6.5 Build

[Jeff82]

Ok. Who's done it, who's going to do it (I am)?

What did you use? How did it go? How do you like it now? Performance specs/loads?

[Warg]

I did using Alexander Arms (AA) parts almost exclusively:

AA Upper
AA 16" SS BBL & bolt
AA sourced auto carrier. Not sure who made this, but gas key was properly staked
JP Rifle’s adjustable gas block
VTAC rifle length FF rail
AA/WCI muzzle brake
AA mags
AA lower
RRA LPK with Springfield modded trigger and hammer + springs
ACE ARFX Skeleton stock

It took approximately six months to get the parts from AA. I had mags on backorder from AA for eight months, but found mags from Umlaut who had them on their shelf ($15 to ship one mag!). Same issue with ammo (I don't reload) which I acquired from Midway.

I couldn't get the damn thing to cycle correctly manually using new Lapua brass. Barrel had lots of burs from machine work which I was able to fix. Still had FTE and stovepipes and I was pretty sure it was an issue with the extractor or ejector. Bolt went back got another. Same issue. Rinse and repeat finally got it to work okay. Not great, but okay. I think the bolt AA is selling still needs refinement.

Mags are finicky too- C-Products are abysmal failures.

Several others on the 6.5 G forum are experiencing similar problems with the 6.5 Gs, but no one on that board seems to think it is a systematic problem. Perhaps it is not, but I and several others weren't very happy. My experience with AA customer service was not exactly great either.

LW barrels and bolts appear to be okay, but only a few folk have these. I can send you a link if you like.

Note that carbine buffers need to be H3 to cycle properly (once you get a good bolt and mags, of course). Rifle buffer is GTG.

Great round, but poor execution re: AA bolt, mags and poor supply chain logistics.

Thus, I never reached the point where I could evaluate performance. I sold the bolt, barrel, mags and changed the rifle to a 6.8. Problem(s) solved.

[Matt in AZ]

Following the order of your questions:

I have assembled an AR-15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel.

The upper is a Sun Devil with a JP/VTAC rifle length hand guard.

The barrel is an 18" Satern with intermediate length gas system. I selected the VLTOR stainless clamp low profile gas block, because I prefer similar metals for friction functions.

The assembly and initial function firings were successful, and uneventful. Amongst my C-Products magazines, there is only one which has proven problematic. I have not sent it to C-Products or Alexander Arms, as I intend to tinker with it.

This assembly is very much a recce build, and I respect the 6.5G in this role. I would most likely be equally happy with a 6.8 or 6mmAR; in early 2006 I needed to choose one cartridge for this build.

All rounds down range thus far have been 123 gr Lapua Scenars from Alexander Arms. I have Wolf ammo on hand, and I will most likely consume that in the coming months. I do not have any pet loads yet, but there are bullets from Lapua, Nosler, Barnes, and GS Custom which I am quite interested in. Also, I would like to experiment with some inexpensive cast bullets.

Hand-loading is highly beneficial to the 6.5 Grendel user.

[Warg]

Matt,

What bolt are you using?

Also concur on similar materials for GB and BBL. Mine was JP's SS model on a SS BBL.

Gene

[Matt in AZ]

Originally Posted by gfelber

What bolt are you using?

I am using the Alexander Arms bolt which was supplied with the Satern barrel. The material, geometry, process and QA are solid.

[Warg]

Well, I'm glad your experience differs from mine. Perhaps I purchased mine during the wrong time, i.e., during the "panic", thus slipping through their solid QA process. Twice.

[BLACK LION]

Originally Posted by gfelber

I did using Alexander Arms (AA) parts almost exclusively:

AA Upper
AA 16" SS BBL & bolt
AA sourced auto carrier. Not sure who made this, but gas key was properly staked
JP Rifle’s adjustable gas block
VTAC rifle length FF rail
AA/WCI muzzle brake
AA mags
AA lower
RRA LPK with Springfield modded trigger and hammer + springs
ACE ARFX Skeleton stock

It took approximately six months to get the parts from AA. I had mags on backorder from AA for eight months, but found mags from Umlaut who had them on their shelf ($15 to ship one mag!). Same issue with ammo (I don't reload) which I acquired from Midway.

I couldn't get the damn thing to cycle correctly manually using new Lapua brass. Barrel had lots of burs from machine work which I was able to fix. Still had FTE and stovepipes and I was pretty sure it was an issue with the extractor or ejector. Bolt went back got another. Same issue. Rinse and repeat finally got it to work okay. Not great, but okay. I think the bolt AA is selling still needs refinement.

