07-26-2022, 10:43 PM
VASCAR2 Wrote:Welcome to the forum Vin!
As another member mentioned Faxon is a rack grade barrel so accuracy is luck of the draw. I suggest a higher quality barrel because you have an accuracy goal. I have a couple of 16 barrel 6.5 Grendel AR-15s and 600 yards is doable. It really depends on the size of your target at 600 yards. Do you need to be able to shoot 6 or less size groups at 600 yards or are you wanting to shoot steel plates. Trying to achieve better accuracy with factory ammunition is going to require a premier barrel. The Federal Gold Metal Match, Hornady Black 123 grain ELD-M or Nosler 123 grain Custom Competition ammo might get you there.
The truly accurate 6.5 Grendel barrels are spun out by Precision Firearms, Craddock Precision, Lilja, Satern cut rifled barrel and a couple other shops. The Criterion, LaRue Tactical (ultimate upper), Wilson Combat, Raineer, Shilen and Odin get good reviews.
The 6.5 Grendel is not a high velocity flat shooting cartridge but is very capable none the less. The advantage of the 6.5 Grendel is mild recoil, good ballistics with high sectional density bullets which makes a versatile cartridge ( hunting, target shooting, self defense or plinking). There are scopes with ballistic reticles for using hold overs for shooting out to 600 yards. The ballistic trajectory of the 6.5 Grendel is very close to the 308/7.62x51.
I usually dial in my elevation at extended range and with a 20 MOA mount I can get to 1000 yards.
With the price of fuel, range fees and ammunition it is cheaper to buy the best quality barrel you can afford. Cheaper barrels need more rounds to season and shoot better. Most high end barrels require no break in and shoot good from the start. Precision Firearms offer new 6.5 Grendel forum members a discount but PF is busy so delivery time might be extended.
One other advantage of the 6.5 Grendel is its barrel life. Using approximately 31 grains of powder at 52,000 PSI the 6.5 Grendel barrels last longer than some of the hot 6 mm and 6.5 mm cartridges. Good luck and this forum is the source for good information on the 6.5 Grendel.
Hey vascar - you made a good point that I left somewhat ambiguous in my post regarding what my accuracy goals are. I'd like to be sub-moa-ish but don't need to be 1/4 or even necessarily 1/2 moa. If I could keep a 3" circle at 400 yds I'd be satisfied and will be happy as a clam if I can keep in a five-inch circle at 600. Honestly, I'd even likely be happy with moa performance.
Thanks for the scoop on the Faxon. I knew it was lower in the range than Proof or such and liked their specs. But I'm not convinced I will get out of it what I hope to. But, on the flip-side - I am not looking to keep a 2-inch group at 1,000 yds or compete with this weapon either and such do not want to invest $5,000. I'm hoping to keep the weapon under $2,000 (before the suppressor - I have a Sandman S but haven't researched if it's enough for 6.5G). But at the same token I'd like to perch this all on a Radian or ADM lower unless someone here can tell me they get the same performance out of an Aero M4E1 or equivalent. Mostly looking to ADM or Radian as I have a couple LMT (one MARS) already and would like to try one of these others for comparison. But if I'm using a BCM upper my OCD tends to want to match the receivers up too.
But then you add in another great point. Your logic is sound that I'll need a higher-end barrel to help compensate for using factory loads. I hadn't thought of it that way but will going forward.
I'll definitely check out your recommendations, thanks for taking the time to write this up. Good info!