Best 6.5mm Grendel AR-15 Barrel

Shooter2675 · February 8, 2015, 04:47 PM

What is the best 6.5mm Grendel (or .264 CSS, .264 LBC, etc.) barrel I can buy for my AR-15? I don't really have a price limit although I would like to keep it under $500. I have researched this a little and I really like the Lothar-Walther barrels, but I have heard Satern Machining is also very good.

John

tahunua001 · February 8, 2015, 05:43 PM

I suppose it would be the alexandar arms barrels as they are the ones that invented the grendel in the first place. however my double star barrel is sub MOA, their offerings slimmed out a lot after I got my 20" a while back though, last time I checked I think they only offered as a complete rifle kit.

Shooter2675 · February 8, 2015, 05:50 PM

Do you know which company makes the Alexander Arms barrels? I know they don't make them in house and I'm pretty sure their high end ones are made with Lothar-Walther and Satern Machining barrels.

John

TimW77 · February 9, 2015, 12:06 AM

"What is the best 6.5mm Grendel (or .264 CSS, .264 LBC, etc.) barrel I can buy for my AR-15? I don't really have a price limit although I would like to keep it under $500. I have researched this a little and I really like the Lothar-Walther barrels, but I have heard Satern Machining is also very good."

I have FOUR 6.5 Grendels, ALL have Satern barrels...

They are great...

T.

Shooter2675 · February 9, 2015, 06:36 AM

Thanks. What could I expect for wait time with the Satern barrel?

John

10-96 · February 9, 2015, 05:51 PM

The Brownells 6.5 18" barrel is in stock. It's stamped on the bottom "Brownells"- but it's a Satern/Liberty barrel. It should ship tomorrow.

They said the 24" will is expected to be back in stock between March and May.

Shooter2675 · February 9, 2015, 07:12 PM

Ok, that sounds good. I saw a Lothar-Walther 28 inch match barrel for sale on Competition Shooting Sports, it says in stock. How long do you think that would take to ship and what is the quality of Lothar-Walther 6.5 Grendel barrels?

John

tahunua001 · February 9, 2015, 08:42 PM

I dont know but 28 inches is one freaking long barrel for any AR.

stagpanther · February 9, 2015, 08:54 PM

Quote:

I dont know but 28 inches is one freaking long barrel for any AR.
__________________
ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar.
I never said half the crap people said I did-Albert Einstein
You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin
Bean counters told me I couldn't fire a man for being in a wheelchair, did it anyway. Ramps are expensive.-Cave Johnson.

LOL--28" long is pretty long for anything. I'd love to see apicture of that.

Seriously though, I built a 18" 264 lbc based on a black hole weaponry barrel--scary accurate and great folks to deal with. 18" is all you need, BTW LOL.

HKFan9 · February 9, 2015, 09:14 PM

Quote:

I dont know but 28 inches is one freaking long barrel for any AR.

LOL yea I would be interested to see that. Better have one long rail on there to get the bipod out there to balance that sucker.

Shooter2675 · February 10, 2015, 06:34 AM

I was planning on shooting in some long range matches so I was thinking I could hand load some Grendel rounds with a slower burning powder and achieve maximum velocity. I've heard that you gain over 100-200 FPS from going from a 22 inch to a 28 inch, and it would stabilize bigger bullets better. I would also use iron sights, so the longer sight radias is a plus. How would you rank Lothar-Walther vs. BHW?

John

Shooter2675 · February 10, 2015, 05:40 PM

Any thoughts of why/why not to get a 28 inch barrel?

John

Jayhawkhuntclub · February 17, 2015, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Any thoughts of why/why not to get a 28 inch barrel?

Why not to? Well, it's heavy. It's awkward. It doesn't add to your sight radius (the rail does). I don't know what the longest rail they make is. But I've never seen one approaching 28". And do some comparisons one ballistics with 18-22" barrels and see what the difference in velocity is. My guess is that not enough to make up for the inconvenience of a 28" barrel. Good luck.

10-96 · February 17, 2015, 04:49 PM

Ah but there are means of extending sight radius with a 28" bbl. Here is just one example: http://www.champchoice.com/store/Mai...&item=CCAR1050

Shooter2675 · February 17, 2015, 05:14 PM

Jayhawkhuntclub,

You can mount a sight at the end of the barrel. It can be seperate from gas block. Look up "ar-15 space gun" on Google to see what I mean.

John

HKFan9 · February 17, 2015, 07:32 PM

Do you plan on using iron sights or a scope?

Shooter2675 · February 17, 2015, 07:37 PM

Eventually both. Probably start out with a scope then buy some nice irons.

John

HKFan9 · February 17, 2015, 08:44 PM

I don't shoot competitions so I guess it is up to you, I think a 28'' barrel is crazy long, but I see your reasoning behind it, specially if you are going to take advantage of the longer sight radius. Having shot and owned 24'' bull barrel AR's I know how bad those things are, I couldn't imagine a 28''. If you were going scoped I would say keep it 24'', but if irons are involved, you might like a 28''.

