Barrel Options

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  • Frontier Gear
    Warrior
    • Nov 2017
    • 772

    Barrel Options

    Aero Precision/Ballistic Advantage
    SAAMI chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - $275-$300
    Quality -
    Accuracy -
    Customer Service -
    Notes -

    Alexander Arms (AA)
    SAAMI Chamber
    Grendel bolt standard
    Pricing - $204.75
    Quality - Mid range
    Accuracy - varies with barrel, some sub-MOA 5rd groups, some MOA, some 1.2-1.5 MOA with factory Hornady SST
    Customer Service - Consistent, responsive, will handle defects with quick shipping label
    Notes - The original 6.5 Grendel. Fluted lite option is nice for $195 price.

    AR-Stoner
    SAAMI Chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - $119-$145
    Quality -
    Accuracy -
    Customer Service -
    Notes - Sold by Midway as "AR-Stoner" barrels. These are possibly re-branded Bear Creek Arsenal barrels

    Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA)
    SAAMI chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - $80-$150
    Quality - Good
    Accuracy - MOA
    Customer Service - Fair
    Notes - BCA offers a huge variety of barrels in the 6.5 Grendel. The quality and accuracy of these barrels by forum members seems to be constantly good. The "finish" of the barrels aren't as good as more expensive brands. You can see more machining marks on these than on the Faxon barrels for example. BCA makes barrels for a lot of other gun manufactures and are they sold on line by many dealers. You can buy from BCA directly as well. They offer a good vet discount. Complete uppers with the correct BCG are offered by BCA and are good deals. One downside is that their barrel profiles are based on their standard 223/5.56 products and aren't "optimal" for the 6.5 Grendel. Customer service can be slow to respond, but they always seem to correct any issues. They ship a great many barrels every week and your one order may get "lost" or delayed in the system for a while. Some BCA barrels use 5R rifling while others not.

    Brownells
    Chamber -
    Grendel bolt compatible included
    Pricing - $280
    Quality -
    Accuracy -
    Customer Service - Very Good (Brownells)
    Notes - Brownells sells their own brand of barrels and claim that they are sourced from Satern Barrels. These are from the "Liberty" line of barrels (see below under "Liberty) and should not be confused with the "Satern" line of barrels.

    BSF
    SAAMI Chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - $450-$600
    Quality -
    Accuracy -
    Customer Service -
    Notes - Carbon fiber wrapped stainless steel barrels with "vent holes" in the carbon fiber. These use 5R Button Rifling.

    Columbia River (BHW)
    Most are chambered in .264 LBC with polygonal rifling
    Most are .124" bolt face depth, although there was a run of actual Grendel bolt compatible barrels (.136" face depth)
    Pricing: $295-$600+, custom-configurable with various fluting and finish options
    Quality: Mid-high depending on user preferences
    Accuracy: Consistent MOA or better accuracy over the years
    Customer Service:
    Notes: BHW has been making .264 LBC chambered barrels for several years and has been around before most of the new entrants into the market, right around the time after Les Baer introduced the .264 LBC-AR chamber. .264 LBC-AR uses .295" neck diameter in the chamber with a conventional target leade of 1.5˚ with freebore set-up for the 123gr SMK loaded at 2.260" COL.

    CORE Rifle Systems
    SAAMI chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing: $390-$475 for barrel/bolt/magazine/gas block/muzzle brake kits
    Quality: Medium-Med/high
    Customer service
    Notes: One of the few that uses correct bolt terminology on their site

    DoubleStar/J&T
    SAAMI chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing: $210-$239
    Accuracy: Typical of barrels in that price range with a spread from sub-MOA to 1.7 MOA with brass-cased ammo
    Customer service: Good
    Notes: One of the first adopters of 6.5 Grendel. They provide actual Mil-Spec materials and processes FCGs too with correct detent metallurgy. Great company that has been in the AR15 business for many years.

    Faxon
    SAAMI -
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - $225-$330
    Quality - Very Good
    Accuracy - MOA
    Customer Service -
    Notes -

    Grendel Forum Group Buy Barrels (Custom Faxon Barrels)
    SAAMI - Yes
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - ~$180
    Quality - Very Good
    Accuracy - MOA
    Customer Service - Excellent
    Notes - These are custom orders for this forum. The profile is determined by Blunt Force Trauma (BFT), and are specifically optimized for the 6.5 Grendel. They are accurate and well finished.

