:36 AM EDT
[#9]
6.5 Grendel; I have a 20" AA w/Shilen barrel, it's a great rifle, very accurate, but its heavy. I've built a 6.5 Gr using a 12.5" BA barreled upper for a pistol lower, using a Tailhook Mod 1, and a Law folder. Quoting another member (on here, and the 6.5 Grendel site) that I respect for his knowledge and experience, he said of his 12.5" Grendel...…………"it will do headshots at 200 yds, and torso shots at 600 yds, what more do I need?" You can take that as four legged or two legged critters, I doesn't matter to me. I'm thankful I can have my 20" 6.5 Gr for extreme long range shooting, along with other AR's in 4 different calibers, but if I had to go to only one AR, it would be the 12.5" 6.5 Grendel.
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Posted: 6/7/2018 11:26:37 AM EDT
[#10]
20" takes advantage of the slower burning powders without sacrificing much in portability.
I have an 18" and a 24". I may have the 24" chopped. |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 11:38:09 AM EDT
[#11]
18"
It's the perfect length for me. I actually just ordered all of the parts for a second 18" Grendel.. I've got a 20" Faxon listed in the EE if you decide to go with a 20". 
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Posted: 6/7/2018 11:41:05 AM EDT
[#12]
I really don’t think there is a wrong answer but for overall versatility an 18” barrel works very well. I think my midlength gas 18” Faxon does pretty well in any role.
Here is a picture of a 18” Faxon 6.5 Grendel next to an 16” 6.5 Grendel both with A-2 Flash Hiders. Both are midlength gas system.  CDB73BD4-EE9F-4380-BF58-3F54AB64F097Here is a picture of 20” Shilen 6.5 Grendel next to 18” Faxon 6.5 Grendel. I use the 20” for mostly bench shooting but it can easily be shot off hand. With the plain muzzle on the match weight barrel Shilen the overall length is very close to the 18” barrel.  FDE27B74-2FF7-4EE8-9862-4904229E3786Just to show how addicting the 6.5 Grendel can be I picked up a Cz 527 6.5 Grendel with 24” barrel a couple weeks ago. I put a Dip 25 MOA base on it so I should be able to shoot way out there.  97223C49-0BA7-4F57-ADBA-52BAC2E0BF3B
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Posted: 6/7/2018 11:43:07 AM EDT
[#13]
12.5!
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Posted: 6/7/2018 11:45:13 AM EDT
[#14]
I'm not doing too bad with my 16".
129 ABLR @2430 w/can. |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 12:27:52 PM EDT
[#15]
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Posted: 6/7/2018 12:30:31 PM EDT
[#16]
24" because that is what I went with. Built it for long range use, it had to handily beat my .223 with 90 SMKs to justify the build.
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Posted: 6/7/2018 12:39:17 PM EDT
[#17]
To me it is a longer distance round for hunting so 18" to 24" depending on set-up. A 24" pencil barrel would probably be manageable. I bought a fluted 18" heavy barrel and with the scope and all it is a pig... but I still feel confident with it.
