Hello from NJ

[Spearxspark]

Replacing barrel on my Medesha .223 match rifle. Making the jump to Grendel. Current setup is 26" Bartlein. Can I stay with 26" and go 1 in 8 twist? Should I go with a +1 or + 2 gas length?Plan to shoot 123SMK mostly. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know I need a new bolt and Mags.
Thanks in advance.
Jamie

[VASCAR2]

Welcome to the forum Spearxspark! A Friend has a 24” Alexander Arms AR-15 and it uses a rifle length gas system. There are two forum members I know have 28” AR-15’s in 6.5 Grendel but don’t remember if they are using rifle length or longer gas port. As long as you aren’t going to be using a suppressor I think a rifle length gas system will work. The velocity gain from 24”-26” barrel won’t be much, maybe 40 FPS difference.

[Spearxspark]

No suppressor allowed in Jersey, I will be using a 6" bloop tube though. 26" keeps my front sight where I'm comfortable with it. Thanks for the reply.

[VASCAR2]

I checked forum member mel 28” 6.5 Grendel and he used a +2” gas system. His rifle barely had enough gas to cycle without the suppressor. Here is a link to a thread where mel did load development for his 28” 6.5 Grendel. It mentions his 28” build had a +2” gas system.


https://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthre...nch-barrel


Here is a link to a google custom search feature. You can search for threads where someone might have built a 26” 6.5 Grendel. I know Bwaites has a 28” 6.5 Grendel but I don’t remember anyone building a 26” 6.5 Grendel.

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=0163689474...cu1o&hl=en

[StoneHendge]

Welcome aboard from a former NJ resident who headed west about 15 years ago. 1:8 will be perfect for 123s in a 26". A +2 gas system would also likely be ideal, but the problem is that no one's done any real testing on what the proper port size should be. And by testing, I don't mean someone on the forum who's had a barrel made for them which may or may not work, I mean a barrel manufacturer whose done R&D and testing to see what actually works best for that length (such as what Proof Research does, especially with 6 ARC). Makes it a bit of a crap shoot unless you are comfortable drilling it larger if there's a problem.

Also take a look at the 123 gr Lapua Scenar. Same BC as the SMK, a heck of a lot easier to find these days and a lot more forgiving. The Grendel chamber's throat is allegedly designed with it in mind. I've shot thousands in Grendel and have even switched over to it in my 6.5 CM PRS gas gun. I didn't even have to bother with a seating depth ladder - shoots better than me at my initial depth which is a lot longer jump than what I do in my 22" JP Grendel barrel.

[sundowner]

Welcome to the horde from Wisconsin .

[Spearxspark]

Thanks for all the help guys, all I have to now is wait a year for a barrel!!! I could get a blank but don't know anyone locally to do the finish work and chambering.

[just_john]

Welcome ot the clan, Ssk, from the great nation of Texas! Yours is an interesting setup. What are your goals?