16" 6.5 Grendel (1st Faxon Group Buy)

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  • jim_bob
    Warrior
    • Jul 2014
    • 316

    16" 6.5 Grendel (1st Faxon Group Buy)

    I finally have my 16" 6.5 Grendel upper completed using the 1st Faxon group buy barrel. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get it on paper just yet, nor have I finished it's dedicated lower. (I'm still waiting to purchase a SOPMOD stock)

    Parts List:
    MEGA Arms Upper Receiver
    Tear Drop shaped forward assist
    Faxon 16" barrel
    SLR Helix 15" handguard
    Nitrided gas tube
    Vltor clamp on gas block (Should have used a SLR Sentry adjustable, but I had the Vltor on hand.)
    Vltor A1 style flash hider

    16_upper_1.jpg

    I bedded the barrel using blue Loctite 243 and bedded the gas block using red Loctite 263. I used rocksett on the flash hider to keep from stressing the barrel.

    16_upper_2.jpg

    16_upper_3.jpg

    I have a ~18" and a 11.5" Lilja barreled 6.5 Grendels. I'm interested to see how this 16" tube from Faxon performs. (I have little doubt it will out shoot me.)
  • montana
    Chieftain
    • Jun 2011
    • 3209

    #2
    Nice looking rifle. I really like SLR products and have the Solo hand guard on some of my builds. The Helix makes for a very sharp looking rifle. Let us know how the Faxon barrel shoots. It will be awhile before my 16" Faxon barrel gets put to the test, my shop is in disarray at the moment.. Great looking rifle and great pic's. thank's for sharing.

    Comment

    • biodsl
      Chieftain
      • Aug 2011
      • 1714

      #3
      Originally posted by montana View Post
      Nice looking rifle. I really like SLR products and have the Solo hand guard on some of my builds. The Helix makes for a very sharp looking rifle. Let us know how the Faxon barrel shoots. It will be awhile before my 16" Faxon barrel gets put to the test, my shop is in disarray at the moment.. Great looking rifle and great pic's. thank's for sharing.
      ^^^
      This! Slick looking stick.
      Paul Peloquin

      Did government credibility die of Covid or with Covid?

      Comment

      • sneaky one
        Chieftain
        • Mar 2011
        • 3077

        #4
        JB, nice build. Very cool.

        BFT and I built his 16" upper 4 weeks ago here. He had the same clamp on Vltor gas block- easy to dial in. I used a micro unit for my Faxon build in October. For my HG.-

        Similar style- thin and low wt.- like yours.

        Mine has been a shooter, I like it- it was designed for 300yds, & less hunting., Not a 1000 yd sniper rifle

        Glue yourself to the bench, by any means needed to get a great group. I was limited , by rain, mud, to 84 yds, 1 time, then 145 yds. second time. As for results- 1/2" @ 84.,

        1--1/4" @ 145- in a swirling wind shifting scenario. It will hunt just fine.

        The more sales thru Faxon- price point gets better, SS is maybe the next idea. More interest is the goal in Grrrr... Train kept a rollin...

        Comment

        • jim_bob
          Warrior
          • Jul 2014
          • 316

          #5
          Thanks for the compliments gentlemen!

          @montana, I have a lot of confidence in SLR products they are top notch, the helix rail is so light. I think it's a perfect rail for a hunting rifle.

          @sneaky, I know Vltor makes high quality parts, just had builders remorse that I didn't spend the coin for an adjustable gas block, but hopefully Faxon got the gas hole sized appropriately and I won't miss the adjustable. I have seen that quit a few of the builds completed using the Faxon group buy barrels were shooters, I'm hoping this one will pan out as well.

          I'd like to see a 14.5" stainless nitrided barrel go on the group buy list. If the new 16" with "easy engraving" went stainless and nitrided, I'd have to pony up for that one and chop it. We now have one of the longest indoor ranges on the East Coast close by, but it doesn't stretch out to 1k yards just yet. I don't have much use for anything longer than 16", although I wouldn't pass up, a good deal on a 20-22" tack driver.