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Posted: 6/7/2018 3:23:16 PM EDT
[#18]
I would go with a 20" Bbl. for several reasons: It was the original AR-15/M-16 barrel length design with a rifle length gas system,
it will be most versatile in handling various rifle powders available if you reload, it will have less stress on the action and be a "softer" shooter with less muzzle blast/report, and lastly it will give the end user the best velocity while still being maneuverable and not to heavy for most uses... Good luck. |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 4:07:52 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I really don’t think there is a wrong answer but for overall versatility an 18” barrel works very well. I think my midlength gas 18” Faxon does pretty well in any role. Here is a picture of a 18” Faxon 6.5 Grendel next to an 16” 6.5 Grendel both with A-2 Flash Hiders. Both are midlength gas system. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4671/39608258792_afa71a3a9c_z.jpgCDB73BD4-EE9F-4380-BF58-3F54AB64F097 Here is a picture of 20” Shilen 6.5 Grendel next to 18” Faxon 6.5 Grendel. I use the 20” for mostly bench shooting but it can easily be shot off hand. With the plain muzzle on the match weight barrel Shilen the overall length is very close to the 18” barrel. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4625/38741564155_57f8a483ed_z.jpgFDE27B74-2FF7-4EE8-9862-4904229E3786 Just to show how addicting the 6.5 Grendel can be I picked up a Cz 527 6.5 Grendel with 24” barrel a couple weeks ago. I put a Dip 25 MOA base on it so I should be able to shoot way out there. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/41749265295_5613458202_z.jpg97223C49-0BA7-4F57-ADBA-52BAC2E0BF3B Just started looking at bolt guns too. Nice rifle ! |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 5:34:51 PM EDT
[#20]
 I used worst-case velocities we've been seeing with the newer Horandy 123gr SST lots of ammo. 123gr ELD-M seems to be faster like the old 123gr AMAX load. Supersonic range has the corresponding wind drift with it. 123gr ELD-M isn't the best bullet for long range, but one of the most popular and available, so I used that. I used .255 doppler-based G7 drag model for the longer range figures with 123gr ELD-M. I used .462 G1 for the "within 500yds" figures on the 123gr SST for hunting. All figures are with 100yd zero, 2.5" optic over bore height, standard atmospheric conditions (59° F, 29.53" hg barometric pressure). Another graph to look at would be weapon weight with pictograph diagrams showing weapon length and profiles. You can get a pretty good idea from this:  If I had to grab one right now, I would reach for the 12" I think. It's a very useful, all-round compact package that covers down on: * HD * Hunting * Long Range It has more muzzle energy than a 20" 5.56 hot-loaded, with increasingly-superior retained energy over 5.56 at distance. It has more retained energy at 400yds than a 24" .30-30 Winchester has at 200yds, with a much flatter trajectory. It has more retained energy than a 16.3" AKM in 7.62x39 within 50yds shooting the exact same bullet weight from the same basic case, and twice the effective range. You'd think in order to get all of that performance, it's running hot, but nope, it's a relatively lower pressure cartridge compared to most modern centerfire rifle cartridges. |
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Posted: 6/8/2018 4:02:32 AM EDT
[#21]
I suppressed so I went with 12”.
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Posted: 6/8/2018 4:34:29 AM EDT
[#22]
I shoot my 12.5 more than my 18. Both with cans
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Posted: 6/8/2018 8:31:38 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/65%20Grendel%20Reloading/fullsizeoutput_f2_zps3qydsyhd.jpeg I used worst-case velocities we've been seeing with the newer Horandy 123gr SST lots of ammo. 123gr ELD-M seems to be faster like the old 123gr AMAX load. Supersonic range has the corresponding wind drift with it. 123gr ELD-M isn't the best bullet for long range, but one of the most popular and available, so I used that. I used .255 doppler-based G7 drag model for the longer range figures with 123gr ELD-M. I used .462 G1 for the "within 500yds" figures on the 123gr SST for hunting. All figures are with 100yd zero, 2.5" optic over bore height, standard atmospheric conditions (59° F, 29.53" hg barometric pressure). Another graph to look at would be weapon weight with pictograph diagrams showing weapon length and profiles. You can get a pretty good idea from this: http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/20180528_202725_zpsgyza4vc9.jpg If I had to grab one right now, I would reach for the 12" I think. It's a very useful, all-round compact package that covers down on: * HD * Hunting * Long Range It has more muzzle energy than a 20" 5.56 hot-loaded, with increasingly-superior retained energy over 5.56 at distance. It has more retained energy at 400yds than a 24" .30-30 Winchester has at 200yds, with a much flatter trajectory. It has more retained energy than a 16.3" AKM in 7.62x39 within 50yds shooting the exact same bullet weight from the same basic case, and twice the effective range. You'd think in order to get all of that performance, it's running hot, but nope, it's a relatively lower pressure cartridge compared to most modern centerfire rifle cartridges. Your posts about the 12.5" are what made me even think about the Grendel as an option for myself, and it looks like a very fun project. |
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Posted: 6/8/2018 12:14:11 PM EDT
[#24]
I went with a 18" AA lite barrel. No muzzle device just a thread protector. Its basically the same length as a 16" with most muzzle devices. Going by the chart above it looks like 16" is the min for most versatility your only adding 25 yards for your max hunting range for every 2 inches after that. By the way with a friends chronograph on a low 60's day mine was 2480 with factory hornady amax, so right inline with the above chart.