Mags are finicky too- C-Products are abysmal failures.

Several others on the 6.5 G forum are experiencing similar problems with the 6.5 Gs, but no one on that board seems to think it is a systematic problem. Perhaps it is not, but I and several others weren't very happy. My experience with AA customer service was not exactly great either.

LW barrels and bolts appear to be okay, but only a few folk have these. I can send you a link if you like.

Note that carbine buffers need to be H3 to cycle properly (once you get a good bolt and mags, of course). Rifle buffer is GTG.

Great round, but poor execution re: AA bolt, mags and poor supply chain logistics.

Thus, I never reached the point where I could evaluate performance. I sold the bolt, barrel, mags and changed the rifle to a 6.8. Problem(s) solved.

Such bitter sweet music to my ears...

Although my reasons for abandoning my grendel project were not as involved as yours(never purhcased anything)...I listened to those who were in similar shoes as yours and becuase the "crowd" acted like nothing was wrong and it was still the best thing since butter, it was obvious I wasnt going to get anywhere...

[jkingrph]

I initially had some problems with mine, basically stovepiping and jamming. Got that corrected, the extractor had a couple of burrs where it gripped cartridge rim.

I ordere my Overwatch upper from AA in Jan, received it in May so fairly quick there and got the Shilen barrel option. I first mounted it on a Colt lower and just this weekend finished a Rock RIver lower for it.

I have picked up several of the P Mag magazines, and have some more on order, so the should be from several different batches. I honestly cannot say that I have had any magazine related problems.

[tolson68]

PMags for a Grendel? Do you mean CProducs?

[jkingrph]

Originally Posted by tolson68

PMags for a Grendel? Do you mean CProducs?

Yes, I was having a senior moment!

[Happypupy]

I've assembled a couple 6.5 Grendel rifles for guys and one for myself. It was just something I wanted to tinker with so I used alot of components I had laying around my workshop. My set up is as follows.

Upper Assembly:
Hi rider extended flat top receiver
22" custom SS Shilen barrel Threaded w/ thread protector
Vltor low rise gas block
Hogue Free Float tube Drilled and tapped to except 1" rail on bottom
PRI Gas Buster Charging handle
Badger Ordnance Tac. Latch
AA Bolt
Bolt Carrier Group supplied by AA
Titanium Firing pin
Harris Bipod

Lower Assembly:
Roggio Arsenal Lower Reciever
Bushmaster Internals
Spikes ST-T2 heavy buffer
Bushmaster Anti-walk Pins
Bushmaster Buffer Tube
Magpul PRS stock
Magpul Precision Rail Monopod
Magpul Trigger guard
Magpul MIAD grip

Optics:
Leupold QRW rings
Leupold VX3 4-14X40mm
Leupold 6" Shade

Ammuntion:
Hand loaded 120grn Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet, Lapua brass, CCI#450 Primers, 31.6grns Hodgdon BL-(C)2 powder

This setup isn't as fancy as alot of others I've assembled, but it's somthing I tossed together just to give the 6.5 Grendel a try.

When I first assembled it, I used the AA magizines and was having feeding issues. Every other round seemed like it didn't want to load properly. I worked through the issue for about 30 rounds and then was fed up. So I packed it up and headed home. I got to tinkering with the magazines and wasn't all to impressed with the (what seemed to me to be) standard AR magizines that have had the lips spread slightly and a slightly modified follower. I know of three people personally and I've read were guys use standard 5.56 magazines with no issues, so I grabbed a couple of the Pmags I had laying around and shaved the front down 1mm and trimmed a little from the front edge of the lips. I shot these magazines the next day and didn't have any problems feeding.

With the lapua brass I use, every now and then I have an issue with it not extracting properly, I couldn't tell you if this is due to the bolt or from the edges rounding due to cleaning and tumbling. This only happens every now and then so it isn't something I've taken the time to research.

I've shot a couple boxes of the WOLF brand 110 grn FMJ that is becoming more readily availible, and I was not impressed with it. The brass is nice for reloading, maybe a good "plinking" round. I personally found it to be an inconsistent and dirty round. If you have the capacity to hand load your own rounds, the weapon system sems to prefer that IMHO.

I can Honestly say that the only issue I've had with this weapon is the problem with the magazines and the occational extraction issue. I don't know that I'm so impressed with it that I'd build myself another setup, but the guys here locally that shoot them love them and I enjoy mine. I can post some pictures of this setup tomorrow for you if you'd like.