I am at the point with my build that I need to pick out a barrel/bcg option. I had my heart set on the Odin Works, and they were in stock for what seemed like forever. I went to order it last week, and just my luck, out of stock. I do plan on waiting a few more weeks, but would like options. I don't have experience when it comes to different brands. So, my question is 2 fold. How important is it to purchase a barrel with a bcg that matches it? And also, what other brands can I look into that have barrels with matched bcg's?
6.5 Grendel 1st Build Question...
- Thread starter RLinNH
- Start date
You don’t have to purchase from the same manufacturer. But, if you’re going to mix barrel and bolt suppliers on the grendel, be aware that there is a type I and type II, make sure you get compatible parts.
Pretty much everybody nowadays makes the optimal 6.5 Grendel bolts with .136” face depth.
I personally use a lot of Lilja factory barrels, Precision Firearms Criterion/Lilja/Bartlein/Krieger, AA fluted, and one Group Buy 12” Faxon Monster Logo with a Group Buy Monster logo bolt. I also have a complete LaRue 18” Stealth 2.0 that feels like one solid rifle. You can sometimes find LaRue 18” take-offs from people that wanted different barrel lengths/weights from their UU kits.
Consider the LaRue UU kit as well.
A JP bolt will work with any of the above barrels.
If your wallet is thick, you can also do a Proof Research carbon wrap barrel. They might have plain stainless pipes as well.
I have:
22” RLGS fluted Lilja heavy
18” MLGS fluted AA medium
18” MLGS LaRue medium
17.6” MLGS Lilja Wasp Light
16.5” MLGS Lilja Wasp Light
12” CLGS Faxon
10.5” CLGS PF/Criterion
You can use any AR-15 bolt carrier, cam pin, firing pin (as long as the bolt is 2.810” long per actual Grendel dims), and a Grendel bolt.
The "Type I/Type II" terms are misnomers that should really be avoided and instead determine if you have a 2.810” long, .136” face depth, SAE 9310 series AQ alloy, quality extractor Grendel bolt. AA, PF, JP, SixFiveArms/Monster logo, LaRue, Odin, Proof, Ballistic Advantage, Faxon all use the actual Grendel headspace and bolt head geometry.
I have shot the 17.6” Grendel the most, after my original AA 16” barrel build. I’m shooting the 12” now almost exclusively for whenever I do rifle work beyond CQM.
I was kinda surprised to have a bunch of guys show up to my last CQM course with 18”, 16”, and 12.5” Grendels suppressed. I ran 2x 25rd mags through the 12.5” BA Grendel suppressed with Wolf 100gr steel case, doing some high-rate drills and 1-5 at night. Fun little gun. It definitely is a bit harder to drive than 5.56 with group sizes averaging about 2x that of 5.56 in CQM, but all were still within the A Zone on full IPSC cardboard at 7yds, seemed more controllable than 123/124gr 7.62x39.
Grendel basically gives you the best of both worlds between 5.56 and 7.62 NATO, but still being able to stay within the AR-15 frame and endless options for handguards, receivers, Bolt Carriers, etc.
You can run rapid strings in close quarters in the house or street, then reach out to extended range with high hit probability and low recoil/good sight picture, then kill any game in North America-all from a lightweight AR-15, while not having to step up to the larger frame AR-10.
I personally use a lot of Lilja factory barrels, Precision Firearms Criterion/Lilja/Bartlein/Krieger, AA fluted, and one Group Buy 12” Faxon Monster Logo with a Group Buy Monster logo bolt. I also have a complete LaRue 18” Stealth 2.0 that feels like one solid rifle. You can sometimes find LaRue 18” take-offs from people that wanted different barrel lengths/weights from their UU kits.
Consider the LaRue UU kit as well.
A JP bolt will work with any of the above barrels.
If your wallet is thick, you can also do a Proof Research carbon wrap barrel. They might have plain stainless pipes as well.
I have:
22” RLGS fluted Lilja heavy
18” MLGS fluted AA medium
18” MLGS LaRue medium
17.6” MLGS Lilja Wasp Light
16.5” MLGS Lilja Wasp Light
12” CLGS Faxon
10.5” CLGS PF/Criterion
You can use any AR-15 bolt carrier, cam pin, firing pin (as long as the bolt is 2.810” long per actual Grendel dims), and a Grendel bolt.
