Hey guys. I need some advice. I've been doing a little reading on here to try and get some ideas for my first ever Grendel build. I'm wanting to do a designated marksman on a matched billet upper and lower I have in the safe. I have a range fairly local that goes to 600. I was considering an AA 18" barrel with a matching bolt. Is there a better length barrel? I'm wanting to keep it around $250 for the barrel if possible. Eventually I'll probably spring for a Lilja or similar barrel. What else do I need to look into. Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Designated Marksman
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If you want to get a Lilja or something else later... it will save you $200 to cut to the chase and just get it to start with.
I am personally figuring on a 18" AA at this point though.Last edited by 85_Ranger4x4; 04-27-2017, 06:34 PM.
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Agree if your just going to upgrade a lil time down the road it would make more sense and save some cash to just hold on and save up to buy the barrel you really want.
You said 250 if you save up a lil more you can get a barrel from PF for around 350.
I have the JP lightweight on my rifle and I'm in the process of building a 22 inch JP.
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i can't attest to their Grendel barrel, but at that price point I personally would go with the Odin Works 18" DMR barrel - my 18" 22 Nosler DMR profile barrel from them is a laser beam. Hand lapped and an MOA guarantee. JoeBobs has a package with barrel, bcg, gas block and tube for around $400. I will note that that their DMR profile = heavy. I've been struggling with my AR Stoner/Satern 18" barrel and am about to give up on it. I would have already if the 18" Odin was compatible with my monolithic upper, but the gas system is too long (I need a mid length) so I'm probably holding off for a bit so I can comfortably go with a LiljaLet's go Brandon!
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The main reason I was going to go with a lesser Barrel to start with was to have something I could throw steel ammo through and get a lot of Trigger Time with. Really learn the ropes of the caliber. Then I can retire that Barrel to standard forged upper and have a spare. Then I'll keep only match ammo for the higher-end barrel. What would you suggest as an optimal length? Am I correct in assuming 18? Or should I go with a longer Barrel? 600 yards is probably the most I'll shoot. But there is the possibility for 1000. But I don't want this to be a benchrest gun. I understand it will be heavier, but at the same time I don't want it so overly heavy but it's a pain to lug around. I guess I'm really looking for that happy medium.
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if you want lesser, there are $100 grendel barrels out therejust some targets for printing
https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...xQ?usp=sharing
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Originally posted by Rwjeter View PostThe main reason I was going to go with a lesser Barrel to start with was to have something I could throw steel ammo through and get a lot of Trigger Time with. Really learn the ropes of the caliber. Then I can retire that Barrel to standard forged upper and have a spare. Then I'll keep only match ammo for the higher-end barrel. What would you suggest as an optimal length? Am I correct in assuming 18? Or should I go with a longer Barrel? 600 yards is probably the most I'll shoot. But there is the possibility for 1000. But I don't want this to be a benchrest gun. I understand it will be heavier, but at the same time I don't want it so overly heavy but it's a pain to lug around. I guess I'm really looking for that happy medium.
Don't buy the steel case ammo or a poor quality barrel. You won't learn a thing by blasting cheap ammo through a cheap barrel other than what the carbine won't do for you.
Save until you can buy a good barrel. A good barrel will shoot most bullets well and quality bullets very well. A poor barrel will shoot all bullets poorly.
You aren't buying that much velocity with a barrel over 16 or 18 inches and if you are using optics, you don't have to worry about sight radius.
You don't need a bull barrel for precision shooting. You do need a quality barrel, even if it is light.
1000 yards is pushing a Grendel unless you live at a pretty high altitude. You won't notice a difference in performance at 1K between a 16 inch barrel and a 24 inch barrel unless you are a very skilled 1K yard shooter. And then the difference will not be very much.
LR55
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Originally posted by LR1955 View PostRW:
Don't buy the steel case ammo or a poor quality barrel. You won't learn a thing by blasting cheap ammo through a cheap barrel other than what the carbine won't do for you.
Save until you can buy a good barrel. A good barrel will shoot most bullets well and quality bullets very well. A poor barrel will shoot all bullets poorly.
You aren't buying that much velocity with a barrel over 16 or 18 inches and if you are using optics, you don't have to worry about sight radius.