    JP Enterprises
    SAAMI chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible included. JP also makes their own high-strength bolt and extractor now
    Pricing - $529
    Quality - High
    Accuracy - MOA and sub-MOA repeatably
    Customer Service - Excellent reputation and backs up their product
    Notes - JP is one of the first adopters of 6.5 Grendel, making one of the finest high-end 6.5 Grendel barrels on the market. 18" and 22" options with light and medium profiles. JP is the first in the industry to innovate performance-based AR15s with free-float handguards, adjustable gas, billet receivers, improved fire control groups, different weight carriers, the Silent Capture Spring, ambi controls, heat sinking ventilators, competition muzzle breaks, thermo-fitted barrels to receivers, and a holistic approach to elevating the AR15 into something entirely different than what it was conceived as. JP is a competitive shooter as well, and is a huge support to the competitive shooting, as well as military/security markets with products and training.

    Krieger
    Chamber: custom order
    Custom order
    Pricing - ~$690
    Quality - High, one of the standards in cut-rifled barrels
    Accuracy - Sub-MOA is normal
    Customer Service -
    Notes - Custom order

    Lilja
    SAAMI chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - ~$595
    Quality - High end
    Accuracy - Superb, consistent sub-MOA with many different barrels, profiles, and loads
    Customer Service - Exceptional
    Notes - Lilja was the first barrel maker to respond positively to a forum group buy request back in 2013. Lilja is traditionally known as one of the top handful of barrel makers for benchrest, precision rifle, precision hunting, as well as accurate barrels for specific military sniper and DMR programs not commonly advertised.

    Liberty
    SAAMI and other chambers have been used
    Grendel bolt compatible, includes bolt
    Pricing - $315
    Quality - Mixed
    Accuracy - Mixed
    Customer Service - Mixed
    Notes - These have very mixed reviews from people on this forum. In general, it appears that they had issues with a number of their barrels and their customer service back before 2015. Recent reports have been much better. Some members if this forum are very happy with the barrels and report sub-MOA groups, while other members here will never use them again. Liberty barrels was started by Debbie Satern as a more economical, mass-produced barrel line aside from the cut-rifled line of barrels from Steve Satern. On the 18" MLGS barrels, be aware that if the port is .094" as most have been, you will need some type of adjustable gas as a rule.

    Maxim Firearms
    6.5 Grendel II
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing: $320
    Quality:
    Accuracy:
    Customer Service:
    Notes: 16" MLGS, 18" MLGS, 20" RLGS. Maxim Firearms offers 6.5 Grendel bolts and BCGs.

    McGowan Barrels
    Chamber: 6.5 Grendel SAAMI or .264 LBC custom order
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing: Custom order $245 base price, $320 with 8 flutes
    Quality:
    Accuracy:
    Customer service:
    Notes: They have full custom ordering process where you can select 4140 Chromoly steel or 416R stainless, custom length, 1-7, 1-8, 1-8.5, 1-9, 1-10 twist rates, chambering, gas system length (Pistol, CLGS, MLGS, RLGS), .750/.875/or .936 gas journals, lightweight, modified HBAR, HBAR, or custom profile, 11˚/recessed/flat crown, custom muzzle thread pattern, machined/matte/polished/blued/or Cerakote, 6 or 8 flutes.


    Odin Works
    SAAMI chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - $290-$460
    Quality - Very Good
    Accuracy - MOA
    Customer Service - Good
    Notes - These often come with a tunable gas block and gas tube. Some of their barrels use an "Intermediate" length gas tube. They are reported to be accurate. The "fit and finish" is good with attention to detail. Odin Works carries everything from 12" Ultralight to 20" heavy barrels.

    Precision Firearms
    SAAMI chambered
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing: $325 - $595
    Quality: Exceptional
    Accuracy: Among the best in the 6.5 Grendel world
    Customer service: PF backs up their products with accuracy testing and support.
    Notes: Offers Bartlein, Criterion, Lilja, Krieger barrels at lengths from 7" to 24". Precision Firearms has been in the Grendel game from very close to the start, learning a lot of the lessons about what makes Grendel function and shoot straight in the AR15. Barrels are among the finest and user feedback is consistently pleased with sub-3/4 MOA accuracy as the norm, usually more like 1/2 MOA.

