My 18 incher is BORN

First... big thanks to Grendelizer and the fundraiser... I got my barrel on saturday, built it on sunday! I also have to thank my friends Rex, his wife Julie, my buddy Matt, and my girlfriend Sylvia for all the "support" on this almost 2.5 year ordeal to build MY rifle. and when i say MY rifle, its because it fits me like a GLOVE... which is really hard to do!
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac32/JMURACN/DSC00862.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac32/JMURACN/DSC00861.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac32/JMURACN/DSC00860.jpg

My AR15 has taken the better part of two and a half years to build. There were two big reasons for this delay…
1. I’m not made of money, so dropping $340 on a barrel is a big deal for me
2. I waited 5 months to get a barrel after I had the money for it
Obviously I chose the 6.5 Grendel as my caliber. I was born in the People Republic of Maryland, but at the ripe age of 2 months old I was relocated to the Commonwealth. I consider myself a VA boy, and I love to support the business in this state. When you combine that with the advantages of the 65G, I was sold.
As a boy I was fortunate enough to travel to the family farms on the Eastern Shore of MD, Batavia NY, and the Ozarks of AR. Being that most of my family were or are Marines, I was able to learn the fine art of shooting at a very young age. Marksmanship in my family is taken pretty seriously.
The inspiration for my build comes from years of “bench racing” fire arms with close friends and family members actively deployed in Marine Recon units. It’s THE squad designated marks rifle, it’s the run and gun version of a SASS. Granted, this is all opinion… I’m sure there will be some “haters.”
The Upper:
18 inch Alexander Arms Hopelite barrel
Rock River Arms EOP Upper complete(the first AR part I bought for this build over 2 years ago)
Double Star BCA
Double Star (I think) Aluminum Free Float tube with my “I got bored in the garage” modification
VLTOR 6.5 brake
Badger Ordinance Big Tac Latch and Charging Handle
PRI Adjustable Gas Block
Speed Lock CWS (which I cant get to fit in my rifle!)
NC Star 8-32x50 AOE Illuminated Mil-Dot (yes I know it big and crappy, blah blah… if it bothers you that much, send me some good glass… PM me for the address)
The Lower:
DPMS lower Receiver
Magpul Trigger Guard
Hogue Grip
Rock River Arms 6 position buttstock
Rock River Arms 2 stage trigger
Double Star parts kit
Yankee Hill Machine EZ pull pins
KNS Mod2 Seer Pin Kit

VLTOR 6.5 brake


Wait... What?

A VLTOR grendel brake?

More info please.


Congrats on finishing your build. Woot!

Hey MudBug: I think by the looks of it in the picture he meant a Vltor flash hider. It's on page 7 of the AA 2009 catalog.

Hopefully this helps.

Very nice build Kaan. Let us know how it shoots once you get the kinks worked out.

Lee

Hey MudBug: I think by the looks of it in the picture he meant a Vltor flash hider. It's on page 7 of the AA 2009 catalog.

Hopefully this helps.

Very nice build Kaan. Let us know how it shoots once you get the kinks worked out.

Lee

sure its a flash hider i guess, but with 5 open ports i would almost assume it acts more like a brake

also, one of the vents i drilled into the forearm lines up well enough that i dont have to take it off to adjust my gas block. now to rig a mount or something to keep my allen key! :)

I know a man's rifle is a personal thing, but can I point out something without offending you?


That scope sure seems high, do you get a decent cheek weld? or is it more of a chin weld?

I know a man's rifle is a personal thing, but can I point out something without offending you?


That scope sure seems high, do you get a decent cheek weld? or is it more of a chin weld?

I'm a short, very bulky guy. I have a 18.5 inch neck... and if you ask my kid brother (the polar opposite of me), he'll tell you i dont have a neck. My entire life i've fought rifles trying to make them comfortable for me... and still have eye relief.

Right now it sits on the "high side" of my jaw, which is allowing me to see a good full scope and keep both eyes open... I might swap to lower rings to get it closer to my cheek bone, but its in no way on my chin lol.

so the height may change. I'm just going to get another set of rings and see how it feels before i head out to the range.

I also need a sling mount! :)

Is your scope high enough? Are those High Rings or what! Damn!

Again, Nice build- Junk scope and too damn high!

