So I asked some questions on the general AR forum and it has led me here.  I am considering building or buying a 6.5 Grendel, more specifically a 6.5 Grendel pistol AR.  The shorter/lighter application mainly for my 2 daughters and deer hunting.  It will be suppressed always.

I had considered going the PSA 12" route for cheap and convenient solution, but accuracy questions and not a lot of feedback has me wavering.

So that leads me to a build.  Full disclosure, I have never built an AR before.  Not a huge issue, but I have questions regarding the 6.5 Grendel and getting it right.  First, I can just put a 6.5 (type 2)upper on any AR15 lower and it add 6.5 Grendel specific mags and I'm GTG right?  Second, I already have a Bootleg Inc. adjustable BCG and I have seen others using these on a Grendel.  Will this work or do I need something else?

I'm not looking for a competition type rifle but I don't want one with shotty accuracy either.  Any suggestions for a build that is good but won't break the bank, or a built upper source?

Heard good things about them

The only difference between a Grendel vs a 5.56 AR will be the barrel, bolt and mag.  Just be sure the barrel and bolt are the same type (Type 1 and Type 2 are available with the differences being the bolt face depth).

I run a Bootleg carrier in my 12" Grendel and have been happy with it so far.  Easy to adjust and works as advertised.  I have not had a chance to run it suppressed yet as the ATF still has my Vox in jail.

@LRRPF52 has a sweet 12" Grendel pistol and should be able to give more info.

12" Grendel porn

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My PSA 12" upper is apparently coming with an adjustable gas block. I have Bootlegs in my 12.5" 5.56 and my 18" Grendel. Very happy with it. Girlfriend's 5.56 16" has an adjustable gas black and a lightweight Faxon bolt carrier and is the smoothest shooting AR with my Surefire suppressor that I've ever come across.

I'm happy with the Bootleg though.

Just for clarification, are the Bootleg adjustable carrier groups you all are using marked 5.56 or do they make one specific to the 6.5G?
Also, is there a headspacing issue with those that requires adjustment?

Mine came with a 5.56 bolt.  Pulled it and tossed it into the spare parts bin and put my JP Enhanced 6.5 G bolt in it.  From what I have seen they are only available in 5.56.

Easiest thing to do is to buy a pre-built upper from a reputable source, although there are some kits that make assembly a no-brainer nowadays.

If you want a really nice upper that is easy to assemble, get the LaRue Stealth 2.0 upper/handguard combo.

You will need a vice and some type of tool to secure the upper without marring it, but this can be done with Delrin cutting board sections if you want to do it without buying a specific AR15 upper receiver vice tool.

For a first AR15, depending on your level of mechanical aptitude, patience, and willingness to learn a few simple things, you can assemble one, but I generally recommend buying a complete upper.

I've been shooting, studying, trouble-shooting, deploying with, and assembling these things dating back to the 1980s, and am always working to learn more about them.

The way I do things now is totally different than the way I approached the AR15 and AR10 years ago.

Use the Bootleg on a 12" Suppressed.

Use a correct bolt for the barrel you get if you build, or replace the factory Bolt Carrier with your Bootleg if you get a pre-assembled upper.

Pretty much everyone is finally using .136" face depth bolts and appropriate extractors.

Some are still finding out about bolt overall length and compatibility with standard firing pins/protrusion depth.

I'm really glad I took your advice on that!  Assembly was easy and it's extremely well made.

Thank you for the information.  Like others, I am highly influenced by your 12" 6.5G build and data.  I wouldn't mind a much nicer build as you suggest, but the PSA offering in the upper and SBa3 pistol lower is a nice price point.  I'm assuming, as with all things, you get what you pay for though.

Care to recommend a complete upper in a 12-12.5" length that is a good value?  I'm trying to keep this gun in a $700-800 budget.

I went PSA. Just grab a new barrel once you get through theirs

I have one of the PSA 12 inch uppers and while it hasn't been shot yet, the fit & finish are great.

And others who have purchased and shot their PSA Grendels have had very good accuracy results.  So you might want to take a second look at them.

I got my 12 inch upper from sulzar firearms. Put a SBA3 on it and will put a timney trigger in it shortly.
Upper

I actually checked out Sulzar after reading your post on this forum.  Have you figured out your accuracy issues? I had read that you were have trouble finding an accurate factory load.  Factory is most likely all I will shoot

I went with a 12.5" Hanson profile barrel from Ballistic Advantage, but that was before the PSA uppers were available.



Still need to work up some hand loads for it, but it shoots well so far.

I did get it figured out. Am shooting Speer gold dot 120 grain with success. I reload and found it does not like hornady bullets. Others are having issues with hornady 123 grain bullets. It seemed the more I shot it, the better the accuracy. Was about to throw in the towel. Will be keeping it. Was able to push it with more powder than I thought I could go. Settled with 28 grains of 8208 and 2239 fps (highest recorded). Stays super sonic at 1000 yards, just barely. This upper was worth it.

Right on, thank you for the feedback.

One aspect which is often overlooked is that the Grendel operates with quite a bit more force on the action than 5.56.  Add to that the tendency for most barrel makers to oversize their gas ports in a dubious attempt to increase reliability and the general production of extractors which don't take the increased thickness of the 6.5 extractor's lip into account in the extraction geometry and you've got a collection of factors lumped together which can cause all sorts of cycling issues.  These problems can all be solved but it will take some time and effort devoted to each one to make a run of the mill Grendel into a reliably cycling rifle.  If I was doing it all over again, I would just order a complete upper from OdinWorks for my first Grendel (yes, they do multiply) and go shooting.

Those factors you've pointed out, combined with my paralysis by analysis have kept me from purchasing anything to this point.

I have checked out the Odinworks uppers, while extremely nice, the upper alone maxes out my budget. Also, they do not offer a 12ish inch upper that I could see, and that is what I am looking for.

Decisions, decisions...

Your welcome. Just to add, I got a hold of sulzar about my issues. They paid for returning it while I had my back surgery. They went through it and sent me pictures of groups fired on there range before sending it back. Had to wait 3 months before shooting again due to recovering. Tried the 123 eld-x and eld-m with same issues. Decided to try lighter bullets. Think it was after 200 rounds through the barrel things started coming together. After seeing others going higher with 8208 with their 12 inch barrels, decided to try myself. Glad I did. One draw back with 8208 XBR with the grendel is how fast pressure signs start to show. I could probably go a little higher but think I will stay where I am at. Just have to work on a more consistent load. My ES is still to high but pretty sure I know the issue. Good luck on your decision.

Bearcat, hope your recovering well from the surgery.  I'm at a crossroads with this setup.  My desire is for a quality build/buy but my mind is telling me, for my intentions with the setup, I may be a bit over zealous.
I highly doubt I would shoot beyond 4-500 yards with it.  It's the caliber, and it's legality for hunting deer that I'm most interested in.

Dunno, my two homebuilds both have been perfectly reliable, and I didn’t do anything appreciably different than anything else I’ve put together. This is across Wolf, American Gunner, ELD-M, and SST; and a 12.5” BA and 18” LT.

Recovery is going slower than expected but I’m dealing with it. The Grendel won’t be the issue, it’s bullet selection and shot placement that will be key. Go to the Grendel web site for plenty of info for hunting, accurate loads, etc. as each rifle is different, you will need to do the leg work breaking in the rifle and finding what shoots best. Go here....... Grendel Forum

I just got in today my complete 12” grendel pistol upper from Palmetto. It was the nitride version on sale for $279. I reinstalled the barrel after trueing the receiver face and bedded it with loc-tite. The adjustable gas block was not dimpled so I did that too. Looks pretty good so far with a lightish barrel and handguard. The barrel nut also was aluminum. Lastly I put on a YHM suppressor mount that I had on hand. I will polish up and smooth the BCG later tonight and sight in in a couple of days.

Just put together 2 new grendels.  A 12 and 18 from the monster group buy on the 6.5 grendel forums.  All sighted in for hunting trip next week.  Easily 1" at 100yds.  Banging the 6" gong rapid fire at 200.

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Already changed the hand guard on the 12 to a Diamondhead.  8lbs 8oz as it sits with the diamondhead.

I don't recommend the grendel any more. It's too addictive. I picked a grendel for my first upper build and it's run well so far.

"Grendel operates with quite a bit more force on the action than 5.56.":  6.5 Grendel works at a much lower chamber pressure than 5.56 NATO or even .223 Remington in order to stay well-behaved in a lightweight gun.

While some barrel makers over-size their 18" MLGS ports, reputable ones do not.  A .076" port is what you should find an on 18" MLGS Grendel.

Most barrel makers and complete upper/rifle manufacturers are using the correct .136" bolt face depth.

Just my opinion, so take it for what you paid for it...

I would not buy anything Odin in 6.5 Grendel.

I bought an Odin kit with barrel, gas block and tube and BCG about two years ago. It shot well enough but was constantly piercing primers. I thought it was an ammo issue as I was shooting Hornady and Wolf and the Wolf didn't have any issues.

I set it aside and built another Grendel using an AA 16" lightweight barrel with AA bolt. Shot like a laser with little tiny groups. It even shot Wolf at 2".

Then I built a 12.5" Grendel Faxon pistol. I was out of work so I grabbed the Odin BCG and took it out. Pierced primers again. Superb accuracy with Hornady ammo but popping primers like it was the 4th of July.

I did some research and found that a PROPER Grendel bolt is going to have the bolt face pushed back to .136" depth AND the bolt will be .010" longer. That is so you maintain the proper .036" firing pin protrusion.

Odin bolt had proper depth, but was the same length as a 5.56mm bolt. 2.8". A Grendel bolt should be 2.81" long.

So earlier this year I called Odin, they gave me an RMA and I sent it back. Three weeks later I get my BCG back. It has a brand new bolt, which is still too short, and the same flame cut damaged, and too long, firing pin that I sent them.

Fuck that noise. Stick with AA or JP bolts until someone can confirm other makers actually know how to build a Grendel BCG.