I got bit by the 6.5 Grendel bug in the AR-15 platform a few months ago. Plans are for using it as a deer hunting rig for mainly under 250 yards. I saw where I could get a 20" barrel complete upper that included everything shipped for about $350.00. It is a Bear Creek Arsenal brand. I got it with 100 rounds Hornady 123 SST ammo, loading dies, magazines and scope mounts etc. to be ready to do what needed to get it running and feed it. I put it on a Bushmaster lower with a 3 lb CMC trigger. Long story short it turned out to be a monster. Would not shoot better than 5" groups at 100 yards. Took me 3 weeks to get BCA to respond to me so I could get a pick up slip to send it back to them for repair. I believe the muzzle was off line making the crown off line because looking through the flash hider I could see chatter marks on the muzzle. Sent it back and received it back within 10 days. There was no explanation as to what they did but I can tell they just replaced the barrel. In the time that I was trying to get in touch with them and getting it sent and back I decided that since I already had all the loading stuff etc. I would just live a little and build me a 6.5 Grendel upper with a good barrel. I got a OdenWorks 18" barrel kit which comes with complete bolt carrier group, tunable gas block and gas tube for $439. I ran into a real deal on Anderson stripped lowers $53 out the door and stripped upper $44 and got a POF 3.5lb trigger for $139 and a Stngr.usa 15" free float tube $124.99 and Kaw Valley linear comp $39.99 and parts to complete lower and upper including a magpull Mo stock for around $150. I put it all together and because of weather had not been able to go to the range to shoot either of the rifles. Thursday it warmed up and stopped raining but the wind was blowing constant 15 - 20 mph with 25+ gust but I could not stand it any longer and took off to the range. I had loaded up some rounds with Sierra 100 HP, 120 PH, 120 Nos.BT, 123 SST mainly with some middle of the road powder charges except for the 123 SST which I did to see if they were OK in both rifles. I did a 28 gr and a Max 28.5 gr IMR 8208 load with the 123 SST. Did not have to touch the tuning on the Oden gas block because it ran perfectly from the get go with the factory Hornady 123 SST. Got both on paper at 100 yards. Proceeded to do the suggested break in from Oden, fire 5 clean for 20 rounds. The Oden barrel is SS hand lapped and guaranteed 1 moa. First shot from clean bore was 1 1/2" high and left of the next 4 shots which went just under 1". I knew it was going to be a shooter. The worst group was with 120 BT with 27.6 IMR 8208 and it went 1 1/2" and take into count this included a clean bore shot. All the other loads went under 3/4" including the clean bore shot in a hurricane. Can't wait to do some real load work up on a good day.
Now the BCA was a whole different story. With the Hornady 123 SST it shot better than the first barrel about 4" groups but I do not know if it was a fluke or what but I had two rounds each containing 120 Sierra PH and Nos. BT left from what I was shooting in the Oden. The BCA put the 120 Sierra PH rounds touching and the BTs were 1" apart. From what I have been reading the BCAs just need to have 50+ rounds put through them to slick up the bore before they settle down and start shooting. I also had two rounds left with the two loads for the 123 SST that the Oden put both loads 3/4" group. I fired them in the BCA and they shot about like the factory ammo did. I am beginning to think that this rifle just does not like 123 SST bullets. I am going to do a load work up with 120 Sierra PH and Nos. BT and 130 HP Sierra GK with CFE-223 and IMR 8208 with the Hornady cases and CCI 450 primers and head to the range with my chrno the next day it is good weather and I can get away from work. If I can't get the BCA barrel to shoot reasonably I am going to put a 20" Oden barrel on it. The barrel will be the only thing I will need since everything else on the upper will work with the new barrel.
Now the BCA was a whole different story. With the Hornady 123 SST it shot better than the first barrel about 4" groups but I do not know if it was a fluke or what but I had two rounds each containing 120 Sierra PH and Nos. BT left from what I was shooting in the Oden. The BCA put the 120 Sierra PH rounds touching and the BTs were 1" apart. From what I have been reading the BCAs just need to have 50+ rounds put through them to slick up the bore before they settle down and start shooting. I also had two rounds left with the two loads for the 123 SST that the Oden put both loads 3/4" group. I fired them in the BCA and they shot about like the factory ammo did. I am beginning to think that this rifle just does not like 123 SST bullets. I am going to do a load work up with 120 Sierra PH and Nos. BT and 130 HP Sierra GK with CFE-223 and IMR 8208 with the Hornady cases and CCI 450 primers and head to the range with my chrno the next day it is good weather and I can get away from work. If I can't get the BCA barrel to shoot reasonably I am going to put a 20" Oden barrel on it. The barrel will be the only thing I will need since everything else on the upper will work with the new barrel.