Id also think about getting a better forend rail. I would bet my life it would make your build look 10000000X better. Better optic and lower Rings also.
Trust me.
Daniel Defense,Samson,Larue,Midwest,Troy,Yankee Hill,etc, etc.


I dont think thats a Doublestar Freefloat Forend (you dont even know what parts your putting on your rifle?) I never seen one like that before. It looks like a Walmart Special.

Is your scope high enough? Are those High Rings or what! Damn!

Again, Nice build- Junk scope and too damn high!

Id also think about getting a better forend rail. I would bet my life it would make your build look 10000000X better. Better optic and lower Rings also.
Trust me.
Daniel Defense,Samson,Larue,Midwest,Troy,Yankee Hill,etc, etc.


I dont think thats a Doublestar Freefloat Forend (you dont even know what parts your putting on your rifle?) I never seen one like that before. It looks like a Walmart Special.

read my post... if you dont like the crapy optics (which i know are crappy)... feel free to mail me something nice.

as far as the FF front end... well i want to keep it FF and a tube, i bought it from a really reputable dealer that builds custom uppers... you keep spending your money on names, i'll keep my field gun custom and light. :)

I never seen one like that before. It looks like a Walmart Special.

lol... thats because i took the solid aluminum tube and cut my own desgin in it. you would have known that if you didnt just look at pictures and bash people. but i know its asking too much for you to actually read a post.

you've been trolling and judging everyone elses builds an awful lot. maybe you need to take a break from the internet, it might improve your social skills.

Congrats on the new build.

lol... thats because i took the solid aluminum tube and cut my own desgin in it. you would have known that if you didnt just look at pictures and bash people. but i know its asking too much for you to actually read a post.

you've been trolling and judging everyone elses builds an awful lot. maybe you need to take a break from the internet, it might improve your social skills.


I have to agree you seem to be a hipocritical piece of $#%^

People buy what they can afford. Building a grendel is not a cheap endeavor and sometimes we have to make sacrifices(optics) to complete the project. I wish we could all be like you and have the best of everything. BTW do you have pics of your build?....sure would like to se perfection

Here is pics of my build and its pure perfection!
Yes, I am a piece of sh%$ also, thanks for reminding me!

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic1-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic5-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic7-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/3Gunspic7.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic7-1.jpg

And by the way im not paying for "names", im paying for quality!
Ask anyone, would they want a US Optic for a scope or a Barska? Think!
Dont be mad at me cuz you dont have the best. (niether do I) Im just saying.

Some of you guys on here are BABIES! WHAAAAAAAA! Need your bottle?

I will list all the specs but you might go into total shock of hearing what total perfection sounds like.

Here is pics of my build and its pure perfection!
Yes, I am a piece of sh%$ also, thanks for reminding me!

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic1-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic5-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic7-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/3Gunspic7.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic7-1.jpg

And by the way im not paying for "names", im paying for quality!
Ask anyone, would they want a US Optic for a scope or a Barska? Think!
Dont be mad at me cuz you dont have the best. (niether do I) Im just saying.

Some of you guys on here are BABIES! WHAAAAAAAA! Need your bottle?

I will list all the specs but you might go into total shock of hearing what total perfection sounds like.
Weight please?

Bill

Weight please?

Bill

i'll take a picture on the scale and a pic of your groups.

Here is pics of my build and its pure perfection!
Yes, I am a piece of sh%$ also, thanks for reminding me!

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic1-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic5-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic7-1.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/3Gunspic7.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/vincentguns/65Grendelpic7-1.jpg

And by the way im not paying for "names", im paying for quality!
Ask anyone, would they want a US Optic for a scope or a Barska? Think!
Dont be mad at me cuz you dont have the best. (niether do I) Im just saying.

Some of you guys on here are BABIES! WHAAAAAAAA! Need your bottle?

I will list all the specs but you might go into total shock of hearing what total perfection sounds like.

You do have a very nice rifle. I'm not sure how you come up with the whole baby thing(perhaps it is because you can't stand for someone else to disagree with you/your attitude).

I'm not trying to start a hate thread; I just feel if you don't like something about someone else's build, you can use a little more tact to let them know what you would do different. This is where my anger stems from, not from my inability to buy the best. I am not, nor have I ever been jealous of what someone else has. I do not 'brand' shop, I buy what I can afford(or what suites me).

