Special Wpns Grendel 2011 with cover

GUN TEST
Tactical Rifles SPG
(Special Purpose
Grendel)—shown here
with the NightForce NXS
5.5-22x50mm scope,
GG&G quick-detach
mount, ARMS solid
aluminum rail system,
MagPul adjustable
stock, SureFire muzzle
brake, and Harris bipod,
is designed specifically
to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of
the high-performance the
6.5 Grendel round.
Precision marksmen rifle
that delivers bolt accuracy
with autoloader efficiency!
by PAUL MARKEL
photoS by SEAN UTLEY
P
rojectiles in 6.5mm are
renowned for their high ballistic coefficient. Benchrest
shooters have embraced this
chambering for decades in the
large, heavy, bolt-action rifles. That’s
nice, but what about the folks using
semi-automatic, self-loading rifles?
Alexander Arms offered a solution by
introducing their 6.5mm version called
the 6.5 Grendel in 2003.
Since that time, a few large ammunition manufacturers have produced
factory loads in that chambering. The
load was out there but didn’t really
catch fire until more recently, when
Hornady Manufacturing released their
version loaded with a 123-grain AMAX bullet.
This review actually began in
earnest during the summer of 2010.
The guys at Tactical Rifles loaned me
one of their new Tactical SPG (Special
Purpose Grendel) rifles. I secured
some of the tough-to-find 6.5 Grendel
18 SPECIAL WEAPONS/AUGUST 2011
ammunition from the few manufacturers producing it.
I soon discovered that not all 6.5
Grendel ammunition was created alike.
Apparently, there is more than one
manufacturing specification out there
for the cartridge. The difference is
only a few thousandths of an inch, but
enough to be significant. Conducting
some in-depth research, I found two
cartridges that are essentially identical — the Hornady manufactured 6.5
Grendel load and the brand new .264
LBC-AR round made by Black Hills
ammunition exclusively for Les Baer.
With these two cartridges in hand, I
commenced with a thorough testing
of the rifle.
Gun Details
The concept was relatively simple —
build a custom self-loading rifle
chambered for .264 caliber ammunition. This rifle would be an AR platform
gun using the 5.56mm lower receiver
SPECIAL WEAPONS/AUGUST 2011 19
tR/SPG 6.5 GRENDEL
found at the muzzle.
Rifling is a very specific
1-in-8.5-inch twist.
Surrounding the barrel
is an ARMS solid aluminum rail system.
The billet upper
and lower receivers
are standard AR as
far as size and part
compatibility. All the
manual controls are in
their respective places.
Tactical Rifles does include an ambidextrous
manual safety switch
and an extended
Surrounding the 20" stainless steel barrel is a
charging handle latch.
solid aluminum ARMS rails system.
The trigger and hammer pins are secured in
place with KNS Gen 2 anti-walk, nonand compatible parts. The upper receiver
rotating pins.
would be purpose built for the .264Regarding rifle furniture, you will find
inch/6.5mm cartridges.
a fully adjustable MagPul rifle stock
Let’s look at the soul of the rifle—the
barrel. Tactical Rifles uses a stainless steel, and a modular pistol grip. The standard
finish from the manufacturer is Extreme
match-quality, hand-lapped, 20-inch barEnvironment corrosion-resistant, in black.
rel. Out front you will notice the addition
Various camouflage patterns are available
of a SureFire muzzle brake/suppressor
as options.
adapter. Naturally a match-grade crown is
TACTICAL RIFLES
SPG 6.5 GRENDEL
6.5 Grendel/.264 LBC-AR
20 inches
39.5 inches
10.5 pounds (empty)
Magpul PRS
Optional BUIS
Semi-auto, direct gas impingement
Extreme Environment Black
17+1
$3,000
Range Time
PERFORMANCE
Load
Velocity
.264 LBC-AR: Black Hills 123 A-MAX
2,558
6.5 Grendel: Hornady 123 A-MAX
2,545
Accuracy 0.437
0.398 Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second (fps)
by Shooting Chrony F1, and accuracy in inches for 3-shot groups from 120 yards.
20 SPECIAL WEAPONS/AUGUST 2011
A match-grade crown is found at the end
of the muzzle, which accepts this muzzle
brake/suppressor adapter from SureFire.
Internally the rifle is a semi-auto, direct
gas-impingement design with rotating
bolt. It disassembles for cleaning like any
other AR. The trigger group is a two-stage
competition version.
A NightForce variable power riflescope
would provide the magnification and
clarity I needed to complete this review.
The particular scope model was their NXS
5.5-22x50mm with target knobs and side
focus adjustment. A GG&G quick-detach
scope mount was used to affix the optic
to the flattop rail.
