Reliability of Diamondback AR15 (Model # DB1565DBDB) in 6.5 Grendel

[Shootin4Stars]

Hello. I am new to this forum, so first off, a hearty welcome to all. Yes, I have been bitten by the 6.5 Grendel bug (I am not seeking any cure). I am thinking about either a bolt action or an AR15 in this caliber. Since this specific forum pertains to AR15s, my question is about that. Specifically, the Diamondback AR15 in 6.5 Grendel. I can get one of these fairly quickly and it is within my budget (no more than $1,000). What I have read about the Diamondback AR15s in 5.56/223 has been good but I have not found much about their AR15s in 6.5 Grendel. Have any of you had a chance to own one or know someone who has? If so, are they reliable? From what I've read, it seems that AR15s in 6.5 Grendel in general can have issues with feeding. I am not looking for a SHTF rifle, as I already own such a weapon, nor will I be firing this much except for sighting-in and hunting deer and hogs (hogs taken for meat and no need yet for eradication though I'm sure that is coming). So, I don't need a top-tier weapon but I do need for it to be reliable? One potential negative I see in this Diamondback model is that it weighs 9.1 #s unloaded. Since I hunt almost exclusively from elevated stands and, thus far, have not had to walk more than 200 yards to any of them, this may not seem like much of an issue. However, I am not a spring chicken anymore and don't know how I'll like the handling qualities. Just for reference, the bolt action 6.5 Grendel I am considering weighs 7.8 #s unloaded, so I am not opposed to rifles with some weight.

Thanks in advance for any input you may have. One last question I just thought of: Are any other AR15 brands I should be considering, given what I've stated above (primarily about reliability and price)? Be good.

[peak98]

https://www.larue.com/products/larue-complete-18-6-5-grendel-match-grade-upper/

[just_john]

S4S, for starters, I am about to roll over 75 yrs. To date, I've built or helped to build about 60 MSRs. For the most part, one can be built with hardware store hand tools. Just a few specialty tools will yield a better build. They are really quite simple and can be done in an hour or so. My only experience with Diamondback is a barrel I bought for a build for one of my grandson's ( a Grendel ). Even going so far as to recut the chambering, I cannot get it to feed properly and am not sure why. One thing I have learned is that Diamondback is owned by Taurus and ( even after working in a LGS for a long time ) I have not found a Taurus that I would pick up off a sidewalk if one was abandoned there. I did have higher expecations with Diamondback. Oh, well.
There are a number of on-line shops where good MSR's can be picked up for well under $1K. Just get a good local FFL to handle the transfer and it is a simple process. If you are close to an Academy Sports and Outdoors they have ready-mades in their catalogs or can handle the transfer ( $40 ).

[Shootin4Stars]

peak98, I wish I did own an AR15, as just adding an upper would be the thing to do but unfortunately I do not.

just_john,I was hoping not to hear that about Diamondback but that's what I needed to hear. Your suggestion about on-line shops offering good MSR's (especially for well under $1K) is what I will do. A bit of advice needed: Which MSR manufacturers are "good"?

Thanks to you both for taking the time to respond.

[just_john]

S4S, every one will have a story about the good guys and the bad guys. I just took a quick look at Primary Arms, Alexander Arms, Moriarti Arms and others and they all have Grendels at various price points. And, with MSR's you don;t have to get the upper and the lower from the same place. I had a recent episode with Moriarti and must say that they have an extraordinarilly GOOD service group. They really went an extra mile ( or two ) for me.
The upper can ship straight to you, the lower must go thru an FFL. Or, find an inexpensive complete 5.56 MSR and then just get ( as stated above ) a Grendel upper. You may be able to do that and still stay under a $!K ( not counting optics ).
Some thoughts, with MSR's flexibility is a key justification. There is a growing group of manufacturers who build synthetic uppers - the barrels are molded in place so avoid them.

[Shootin4Stars]

Thank you for the much needed input.

[VASCAR2]

Here is a link to the google custom search feature for the 6.5 Grendel forum.

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=016368947416500061353:paqd_0xcu1o&hl=en

https://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?19517-Range-Report-Diamondback-18-quot-Mid-length-upper

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/barreled-upper-assemblies.html?caliber_multi=6.5+Grendel

Palmetto State Armory Lower

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/lowers.html

LaRue Tactical Ultimate Upper.

https://www.larue.com/products/larue-complete-18-6-5-grendel-match-grade-upper/

[Shootin4Stars]

VASCAR2, Thanks for those valuable tips, especially about not to go cheaper than PSA on the upper.

[cole2757]

I have an 18in DB grendel and havent had a single malfunction. No complaints. Only added a CMC trigger. Also got a DB in 5.56 back when they were under $400 and it has run perfect as well. Nothing bad to say about the 12in PSA upper either. A lot of theirs come with adjustable gas blocks to which is a plus if you have a silencer

[Shootin4Stars]

cole2757, Thanks for that bit of information. Would you happen to know the weight of your DB Grendel? I ask this because the ones being offered currently by DB weigh 9.1#s unloaded. This seems overly heavy to me, as all the AR10s on their site that I looked at were less than that. Thanks again for responding.

[cole2757]

According to my bathroom scale it is about 9 lbs with a primary arms 14x scope. Its lighter than my AR10 for sure though. Its also an 18in, PSA with a vortex 6x scope. I also wanted a lighter option so i got an upper from Grendel Hunter. Its a 16in fluted barrel with a lightweight handguard and a 6x scope. Ive been happy with it as well.

[Shootin4Stars]

Thank you for the information.

[LR1955]

SS:

For what it is worth to you, I have one of their PCC's in 9mm and was pretty surprised that it has functioned with any 9mm load I have put through it. Not sure if it was by accident or design but being able to trust it will function with any 9mm so far is a good thing seeing as I have seen more expensive PCC's fail to function unless they are very clean and are shooting specific loads.

Kind of like a Sherman Tank of the PCC's though. Will take a lot of abuse but is heavier than a PCC needs to be.

If I were to buy a Grendel upper from them, I would go into it understanding it will be reliable but heavy.

LR-55

[Shootin4Stars]

LR-55, Yes, I agree that DB is on the heavy-side at least in what I saw for their 6.5 Grendels. Thank you for the info about the reliability of your specific DB. The heaviness I "may" be able to deal with but it has to be reliable. I obviously have much to consider before I purchase a Grendel.

[Newguy]

My best advice to you would be to buy a complete lower from PSA (palmettostatearmory.com) and a complete upper from LaRue. They just pin together. While you're waiting for your LaRue go ahead and order a complete upper from Grendel Hunter.
That's what I did and I can heartily recommend both. Now that I think about it I also have a Palmetto upper in 6.5 Grendel. I recommend that as well. While you're waiting for the PSA to ship stay away from Brownells.com because they occasionally have a sale on SOLGW India Match grade uppers and you may end up with one of those too. Hmm now you understand how I ended up with 5 AR15s. LOL