New rifle

**Jay Smith** · 01-17-2019, 10:45 AM

Just got a new 6.5 Grendel AR-15 upper in from Bear Creek Arsenal, first time I’ve used them , I normally use PSA and have built 2 long range AR platform rifles ( 224 Valkyrie in AR 15 platform and a 6.5 Creedmoor in AR 10 platform ) both from PSA ( upper and lower with custom triggers , I hate stock triggers , was happy but this part was on backorder for so long I made a change ,it will have a Vortex Strike Eagle 3-24X50 optic with lit reticle colt lower with Timney trigger, will report how it shoots if it will ever stop raining ..

Jay

**Forkin' Crazy** · 01-18-2019, 04:19 PM

They are addictive aren't they!

**CDave** · 01-19-2019, 03:37 PM

Sounds like a great setup. I like my Grendel uppers. I'm putting together a new Grendel upper with a Stoner 24" stainless bbl. on sale at Midway. A Gibbz left handed upper receiver with side charge handle.
It was tough finding a left hand 6.5 Grendel bolt. Finally found one at http://www.undergroundtactical.com but had to wait for a new batch to be made.

https://gibbzarms.com/product/g4-lef...pper-receiver/

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**Jay Smith** · 01-19-2019, 05:07 PM

Shot this thing in yesterday , used 2 different ammo brands with both the last round would load BUT would not close completely in the breach , I disassembled it and polished the charge ramps still no dice , called Bear Creek tec department ( nice folks ) suggested mag issue , I have 2 caliber specific mags neither would feed the last round completely .. I had a friend call his AR guru in Maine and he zeroed in on the mags we’re the issue , he uses only ASC caliber specific caliber mags , just ordered one ..

BTW this upper married to a colt lower will group with the 3 rounds shot covered a quarter at 100 yards so if I can get the thing to cycle ALL the rounds I’ll be happy camper ..

Updates to follow ..

Jay

**Jay Smith** · 01-21-2019, 04:46 PM

Update:
Talked to local police officer that’s an AR guru he suggested issue was pointing to buffer and buffer spring , I called the Bear Creek folks they suggested for me to send it back and allow their warranty folks to go over it gave me an RA # and sent a UPS ticket that they paid the ride to and from for the repairs .. I’m trying the new mag and if that don’t fix
it it’s heading to SC for repair ,

news as as it happens ,
Jay

**Jay Smith** · 01-23-2019, 01:42 PM

This has quickly become a learning experience. The carbine length Colt lower I’m marring this Bear Creek Arsenal rifle length upper needs a bit of tuning to work , little did I know this lower was fitted with a carbine length upper in stock form , ive found that if you choose to retrofit your new rig with a longer rifle length upper you then must fit the longer buffer tube , buffer and buffer spring to cycle smoothly , that part is on the way from Midway USA

we we will see ,
Jay

**AZMIDLYF** · 01-23-2019, 01:54 PM

Adjustable gas block for multiple barrel lengths?

**1954bmw** · 01-23-2019, 10:17 PM

How do you feel about the PSA parts, anybody give you crap for using inexpensive (read cheap) parts???? I live across the river from Anderson and have used their lowers to build a few A/Rs and everything seems to work fine, cept the first time I installed a lower parts kit and lost this little bitty spring on the hammer and the darn thing slam fired, grandkid came flying up the hill yellin above the illegal gun and Pappy's goin to jail, was kinda fun tho.

**CDave** · 01-24-2019, 01:21 AM

I'm going to be putting an adjustable gas block on my 16" Grendel. Already have one for the 24" one.

**Jay Smith** · 01-24-2019, 11:51 AM

Love the PSA parts yes they all are equipped with adjustable gas blocks as I said only reason I chose the Bear Creek Arsenals piece is I waited for a PSA 20” 6.5 Grendel upper to become available but didn’t get there . People that “claim” a $1500 AR 15 will out shoot a $600 one is simply BS ...

I own a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 creedmoor that cost $395.00 and it will shoot with ANY custom made rifle on the planet to 1000 yards , I read these test as far as groupings on the big $$ AR’s and bolt guns and mine will shoot with them hands down , the latest complete 6.5 Grendel upper that I paid $219.00 TMD and it shot groups that I can cover with a quarter at 100 yards ...

Save your $$ and invest in good optics , my 2 bolt guns I have $3200.00 Swarovski
Optics EACH , what a dope to have $6400.00 invested in scopes now that I’m in with Vortex and on a deal with them I now shoot High end Vortex optics i love the glass quality and so does my bank account ...

Jay

**CDave** · 01-24-2019, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Jay Smith

Save your $$ and invest in good optics , my 2 bolt guns I have $3200.00 Swarovski
Optics , what a dope to have $6800.00 invested in scopes now that in with Vortex I now shoot High end Vortex optics and love em and so does my bank account ...

Jay

I agree with you. Good glass makes a big difference.
The last buck I harvested, 10 point, I would have never seen with the cheap scope I replaced on my bolt gun. It was a foggy morning and the Bushnell Elite allowed me to see the buck. I got that scope shortly after Bushnell bought Bausch & Lomb's scope division. The glass was on par with a Leupold VX III but cost less.
I don't know how it would compare to the high end Vortex scopes. I did pick up a used Leupold Mk. 4 Mil-dot scope about 10 years ago, nice glass.

**Jay Smith** · 01-24-2019, 02:48 PM

I’m on the Vortex “deal” and can get any optic in the Vortex line for half off if you ever wanna try one , I just bought 5 pair of their rangefinding bio’s for me and friends for $799.00 a pair and we love em they will rangefind out over 1000 yards

Jay

**Jay Smith** · 01-30-2019, 05:09 PM

Update , I ordered a rifle length buffer tube, spring and buffer but ordered the wrong AR ( Nam area ) , was having hell getting the spanner nut off the tube was afraid to really get aggressive on this thing as I’m not versed on these guns or any gun so I took it to my gun Smith that hates AR’s he wasn’t afraid to take a punch to the spanner to shear off the locking dogs ...

We had conversation about the problem the gun was having , he took the upper appart and quickly said well here’s your problem ??? The manufacturer did not “finish” the ramp at the beginning of the entrance of the breach , he polished that area and then noticed the extraction spring was to tight and sticky in its movement long story short got its home and cycles like a champ , pisses you off when you buy a part from a company claiming ready to go that isn’t !!!

Sooo JMO I’d Give Bear Creek Arsenal a wide birth unless you have a gunsmith in ya back pocket , PSA ( Palmetto State Armory ) will be my go to folks from now on even if I have to wait on a backorder !!! Just got ansy and should have waited , lesson learned !!!!

Jay

**CDave** · 01-30-2019, 06:01 PM

Jay, Alexander Arms, the people that developed the 6.5 Grendel, are a good source for Grendel parts too.

https://www.shopalexanderarms.com/

**Jay Smith** · 01-30-2019, 06:41 PM

Thanks Bro ,
Hopefully this build is a done deal , my last 3 rounds shot before I shot at the range I could cover the last 3 rounds with a quarter at 100 yards just having the pesky charging issues thats is now solved , now time to move on to the next firearm endeavor...But thanks for the info ....

Jay