          It would be sweet to see BFT's 3 R idea in a 22" tube, I bet that would be a sweet groundhog blaster.

          Comment

          • JuanC
            Bloodstained
            • Jan 2017
            • 84

            #6
            That handguard is sexy, looking for ideas on my 6.5 grendel build and the SLR guard looks to be the ticket.

            Comment

            • sneaky one
              Chieftain
              • Mar 2011
              • 3077

              #7
              JB , been busy-- the gas port is .072 on all the 5 of the first buy Faxon samples BFT brought to my house months back for measurements..

              I double checked with L 52 on port sizes, all is fine. Anything in the .07's he texted back. Functions great- warm or cold loadings - factory also.

              Its' an awesome shooter, zero complaints .


              Ummm, on the 3R idea,,,, it's not designed for long range accuracy, only to get max speed while holding great hunting grade accuracy to 300yds.

              BHW , polygonal is still an option, to look at. I have a 5.56 in BHW.. I like it also.

              14.5 is a coming- just need the------ I'm interested posts,--- PM Johnny------ BFT

              He can open a new thread
              Last edited by sneaky one; 01-05-2017, 11:59 PM.

              Comment

              • jim_bob
                Warrior
                • Jul 2014
                • 316

                #8
                Sneaky, thanks for the info on the gas port, good to know that my non-adjustable block went on a good barrel! Thanks also for the information on the 3r. So maybe a stainless 14.5" tube in 3r would be a perfect deer blasting setup!

                JuanC, I like both SLR handguards I currently have, an ultralight solo on my SBR and the Helix on this 16" blaster. The quality of my two examples are second to none.

                Comment

                • JuanC
                  Bloodstained
                  • Jan 2017
                  • 84

                  #9
                  Originally posted by jim_bob View Post
                  JuanC, I like both SLR handguards I currently have, an ultralight solo on my SBR and the Helix on this 16" blaster. The quality of my two examples are second to none.
                  How is the fit of the slr hand guard? Had a mi guard that I had to dremel the tabs to fit on my mega upper in the past. What's the difference between the helix and ultralight solo?Thanks in advance.
                  Last edited by JuanC; 01-10-2017, 06:04 AM.

                  Comment

                  • jim_bob
                    Warrior
                    • Jul 2014
                    • 316

                    #10
                    Finally put some projectiles down range! 1st target was 1 shot and clean. 2nd target was 5 shots and clean. I'm not a very good shot. Conditions were not favorable, windy and low 20's, but close to what I'd hunt in, unfortunately I forgot my warm coat! Was hoping to be able to shoot prone, but the grass was too tall. I ended up having to shoot seated on a hunting stool resting my elbow on my knee. Did I mention I was cold and I couldn't feel my fingers? Rounds were factory Hornady 123 grain SST's.

                    Anyway despite my inability to shoot worth a nickel, every shot was "dead deer" accurate. I'm looking forward to getting this thing in some bags and seeing how it will really shoot!

                    Rifle as it sits
                    16inGrendel.jpg

                    10 shos 1 shot and clean, yeah I know, I'm confident the missing round went through the hole in the top
                    target.jpg

                    5 shots and clean
                    target2.jpg

                    Comment

                    • Fredman
                      Warrior
                      • Sep 2014
                      • 311

                      #11
                      So, mostly a 2" group under less than ideal conditions. Looks to me like it's going to be a good shooter. I would shoot groups of three while trying to find the best load. Light weight barrel and large groups usually dont go hand in hand.
                      I just picked up a Magpul PRS gen 3. Hoping this will steady me down for tighter groups.

                      Comment

                      • jim_bob
                        Warrior
                        • Jul 2014
                        • 316

                        #12
                        I'm confident the rifle is closer to MOA in the hands of a better shooter. Heck, I imagine I can get a MOA group out of it by the time deer season rolls back around. A solid rest might have been all I needed yesterday, even a sling would have helped. Anyway, at least I was brought face to face with my need to practice positional shooting more often.

                        Comment

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