16" Vs 18" barrel, can't decide...

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  • dtdraffen
    Unwashed
    • Nov 2017
    • 20

    16" Vs 18" barrel, can't decide...

    New to Grendel here and can't decide I should go with 16 or 18...
    Is there a big benefit 18 over 16? What you guys find out when you built your 16 or 18" Grendel build?
    Also, what's your thoughts on Ballistic Advantage barrel vs Faxon barrel?
    LOL! Like I said, I'm new to this caliber and what some your input.
    Thanks!
  • Sticks
    Chieftain
    • Dec 2016
    • 1922

    #2
    What is your intended use?

    Hunting rig - 16"

    Shooting dirt clods - 16"

    Hunting paper and steel to extended ranges (1k) 18" - 20"

    Intended use also will dictate MFG.
    Sticks

    Catchy sig line here.

    Comment

    • just_john
      Chieftain
      • Sep 2012
      • 1565

      #3
      dtdraffen, the barrel length is all a matter of ( again, as per Sticks ) what you are intending to do with it. For carrying in the woods, the shorter the better, for punching paper or ringing steel at 1000 yds, the longer the better. Or, you can give in to the inevitable and do one of each. My 16" is set up with night vision, shorter is better as you don't always see the little things that can snag on barrels as you walk thru the woods. My 18" is my common carry for day hunting ( or the 12.5" or .... ). Did any one tell you that Grendels are a prolific lot. They seem to propogate like amoebas. Just put one of them in a dark place for a few weeks undisturbed and there will be two of 'em. Leave those two alone for a while and there may be a population explosion.

      Comment

      • keystone183
        Warrior
        • Mar 2013
        • 590

        #4
        I like the rule of 4.... 12", 16", 20", 24". You can look up the approx ballistics for a given length, but as i recall, 2" doesn't gain you anything terribly meaningful in velocity. So, i prefer shorter where possible.

        Comment

        • LRRPF52
          Super Moderator
          • Sep 2014
          • 8569

          #5
          I've had 2 different 16" Grendels, currently have one, and I'm losing track of the 18" guns replicating with barrels from various sources.

          My first Grendel I built using one of the older ER Shaw Alexander Arms barrels ordered from Midway in 2009, when you had to be on an email notification just to have a chance.

          Anyway, I've chrono'd a lot of different Grendels since then.

          What I've seen is that the 16" and 18" numbers often overlap, or are within 18-40fps of each other thereabouts.

          Here are some examples:

          17.6" Lilja 318 barrel:
          123gr Hornady SST factory 30JUN2015
          2441
          2467
          2477
          2489
          2481

          120gr Scenar-L Precision Firearms Load
          2505
          2504
          2532
          2518
          2498

          123gr AMAX, 31.2gr CFE 64˚ F, 17MAY2016
          2507
          2492
          2477
          2496
          2477
          AVG: 2490fps

          17.6" Lilja 318
          120gr Federal OTM 11MAR2017
          2485 (5 shot average)
          2454 (5 shot avg)
          2487 (5 shot avg)
          2510 (5 shot avg)
          2484 (20 shot avg)

          18.5" Lilja barrel:
          123gr Hornady SST factory 30JUN2015
          2468
          2441
          2421
          2495
          2453

          16" AA/Shaw barrel:
          123gr Lapua Scenar (Moly) Precision Firearms factory 03APR2012
          2447
          2451
          2454
          2450

          123gr Lapua Scenar (Moly) PF load, hot day
          2522
          2484
          2582
          2518
          2503
          AVG: 2522fps


          123gr Hornady A-MAX factory 25MAY2013
          2365
          2470
          2422
          2470
          2460

          These were all shot over the same Beta Chrony 15ft from the muzzle. A common thing I've noticed is that everybody that ends up building an 11.5-12.5" Grendel that also owns 16" and 18" Grendels shoots the short barrels more often.

          I think I might be leaning in the direction of having the 12" for a utilitarian blaster/HD/plinker/800yd LR, 18" for hunting in the mountains, and 22" for most of what I used to use .260 Rem for.

          12" will be set up as a 21st Century PDW/LR blaster, suppressed.
          Last edited by LRRPF52; 11-20-2017, 04:22 PM.
          NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO

          CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor

          6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:

          www.AR15buildbox.com

          Comment

          • dtdraffen
            Unwashed
            • Nov 2017
            • 20

            #6
            Great info guys...
            I think I would like 16" because I won't be shooting 1000 yds around here, maybe 500 yd most and hunting in mid Missouri would only be 100-200 yrds at most???
            Monmouth USA has 16" Ballistic Advantage Hanson barrel on sale for $196, but Faxon 18" group buy sounds real good I think I like the spec. on Faxon barrel and sounds like better buy, same time BA makes great barrel (I have 2) and 2" shorter....
            What to do, what to do....If I had money, I would buy both LOL!

            Comment

            • LRRPF52
              Super Moderator
              • Sep 2014
              • 8569

              #7
              16" lightweight barrel from a reputable company will handle your needs.
              NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO

              CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor

              6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:

              www.AR15buildbox.com

              Comment

              • grening
                Unwashed
                • Mar 2017
                • 12

                #8
                16, save that 2" for the comp/hider.. Anderson 16's are only $100 or so...

                Comment

                • dtdraffen
                  Unwashed
                  • Nov 2017
                  • 20

                  #9
                  Originally posted by grening View Post
                  16, save that 2" for the comp/hider.. Anderson 16's are only $100 or so...
                  I will be using AAC 7.62 SD so I don't know if I can trust budget barrel like Anderson or BCA. I'm sure budget barrel thread won't be a concentric to bore like BA and Faxon.
                  So, question is how much more distance and energy I would gain by going to 18"? I bit answer is not much to worry about
                  Thank you everyone for your input.
                  Last edited by dtdraffen; 11-20-2017, 09:55 PM.

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