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Posted: 6/8/2018 3:43:42 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/65%20Grendel%20Reloading/fullsizeoutput_f2_zps3qydsyhd.jpeg I used worst-case velocities we've been seeing with the newer Horandy 123gr SST lots of ammo. 123gr ELD-M seems to be faster like the old 123gr AMAX load. Supersonic range has the corresponding wind drift with it. 123gr ELD-M isn't the best bullet for long range, but one of the most popular and available, so I used that. I used .255 doppler-based G7 drag model for the longer range figures with 123gr ELD-M. I used .462 G1 for the "within 500yds" figures on the 123gr SST for hunting. All figures are with 100yd zero, 2.5" optic over bore height, standard atmospheric conditions (59° F, 29.53" hg barometric pressure). Another graph to look at would be weapon weight with pictograph diagrams showing weapon length and profiles. You can get a pretty good idea from this: http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/20180528_202725_zpsgyza4vc9.jpg If I had to grab one right now, I would reach for the 12" I think. It's a very useful, all-round compact package that covers down on: * HD * Hunting * Long Range It has more muzzle energy than a 20" 5.56 hot-loaded, with increasingly-superior retained energy over 5.56 at distance. It has more retained energy at 400yds than a 24" .30-30 Winchester has at 200yds, with a much flatter trajectory. It has more retained energy than a 16.3" AKM in 7.62x39 within 50yds shooting the exact same bullet weight from the same basic case, and twice the effective range. You'd think in order to get all of that performance, it's running hot, but nope, it's a relatively lower pressure cartridge compared to most modern centerfire rifle cartridges. is really proving to be very versatile even in windy conditions. Really tough to beat.
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Posted: 6/8/2018 3:54:18 PM EDT
[#26]
Get both.
12.5" w/a 1-8x optic is my favorite do-all pistol. My 19.5" Satern bbl'd rifle exists for when my 6.5CM is buried in the safe.
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Posted: 6/8/2018 7:33:13 PM EDT
[#27]
I went with a 16" and feel like it does everything I will ever want from an AR15 pattern rifle. Better range, hit potential, and energy on target than my 5.56, with still pretty mild recoil. Stepping up to 18" or 20" definitely wouldn't hurt for some extra velocity, but I preferred to keep this gun relatively short.
If I add another Grendel to the collection, it will be a 12" upper for my pistol. If I decide I want more range, I'll opt for a 20+" 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action. |
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Posted: 6/9/2018 12:01:51 AM EDT
[#28]
With the quality of pistol braces going where they have, I'm looking to convert all my 5.56 blasters to 11.5" or less.
Then I asked, "Why would I want to do that when I can just get another pistol barrel for 6.5 Grendel?" |
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Posted: 6/9/2018 12:42:29 AM EDT
[#29]
12.5
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Posted: 6/10/2018 2:11:40 AM EDT
[#30]
I was thinking 18"
I have to admit that posting that question.... Didnt help much. I do have a sbr so a 12" is a option. It just seems like a caliber, that when all things considered may be a good option for 18" I gave a pinned 14.5 blackout that I love. Its shorter, and lighter than my supressed 10". Everyone says they would hunt with a can anyway, but I'm at the mindset that hunting is carrying your crap all season, and maybe not even taking a shot. I think I would rather go with shorter, lighter and still as much velocity as possible. |
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Posted: 6/10/2018 1:15:04 PM EDT
[#31]
I use a 16" light weight for deer hunting and an 18" DMR profile for the range. I use Odin Works barrels and have had great success with them. If they came out with a 12.5" light weight one, I would snag one for hunting.
