6.5 Grendel barrel lenght suggestions

[The-Other-Hunter-Z]

I'm building my first AR 15 and im not sure what barrel lenght to go with. The rifle is going to used for hunting whitetail in Wisconsin. I was set on an 18" but now I'm wondering if a 16" would be fine as the longest shot I'd be taking is 200 yards or less. I Appreciate any feedback on barrel makers & what not!

 

[FlyingScot]

For that range, I wouldn't bother with anything more than 16". The Grendel is pretty efficient anyways, and doesn't suffer a whole lot with a shorter tube, and part of the joy of the AR is having a (relatively) light, handy rifle.

If you haven't yet, be sure and read up on the chamber differences between the AA, Type I/II, 264 LBC, etc. before you purchase. Mixing and matching barrels and bolts is not as straightforward on the Grendel as it is on your garden variety .223.

 

[Axlrod]

I have a 18 and a 24, but for what you are doing a 16 would be fine. I run a suppressor on my 18.
Buy your bolt together with your barrel/upper.
Lots of info on 6.5grendel.com

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Be tempting to go 14.7 with a pinned and welded flash hider.

Assuming 123gr eld-m at 2375fps at typical Wisconsin deer season atmospheres you'd still be plenty good out to 350 yards.

 

[Oldffemt]

I’m running a 18” Faxon “gunner profile” it’s their lighter profile barrel. I took it to 600yds last week and put 10 rounds on a 12” steel target as fast as I could settle the crosshairs. My 18” w/ fixed rifle length Ace skeleton stock and a griffin recce7 suppressor is about an inch shorter than my Winchester m70 3006. Hopefully that gives a little perspective.

If I was building a Grendel for under 400yds I’d do a 16” or maybe a 12” pistol. Nice and maneuverable for midwest hunting.

 

[Oldffemt]

I also bought mine with original SAAMI spec chamber and bolt as designed by Alexander arms.
I bought my first Grendel right after the round came out, when everyone was bastardizing the chamber dimensions to get around Alex. Arms’ patent. I learned the hard way about the chamber.

 

[The-Other-Hunter-Z]

I have a 18 and a 24, but for what you are doing a 16 would be fine. I run a suppressor on my 18.
Buy your bolt together with your barrel/upper.
Lots of info on 6.5grendel.com

I’m running a 18” Faxon “gunner profile” it’s their lighter profile barrel. I took it to 600yds last week and put 10 rounds on a 12” steel target as fast as I could settle the crosshairs. My 18” w/ fixed rifle length Ace skeleton stock and a griffin recce7 suppressor is about an inch shorter than my Winchester m70 3006. Hopefully that gives a little perspective.

If I was building a Grendel for under 400yds I’d do a 16” or maybe a 12” pistol. Nice and maneuverable for midwest hunting.

Super helpful! Was looking at the Faxon fluted with nitride but then I saw the gunner barrel and was curious about it. I bought the Aeroprecision M4E1 enhanced upper/lower with a 15" handguard. If i go with Faxon I'll get the BCG along with it.

 

[Oldffemt]

Super helpful! Was looking at the Faxon fluted with nitride but then I saw the gunner barrel and was curious about it. I bought the Aeroprecision M4E1 enhanced upper/lower with a 15" handguard. If i go with Faxon I'll get the BCG along with it.

I used a JP bolt. If you want to use a 15” hand guard you’ll probably need the 18” barrel to get the muzzle to clear the guard. At least that’s how mine worked out. The faxon is worth the $ btw. PM me your number and I can text you some pics of how my muzzle is past the hand guard.

 

[howl]

20" gives more smack and still makes a short carbine. I would stay with at least 20 unless you will suppress it. There's nothing magic about a Grendel. It's a low powered cartridge compared to most common deer cartridges. A 6.5CM is a magnum compared to it. Ours have worked fine, but we don't push it past woods ranges.

Where you get your barrel depends on what you want out of it. For carrying to a ladder stand and shooting deer inside 200, I'd get bolt and barrel from the 65grendel group buy section. If printing groups, Lilja.

 

[The-Other-Hunter-Z]

I used a JP bolt. If you want to use a 15” hand guard you’ll probably need the 18” barrel to get the muzzle to clear the guard. At least that’s how mine worked out. The faxon is worth the $ btw. PM me your number and I can text you some pics of how my muzzle is past the hand guard.

Good to know, yeah the Faxon is my #1 right now, just waiting for their barrels to come back in stock and I have no idea when that will be. Second choice is Ballistic Advantage which is just a hair more affordable. Tried to p.m you but it wont let me, I think I'm too new here to p.m

 

[The-Other-Hunter-Z]

20" gives more smack and still makes a short carbine. I would stay with at least 20 unless you will suppress it. There's nothing magic about a Grendel. It's a low powered cartridge compared to most common deer cartridges. A 6.5CM is a magnum compared to it. Ours have worked fine, but we don't push it past woods ranges.

Where you get your barrel depends on what you want out of it. For carrying to a ladder stand and shooting deer inside 200, I'd get bolt and barrel from the 65grendel group buy section. If printing groups, Lilja.

Thank you for the advice! I'm very new to AR platforms, by supress it do you mean an actual suppressor or just a muzzle break of some sort?

 

[Oldffemt]

Here it is last week ringing steel at 600.
Got my faxon at optics planet. BA was my 2nd choice as well.

 

[howl]

Suppressor means silencer, not muzzle brake. You can just put a thread protector on a hunting AR if you're not suppressing it.

 

[FlyingScot]

Just to throw out more ideas, McGowen will do a custom AR barrel for $245. This is definitely the route I'll be taking when I build myself a 6.5G upper later this year.

You might also consider Criterion and Black Hole/Columbia River.

 

[The-Other-Hunter-Z]

That looks awesome! Is that an Odin works handguard by chance?? Is there a reason why optics planet is such a good deal? Looking through their site and its alarmingly cheaper