    Proof Research
    SAAMI -
    Grendel Bolt compatible
    Pricing - $410 for steel, $940 for Carbon Fiber wrapped
    Quality - High
    Accuracy -
    Customer Service -
    Notes - Proof Research offers all steel barrels as well as carbon fiber wrapped steel barrels.

    Satern
    SAAMI or custom request chamber
    Grendel bolt compatible, includes bolt usually
    Pricing: $600
    Quality: High end, cut-rifled 5R barrels from renowned service rifle barrel maker, Steve Satern
    Accuracy: One of the best
    Customer service:
    Notes: AA used to use Satern barrels for the high-end product line. The AA/Satern barrels are some of the most accurate Grendel barrels produced, and included fluting.

    T-Box
    SAAMI -
    Bolt -
    Pricing - $540-$575
    Quality -
    Accuracy - Sub MOA
    Customer Service -
    Notes - These come with a matched bolt. They use 1:7.5″ twist are are designed/advertised to be sub-MOA.
    Last edited by LRRPF52; 03-25-2019, 11:05 PM.
    Engineer, FFL and Pastor
  • Frontier Gear
    Warrior
    • Nov 2017
    • 772

    #2
    Thanks, I added them. If you have any personal feedback on them, I can add that as well.

    Delta Team Tactical (Gorilla MFG Barrel)
    SAAMI - Unknown
    Grendel bolt compatible
    Pricing - $120-$250
    Quality - Unknown
    Accuracy - Unknown
    Customer Service - Poor to Good
    Notes - Delta team Tactical sells a mix of poor quality and good quality parts. Their customer service is just as inconsistent. The Gorilla barrels have yet to be reviewed enough to know their quality and accuracy.
    Last edited by LRRPF52; 02-16-2018, 03:22 AM.
    Engineer, FFL and Pastor

    Comment

    • Frontier Gear
      Warrior
      • Nov 2017
      • 772

      #3
      I added Brownells.

      Brownells
      Chamber -
      Grendel bolt compatible included
      Pricing - $280
      Quality -
      Accuracy -
      Customer Service - Very Good (Brownells)
      Notes - Brownells sells their own brand of barrels and claim that they are sourced from Satern Barrels. These are from the "Liberty" line of barrels (see below under "Liberty) and should not be confused with the "Satern" line of barrels.

      I also tried to add the following, but the post is at it's max number of characters. I had to delete my initial intro into the post just to fit Brownells.

      Shilen
      SAAMI -
      Bolt -
      Pricing -
      Quality -
      Accuracy -
      Customer Service -
      Notes -

      X-Caliber
      SAAMI -
      Bolt -
      Pricing -
      Quality -
      Accuracy -
      Customer Service -
      Notes -
      Engineer, FFL and Pastor

      Comment

      • LRRPF52
        Super Moderator
        • Sep 2014
        • 8569

        #4
        If it doesn't look like the format above, don't post here. Per the OP's request, we're trying to have a resource where people can come to when looking for barrels, barrel/bolt combos.

        There are scores of other threads with discussions about the history of the cartridge development, bolt dimensions with diagrams, compatibility, etc.
        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

        • Drillboss
          Warrior
          • Jan 2015
          • 894

          #5
          One housekeeping note and I believe this is the confusion that was mentioned earlier.

          The data shows:

          Brownells
          Chamber -

          Faxon
          SAAMI -

          Grendel Forum Group Buy Barrels (Custom Faxon Barrels)
          SAAMI - Yes

          JP Enterprises
          SAAMI chamber

          All of these, except Brownell's, seem to say that they are SAAMI chambers, while I assume the chambering for Faxon has just not been confirmed. That formatting could be cleaned up.

          Comment

          • fdbyrne78
            Bloodstained
            • Aug 2017
            • 97

            #6
            Thanks for putting this together. It's helpful.

            I can't say that I agree with the specs posted for the Satern cut-rifled barrels though. The customer service has been horrible in my experience and they seem to have inconsistent throat lengths. Mine is ridiculously short and others have reported the same.

