I’ve been sort of fascinated with the varied 6.5 cartridges since my teenagers. I keep in mind my dad speaking about how the 6.5 sits in a candy spot so far as it’s ballistic coefficient, and the way correct the rounds might be. I’ve quite a lot of navy rifles in 6.5 Japanese, 6.5 Swede and 6.5 Carcano, however saved which means to construct a contemporary rifle in a contemporary 6.5 caliber. Since I work with the AR platform a lot, I saved coming again to the 6.5 Grendel, and I lastly constructed one final fall.
The 6.5 Grendel
The 6.5 Grendel has been round for greater than 20 years. It began as a proprietary spherical from Alexander Arms. Whereas it provided good ballistics and labored in an ordinary AR-15 platform, it had one thing of a gradual begin. It wasn’t till it bought its personal SAMMI specs and Alexander Arms allowed different firms to make use of the spherical that it actually began gaining traction. There have been quite a lot of different 6mm primarily based rounds out to compete with it by that time, however it nonetheless holds a stable spot on the 6mm market right this moment.
The 6.5 Grendel makes use of bullet weights starting from 90 grains to 130 grains. It’s velocity runs from round 2,880 fps on the 90-grain finish to 2,510 fps on the 130-grain finish. Muzzle vitality is a stable 1,658 to 1,942 ft.-lbs. relying on the load. It has an efficient vary of 800 to 1,000 yards, relying on who you imagine, and is taken into account appropriate for predators akin to coyotes and whitetail deer-sized recreation. It’s a center floor spherical between the 5.6mm and seven.62 NATO spherical and in some methods outperforms each. For example, it holds kinetic vitality at longer ranges higher than the 7.62 NATO as a result of superior ballistic coefficient. It was additionally a contender for Spec Ops use competing with the 6.8mm SPC spherical, though neither ended up seeing any sort of official traction.
The general size of the spherical is such that it matches in a daily AR-15 platform and an AR-15 journal, however the fatter case does cut back journal capability. A 20 spherical 5.56mm holds 15 rounds of 6.5 Grendel reliably, whereas a 30-round journal will maintain round 25 rounds. Magazines can be found from ASC and Duramag in 5-, 10- and 15-round capacities. ASC makes a 25-round magazine, and the Duramag holds 26 rounds. Duramag additionally makes a curved 20-round journal that sits in between a 5.56mm 20-round and 5.56mm 30-round magazine in measurement. Alexander Arms in fact additionally provides magazines in 4- and 22-round capacities. 6.5 Grendel mags will usually work with one in all its rivals and the 6mm ARC as effectively.
Beginning with KE Arms
I picked up a KE Arms KP-15 decrease half in FDE this previous summer season. I have already got a black KP-15 that I used for a light-weight 5.56 construct and an OD one which I in-built 7.62x39mm. I figured I’d keep on with the sample and do the FDE in but a special caliber and thought it was lastly time to do a 6.5 Grendel.
The KP-15 lowers are one-piece polymer lowers with an built-in mounted buttstock. This eliminates the frequent fail level on polymer lowers on the receiver extension the place the buffer tube would usually screw in. The mounted inventory is A1 size, which is my choice. The decrease has a flared magazine effectively and a hard and fast pistol grip. You do lose modularity with the KP-15 with that mounted inventory and grip, however they work effectively for me so I don’t thoughts that on these builds. I like the sunshine weight and ease of them.
KE Arms sells both a stripped decrease half, an entire one with a primary components equipment, or one with an improve components equipment. All of mine have the fundamental components equipment, which is principally GI spec. For the reason that decrease half was full, I simply wanted to cobble collectively an higher.
KM Tactical and Faxon Firearms
I began gathering components, and I went to my regular go-to higher for contemporary builds, from KM Tactical. I don’t use a ahead help on plenty of my builds since I’ve by no means used one as soon as in all of the years that I used to be within the service or in police work. I’ll and positively have used uppers with a FA, particularly on retro builds, however I don’t exit of my technique to get one on fashionable builds. I just like the traces of the KM Tactical uppers, they’re cheap and have labored effectively on various builds I’ve accomplished over time. I picked up an FDE one to save lots of myself from having to Moly Resin or rattle can paint the higher later.
