Leverevolution for shorter than 16" barrels.

[SknyBlt]

Hey guys, I'm hoping y'all can help me out. I've been considering building an 11.5" or 12.5" grendel. My main powder is Leverevolution. I'm hoping someone has experience with Lever in shorter barrels and can tell me if it's a decent powder for this application or does it need the longer barrel length to build enough velocity? I primarily shoot Nosler 123 CC's & Hornady 123 SST's. I don't have any set FPS I'm looking to achieve, but I would like to hunt coyote and deer out to about 300yds with it. Thanks for any information you might have.

[SknyBlt]

I'm not sure how I messed up and posted this in the buy sell forum. My apologies! I'll ask the moderator to move it.

[Allen]

I would think it will be slow, but it will probably still work okay, you just won't get all out the gun that you could. In my opinion you'll be much happier with IMR 8208, and it burns WAY cleaner. Leverevolution shot well in my 24", but was dirty as heck!!!!

[SknyBlt]

Thanks for the reply. I like Lever in my 20", but figured it would be slow in a shorter barrel. I was hoping I'd be able to stick with one or two loads that worked well in both barrels. 8208 is tough to track down in my area. It also averages $5/lb more than lever.

[LRRPF52]

I don't see why it would be an issue. I've shot CFE out of 16" for a long time now, and it gets crazy velocity. I think LVR might even do better.

With 123gr SST, you should be able to easily get over 2350fps from the 12.5". I just ran one of my 16"/2500fps loads with CFE through Joe's Velocity Estimator, and it gave me 2383fps for a 12.5" Grendel.

I suspect LVR would put you over 2400fps. Get a BHW 12.5" from Precision Firearms and see what happens. Performance difference between 12.5" and 16" would be marginal when you run the numbers.

[SknyBlt]

Wow, Very interesting. That's what I was hoping to hear, but wasn't expecting it. Thanks a heap! I reckon I'll go ahead and give it a go. Now I'll have to come up cash for another optic.

[lead chucker]

I'm getting 2210 fps in a BHW 12.5" barrel with a moderate load of CFE and 123 gn amax. I could bump the charge up some more but haven't done it, it shoots so accurate where its at.

[SknyBlt]

Yea I'd be quite satisfied with those #'s. I appreciate all the info. I'll post results when I get my approval and upper built. Thanks again.

[SknyBlt]

It's been a little while but i figured I'd update. So instead of going the 12.5" route and waiting for another stamp I purchased a Saber 14.5" barrel from RedX. The $170 sale price was to much for me to pass up. I cut and rethreaded it to 14" with 5/8x24 threads & pinned on a Wilson Combat Rapid Thread muzzle brake for 16.12" oal. Bought a maxim bolt to run with it. So far it's been a great barrel. Light weight M4 profile. Eats anything I throw at it. I've mainly been shooting Wolf steel case 2340 FPS & 2-2.5" groups with a few 1.5". Also likes handloads for my Lilja AR740 which is nice so I don't have to come up w two different coals. So far accuracy is good. Pretty consistent .5" w Hornady SST's & .6-.75" w Nosler CC blems I've got a ton of. Average velocity is 2438fps with handloads & lever powder. Makes very consistent hits out to 625yds on 11"x14" home made gong. I've also come up w an action cycling subsonic load which is fun. This rifle has become my go to by far. I still love my lilja, but this 16" is just so handy and easily carried.

[LRRPF52]

So you're getting 2438fps with 123gr NCC and LVR from the 14" barrel? That sounds about right.

I think as more people see the utility and versatility of the SBR's, the Grendel will grow in popularity even more.

That's a great little deer gun, that will also slay hogs, can be thrown in the truck, easy to carry on an ATV, or sit by the night stand.

Then the fact you can bang steel at distance with ease and low recoil, while still being able to hear a loud impact, and you start to see your other rifles wondering why they don't get to play much anymore.

[SknyBlt]

Yes 2438 FPS is my handload avg velocity with 123 SST & NCC. It's a great little rifle. My hand loads are 31.4gr Lever. I'm gonna try another string of 31.6 - 32gr when I get my hands on my buddies chrono again. I'm not getting any pressure signs so I might be able to get closer to 2500 FPS. My 20" lilja is running 2580 FPS w that load.

[VASCAR2]

You got my attention when you said you came up with a sub sonic load for your 6.5 Grendel. There has been a good bit of discussion about a sub sonic load for the 6.5 Grendel but to my knowledge no one found a good bullet powder combo to get a 6.5 Grendel to function sub sonic. You care to tell the forum your quest in getting a functioning sub sonic 6.5 Grendel?

[SknyBlt]

I started by copying some of the suggested loads on the forum but wasn't successful. I believe its because I am running a shorter barrel and gas system as I was way over the sound barrier. I also have a 7.62x39 I shoot subs with so I tried copying loads for it and got feeding but no lock back. Had to open my carbine length gas port up from iirc .072 to .080. I run an adjustable gas block so I just close the gas block off some for full power loads. My load is 10.3gr of IMR4198, .264 dia. 160gr. Hornady RNSP, Hornady brass, & CCI 450 primers. 1040-1056 FPS. Win748 worked ok too. I'll have to look up my load for Win748 I haven't used it in a while. I haven't tried to come up w a load for the 20" yet.

[VASCAR2]

Thanks for the info, maybe it will help out other forum members.