My first AR pistol in Grendel

[DreadKnight]

Greetings Horde, (that's what you lot call yourselves right?)

Building my second AR, and I'm much more involved in the process this time around. Built my last with a 80% lower from Right to Bear, and now I'm game for round 2.

The barrel is a Faxxon Firearms 12" nickel teflon coated barrel (so i can shoot wolf). Got some blemished 80% lowers from RTB and a build-your-own lower parts kits as well. All mil spec according to RTB who have very good reviews. I have Bear Creek Arsenal upper and that's the only part im really worried about. Got it awhile ago on sale.

Im relatively new to firearms and have been soaking up the knowledge on this site for a few months now before making an account. Lots of wise dudes on here. I havent picked out glass yet but im thinking LPVO from either Primary arms or Vortex. This would be for hog hunting, and a truck gun.

What's the word on barrel break ins and how do i check my rifle for any defects, as in where do I look? I'm on a budget but still not interested in cheap parts. So I'm not afraid to sub out things. I want this to be as good as i can make it. Thanks in advance. I only have the upper and I am just waiting on the rest.

[Bigs28]

The faxon barrel should be good to go. My 12" shots great. Larue trigger is an upgrade you should consider. Nothing better for the price. Vortex warranty is great. The illumination on the 1-6x strike eagle is allot brighter then the illumination on the 1-8x. I actually returned a 1-8x for warranty work on the illumination but they said that it was working as intended and not as bright as the 1-6x. Some people swear by barrel break ins and some don't. Faxon has their own recommendations on their website.

[A5BLASTER]

Should be a good rifle sir.

Be warned the faxon barrel is probably going too shoot groups much bigger then your going to be happy with when shooting the wolf fmj ammo.

[DreadKnight]

The faxon barrel should be good to go. My 12" shots great. Larue trigger is an upgrade you should consider. Nothing better for the price. Vortex warranty is great. The illumination on the 1-6x strike eagle is allot brighter then the illumination on the 1-8x. I actually returned a 1-8x for warranty work on the illumination but they said that it was working as intended and not as bright as the 1-6x. Some people swear by barrel break ins and some don't. Faxon has their own recommendations on their website.

The strike eagle was what i was looking at. And ill look into the larue trigger, thanks for the suggestion. I got Kak shockwave ar pistol buffer tube kit. Is there a way to know if it can handle the round or is just a shoot and see.


I only plan on shooting for plinking, else i plan to shoot hornady black if my gun likes it

[VASCAR2]

DreadNight if you buy the LaRue MBT 2S trigger check out their price on 6.5 Grendel magazines. LT had a good price on E-Lander 6.5 Grendel mags. Last two times I ordered an MBT I ordered a couple more 17 round E-Lander mags.

I've got a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6 which would probably work pretty well for hog hunting. If you ever plan on using a suppressor on your 12" 6.5 Grendel I'd suggest you use an adjustable gas block or adjustable gas bolt carrier.

[DreadKnight]

DreadNight if you buy the LaRue MBT 2S trigger check out their price on 6.5 Grendel magazines. LT had a good price on E-Lander 6.5 Grendel mags. Last two times I ordered an MBT I ordered a couple more 17 round E-Lander mags.

I've got a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6 which would probably work pretty well for hog hunting. If you ever plan on using a suppressor on your 12" 6.5 Grendel I'd suggest you use an adjustable gas block or adjustable gas bolt carrier.

Why would an adjustable gas block be necessary? I do plan on eventually getting a suppressor.

Also is it necessary to match a barrel with its correspondening bcg?

[A5BLASTER]

Why would an adjustable gas block be necessary? I do plan on eventually getting a suppressor.

Also is it necessary to match a barrel with its correspondening bcg?

When you add a can it increases the backpressure a ton. A adjustable gas system helps tame it back down and run properly again.

As for the barrel/bolt match up. Just make sure you get the bolt that matches your barrels headspace.

If the barrel is called/stamped/sold as type 1 you need a 7.62x39 bolt.

If your barrel is stamped/called/sold as a type 2 you will need the true grendel bolt that has a bolt face depth of .136.

The bcg has nothing to do with anything but holding the bolt and fireing pin.

The group buy bolts sold on this fourm are good to go. So are the AA, Maxuim,JP bolts.

I would avoid the toolcraft and bca complete bcg's being sold.

Hope this helps sir.

[Shiftyk5]

Why would one avoid the Toolcraft bcgs for 6.5 grendel. Reason I ask is I just bought one....

[A5BLASTER]

Why would one avoid the Toolcraft bcgs for 6.5 grendel. Reason I ask is I just bought one....

They were known too have made some that the bolt length was not up to spec. And because of that it used a shorter fireing pin.

Can cause problems if it somehow gets mixed up during cleaning. Several threads on here over the last year are so talking about it.

[Bigs28]

What a5 said but to add if you ordered a complete bcg then just don't mix up the firing pins. They work just fine. I have one as well.

[FLshooter]

I own two 1-6 Vortex Strike Eagles.One on a 16” 223 Colt Competition And one on a 16” BO I use for hog hunting.Great scopes.Perfect for hunting.And the price dropped now that the 1-8 SE are out.

[Shiftyk5]

What a5 said but to add if you ordered a complete bcg then just don't mix up the firing pins. They work just fine. I have one as well.

Got it.

[Shiftyk5]

They were known too have made some that the bolt length was not up to spec. And because of that it used a shorter fireing pin.

Can cause problems if it somehow gets mixed up during cleaning. Several threads on here over the last year are so talking about it.

Noted, thanks.

[DreadKnight]

So final build load is as follows

Aero precision upper and handguard FDE
80% lower from RTB
PSA lower parts kit
Monster 12.5 Grendel Barrel
Monster bolt inside of a BCA bolt carrier
Aero precision gas block and tube
VG6 epsilon compensator
Magpul MOE grip FDE
Magpul BUIS
Magpul gen 2 AFG FDE
Raptor ambi charging handle (chinese knockoff).
Surefire light with pressure pad

This guy shoots super smooth. Ive fired a few Hornaday Black rounds through it at about 40 yrds. Very accurate. Shot a hundred rounds of wolf gold as well. Needs more testing but next to no recoil with the brake, no misfires, clean ejections. Im super pleased with this build so far. I have it properly sighted now so the serious testing can begin.

The knockoff radian raptor charging handle has been doing well so far. I pulled it off a previous build. No expectations but I am pleasently surprised by this 10$ part. Im getting serious mileage out of it through dry firr practice.

The BCA carrier was scrapping the inside of the reciever at first. I assumed because of the FDE cerakote, but after shooting it a bit with some lube, and it is no longer an issue.

If i can figure out how to post pics ill throw it on here.