Better Entry Level Grendel

[Frontier Gear]

https://www.andersonmanufacturing.com/product/am15-6-5-grendel-optic-ready-firearm/

Here is a review of the Anderson. Not the best video, but he makes some valid observations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFuXM5w-YVQ

OpticReady_ISO.jpg


Here is the current list of parts that I'm kicking around.

LOWER:
- Stripped Aero Lower. My retail on these is $70. They are just a good basic forged lower, but have an upper tension screw that takes out the wobble between the upper and lower. This is the first improvement over the Anderson. https://www.rainierarms.com/aero-pre...r-gen-2-black/
- Basic Mil-Spec Lower Parts Kit. These are about $40 and are very common. We just wont use the fire control group. http://www.omegamanufacturinginc.com...er_p_3168.html
- Mil-Spec Carbine Stock Kit. $45 I kind of like this kit. It's better than the Anderson. It has a couple of built in QDs, a sling mount and a rubber recoil pad. http://www.omegamanufacturinginc.com...bo_p_2122.html
- Velocity Drop In Trigger for Steel-Cased Ammo. $135. This is a huge improvement to the Anderson. It also makes sense to use a trigger desinged for steel cased ammo since the 6.5 Grendel plinking ammo is Wolf steel cased. http://www.wcarmory.com/velocity-tri...4lb-curved.htm
- E-Lander Mag of Choice $20

Lower Total Cost: $310 not counting shipping costs.


UPPER
-Bear Creek Arsenal Forged Upper and BCG. $160 It's hard to beat a good old Mil-Spec Forged upper for the price. BCA makes a nice BCG as well. https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/upp...rendel-type-ii
-Bear Creek Arsenal 16" Barrel $100 To tell the truth, I think this is the same barrel that Anderson uses. https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/bar...cm41618-m-1329
- Bear Creek Arsenal Flash Hider $10 Nothing fancy here, but can be easily changed later. https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/acc...h-crush-washer
- Axis MFG Gas Block $20 Justin does a great job with these. They are basic, but very well made. https://www.axismfgcnc.com/product-p...gas-block-0-75
- Bear Creek Arenal 12" MLOK Hand Guard $80 This isn't fancy, but it is another improvement over the Anderson. https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/acc...ed-mlok-12-bca
- Plain Jane Gas Tube $10 http://www.omegamanufacturinginc.com...in_p_1915.html
- Throw in a QD sling mount for the front as well. $10 This address one of the complaints about the Anderson. Mind you, I've never tried this particular one to see if it is any good or not. I will have to do so. http://www.omegamanufacturinginc.com...SA_p_3369.html

Upper Total Cost: $390 not counting shipping costs.

So for an even $700 retail, not counting shipping, we have a much better gun than the Anderson and at the same price range.

[Bigs28]

You can even do this for a lower.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-complete-lower-magpul-ctr-black-blem.html

Spend $99 on a larue mbt when they are on sale and your at $250 +ffl transfer fee.

[Frontier Gear]

You can even do this for a lower.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-complete-lower-magpul-ctr-black-blem.html

Spend $99 on a larue mbt when they are on sale and your at $250 +ffl transfer fee.

That's a pretty good set-up. Good Magpul furniture for the price.

The only thing would be that it lacks the upper tension screw. The wobble bothers me. One trick with BCA side charging uppers is to put a piece of electrical tape or Gorilla tape on the flat of the threaded receiver plug. It has the same affect as the upper tension screw.

You will have to let me know when the LaRue goes on sale.

[Bigs28]

The larue was on sale for black Friday.

Maybe again on Christmas

[Randy99CL]

If you order a complete upper from Bear Creek you can save a bunch; today they list 5 with 16" barrels from $273-$323 and if you're a Veteran you get a 10% discount. https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/upp...&spec_length=3

Then I bought the Ruger AR-Lower Elite for $244 OTD, with transfer fee, shipping and tax included. It's got their 452 Elite trigger and Magpul furniture. http://www.ruger.com/products/ar556/...eets/8516.html

And I bought a Bear Creek side-charge upper and there is absolutely no slop or wobble with the Ruger lower. And no tension screw.

Paid $311 shipped for complete upper with side-charge receiver and 20" barrel (Vet discount).
Paid $244 complete for Ruger 8516 lower
Paid $12.49 for magazine
Total $567.49

[warp9764]

You know you can get the Aero Precision Upper AND Lower for only $89 here:

http://www.e-arms.com/aero-precision-ar15-stripped-receiver-set-anodized-black/

I have them and I'm quite happy with them. Certainly if you're looking to save a little money, this takes about $140 off your tab.