When I built my Grendel all I could afford was a Barska swat series scope. I am still surprised to see it holding up after 2 yrs. The only complaint I have about it is above 18x it gets hazy, but otherwise the glass is very clear. Would I rather have a nightforce, ziess, or swarovski??....sure....as long as I didn't have to pay for it.

Weight please?

Bill


What does weight have to do with it, its not like im going to be lugging it around ant war zone anytime soon.

I already did that with an M4,

5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, (HIMARS)
celeritas et accuratio (speed and accuracy)

Nice rifle. I like the 18" barrels. They are a good "middle of the road" pick that suit all sorts of practical purposes...

What does weight have to do with it, its not like im going to be lugging it around ant war zone anytime soon.

I already did that with an M4,

5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, (HIMARS)
celeritas et accuratio (speed and accuracy)OK, now I understand, it's a bench gun. Why all the rails then?

If it isn't going to be carried, what purpose do the rails play?

And why bother with the barrel fluting, since a bull barrel would both dissipate heat more effectively and be stiffer, thus improving accuracy?

Bill

Nice rifle. I like the 18" barrels. They are a good "middle of the road" pick that suit all sorts of practical purposes...

Its not too big, not too small... seems like a great size to take to the woods. and thats its intended purpose, well what i'll use it for. Deer, hogs, coyote, and anything else that needs to be taken care of.

my rifle is pretty darn light. I'm going to put it on the scales "soon." Also with a mag in it, it feels pretty well ballance. though maybe just a little to front heavy. but its ok with me. I've also been looking into the green "laser" spoting light for the scope mount... thats going to add a little wieght.

Did I ever say it was a bench gun?

I got the rail so I could by all the Top name brands, spend as much money as possible on rail add ons, just so it looks "Tacticoool"! Who cares how it shoots, as long as it looks good in the safe!

That was a joke by the way.



Anyhow in my pics how many things did you see besides a bi-pod and rail panels on my rail?

Bwaites, you talk about me trashing peoples guns, what are you doing!

If i were to say to someone what you said to me you would send me another one of your threating "THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE, BE NICE" private messages again! LOL

Hey, Bwaites,
BE NICE to me, Its all could afford! LOL

Come on V. You've resurrected several threads this week just to bash a persons choice in optics, accessories or paint job. Did you run out of happy pills? We get it, you're proud of your G build. I'm pretty sure you receive cudo's when you posted it, if not "congrats". Now try to let others enjoy theirs.

T

Did I ever say it was a bench gun?

I got the rail so I could by all the Top name brands, spend as much money as possible on rail add ons, just so it looks "Tacticoool"! Who cares how it shoots, as long as it looks good in the safe!

That was a joke by the way.



Anyhow in my pics how many things did you see besides a bi-pod and rail panels on my rail?

Bwaites, you talk about me trashing peoples guns, what are you doing!

If i were to say to someone what you said to me you would send me another one of your threating "THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE, BE NICE" private messages again! LOL

Hey, Bwaites,
BE NICE to me, Its all could afford! LOL
Sorry your took offense.

I was asking what I thought were legitimate questions.

You pointed out the inferiority of several other peoples guns, I was hoping for your insight as to why you made the choices you did.

Never once did I trash on your gun, I asked questions which were pointed and had legitimate reasons.

Please point out where I criticized any of your choices.

Once again, I apologize that you took offense.

Bill

Its not too big, not too small... seems like a great size to take to the woods. and thats its intended purpose, well what i'll use it for. Deer, hogs, coyote, and anything else that needs to be taken care of.

my rifle is pretty darn light. I'm going to put it on the scales "soon." Also with a mag in it, it feels pretty well ballance. though maybe just a little to front heavy. but its ok with me. I've also been looking into the green "laser" spoting light for the scope mount... thats going to add a little wieght.


I hear you. I've been sitting on two 18" builds now for almost two years. I keep changing gears and can't make up my mind on what I want. The purpose has always been white tail hunting / medium range paper punching. I'm fighting an internal battle right now with iron sights. I bought some F style gas blocks but think I'm going to cut them down. I don't want doo-dads and corners to catch on brush.
I also have telestocks on them for now, but I do think I'm going to change those out to some sort of shorter fixed stock. I'm working on a walnut stock for my Beowulf, now I'm tempted to do the same with the two Grendels. I think that might help with the front heavy balance.