Velocity changes I cannot speak of, I am sure someone wiser can.

If you are building it to be competitive at competitions, go to the matches you wish to shoot in, check out the rifles and gear and talk to the guys, they will steer you the right way.

Shooter2675 · February 20, 2015, 08:53 AM

I contacted Lothar walther, they discontinued the 28 inch barrels, so I will consider something smaller without having to go the six month wait custom route.

John

February 8, 2015, 04:47 PM	#1
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Best 6.5mm Grendel AR-15 Barrel What is the best 6.5mm Grendel (or .264 CSS, .264 LBC, etc.) barrel I can buy for my AR-15? I don't really have a price limit although I would like to keep it under $500. I have researched this a little and I really like the Lothar-Walther barrels, but I have heard Satern Machining is also very good. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 8, 2015, 05:43 PM	#2
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	I suppose it would be the alexandar arms barrels as they are the ones that invented the grendel in the first place. however my double star barrel is sub MOA, their offerings slimmed out a lot after I got my 20" a while back though, last time I checked I think they only offered as a complete rifle kit. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

February 8, 2015, 05:50 PM	#3
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Do you know which company makes the Alexander Arms barrels? I know they don't make them in house and I'm pretty sure their high end ones are made with Lothar-Walther and Satern Machining barrels. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 9, 2015, 12:06 AM	#4
TimW77 Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2008 Posts: 485	Best 6.5mm Grendel AR-15 Barrel "What is the best 6.5mm Grendel (or .264 CSS, .264 LBC, etc.) barrel I can buy for my AR-15? I don't really have a price limit although I would like to keep it under $500. I have researched this a little and I really like the Lothar-Walther barrels, but I have heard Satern Machining is also very good." I have FOUR 6.5 Grendels, ALL have Satern barrels... They are great... T.

February 9, 2015, 06:36 AM	#5
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Thanks. What could I expect for wait time with the Satern barrel? John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 9, 2015, 05:51 PM	#6
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	The Brownells 6.5 18" barrel is in stock. It's stamped on the bottom "Brownells"- but it's a Satern/Liberty barrel. It should ship tomorrow. They said the 24" will is expected to be back in stock between March and May. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

February 9, 2015, 07:12 PM	#7
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Ok, that sounds good. I saw a Lothar-Walther 28 inch match barrel for sale on Competition Shooting Sports, it says in stock. How long do you think that would take to ship and what is the quality of Lothar-Walther 6.5 Grendel barrels? John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 9, 2015, 08:42 PM	#8
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	I dont know but 28 inches is one freaking long barrel for any AR. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

February 10, 2015, 06:34 AM	#11
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	I was planning on shooting in some long range matches so I was thinking I could hand load some Grendel rounds with a slower burning powder and achieve maximum velocity. I've heard that you gain over 100-200 FPS from going from a 22 inch to a 28 inch, and it would stabilize bigger bullets better. I would also use iron sights, so the longer sight radias is a plus. How would you rank Lothar-Walther vs. BHW? John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln Last edited by Shooter2675; February 10, 2015 at 05:39 PM.

February 10, 2015, 05:40 PM	#12
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Any thoughts of why/why not to get a 28 inch barrel? John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 17, 2015, 04:49 PM	#14
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	Ah but there are means of extending sight radius with a 28" bbl. Here is just one example: http://www.champchoice.com/store/Mai...&item=CCAR1050 __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

February 17, 2015, 05:14 PM	#15
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Jayhawkhuntclub, You can mount a sight at the end of the barrel. It can be seperate from gas block. Look up "ar-15 space gun" on Google to see what I mean. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 17, 2015, 07:32 PM	#16
HKFan9 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2008 Posts: 3,057	Do you plan on using iron sights or a scope?

February 17, 2015, 07:37 PM	#17
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Eventually both. Probably start out with a scope then buy some nice irons. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 17, 2015, 08:44 PM	#18
HKFan9 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2008 Posts: 3,057	I don't shoot competitions so I guess it is up to you, I think a 28'' barrel is crazy long, but I see your reasoning behind it, specially if you are going to take advantage of the longer sight radius. Having shot and owned 24'' bull barrel AR's I know how bad those things are, I couldn't imagine a 28''. If you were going scoped I would say keep it 24'', but if irons are involved, you might like a 28''. Velocity changes I cannot speak of, I am sure someone wiser can. If you are building it to be competitive at competitions, go to the matches you wish to shoot in, check out the rifles and gear and talk to the guys, they will steer you the right way.

February 20, 2015, 08:53 AM	#19
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	I contacted Lothar walther, they discontinued the 28 inch barrels, so I will consider something smaller without having to go the six month wait custom route. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln