Currently in the market for a 6.5 Grendel. I don't own an AR15 platform so I'll be buying the whole setup. Not sure what's best, should I buy a complete rifle from a company like Daniel Defense or Alexander Arms or look for someone who can build one custom? Am I going to get more bang for my buck with a custom built? I know nothing about building rifles so would want someone to do it for me.

Budget ~$2000

I have really liked my upper from Grendel Hunter. Not sure they do full builds though.

https://www.grendelhunter.com

I don't know where you are, but I had Eyeguy build mine here in Houston. But, if looking for a ready to go built rifle, you cannot go wrong with Alexander Arms. Go for it. FYI, love my Grendel. It does all the heavy lifting now. I use it for everything.

I need to upgrade mine since I'm just running a cheap PSA upper, on a good lower and trigger, with a thermal but shots are all 100 yards are less. I am really happy with performance and my daughter has killed her first animals with this round.

OP are you looking for a particular barrel length? Are you planning to run suppressed?

Aero precision is also not a bad place to look. They aren't as high dollar as Daniel Defense or Larue but they are good quality.

Eyeguy built 2 for me and another for a relative. Definitely recommend

STX_APP_16 said:

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Am I going to get more bang for my buck with a custom built? I know nothing about building rifles so would want someone to do it for me.

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That depends highly on who is "custom building".

If you dont know enough to feel comfortable building your own, you also dont really know enough to examine a custom build and see if they did right by you or not.

In your shoes I would avoid small shops or customs. Find a factory upper or complete gun and go that way for this one.

I'll second the recommendation for Grendel Hunter. My friend has a daytime and a thermal setup that he's purchased from them. They're both tack drivers and have never given him any issues with minimal care required.

Bought mine from Alexander Arms and it is the best AR I have ever shot or owned and one of my favorite rifles. Highly recommend buying their rifle.

Take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to put together an AR. At the very least order a stripped lower and build it out with an LPK and good trigger. If you can do legos you can build an AR lower.

The upper is a bit more advanced, but Grendel Hunter has some really good customization options for a very nice upper.

With your budget you'd have plenty left over for a quality optic.

agsalaska said:

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Bought mine from Alexander Arms and it is the best AR I have ever shot or owned and one of my favorite rifles. Highly recommend buying their rifle.

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I have three 6.5 Grendels from Alexander Arms. They rank 1, 2 , and 3 of my favorite ARs that I shoot. Have one set up for long long range bench gun(although carried to the blind and shot many deer and hogs with it). One for daytime hunting. And one with a thermal. Best ARs i own.....

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I've been leaning towards Alexander Arms but wasn't sure if I would be overspending. Reading the comments regarding quality puts me over the edge.

Does anyone use the Woox furniture? Personally love the look but not sure it's worth the extra $$$. Also am concerned about having accessories attach well. I'm a sucker for woodwork though.

https://www.alexanderarms.com/product/6-5-grendel-hunter-woox/

Not particular about barrel length but the 16" barrel seems common. I'd like to run suppressed in the future, probably within 3 years.

I like the idea of learning to build my own. Definitely something I want to do when my kids are a little older so they can learn as well. Difficult to find much me time lately though which is why I'm leaning towards a complete build.

What's the longest you can get your 'long long' setup out to? I'll be staying within 250 yds with mine. Mostly hog and coyote hunting.

ag0207 said:

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Aero precision is also not a bad place to look. They aren't as high dollar as Daniel Defense or Larue but they are good quality.

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Aero doesn't show any 6.5 Grendels on their website. I love my Aero .223s and .308 though.

I get that. But putting together the lower once you have parts takes less than an hour with a YouTube walk thru.

And trust me once you get bit by the AR bug you will likely be doing it several times more.

STX_APP_16 said:

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What's the longest you can get your 'long long' setup out to? I'll be staying within 250 yds with mine. Mostly hog and coyote hunting.

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With my AA GSR Ive shot steel over 1000 a few times. Lots of steel and paper to 750.

With my AA Hunter model shot train car loads of big game to 300 yards. Train car loads of coyotes and hogs to 600 yds.

shalackin said:

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I have really liked my upper from Grendel Hunter. Not sure they do full builds though.

https://www.grendelhunter.com

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I have 2 of their uppers….both are great, highly recommend.

I have an upper and about 1,000 rounds of ammo for sale. Posted in classifieds section if you're interested.

I bought one from them a few years back. Maybe they don't sell them anymore?