Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: notellumcreek on April 13, 2014, 09:58:52 AM

Title: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: notellumcreek on April 13, 2014, 09:58:52 AM: I am just starting to look into a possible conversion for my AR .223/5.56 and turning it into a 6.5 Grendel. I am not looking to necessarily buy everything right now as gun stuff is not in my budget currently, but I need to feed the addiction :chuckle: Pretty much still a newb when it comes to piecing a gun together, I know part names and how to strip my AR down and clean it but that's about it. I would like to shoot longer range with it, instead of it just being a plinker gun for me. I am all ears for any tips or suggestions on a conversion of this sort- barrel length and twist, gas block, bolt, brand recommendations, etc. Thank you for any help, you can PM me if you want!

Thanks :hello:
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: Jburke on April 13, 2014, 10:38:46 PM: Cheapest route is to buy a barrel, bolt and magazines.
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: jeffro on April 14, 2014, 09:07:23 AM: If it were me, I would buy a complete upper, bolt and a couple mags.
Two guns using one lower.
You might look here for technical questions: http://www.65grendel.com/forum/ (http://www.65grendel.com/forum/)
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: Jburke on April 14, 2014, 09:28:46 AM: Quote from: jeffro on April 14, 2014, 09:07:23 AM
If it were me, I would buy a complete upper, bolt and a couple mags.
Two guns using one lower.
You might look here for technical questions: http://www.65grendel.com/forum/ (http://www.65grendel.com/forum/)
This was how I went. I originally considered just the barrel, bolt and mag swap but in the end it's not much more expensive to finish the rest and a whole lot more convenient. Lol, then I got greedy and finished a lower to have a complete gun.
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: JohnVH on April 14, 2014, 09:51:38 AM: and as far as barrel length, I think 18" to be the best all around length IMO. Mines a 16", and I can smack rocks at 400yds as fast as I can pull the trigger. The FPS between a 16 and 24" are not so huge, that to me anyway, makes it worth lugging that extra around. My 16 is balanced perfect, can walk with it pointing straight down and not hit the ground, etc.. I will rebarrel it with a quality 18" in the future.
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: Jburke on April 14, 2014, 10:25:47 AM: Quote from: JohnVH on April 14, 2014, 09:51:38 AM
and as far as barrel length, I think 18" to be the best all around length IMO. Mines a 16", and I can smack rocks at 400yds as fast as I can pull the trigger. The FPS between a 16 and 24" are not so huge, that to me anyway, makes it worth lugging that extra around. My 16 is balanced perfect, can walk with it pointing straight down and not hit the ground, etc.. I will rebarrel it with a quality 18" in the future.
I also went with the 16". I am planning on using it for deer hunting in the future and didn't want the extra length to lug around.
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: JohnVH on April 14, 2014, 10:31:29 AM: your gonna love it, Ive taken mine deer hunting but have not put one in front of it yet. Ive been smoking coyotes from 1-300yds no problem, with a 120gr nosler reload going almost 2500
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: Jburke on April 14, 2014, 01:25:40 PM: I have some Partitions and Accubonds I picked up. I think I have some Barnes tsx also that I'm curious to give a shot. I just finally got ahold of some brass not too long ago. I haven't even got to shoot the gun yet. Had head spacing issues and got sent back to BHW. Should have a new one shortly so I can put it back together and get it out hunting.
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: JohnVH on April 14, 2014, 01:36:32 PM: I tried a few different loads and bullets (including barnes) and the best groups came from the 120gr nosler bt's, but mine has some no name barrel on it.
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: Blacklab on April 15, 2014, 09:58:55 AM: Lilja 18 inch 1/8 twist :tup: :twocents:
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: notellumcreek on April 15, 2014, 10:00:18 AM: Thanks for all the replies! I started to look at the grendel website threads and they are good to read. I was deciding with 18" or 20" barrel, I will have to decide on getting the whole upper set up or not. Just means I will have extra parts and have to buy more to make another gun :chuckle: now the hard part... actually finding the dang things in stock somewhere! Thanks again fellas.
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: notellumcreek on April 15, 2014, 10:01:14 AM: Quote from: Blacklab on April 15, 2014, 09:58:55 AM
Lilja 18 inch 1/8 twist :tup: :twocents:

They do look like sweet barrels!
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: hunting4sanity on April 15, 2014, 10:35:45 AM: Precision Firearms has some good, but somewhat expensive, 6.5 Grendel uppers, complete rifles, barrels, etc. I have a 20" Les Baer from them on a 6.5 and have been VERY happy and impressed with the way it shoots. It does very well with both 120gr A-Max and the 120gr BT. It has pretty long reach as well. 'Buy once - cry once' is a good adage .................. within reason :rolleyes:
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: Biggerhammer on April 15, 2014, 12:11:21 PM: 18" rifle length gas and go with a adjustable gas block with a .100-.105 gas port hole. A polygonal barrel will get you 75 feet a second plus over a standard button or cut rifle. The polygonal rifle length 18" will run with a standard 22" all day.
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: Blacklab on April 15, 2014, 01:33:18 PM: Quote from: hunting4sanity on April 15, 2014, 10:35:45 AM
Precision Firearms has some good, but somewhat expensive, 6.5 Grendel uppers, complete rifles, barrels, etc. I have a 20" Les Baer from them on a 6.5 and have been VERY happy and impressed with the way it shoots. It does very well with both 120gr A-Max and the 120gr BT. It has pretty long reach as well. 'Buy once - cry once' is a good adage .................. within reason :rolleyes:

He's uses Lilja and bartlen barrels :tup: :twocents:

Just rememberd you'll need a heavier buffer and buffer spring :twocents:
Title: Re: 6.5 grendel conversion
Post by: GLShooter on April 19, 2014, 09:29:27 PM: Quote from: Blacklab on April 15, 2014, 01:33:18 PM
Quote from: hunting4sanity on April 15, 2014, 10:35:45 AM
Precision Firearms has some good, but somewhat expensive, 6.5 Grendel uppers, complete rifles, barrels, etc. I have a 20" Les Baer from them on a 6.5 and have been VERY happy and impressed with the way it shoots. It does very well with both 120gr A-Max and the 120gr BT. It has pretty long reach as well. 'Buy once - cry once' is a good adage .................. within reason :rolleyes:

He's uses Lilja and bartlen barrels :tup: :twocents:

Just rememberd you'll need a heavier buffer and buffer spring :twocents:

I have never needed heavier buffers and springs on any of my Grendel/LBC rifles. I run an adjustable gas block on all of them and that handles the timing handily. Even the 25 WSSM rifles run with standard buffers and springs in my experience.

Greg