Satern Custom and Liberty Barrels Halt Grendel Barrel Production

Starting June 1, 2011, Satern Custom Machining and Liberty Barrels will no longer produce 6.5 Grendel and .50 Beowolf barrels, as both barrel makers declined to agree to a new, more onerous licensing agreement with Alexander Arms. Satern had produced cut-rifled 6.5 Grendel and Beowolf barrels for the past five (5) years under license to Alexander, while Liberty crafted button-rifled Grendel and Beowolf barrels under license. It may be hard to replace Satern, a highly regarded cut-rifled barrel-maker, as other top-quality barrel makers may likewise reject Alexander Arms’ licensing demands.

Alexander Arms’ Policies Have Impeded 6.5 Grendel Development
Radford, VA-based Alexander Arms continues to paint itself in a corner with respect to the 6.5 Grendel cartridge. Alexander Arms (AA) has aggressively protected the 6.5 Grendel cartridge design, threatening legal action against companies that planned to sell 6.5 Grendel AR uppers, chamber barrels for this cartridge, or even merely offer 6.5 Grendel reamers. One can understand Alexander’s desire to protect its design rights, but many industry experts believe Alexander Arms has gone overboard. Many gun builders and parts markers view the 6.5 Grendel cartridge as a “lawsuit in the making” so they stay away from it. As a result, this accurate and efficient cartridge is not growing in popularity as rapidly as it might otherwise. Alexander Arms has simply made it too difficult to comply with its demands, so many gun makers have decided that they would rather build anything other than a 6.5 Grendel.

Ironically, many shooters have chosen to build guns based on 6.5 Grendel parent brass, but necked down to 6mm. Robert Whitley pioneered a very effective 6mm-6.5 Grendel wildcat he calls the 6mmAR. It shoots great in AR platform rifles, as does a higher-capacity derivative, the 6mmAR “Turbo”. To learn more, visit 6mmAR.com.