SPECIFICATIONS
Caliber:
Barrel:
OA Length:
Weight:
Stock:
Sights:
Actions:
Finish:
Capacity:
Price:
In addition to the optic, the SPG
comes with the option of flip-up
back-up iron sights.
For my live-fire review, I would make
several trips to the range. My standard
practice is to knock out the basic range
chores first — chronographing and test
patterns. However, I was pretty jazzed
about this gun so I decided to forego that,
at least initially. I knew that my buddy
Matt from Tactical Rifles would have the
test gun zeroed when he sent it to me.
Driving over to Louisiana, I paid a visit
to friend Greg Lapin the owner of VATA
Group. Greg has a large training facility with a rifle range. He and I shot at a
6-inch reactive steel plate set out a bit
under 450 yards. Initially Greg spotted for
me and I dialed in the dope with a couple
of shots. After that, the steel plate didn’t
stand a chance. The recoil was so mild
that we could spot our own hits on the
steel. The wind was light, in the 5 MPH
range. Shot-after-shot, the target was
smacked down and then reset itself. It
was almost too easy.
SPECIAL WEAPONS/AUGUST 2011 21
tR/SPG 6.5 GRENDEL
Later on, back at my home range I ran
the Hornady and Black Hills loads over a
Shooting Chrony F1 and found that both
averaged nearly the same speeds. My
range is barely above sea level, so the air
is heavy. Each of the two loads chrono-
The 6.5mm or .264 chambering for
the AR platform certainly has a
tremendous amount of potential, with
the rounds having the long distance
accuracy of match-grade .308 but
the felt recoil of the .223.
22 SPECIAL WEAPONS/AUGUST 2011
graphed just under
2,600 fps (feet per
second). Putting
rounds on paper at
110 meters, I found
that I was again
spoiled by the
supreme accuracy
that Tactical Rifles
puts into all of
their guns. Posting
three-shot groups
I found that two
shots would often
form one ragged
hole, with a third
Combining the Tactical Rifles SPG with the 6.5mm centerfire
being a 0.25 of an
ammo is a win/win for shooters looking for tremendous
inch or so away.
accuracy potential and semi-automatic function.
For support during
the accuracy testMoving back to reactive targets I found
ing phase, I used
that the steel plate at hanging at 250
a Harris bipod up front. Under the stock
yards was almost too big to challenge
I tucked a “Monkey Bag” range rest from
this rifle. Fortunately for me, someone
Shooters Ridge.
had hung a standard sized bowling pin by
All Tactical Rifles long guns are
nylon cord out at 350 yards. Bowling pins
guaranteed to produce half-MOA groups
are tough and will withstand the impact
when benched and firing match quality
from numerous rounds.
ammunition. The groups produced by the
Dialing in the 350-yard dope, I found
SPG rifle and the given loads bested that
(continued on page 90)
guarantee.
SPECIAL WEAPONS/AUGUST 2011 23
tR/SPG 6.5 GRENDEL
Final Notes
(continued from page 22)
that I was able to connect with the body
of the pin without too much of a problem.
Again, the recoil of the rifle is so mild that
I could spot the impact of the rounds and
The NightForce NXS 5.5-22x50mm
variable power riflescope provide
remarkable magnification and clarity.
The Magpul PRS offers a fine-tuned,
customized feel with an adjustable
cheekrest and length-of-pull.
90 SPECIAL WEAPONS/AUGUST 2011
watch the pin swing with each impact.
According to U.S. Bowling Congress, the
widest portion of a regulation bowling pin
body is 4.7 inches. The widest part of the
head is about 2.5 inches.
For a greater challenge I decided to
take aim at the head portion of the pin. I
focused the crosshairs on the top portion
and slowly, deliberately pressed the trigger. The rifle bucked, the pin jumped and
flipped. Bingo! It was time to pack up the
rifle, and head home.
The 6.5 Grendel or .264 LBC-AR
chambering for the AR platform certainly has a tremendous amount of
potential. The rounds have the long
distance accuracy of match-grade
.308 but the felt recoil of the .223.
With a ballistic coefficient in the .50-range,
.264 caliber projectiles will be on top of the
list for precision long-range shooters for
some time to come. Combining the Tactical Rifles SPG with the 6.5mm centerfire
ammunition is a win/win for shooters looking for tremendous accuracy potential and
SW
semi-automatic function.
For More Information
Tactical Rifles
877-811-4867, tacticalrifles.net
MAGPUL
877-462-4787, magpul.com
NightForce
208-476-9814, nightforceoptics.com
Surefire
800-828-8809, surefire.com
SPECIAL WEAPONS/AUGUST 2011 91