The "Type I/Type II" terms are misnomers that should really be avoided and instead determine if you have a 2.810” long, .136” face depth, SAE 9310 series AQ alloy, quality extractor Grendel bolt. AA, PF, JP, SixFiveArms/Monster logo, LaRue, Odin, Proof, Ballistic Advantage, Faxon all use the actual Grendel headspace and bolt head geometry.
I have shot the 17.6” Grendel the most, after my original AA 16” barrel build. I’m shooting the 12” now almost exclusively for whenever I do rifle work beyond CQM.
I was kinda surprised to have a bunch of guys show up to my last CQM course with 18”, 16”, and 12.5” Grendels suppressed. I ran 2x 25rd mags through the 12.5” BA Grendel suppressed with Wolf 100gr steel case, doing some high-rate drills and 1-5 at night. Fun little gun. It definitely is a bit harder to drive than 5.56 with group sizes averaging about 2x that of 5.56 in CQM, but all were still within the A Zone on full IPSC cardboard at 7yds, seemed more controllable than 123/124gr 7.62x39.
Grendel basically gives you the best of both worlds between 5.56 and 7.62 NATO, but still being able to stay within the AR-15 frame and endless options for handguards, receivers, Bolt Carriers, etc.
You can run rapid strings in close quarters in the house or street, then reach out to extended range with high hit probability and low recoil/good sight picture, then kill any game in North America-all from a lightweight AR-15, while not having to step up to the larger frame AR-10.
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^^^^ @LRRPF52 wrote the book on Grendel, literally 
I bought a criterion 22"Hbar two weeks ago, put 20 rounds through it before opening day. (Couldnt fully break it in. Didnt have time.) Went out opening day and shot a decent buck at 340yards off a bog death grip using american eagle OTM. This was after I returned my odon works, because it shot like garbage. Maybe I got a bad barrel. Good luck on the build.
Buy what bolt you want. Call compass lake. Send bolt to them. Presto. New barrel matched to bolt and a great barrel.
That little brown truck showed up with my barrel, BCG, and some other goodies...
How is Odin Work's stuff? I've heard of them but never ventured out to buy any. I typically either buy from BCM or MWI as they're Wisconsin companies.
I was going to build a Faxon upper this spring. After a fiasco w/ optics planet I ordered 2 Faxon complete bolt/bcg’s... long story and I already sold off the barrel. I purchased an Adams Arms complete upper and it shot MOA. Sold it to a buddy and I’m currently out of Grendel.
If you need a Faxon bolt shoot me a PM. I’m not on here much but I’ll sell it for what I paid for it, new in packaging etc.
If you need a Faxon bolt shoot me a PM. I’m not on here much but I’ll sell it for what I paid for it, new in packaging etc.
I got a Black Hole Weaponry 16" barrel in .264 LBC (type 1 Grendel, uses a 7.62x39 bolt) put it on a BCA upper that I lapped, with a Wojtek adjustable gas block and It's been great. When I first sighted it in at 100 yds It took me a mintue to find my 3rd shot. This was 120 gr PPU.. the last of the one box I had.
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Hold out for the Odin if they come back in stock soon. We live in interesting times though, so don't hold your breath.
20 inch Odin build with 100gr Sierra HPs over Reliant's Varmint powder. Two consecutive 3-shot groups.
I'm a chicken sh*t... why shoot 5 round groups when 3 looks so good!
20 inch Odin build with 100gr Sierra HPs over Reliant's Varmint powder. Two consecutive 3-shot groups.
I'm a chicken sh*t... why shoot 5 round groups when 3 looks so good!
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I use a Shilen 20". It is a Select Match. Bought it directly from Shilen and it came with bolt but that was a few years back.
I just got a Wilson arms (not Wilson combat) and it was a definite improvement. Haven't spent a ton of time with it but I dropped a 200 pound boar in his tracks at about 180 yards last week shooting a 130 gr Berger VLD hunting. I need to spend some time on load development though.