            Comment

            • Cherodjr
              Unwashed
              • Oct 2016
              • 9

              #7
              Please allow me to comment on Satern's customer service. I've had a Grendel 11 18", medium heavy, double fluted barrel on order since late October 2016. My last update was "Your barrel will be flutted after Christmas. It's been really hard to talk to anyone during this time. Funny thing, this is a blessing, as my gunsmith ripped me off of about $1100 in prepaid parts and labor, including an upper that was in my name. If he had my barrel it would be gone too. I'm still excited to receive my barrel and they offer discounts to vets, but come on!

              To be fair, Satern HAS NOT asked for any money!
              Last edited by Cherodjr; 02-19-2018, 04:04 PM.

              Comment

              • mdram
                Warrior
                • Sep 2016
                • 941

                #8
                october 2016?
                15 months?
                just some targets for printing
                https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...xQ?usp=sharing

                Comment

                • Cherodjr
                  Unwashed
                  • Oct 2016
                  • 9

                  #9
                  Originally posted by mdram View Post
                  october 2016?
                  15 months?
                  yes!

                  Comment

                  • NugginFutz
                    Chieftain
                    • Aug 2013
                    • 2622

                    #10
                    Gents - with due respect to the OP's wishes, see post #4.
                    If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

                    Comment

                    • bj139
                      Chieftain
                      • Mar 2017
                      • 1968

                      #11
                      Ballistic Advantage
                      SAAMI - Yes?
                      Bolt -.136 bolt face depth
                      Pricing -$265 to $325
                      Quality - High
                      Accuracy - Guaranteed sub MOA
                      Customer Service -?
                      Notes - Very well finished, 6R rifling
                      Last edited by bj139; 03-15-2018, 07:16 PM.

                      Comment

                      • Popeye212
                        Chieftain
                        • Jan 2018
                        • 1596

                        #12
                        Originally posted by bj139 View Post
                        Ballistic Advantage
                        SAAMI - Yes?
                        Bolt -.136 bolt face depth
                        Pricing -$265 to $325
                        Quality - High
                        Accuracy - Guaranteed sub MOA
                        Customer Service -?
                        Notes - Very well finished, 6R rifling
                        Customer Service is good from my experience Read then delete this post

                        Comment

                        • lazyengineer
                          Chieftain
                          • Feb 2019
                          • 1284

                          #13
                          Palmetto State Armory (PSA)

                          SAAMI - Grendel 2
                          Grendel 2 bolt compatible (as far as can tell)
                          Pricing - $99-
                          Quality - good+
                          Accuracy - 1.5 MOA, under review still
                          Customer Service - Good, but can be slow
                          Notes - cost effective provider, available in various lengths. Make own barrels offered directll, in kits, or complete rifles. Manufacture in batches with long availability gaps at times.
                          4x P100

                          Comment

                          • Jetpig
                            Bloodstained
                            • Jan 2019
                            • 44

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Frontier Gear View Post
                            I added Brownells.

                            Brownells
                            Chamber -
                            Grendel bolt compatible included
                            Pricing - $280
                            Quality -
                            Accuracy -
                            Customer Service - Very Good (Brownells)
                            Notes - Brownells sells their own brand of barrels and claim that they are sourced from Satern Barrels. These are from the "Liberty" line of barrels (see below under "Liberty) and should not be confused with the "Satern" line of barrels.

                            I also tried to add the following, but the post is at it's max number of characters. I had to delete my initial intro into the post just to fit Brownells.

                            Shilen
                            SAAMI -
                            Bolt -
                            Pricing -
                            Quality -
                            Accuracy -
                            Customer Service -
                            Notes -

                            X-Caliber
                            SAAMI -
                            Bolt -
                            Pricing -
                            Quality -
                            Accuracy -
                            Customer Service -
                            Notes -

                            Comment

                            • GoneHiking
                              Unwashed
                              • Dec 2018
                              • 18

                              #15
                              Wilson Combat
                              SAAMI chamber
                              Grendel bolt compatible
                              Pricing - $250 -$305
                              Quality - Very Good
                              Accuracy - MOA (Based on "my" initial testing with various loads, every combo shot 0.8" to 1.2" 5 shot, 100-yd groups off sandbags with their 18" fluted barrel.)
                              Customer Service - Reasonable shipping time.
                              Notes - Surprisingly inexpensive offering from Wilson Combat. Bead blasted stainless finish in fluted / non-fluted and threaded / non-threaded configurations in 16", 18", and 20" lengths.

                              Comment

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