For the barrel, I opted for a Faxon Firearms 16-inch Gunner profile with a mid-length gasoline system. I matched that up with a Faxon 6.5 Grendel Bolt provider group, gasoline tube and low-profile gasoline block. Faxon makes high-quality barrels, they usually had every thing I wanted for this construct.
Since I wished to maintain this construct easy and light-weight, I used a GI-style barrel nut and carbine finish cap and fitted the rifle with a set of Magpul MOE mid-length handguards in FDE. I completed the barrel off with a K415 H&Okay-style flash hider from KAK Business. Should you’ve seen my different construct articles, I take advantage of plenty of KAK flash hiders and flash cans. They’ve plenty of choices which might be each sensible and look good on the builds. Costs are good, too.
To complete the rifle off, I stole my Swampfox Optics Tomahawk 1-4×24 LPVO from my .308 Aero Precision SBR and added a Magpul sling. I assumed the LPVO could be higher suited to the 16-inch 6.5 moderately than the 12-inch .308.
The very last thing I did was choose up 5 15-round Duramags in FDE. I most likely will get some 25- or 26-round mags finally, however I just like the low profile of the 15-round mags so I began there.
Vary Time
This was my first time taking pictures a 6.5 Grendel out of any platform. Whereas it’s placing out a heavier, fatter bullet at greater velocity than a 5.56mm it nonetheless proved nice to shoot. The KE construct got here in at 5.85 kilos. With the mid-length gasoline system although, it proved to be a clean shooter. Though the KE Arms inventory has an A1 size mounted inventory, it does use a carbine buffer spring and buffer.
I picked up my 6.5 Grendel ammo from AmmoToGo. I had largely Hornady Frontier ammo to work with for my vary classes. It’s 123-grain FMJ with a velocity of two,580 fps, though that’s out of an extended check barrel. The load labored effectively in my gun with no feed or extraction points. Sight in with my Swampfox was fast. At 25 yards my teams have been principally one ragged gap, which I do know is just not an enormous deal, however I’ll take the small victories.
The opposite two hundreds I examined have been the Hornady Customized 123-grain SST and the Nemo Arms 120-grain FMJ Boat Tail. Each hundreds carried out equally to the Hornady Frontier load that I used for the majority of my taking pictures.
At 100 yards, off of the bench, I saved every thing below 1.5 inches accounting for an occasional referred to as flier. My finest teams have been at or simply below an inch, however I used to be working for it. I do assume with a bit extra magnification than the 4x max on the LPVO, or a greater set off, I would quiet down near an inch often off of a relaxation. The Faxon barrel shoots, it’s the interface behind the set off that’s the variable. I didn’t run the construct previous 100 yards earlier than the winter climate hit, however I’m planning to take the rifle out on my membership’s 300-yard vary after we’re previous the snow and single-digit temps.
6.5 Wrap Up
It took me some time to lastly put collectively a contemporary 6.5 rifle, however I’m fairly proud of the ultimate outcomes. The construct is gentle and useful with its KP-15 decrease, the Faxon Gunner profile barrel and Magpul forend. The Swampfox LPVO isn’t the lightest optic I might have used, however it works effectively with this configuration. Reliability and accuracy have been each excellent.
You may let you know’re taking pictures one thing heavier than a 5.56 with the 6.5 Grendel, however it’s nonetheless a nice rifle to shoot. I recognize that the general weight and dealing with is way lower than my AR-10 platform weapons, too. You get a spherical with a superior trajectory to the .308 at longer ranges and about half the recoil, too.
The 6.5 Grendel has plenty of competitors as of late, particularly with the 6mm ARC, however it’s nonetheless a viable alternative for people who need to follow an AR-15-size platform, however need extra punch than what a 5.56mm can ship.
Take a look at Ammo To Go, the ammunition retail sponsor of TTAG gun evaluations, for your entire ammunition wants.