Regardless, good build. The scope looks high to me also, but you've explained why.

I hear you. I've been sitting on two 18" builds now for almost two years. I keep changing gears and can't make up my mind on what I want. The purpose has always been white tail hunting / medium range paper punching. I'm fighting an internal battle right now with iron sights. I bought some F style gas blocks but think I'm going to cut them down. I don't want doo-dads and corners to catch on brush.
I also have telestocks on them for now, but I do think I'm going to change those out to some sort of shorter fixed stock. I'm working on a walnut stock for my Beowulf, now I'm tempted to do the same with the two Grendels. I think that might help with the front heavy balance.

Regardless, good build. The scope looks high to me also, but you've explained why.

i was trying to convince AA to sell me a 19.5 barrel without an upper :) no dice, so 18 had to do it....

anyway, i lowered the scope on the lowest rings... the clearance is tight... but it will work. its almost too low, but i think i can get used to it. i dont think i could see through a flat top with a really tight scope mounting. also to get eye relief i have to fully extend the stock and it keeps me stretching, but i'll see how i like it this weekend. i might swap up to rings that are a little higher. They are Millett (sp?) rings.

http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac32/JMURACN/DSC00867.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac32/JMURACN/DSC00868.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac32/JMURACN/DSC00870.jpg

;) After all the bashing... and some decisions on my end... also having the feed issue.... The rifle is going to be rebuilt. I'm just waiting on the M4 flat top receiver to come in. Its too bad too, she was punching paper pretty well.

My MI SS-series 15 inch HG came in last night. Its just heavier (maybe an ounce) than HG thats on it now. but i wanted a full railed top on the tube because i'm going to end up with a day/night scope set up on it. I'm currently researching the "night" add ons and once i pick out the model, i'll have a couple of scopes to pick from.

Once life gets alittle less crazy i'll scale everything, post up some parts/overall weights, rebuild it, and post up some new pics.

Kaan,

That's the fun part though, isn't it? The tinkering and tweeking, not everyone understands that. It makes it yours. I enjoyed learning what works and what doesn't through trial and error. Very nice stuff.

Buying quality parts (when financially able) is ideal and something I always try for, but not when it is just to say "look how much money I can spend..."

well i put the 18 incher on the scale. it feels light in your hands, but the scale said something different!

with the 26/27 round Cproducts mag fully loaded with wolf soft point (the only loaded mag i had laying around)... it came it at 10lbs 1oz.

the high rise upper is going, the big heavy chinese scope is going, the steel rings are out the door, and i'm replacing the HG still.

i think one of the reasons it feels light is it seems well ballanced... i'll try to remove weight and keep the ballance as it is. we shall see. the new HG is going to up the weight a couple oz, and so will the sling mount and sling... but knowing i will add weight is motivating me to shed it in other places.

well i put the 18 incher on the scale. it feels light in your hands, but the scale said something different!

with the 26/27 round Cproducts mag fully loaded with wolf soft point (the only loaded mag i had laying around)... it came it at 10lbs 1oz.

the high rise upper is going, the big heavy chinese scope is going, the steel rings are out the door, and i'm replacing the HG still.

i think one of the reasons it feels light is it seems well balanced... i'll try to remove weight and keep the ballance as it is. we shall see. the new HG is going to up the weight a couple oz, and so will the sling mount and sling... but knowing i will add weight is motivating me to shed it in other places.

I applaud your diligence/patience. I too am a Noob that was enticed by an article about the performance and versatility of the 65G. Such being that over the past 8-10 months I've always kept it in the back of my mind to build one. Part of me wants to build a 1000yd 20"-24" rifle and the other half wants a "tacticool" (as Vincent30 puts it) 16" w/ break or flash to make state law of 18".

Instead, I was at the same time introduced to the CMP, which has/had a local league in my area. So I built a 20" competition service AR-15 in 5.56. Built the lower from scratch and ordered a White Oaks Armaments complete CMP upper (I don't have the tools or knowledge to build an upper yet). So the petty cash was definitely gone! Now we just learned the Army base that the league used has closed to civilian use; return dates unknown. :mad: And there is no way I'm going to drive the entire length of the Long Island Expressway on a Sunday afternoon to go to the other league site!

