Accuracy expectations alexander arms 6.5 grendel

[lrgrendel]

Just shot my entry level 24" AA 6.5 Grendel upper for only the 2nd time and am very pleased. This with a cheap lower parts kit trigger and cheap Barska scope and rings as I am waiting for a new mount for my Vortex.

Both these groups were shot with Varget and I know the velocity is not great. I do have AA2520 and will test this soon and eventually will use this for my primary purpose of 600 to 1000 yds.

Question is can I expect the accuracy to continue when I move away from Varget? Powder is hard to get right now here in Florida and if I have to will use any of the following. IMR 8208. CFE. RL15.

Thanks

 

[sandwarrior]

IRGrendel,

If you live in a climate that does not vary much then AA2520 will do you good. I used it with both of my two Grendels and found it to give good velocities as well as decent accuracy. What you will find with it though is because it is so temp sensitive, you have to work up loads for both summer and winter. AND not mix them. Reason being is it's a relatively slow powder for that case. It needs a heavy bullet to build enough pressure to make it burn fast enough. If it does not burn fast enough, you will get excess pressure at the gas port...and back to your bolt. What seemed like relatively light loads were swiping and ripping my brass up. Where I lived in Minnesota, the temp differences were too great to have just one load.

I started working with IMR 8208 XBR and the problem was quickly solved. It burns fast enough that you won't get excessive pressures down the barrel (at the gas port) and prematurely unlock your BCG. Thus leaving case swipe. The thing to remember here is the case has 20% more capacity than a 5.56. But the gas path has mostly the same sizes as the 5.56. Therefore, you need to stick to fast burning powders. Or as you move up in bullet weight, you have to be observant as to how slow of a powder you use. IMR 8208 has that soft pressure ceiling, and is not temp sensitive in comparison with AA2520, so you can load up to max charges safely. You get the velocity you want, and it's now a very well known accuracy powder.

I stopped toying with the eight or nine different powders I had worked with because 8208 had done so well.

 

[Dan Newberry]

Don't worry too much about velocity... that 123 amax will get the job done.

We had a client for our long range course last Saturday, who was shooting an 18" AA Grendel. Cake-walked to 1040 yards, putting at or very near MOA group sizes on the plate.

I didn't check the velocity of his load. It was Hornady factory stuff, with the 123 amax.

Your longer barrel can only do better...

There are several powders that will work with the cartridge. Just get a good supply of one of those, and stick with it. 8208 as mentioned above does come highly recommended.

Dan

 

[lrgrendel]

Thanks for the replys.
I believe Varget won't give me the velocity to keep the bullet above the speed of sound at 1000. I will put a chronograph on my load and see. This is the reason I am going to use AA2520.
I live in Orlando where the temp is pretty steady all year round between 70 and 90deg F. APPROXIMATELY!!

 

[khw9mm]

Tag. I just ordered a AA 6.5 Grendel upper so I'm curious as well.

lrgrendel, how long did it take to get your upper?

 

[lrgrendel]

I got an alert from Midway about 2 months ago and just ordered it. Came a week later.

 

[khw9mm]

I got an alert from Midway about 2 months ago and just ordered it. Came a week later.

Awesome! Ordered thru AA a couple of weeks ago and was told lead time is more than 6 but less than 12 months.


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