Tex's First Grendel Build - 18" Piston SPR

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  • Tex Nomex
    Warrior
    • Dec 2017
    • 185

    Tex's First Grendel Build - 18" Piston SPR

    Yeah, I posted some photos in the Group Buy section, but this thing deserves more air time...

    Upper:
    LAR Grizzly OPS-4 Ambi Side Charge Upper Receiver
    Heavy, slab-sided LAR satin NiB-coated Bolt Carrier
    18" Grendel-logo Faxon Barrel via BFT's recent group buy
    Gen II Grendel-logo Bolt from the BFT's recent group buy
    Superlative Arms Mid-length Short-Stroke Piston Kit
    Omega Carbon Fiber 12" hand-guard with all rails removed (material removed for piston kit)
    Lightweight no-name comp/brake/adapter

    Lower:
    Aero Precision STS Lower Receiver
    RRA 2-Stage NM trigger
    CMMG Lower Parts Kit
    Stark One one-piece grip w/integrated Swivel Mount (Flex Seal applied)
    Magpul MOE A1 Rifle Stock

    Optic:
    Hi-Lux CMR8 1-8x26mm FFP
    Aero Precision Ultra-light mount

    Total Weight
    8 lbs 11.05 oz

    Balance
    Center of Gravity is center of the mag well.

    GrenRight2 (Custom).jpg
    GrenLeft2 (Custom).jpg
    GrendelVert2 (Small).jpg
    ARweight (Small).jpg
    "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
    -- Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188
  • bj139
    Chieftain
    • Mar 2017
    • 1968

    #2
    It looks really nice. Why piston?

    Comment

    • Tex Nomex
      Warrior
      • Dec 2017
      • 185

      #3
      Originally posted by bj139 View Post
      It looks really nice. Why piston?
      Thanks.

      Had the ambi-side upper just sitting there after removing a heavy 6.8 barrel I sold to a friend. The side chargers are very cool, but DI gas puffs into your face thru the left side slit, even with a bolt filling the handle hole ("exhaust port"). Piston solves that problem.

      Plus, I was curious to see how light and balanced I could make it with a piston. I had a piston on a 6.8. It bucked like wild AK and made a loud "TINK" sound when fired. This system is a different model and I had to do a bit of customization to get it to work with a side charger carrier. Really looking forward to getting it out on the range.
      "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
      -- Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188

      Comment

      • bj139
        Chieftain
        • Mar 2017
        • 1968

        #4
        I have an AR with ambi side charging receiver on my 20" group buy barrel.
        I only shot it once and did not notice any gas coming out the left side.
        Maybe it did.

        Comment

        • Redomen
          Warrior
          • Jun 2016
          • 568

          #5
          She’s purdy!

          Comment

          • NugginFutz
            Chieftain
            • Aug 2013
            • 2622

            #6
            Nicely done. It looks like an exceptional selection of components, with a good weight and balance, to boot.

            Shoot / show / tell!
            Last edited by NugginFutz; 01-15-2018, 03:42 PM.
            If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

            Comment

            • Tex Nomex
              Warrior
              • Dec 2017
              • 185

              #7
              Originally posted by bj139 View Post
              I have an AR with ambi side charging receiver on my 20" group buy barrel.
              I only shot it once and did not notice any gas coming out the left side.
              Maybe it did.
              Not a problem with the 65?
              What sort of eye protection were you wearing? I wear normal eyeglasses to shoot. My eyes felt like a gravel pit after 20 rounds last time I was out with that upper DI.
              My carrier has no bolt exhaust holes on the left and only one on the right... Maybe better gas relief on the right would help. What's your bolt carrier look like?
              "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
              -- Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188

              Comment

              • just_john
                Chieftain
                • Sep 2012
                • 1565

                #8
                TN - very nicely done and well thought out. Impressive weight and balance. Have you punched any paper as yet?

                Comment

                • Tex Nomex
                  Warrior
                  • Dec 2017
                  • 185

                  #9
                  Originally posted by just_john View Post
                  TN - very nicely done and well thought out. Impressive weight and balance. Have you punched any paper as yet?
                  Thanks and no. I haven't been able to get away to shoot it, yet.
                  Got everything packed and ready to go, though. Just gotta set aside the time.
                  "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
                  -- Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188

                  Comment

                  • Crusty
                    Warrior
                    • Dec 2017
                    • 237

                    #10
                    What a nice rifle!
                    I'll be yer Huckleberry.

                    Comment

                    • earlwb
                      Bloodstained
                      • Dec 2017
                      • 45

                      #11
                      Nice setup, I like it. That was the first time I heard of the piston system for an AR before too.

                      Comment

                      • Tex Nomex
                        Warrior
                        • Dec 2017
                        • 185

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Crusty View Post
                        What a nice rifle!
                        Originally posted by earlwb View Post
                        Nice setup, I like it. That was the first time I heard of the piston system for an AR before too.
                        Thanks.

                        SIG, LWRC and Ruger all make piston AR-15s. They're generally front heavy and often not too accurate. This Superlative Arms bolt-on kit is ultra-lite so the weight penalty is minimal and the center of gravity didn't suffer.

                        Really excited about it. May not shoot it for another week or more, though. As you can imagine, the suspense is absolutely killing me.
                        "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
                        -- Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188

                        Comment

                        • shooter545
                          Warrior
                          • Aug 2012
                          • 249

                          #13
                          Good looking stick! We built a buddy of mine an 18" 6.5G using the Superlative Arms piston system. Shoot really nice. In for the range report.

                          Comment

                          • ToeheadAR
                            Bloodstained
                            • Jan 2018
                            • 39

                            #14

                            Comment

                            • ClutchAutomatic
                              Warrior
                              • Jan 2018
                              • 121

                              #15
                              Just got my superlative arms carbine clamp on piston kit saving it for the 12.7 group buy kit. I have a 24" DI gun and it gets way too dirty with a suppressor on it so that's why I chose the piston kit.

                              Comment

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