Upon waiting for the upper, I was chatting w/ fellow competitors and such. I mentioned how I was doing things to lighten the rifle. In response, they were bragging how heavy each others rifles were! It turns out that some of these guys had there 5.56 rifles to the rule limits of 15lbs. :eek: I was flabbergasted. Turns out that the heavier the rifle the less drifting, sway, and recoil is sent back to the shooter.

I bring this up because your original post mentions you shoot for bragging rights in your family. I'm just throwing it out for consideration before you start putting it on a diet. As a former Marine myself, I'm not happy w/ anything less than a missing "X" ring.

Lastly, I agree w/ junking the scope. As a hunter myself, I've heard many a story of guys buying $1000 rifles with $200 scopes. Then cussing the rifle because they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Sights are everything. I'd rather have a $200 rifle w/ a $1000 scope.

BTW, I kinda like what you did w/ the hand guards. They're unique (and functional). Good luck in your future endeavors. Maybe I'll be able to post my Grendel up here someday.

I applaud your diligence/patience. I too am a Noob that was enticed by an article about the performance and versatility of the 65G. Such being that over the past 8-10 months I've always kept it in the back of my mind to build one. Part of me wants to build a 1000yd 20"-24" rifle and the other half wants a "tacticool" (as Vincent30 puts it) 16" w/ break or flash to make state law of 18".

Instead, I was at the same time introduced to the CMP, which has/had a local league in my area. So I built a 20" competition service AR-15 in 5.56. Built the lower from scratch and ordered a White Oaks Armaments complete CMP upper (I don't have the tools or knowledge to build an upper yet). So the petty cash was definitely gone! Now we just learned the Army base that the league used has closed to civilian use; return dates unknown. :mad: And there is no way I'm going to drive the entire length of the Long Island Expressway on a Sunday afternoon to go to the other league site!

Upon waiting for the upper, I was chatting w/ fellow competitors and such. I mentioned how I was doing things to lighten the rifle. In response, they were bragging how heavy each others rifles were! It turns out that some of these guys had there 5.56 rifles to the rule limits of 15lbs. :eek: I was flabbergasted. Turns out that the heavier the rifle the less drifting, sway, and recoil is sent back to the shooter.

I bring this up because your original post mentions you shoot for bragging rights in your family. I'm just throwing it out for consideration before you start putting it on a diet. As a former Marine myself, I'm not happy w/ anything less than a missing "X" ring.

Lastly, I agree w/ junking the scope. As a hunter myself, I've heard many a story of guys buying $1000 rifles with $200 scopes. Then cussing the rifle because they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Sights are everything. I'd rather have a $200 rifle w/ a $1000 scope.

BTW, I kinda like what you did w/ the hand guards. They're unique (and functional). Good luck in your future endeavors. Maybe I'll be able to post my Grendel up here someday.

the scope did ok up to 16x... anything past that and it was off zero... taking it out to the farm just to gather distances and sight pictures... 225 yards from the back deck... down the firing line... to the backstop. i dont think i need much more than 9x after checking down the range.

i've got everything but the upper receiver. i'm still debating on which one to get. after the price of the ACR i'm boycotting Remington/DPMS/Bushie products ;) so that cuts down on M4 ramped uppers that are online lol.

FYI, building uppers is just as easy as a lower... you just need the right tools... i actually think they are easier to build and take less time.

Cardnial forge M4 upper to replace the RRA EOP upper ...and the MI SS series 15 inch handguard to replace my custom cut. ;) la rue mount and burris optic by the end of march.

and now for the crappy cell phone pic from this morning!
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac32/JMURACN/65Gredone.jpg

Very nice. I've been chomping at the bit to see what the new MI SS-15 looks like installed. Very nice indeed!

Congrats,

T

Very nice. I've been chomping at the bit to see what the new MI SS-15 looks like installed. Very nice indeed!

Congrats,

T

I'll try to get better pictures tonight. I'm a little disapointed in the set screw design. There had to be another way to add that design to resist over torquing.

work has kept me super busy... busy enough that i've ordered parts and they've been sitting around and slowly been put on the rifle....

my LT QD mount and Burris scope are on... i put a Magpul rear sling mount, Magpul sling, and Troy QD front mount on the rifle.

i need to level and line the scope, loctite it up, and head out to zero... lord knows when i'll get to that since trap season is starting now too!