700 yd Precision AR15 thumper *Range Report*

My bolt gun is 6.5 Creedmoor. I probably ought to rebuild my AR10 to be 6.5CM. But, I'm gonna go with the Grendel on the AR15 platform because I'm not very smart.

My AR10 is the only .308 I have, and it seems to me that everyone needs to own a .308, 'cause, 'Merica.

Totally agree about .308. I mean, it (and to a slightly different degree the 30-06) are THE quintessential long-distance shooters.

6.5 Grendal, I have on and off wanted to get one. I have a buddy who was big on it way back in the early 2000s, before it was en vogue. He swore by it and even did some custom work (Templar Customs in Apex, but he's been out of the biz for a while I think). I would do it if I had room and time to shoot.
 
if I was REALLY smart, I'd just use the .308 for this purpose, but where's the fun in that?
 
A buddy of mine gets very consistent hits on steel out to 1100 yards with his AR 6.5 Grendel. I agree with the others that 6.5 Grendel (for a widely available commercial cartridge) is the path to follow based on your criteria.
 
Sounds like a 6.5 Grendel with a 20” barrel (I say that because it has a 1,000 yard transonic point which is important to my 1,000 goal) would be a nice setup. It’s a good weight ... not light but not a boat anchor either.
 
Looks like a pretty solid deal to me.
 
So I just recalled that the upper I’m looking to rebuild is a lefty.

I think I’ll post that up for sale and then buy a complete. After sourcing a new upper receiver, handle, BCG, etc. I think it’ll be better off just buying a complete.
 
So I just recalled that the upper I’m looking to rebuild is a lefty.

I think I’ll post that up for sale and then buy a complete. After sourcing a new upper receiver, handle, BCG, etc. I think it’ll be better off just buying a complete.
Yep. Probably get a complete Aero upper for not much more than that barrel
 
6.5 Grendal, I have on and off wanted to get one. I have a buddy who was big on it way back in the early 2000s, before it was en vogue. He swore by it and even did some custom work (Templar Customs in Apex, but he's been out of the biz for a while I think). I would do it if I had room and time to shoot.

Bob does good work.

He built a couple rifles for @TSConver and his wife. Nice guy and knows his stuff.
 
Bob does good work.

He built a couple rifles for @TSConver and his wife. Nice guy and knows his stuff.

Super nice; I did some medical teaching for him, he did some training and gun work for me. I always wanted one of his Grendals, but never had the moolah at the time...
 
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224 Valkyrie is a viable option. My 80gr ELDs are just shy of 3000fps. The factory Berger 80.5s are supposed to be really nice rounds also.

You need a quality barrel, though like JP or Criterion...Cross Machine and Tool has a quality 224V upper they sell. JP did a cool Mexican Match video recently about pulling the bullets from Federal’s iffy 75gr TMJ factory ammo and seating a 77gr TMK into it and he was getting some insane velocities (3080fps with a 77gr Tipped Match King (.420 BC) and accuracy. I want to try it:



I love my Rainier Arms Ultramatch barrel but it took a lot of fine tuning (the caliber itself is rather picky and has a small sweet spot, but once you’re there, it’s awesome). I was given this 20” barrel to test but I’d probably buy a 22” just for some extra speed

22 Nosler is also an option but not as much factory support.
 
Totally agree about .308. I mean, it (and to a slightly different degree the 30-06) are THE quintessential long-distance shooters.

6.5 Grendal, I have on and off wanted to get one. I have a buddy who was big on it way back in the early 2000s, before it was en vogue. He swore by it and even did some custom work (Templar Customs in Apex, but he's been out of the biz for a while I think). I would do it if I had room and time to shoot.


He is still in business.
 
224 Valkyrie is a viable option. My 80gr ELDs are just shy of 3000fps. The factory Berger 80.5s are supposed to be really nice rounds also.

You need a quality barrel, though like JP or Criterion...Cross Machine and Tool has a quality 224V upper they sell. JP did a cool Mexican Match video recently about pulling the bullets from Federal’s iffy 75gr TMJ factory ammo and seating a 77gr TMK into it and he was getting some insane velocities (3080fps with a 77gr Tipped Match King (.420 BC) and accuracy. I want to try it:



I love my Rainier Arms Ultramatch barrel but it took a lot of fine tuning (the caliber itself is rather picky and has a small sweet spot, but once you’re there, it’s awesome). I was given this 20” barrel to test but I’d probably buy a 22” just for some extra speed

22 Nosler is also an option but not as much factory support.

Got a new thing in the works that should be fun 4 barrels from hawk hill. We're going to make some 22 grendel's to play with.

224argrendel.jpg
 
@Tim

Didn't that skinny bearded fella at the match say that guy with the hawk hill hoodie was shooting a .25 grendel?
 
@Tim

Didn't that skinny bearded fella at the match say that guy with the hawk hill hoodie was shooting a .25 grendel?

I believe that is correct.

I’m going to stick with a caliber that I can source off the shelf as needed. My reloading stuff is getting ready to go to storage as we prep to move.
 
@Tim

Didn't that skinny bearded fella at the match say that guy with the hawk hill hoodie was shooting a .25 grendel?

I had not thought of a .25 caliber. Are there many match bullets available in .25?

I do know the 6mm grendel is gaining popularity too.
 
I had not thought of a .25 caliber. Are there many match bullets available in .25?

I do know the 6mm grendel is gaining popularity too.

If that question is for me, I'm definitely not the guy that can answer that. I barely got my tippy toes wet last weekend by just listening.

I did hear ".25 Grendel" and I think someone mentioned it was a .257 wildcat, maybe? I also caught that the gun was a Hawk Hill custom.

If that group has a website, there may be info to be found on it there.
 
6.5 is what I'd go with. I have a .308 and it gets the job done, but you have to read the wind well.
 

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If that question is for me, I'm definitely not the guy that can answer that. I barely got my tippy toes wet last weekend by just listening.

I did hear ".25 Grendel" and I think someone mentioned it was a .257 wildcat, maybe? I also caught that the gun was a Hawk Hill custom.

If that group has a website, there may be info to be found on it there.

More intrigue than a question. I shouldn't go looking it could cost me money.
 
I knew better than to open this damn thread...yet here I am lol
Ive been kickin around the idea of a Grendel build for a couple years. Now it looks like an ill advised click is gonna cost me...
*heavy sigh*
I hate yall :D
 
I knew better than to open this damn thread...yet here I am lol
Ive been kickin around the idea of a Grendel build for a couple years. Now it looks like an ill advised click is gonna cost me...
*heavy sigh*
I hate yall :D


Whatcha Gonna do @Tim

I haven't been able to spend my money yet...it seems that complete uppers from 'good' vendors are out of stock everywhere.
 
So, I just bought this off the 'hide:

Build List:

Wilson Combat Recon Tactical, 18” rifle length gas, stainless, fluted, and threaded 5/8”x24, 1:8 twist.

Odin Works tunable gas block, bead blasted to match barrel.

BCM upper receiver with forward assist, custom dust cover (see pics) and std charging handle (barrel fit was very tight with no play)

BCM MCR-13” MLOK handguard

Brownells M16 nitride bolt carrier group

Surefire Warcomp 762

I’ll throw in two 17 rd E-Lander magazines with Grendel logo ($40 value), 56 rounds of Hornady Custom 123 gr SST ($55 value) and 79 pieces of Hornady bass (didn’t retrieve the empty that I shot my hog with).

Seems like a good setup. We'll see how it goes!
 
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