You don't need a bull barrel for precision shooting. You do need a quality barrel, even if it is light.
1000 yards is pushing a Grendel unless you live at a pretty high altitude. You won't notice a difference in performance at 1K between a 16 inch barrel and a 24 inch barrel unless you are a very skilled 1K yard shooter. And then the difference will not be very much.
LR55
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There seems to be two ends of the spectrum here. You want a DMR but want to start by shooting steel on the cheap.
Don't get one barrel and then another down the track. You want two uppers. One is a dirt-cheap, rubbish, embarrassing heap of sh*t that you don't mind lending to your friends. The other is the quality parts upper that gets all the love and the best spot in your gun safe. Just don't expect the dirt cheap to turn into Cinderella.
There's a dirt-cheap upper on Gunbroker right now for $300. Get that first, to help relax you while you are saving for the precision DMR.
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Originally posted by Klem View PostThere seems to be two ends of the spectrum here. You want a DMR but want to start by shooting steel on the cheap.
Don't get one barrel and then another down the track. You want two uppers. One is a dirt-cheap, rubbish, embarrassing heap of sh*t that you don't mind lending to your friends. The other is the quality parts upper that gets all the love and the best spot in your gun safe. Just don't expect the dirt cheap to turn into Cinderella.
There's a dirt-cheap upper on Gunbroker right now for $300. Get that first, to help relax you while you are saving for the precision DMR.Last edited by Rwjeter; 04-28-2017, 08:13 AM.
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Based on what I have read here, even at 100y, Wolf Steel on average is 1.75moa. Quality ammo (Hornady ELD, SST, Amax, Federal TNT....) are sub moa...like .5.
For me, trigger time can be accomplished with a 5.56 (I'm swimming in ammo right now). Accuracy practice and training is shooting for tight groups, or tiny targets, and adding additional challenges in shooting position and target position. Lots of discipline also - looking for that cold bore first round hit, not shooting until you make contact. Not dirt clods or bowling pins.
Spend the money on quality and then get your trigger time. You are not going to waste barrel life doing so.Sticks
Catchy sig line here.
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Originally posted by Sticks View PostBased on what I have read here, even at 100y, Wolf Steel on average is 1.75moa. Quality ammo (Hornady ELD, SST, Amax, Federal TNT....) are sub moa...like .5.
For me, trigger time can be accomplished with a 5.56 (I'm swimming in ammo right now). Accuracy practice and training is shooting for tight groups, or tiny targets, and adding additional challenges in shooting position and target position. Lots of discipline also - looking for that cold bore first round hit, not shooting until you make contact. Not dirt clods or bowling pins.
Spend the money on quality and then get your trigger time. You are not going to waste barrel life doing so.
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Originally posted by Rwjeter View PostLR55, thank you for your input. I would much rather you talk me into spending more money on quality components than talk me into spending Less on complete junk. I've already sunk $400 into a stripped receiver set, it only makes sense to put an extra $200 and get a quality Barrel as well. This is going to be built piece a time anyways. What would your recommendation on a barrel be? Lilja? Krieger? AA? What about length and Contour? I've shot my entire life and am a halfway decent shot. Hand me my RRA varminteer and watch me work. But I've only shot a Grendel once. With that caliber, I am green as a gourd as they say around here.
If you are confident that you know something about rifles and marksmanship, you also know what quality of barrel, length, weight, and contour you want for your purposes. My view given previous and later posts to this thread is for you to find a barrel that balances well when shooting from standing or kneeling position. Let me suggest you talk with Mark at Precision Firearms about your barrel. He will set you up with something that meets your demands.
Also, Klem gave some very good advice if you insist on blasting Wolf Steel Case ammo at short ranges. Get or make a cheapo blaster that functions and use it to blast plates and stuff at 100 yards. Then you can be more specific about components such as barrels and lengths for your once every six month trip to a longer range.
I am not sure why you think performance using a Grendel cartridge is different than performance with any other cartridge. I guarantee you that if you want to blast steel plates or shoot at 600 yards, you will use the exact same skills shooting a 5.56 or 7.62 as you will shooting a Grendel.
LR55
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