"Megatron" (a 6.5 Grendel build)

[Drifter]

If a rifle gets a name, it's usually a girl name. But this one gets referred to as Megatron.

The heart of this build is a Satern 19.5" barrel (Grendel chamber, and fluted under the handguard) in a Mega monolithic upper.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/Driftwood2304/2012-04-3018-10348.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/Driftwood2304/2012-04-30180125.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/Driftwood2304/2012-04-30180214.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/Driftwood2304/2012-04-3018-10541.jpg

I've built several 6.5 / .264 uppers, sold most, and currently down to only two. Think this one will be a keeper.

I'll try to get some better pics if anyone's interested.

[LRRPF52]

Looks nice. I'm always interested to see how they group, especially at distance. I like the Monolithic uppers. Interesting choice of rings.

[Variable]

Wowsers, I like it!

Usually I hate the look of those skeletonized triggers, but on your rifle it actually looks right and really nice. Call it a "vibe" or whatever (LOL), but I've got a feeling you are going to love the groups coming out of that rifle...:D

[Drifter]

Looks nice. I'm always interested to see how they group, especially at distance. I like the Monolithic uppers. Interesting choice of rings.

Thanks. I have a steel target at 600, furthest that I've stretched it. With a 15x scope and little-to-no wind, it will usually keep 3 shots in ~2" to ~5" if it's fed the right ammo.

As for the rings, it just didn't seem right to put a cantilever mount on a monolithic upper. It would have been a solution to a nonexistent problem. Those ADM rings are designed for an Aimpoint (using one ring). But they're the appropriate size (30mm) and appropriate height (1.52"), return to zero extremely well, cost about the same as quality 1-piece mounts, and I'm using ADM for other accessories (Aimpoint T1, Atlas bipod, and Accu-Shot rear monopod).



Wowsers, I like it!

Usually I hate the look of those skeletonized triggers, but on your rifle it actually looks right and really nice. Call it a "vibe" or whatever (LOL), but I've got a feeling you are going to love the groups coming out of that rifle...:D

Thanks. The trigger design is appealing to me because it's further forward than most (or all). I like the appearance of the black version better, which I have on another lower that will be part of an all-black build. Thus, the chrome one had to go on the Grendel since it already had a little bling. The trigger stands out less in person. (The difference in the finish of the upper and lower is less noticeable too.)

[COLDSTEEL77]

Very nice

[biggdawg]

Awesome stick you have there!!!

[txgunner00]

Very nice! Have that same barrel cut back to 19.5 also. What does your rifle weigh?

[Drifter]

Thanks guys.


Very nice! Have that same barrel cut back to 19.5 also. What does your rifle weigh?

Weight is ~10.25 lbs as pictured without scope. With scope and rings, it's ~12.75 lbs.

I can shave a pound with a different stock, as anything over 12 lbs gets noticeable to me. But it's such a pleasure to shoot with the PRS that I might just learn to deal with the weight.

[txgunner00]

Weight was the primary reason I didn't go with a PRS. I had a CTR already and it surprisingly worked very well on this rifle. I have been looking at the ACS-L stocks though. I think one would be an improvement for bench use yet still fit my other needs well.

[Variable]

Thanks. The trigger design is appealing to me because it's further forward than most (or all). I like the appearance of the black version better, which I have on another lower that will be part of an all-black build. Thus, the chrome one had to go on the Grendel since it already had a little bling. The trigger stands out less in person. (The difference in the finish of the upper and lower is less noticeable too.)
While I feel dumb talking weapon "fashion" like a woman discussing purses or something, it's that the trigger ties in the gas block with the barrel and bolt carrier. It balances your bling aesthetically...:o;):D

[ricsmall]

nice stick! is that a 17 rd mag? all ive gotten so far are 10 rounders and they are short! anyway, give us some target pics soon. interested to see how it shoots

[Drifter]

nice stick! is that a 17 rd mag? all ive gotten so far are 10 rounders and they are short! anyway, give us some target pics soon. interested to see how it shoots

Thanks. Yes, either 15 or 17 round mag (don't recall which the manufacturer calls it).

Had a brief range session earlier today. Just wanted to confirm a recipe before loading a few hundred rounds. It was ~92-degrees with ~40% humidity, and ~30.06 pressure. Though there was an intermittent NW breeze at ~6 mph (~half value from left to right), shooting on a wooded path offers a fair amount of protection, thus reducing the required compensation when stretching the distance. I'm at ~100' above sea level.

The pics below show the last 6 rounds fired. For the photos, a 3-shot group on paper fired from 100-yards was taped to my 600-yard steel target, which shows the final 3 of the 6 shots. This was a handload using the 123gr Lapua Scenar at ~2475 fps. I dialed 4.9-mils up and 0.1-mil left from the 100-yard setting to shoot at 600. The 100-yard group measures just over 0.25" center-to-center, and the 600-yard group measures ~4.5". This is a routine or average performance; not its best, nor its worst, but what can generally be expected on most any given day in similar conditions. In other words, I didn't "cherry pick" the groups in an effort to embellish the rifle's capabilities.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/Driftwood2304/050312atest-1-2.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/Driftwood2304/050312test-1-1.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/Driftwood2304/050312ctest-1.jpg

Of course, I prefer to see smaller groups for just 3 shots, but I don't mind so much when the variation is mostly horizontal.

Load was as follows:

123 gr Lapua Scenar
fired Hornady brass trimmed to 1.515
28.0 gr AR-Comp powder
CCI #41 primer
light crimp using Lee FCD
~2.250 COL

~2475 fps from 19.5" Satern.

Same recipe works equally well with 123 gr A-max.

And FWIW, a buddy's 18" Satern shoots right along with my 19.5".

[txgunner00]

Nice shooting!

[ricsmall]

nice shooting, im really ready to get my build going. hope it shoots as well as yours!

[SChunter]

Drifter,

Great looking (and shooting) rig!

[LRRPF52]

That's cool. How do you like that bipod with the ADM QD? Looks pretty solid isn't it...

[Drifter]

Appreciate the comments.

LRRPF52- The Atlas bipod is definitely a good piece, and the ADM QD is a nice option. I'm also using an ADM QD rail section with the rear monopod:

http://www.americandefensemanufacturing.com/view/product/106/