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Posted: 6/10/2018 2:43:50 PM EDT
[#32]
I have a 22" heavy bench rider, an 18" lightweight for brush, and another 18" Larue Ultimate Upper kit gun which is fast becoming my favorite shooter.
Having said that, of all configurations I'm aware of, LRRPF52's pistol not withstanding, my Larue would be the last remaining Grendel in my safe. Light enough for hunting, its 18" barrel gives me similar velocity as the 22" table queen (within 25fps), is accurate as hell, and super rigid. Me likey. |
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Posted: 6/11/2018 3:40:32 PM EDT
[#33]
I also have to say my 18" LaRue shoots the smoothest of them all, and is hard to beat for an all-round target/multi-purpose rifle.
Very fun to shoot. Took her out to 1000yds within the last 2 weeks. With an 8x scope, was getting hits on a 2 MOA gong at 1000yds with Hornady 123gr American Gunner. The action runs very smooth on it, and the Tranqillo brake is very pleasant, not like a large gill brake. The gun feels like one solid piece, precision-machined to be a matching billet set. There is no play or flex between the handguard and the upper, and the handguard doesn't touch the barrel nut, so it's truly free-floated. I'm still not sure what scope I'll end up mounting on it. |
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Posted: 6/11/2018 6:15:03 PM EDT
[#34]
10.5" 5.56 is loud as fuck. How loud is 12.5" 6.5 Grendel?
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Posted: 6/11/2018 6:56:04 PM EDT
[#35]
That was one of my initial concerns with the pistol Grendel, as I've shot plenty of 10.3" 5.56.
I don't notice any difference between 12" and 16" Grendel. It's surprisingly pleasant to shoot. 11.5" 5.56 never seemed super concussive to me either though. |
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Posted: 6/11/2018 9:48:27 PM EDT
[#36]
@LRRPF52
What is the bolt action? |
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Posted: 6/11/2018 9:51:17 PM EDT
[#37]
Howa Mini. I got it mainly so my kids would have a nice, low recoil center-fire rifle that hits steel with authority that they can learn on once they graduate from rimfire.
I'm thinking of getting it integrally suppressed and dropped into a chassis system. It's very lightweight. |
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Posted: 6/13/2018 10:30:35 AM EDT
[#38]
LR
What muzzle device is on your 12"? Building one and not sure what to use. Thanks, NLS |
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Posted: 6/13/2018 11:12:12 AM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
LR What muzzle device is on your 12"? Building one and not sure what to use. Thanks, NLS |
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Posted: 6/13/2018 11:38:42 AM EDT
[#40]
Thanks
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Posted: 6/13/2018 2:34:14 PM EDT
[#41]
Yes, it is a TBAC flash hide brake attack device for the Ultra series.
I have an Ultra 5 in jail awaiting my Form 4 approval, which was submitted in September. I called last week and they said, "Still waiting on background check to come back." |
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Posted: 6/13/2018 3:20:59 PM EDT
[#42]
I look at the Grendel as a longer range, target and varmit type round. I won't use steel case ammo so I generally load my ammo with match grade bullets. If I want to just go blasting I'll use one of my .223/5.56 rifles.
That said, I have no use for a short barrel Grendel. At the moment I have an 18" LaRue and a 20" I built on a Proof Research SS barrel on Aero Precision receivers. It's hard to pick a favorite. Both are very accurate and will shoot at the ranges I have available. |
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Posted: 6/13/2018 5:45:11 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yes, it is a TBAC flash hide brake attack device for the Ultra series. I have an Ultra 5 in jail awaiting my Form 4 approval, which was submitted in September. I called last week and they said, "Still waiting on background check to come back." It’s frustrating seeing guys with December submissions getting their cans out of jail before me. |
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