A customer brought in a Radical Firearms 6.5 Grendel that wasn't cycling enough to eject or chamber a new round. I was very up-front with him that 6.5 AR's aren't my forte, and I've never messed with this configuration before but I'd do my best. After some research, I found that this rifle had an undersized gas port.

It's a 18" barrel with a rifle length gas system. I opened up the gas port from 0.089-ish to 0.0935". That got the rifle cycling enough to eject the round and to feed another. Out of the six magazines, three had undersized tabs on the followers that did not properly hold the bolt back on the last round. Only three would would properly hold the bolt open.

When loading five rounds in each magazine (mix of magazine sizes), most would jam on round two, not properly feeding the next round resulting in dented cases and bent bullet tips.

I loaded one round with 10 rounds and after jamming on round two, it fired the last eight without jamming. I did manage to fire one full 5-round magazine with out any jams.

These are all new magazines but I'm thinking he needs some extra power magazine springs, and that might alleviate his issue.

In talking to the customer, I explained I can eventually get it running right, but it would take multiple trips and much more ammo to thoroughly test it for reliability (more $$$). But since this is a budget build, he needs to weigh the cost and his expectations. I don't want him to spend more on me getting it running properly than what the rifle is worth. After his initial cost of the rifle, and paying me, he'll spend more than if he bought a better quality rifle or upper.

I would have preferred that he bought from a more reputable manufacturer and in a caliber that's more proven than what he bought.

He bought it for hog hunting but he still has a like-new classic Colt AR-15A2 Sporter HBAR that is reliable (I did a nice detail cleaning on this one and it was in pristine shape). But being 223, he says hogs don't fall as easily.

In doing a casual search, I don't see anyone on my reputable manufacturer list that makes AR's in 6.5 Grendel. About the best option I could find would be PSA. They typically do their research and their CS is very responsive.

Anyway, rather than pay me more $$$, he's going to take it back and maybe it will work after some break-in and maybe some better magazine springs.

I give Radical Firearms a thumbs down. I borescoped their barrels and they are pretty rough, in my opinion. You get what you pay for and with RF, you don't get much.

Tony.

quote:

But since this is a budget build

Wow. A quick look at RF's web site shows their 6.5 Grendel rifles listing at just under $1000. A subsequent look at Alexander Arms' web site shows 6.5 Grendel rifles from roughly $1300 to over $2k. An illustrated case of "you get what you pay for?"

It's my understanding that Alexander developed the 6.5 Grendel to begin with.

I seem to recall that he bought his for around $700.

Radical is only a few miles from where I live.
They are some really good folks, they support my friends Marine detachment that provides funerals for fallen service members.
They have always taken care of issues whenever they arise.

That being said, RF is not a high end firearm company.
You can tell simply by the pricing.
You could also say that makes them more value oriented as well.

AR's can be finicky regardless of who makes them.
Add in the Grendel load to possibly make it even more so.

Sometimes you just have to work out the issue.
I generally use higher end parts from various manufacturers but I have a core of parts that I regularly use.

Still, doesn't mean you won't run into issues.
My last build I had an issues and it was the BCG ~ a Wilson Combat that I got on sale.
Had to go through to process of figuring it out but when I changed to a JP BCG ~ the problem goes away.
So anything can happen and yes it can be time consuing and expensive (ammo+time+parts).

Yeah, starting out with something better could have had a better outcome.
But know Radical Firearms is a good company.

Larue makes a good 6.5 grendel, when they have them in stock.

What magazines are they using. Not all 6.5 mag makers are good. When I purchased mine, I purchased the mags, straight from Larue.

Thanks for the info. I'm sure the guys at RF are good people and I'm happy that they do the kind of PR they do, but "good people" does not automatically equal a good product. Smith Enterprise are horrible people and it's widely accepted that they are douchebags. That being said, they do make good products.

I did not know LaRue made an upper, so if I ever consider the 6.5G, I'll probably go with LaRue.

Tony.

Link for the Larue: Link.FWIW they are selling Elander Magazines.

Should you find yourself in NY, I'll let you shoot mine.

But, with the wizardry you do with an M14, I'm not sure that you need a grendel.

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:

I'm sure the guys at RF are good people and I'm happy that they do the kind of PR they do, but "good people" does not automatically equal a good product.

Smith Enterprise are horrible people and it's widely accepted that they are douchebags. That being said, they do make good products.

I agree with you on both points.
In fact I don't think I would ever buy a RF product having more of a higher end preference.
Being a good company doesn't mean your products are the best and have heard the same about Smith.
Keep in mind we are dealing with a sample size of one here and anything could be the problem.
However, generally speaking RF are cheap(er) product offerings to begin with.
So Larue could be a nice choice.

I assembled a 6.5 Grendel with Faxon BCG and barrel a few years back. It was very reliable...never had an issue with it. It was decently accurate, too. I got tired of paying to feed it and ended up selling it off after I thought through my use-case for it and realized that I could do the exact same thing I was doing with it just as well with .223. Your mileage will obviously vary on that though, based on use-case.

My buddy bought a Radical Firearms upper for a 6.5 Grendel build at the same time I did. I'm cheap. He's cheaper. He ended up having issues with his...I don't remember exactly what the problem was but I believe it was related to the bolt not going fully into battery, and I think it was a tolerance stacking problem because he ended up swapping around his bolt carrier with another rifle and got it to work. Based on what I saw of that gun, I'd steer clear.

quote:

Originally posted by CD228:
But, with the wizardry you do with an M14, I'm not sure that you need a grendel.

You got that right! I've got four rifles chambered in 223 and eleven rifles chambered in 308. I'm adding 6.5 Creed to the mix soon and have a 6.5x284 now.

My scout length M14 with a 1-6 Vortex razor will be a good compact hog killer when it's done.

I can't see a need for a 6.5 Grendel at this point.

Tony.

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:

quote:

Originally posted by CD228:
But, with the wizardry you do with an M14, I'm not sure that you need a grendel.

You got that right! I've got four rifles chambered in 223 and eleven rifles chambered in 308. I'm adding 6.5 Creed to the mix soon and have a 6.5x284 now.

My scout length M14 with a 1-6 Vortex razor will be a good compact hog killer when it's done.

I can't see a need for a 6.5 Grendel at this point.

Tony.

I was referring to the accuracy of your shooting, not the size of your gun safe :-).

This post brings back memories.

I built an AR in 6.5 Grendel about 6 years ago. 12"-barrel, name brand, middle of the road parts. Initially I struggled a lot to make it reliable. Some tidbits that worked for me.

1. Only use good mags...Mine (the ones that work, are E-Lander from Israel. Always load one or two rounds short of full. Strong mag springs are good.

2. Mine gun appeared to be "over gassed". The bolt was moving so quickly that the extractor would frequently slip over the fired round. It would also sometimes cycle forward so quickly that the mag spring wouldn't have time to bring the next round up ( to be pushed into the chamber. I installed a heavy-duty extractor spring and a heavier buffer weight. Maybe an H3 ?? (don't remember).

3. This helped a lot, but being as OCD as I am, I went ahead and installed an adjustable gas block. I adjusted it so that the bolt would just barely lock back on an empty mag and then added an extra half turn of gas.

Now , about 5 years later it's still reliable with any ammo that I can afford to shoot through it. I sure miss my cheap Wolf ammo.

Best wishes ! mike

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mike28w,