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Posted: 7/26/2026 6:30:24 PM EDT
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After a fairly long hiatus from hunting, I'm jumping back into pig and whitetail in SC. Any thoughts on this package? I don't want to go cheap, but I don't mind being thrifty. PSA 18" Rifle-Length 6.5 Grendel 1/8 Stainless 15" Lightweight M-Lok Upper With Vortex Sonora 4-12x44mm Scope |
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Looks good. It's probably a good price if you tried to build out a comparison price list. The scope will definitely work but if I were piecing it together then I would go with something more compact. My favorite scope is a 1.5x6 weaver kaspa on a similar 556 upper. My grendel is also a spr type upper that has a 2-10x36 weaver tactical. The whole build sucks for hunting because I built it using a bear creek bull barrel and the whole things weighs a metric ton. But I have carried and killed a pig with it. I saw a source for anderson barrels a few weeks ago and they are all gone, should have bought one. |
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I bought a 6.5 Grendel 12” pistol kit from PSA a few years ago. Everything was in spec and the upper was assembled correctly. I like PSA stainless steel 6.5 Grendel barrels better than the CMV/Nitride. It is not uncommon to get an out of spec short 6.5 Grendel chamber. At least with a stainless steel barrel you can use a chamber reamer to fix the barrel. BCA CMV/Nitride barrels with out of spec 6.5 Grendel chambers was pretty common. At the listed price on the PSA 6.5 Grendel upper you are basically getting the scope and mount for free IMHO. I have no first hand experience with that particular Vortex scope. I have three or four Vortex Diamondback HP scopes with the Dead Hold reticle which I like. The Diamondback HP scopes have adjustable objectives and are good scopes for the price. I think the Dead Hold reticle is a good versatile reticle for hunting, target shooting or plinking. The rifle length gas is better if you plan on using a suppressor on an 18” 6.5 Grendel. Another advantage of this PSA upper is that it has an adjustable gas block so it is easy to tune especially if you anticipate using a suppressor. The CPD Duramag 6.5 Grendel mags have worked well for me. I like the twenty round 6.5 Grendel Duramag mags, not to heavy when loaded and easy to use off the bench. |
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You can get the same upper for $380 without the scope. I wouldn't pay $170 for that scope and mount. I don't trust $120 scopes, and 4x isn't low enough for my tastes in a hunting scope anyway. You could buy the scope and mount retail for $240, so you would be spending an extra $170 on the upper to "save" $70 on something I wouldn't want anyway. The upper itself seems to be at least $320 less than the next cheapest, non-Bear Creek option. The bolt leaves a bit to be desired, but you have to give up some things for that price. At $380, you can always replace the barrel if it sucks and still be in the price range of better complete uppers. FWIW, PSA has several Grendel uppers for $380, including a 12". Probably a pretty darn good deal if you don't go in expecting Lilja or Krieger results. |
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VA, USA
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I'd pass on that Sonora, I'm looking at getting a 6.5 Grendel upper also and like this one that's the same upper without the scope https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-18-rifle-length-6-5-grendel-1-8-stainless-steel-15-lightweight-m-lok-upper-with-bcg-ch-5165448709.html#yotpo_review_tab |
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