[Frontier Gear]

Randy,
That is awesome! How is the trigger pull? I will look closer at the Ruger lowers... That may be a good deal if the trigger doesn't need replaced.

I've built a number of guns with BCA side charging uppers and Anderson lowers. Sometimes there is wiggle and sometimes there isn't. Kind of luck of the draw due to tolerance stacking. Typically I will have an assortment of each and try various combinations until I find a pair that go well together.

[Frontier Gear]

You know you can get the Aero Precision Upper AND Lower for only $89 here:

http://www.e-arms.com/aero-precision-ar15-stripped-receiver-set-anodized-black/

I have them and I'm quite happy with them. Certainly if you're looking to save a little money, this takes about $140 off your tab.

Your right, once Bear Creek gets the BCGs back in stock that is probably the best way to go.

[Randy99CL]

I'm actually amazed at how much of a price break you get with a complete upper from BCA. Mine was listed at $334.99 while the prices for the receiver w/bcg, barrel, handrail, gas block, tube and flash hider add up to $160 more. That's how my build was so cheap.
BCA Side Charging AR-15 Complete Upper Assembly, 20" 4150 Black Nitride Heavy Barrel, Straight Flutes, 6.5 Grendel Type II, Rifle Length Gas System, 1:8 5R Twist w/ 15" MLOK $334.99
SKU: UASC6.5RHB20185R(MF)-(15)MLOK


And I love the Ruger lower. The Magpul stock is great, locks tight and doesn't wobble. The 452 trigger retails for $140 alone and feels better than I expected; two-stage with smooth travel, crisp let-off, and zero overtravel. Don't have a gauge but feels like it's less than 4 lbs. Ruger advertises that it has 30% faster lock time than standard.
Basic price for lower was $218.39.002B.jpg

[bj139]

I was playing with the Ruger trigger in Cabelas a few months ago. It comes with a fixture to test the pull.
It felt just like a LaRue MBT.

[zcostilla]

The only thing would be that it lacks the upper tension screw. The wobble bothers me. One trick with BCA side charging uppers is to put a piece of electrical tape or Gorilla tape on the flat of the threaded receiver plug. It has the same affect as the upper tension screw.

Ever consider the ERGO Accuwedge? It’s dirt cheap and effective. Or are you meaning something other than wobble from the fit of upper & lower receiver slop as they mate?

[Lastrites]

Frontier you realize that it is pretty easy to install a tension screw yourself, basically a drill and tap situation with the tension screw costing only a couple of bucks.

[41bear]

I'm actually amazed at how much of a price break you get with a complete upper from BCA. Mine was listed at $334.99 while the prices for the receiver w/bcg, barrel, handrail, gas block, tube and flash hider add up to $160 more. That's how my build was so cheap.
BCA Side Charging AR-15 Complete Upper Assembly, 20" 4150 Black Nitride Heavy Barrel, Straight Flutes, 6.5 Grendel Type II, Rifle Length Gas System, 1:8 5R Twist w/ 15" MLOK $334.99
SKU: UASC6.5RHB20185R(MF)-(15)MLOK


[ATTACH=CONFIG]10311[/ATTACH]

Thanks for sharing I'm signed up for back in stock notice cause that's a heck of a price for a side charger!

[Frontier Gear]

I have seen those. To tell the truth I have never used them. I would rather find an upper and lower that fit well without it. There has been reports of those things falling apart and leaving chunks of plastic floating around inside your fire control group. I have used the Aero lowers and they work really well.

Frontier you realize that it is pretty easy to install a tension screw yourself, basically a drill and tap situation with the tension screw costing only a couple of bucks.

It can be done. It's beyond the comfort level of most folks though. At least most folks around here. It's not as nice as the Aero's which uses a soft point screw and is anodized after the machine work.

[Frontier Gear]

Ok, so I did some more looking with the input of those that have chimed in (thanks guys). If I buy the parts wholesale, and sell them as a kit (un-assembled), I could offer the rifle as described in the first post for $585 retail. That is cutting it close on the margins, but it may be a good way to get people into the Grendel.

For a no slop AR, with a good drop in trigger, free float MLOK hand gurad and QD sling mounts in 6.5 Grendel that's not a bad deal.