Desperately Seeking … Grendel

[David Buffington]

Hi Folks!

I’m desperately searching for someone, anyone with experience with one very odd, very cool rifle … the Grendel/Sako SRT.

I’ve posted a lengthy description of the gun here:

https://sakocollectors.com/forum/threads/grendel-sako-str-questions.14712/

But here’s the short story: George Kellgren – the designer behind Kel-Tec firearms – designed the gun as part of his original venture – Grendel. The gun uses a Sako action, Douglas barrel and a folding, synthetic stock that was waaaaay ahead of its time.

My questions?

- How the heck do you remove the device at the muzzle end? The collar turns about 1/4 turn, but stops. It doesn’t want to move forward or back.

- What’s the proper procedure for loading the internal box magazine? Cartridges pushed down into the magazine sit too low for the bolt to push forward.

Thanks!
Dave

 

[Oso]

Dave,

Cool Gun

I'll toss a couple of ideas at the wall. My guess is the the ring on the muzzle break is a locking ring (twists) and that maybe there is some carbon buildup that has locked in in place.
Stuck Stuff 101 - Soak with Kroil overnight and then ask someone more mechanically inclined then me

Blind Box Magazine - Are you positive that it is a fixed internal magazine and not some form of removable magazine? When you place a cartridge loose on top of the magazine follower does it line up with the bolt or is it still sitting low. If it is a fixed internal magazine and the cartridge is sitting low then the culprit may be the magazine spring has been compressed and no longer expanding/returning to its full height which would leave the cartridge too low.

If it is in fact a removable magazine then maybe it isn't being inserted/latching properly.

 

[David Buffington]

Thanks!

Stuck Stuff 101 - Soak with Kroil overnight and then ask someone more mechanically inclined then me

That does sound like the next step.

Blind Box Magazine - Are you positive that it is a fixed internal magazine and not some form of removable magazine? When you place a cartridge loose on top of the magazine follower does it line up with the bolt or is it still sitting low. If it is a fixed internal magazine and the cartridge is sitting low then the culprit may be the magazine spring has been compressed and no longer expanding/returning to its full height which would leave the cartridge too low.

Oh, it's definitely a fixed internal magazine, and the gun appeared unused. Still, it could have been stored with ammo in it, and therefore, the spring could have been compressed. At this point, it's worth a try. Can the existing spring be saved (by stretching?)? Or is a new spring in order?

Thanks again!
Dave

 

[Oso]

Thanks!
Can the existing spring be saved (by stretching?)? Or is a new spring in order?

Dave - In theory Springs don't get compressed from being under tension (compressed from sitting loaded). Springs get compressed/weakened from the manual activity (motion) of compressing and release sort of like bending a paper clip back and forth.

You have nothing to loose so you might gently stretch it a little bit, and while you're at it take some measurements to use for ordering a replacement magazine spring...

 

[David Buffington]

Will do! I'm _hoping_ Grendel used the same spring and follower used by Sako, which should increase the odds of finding replacements. But who knows for sure?

Thanks again!
Dave

 

[Dud]

If it doesn't look like the magazine box will explode in to 1,000 pieces, I would think about taking the action out of the stock to clean the hidden areas and get a better look at the magazine box.

Could that barrel have an integrated QD suppressor mounting lug setup? I think HK had a tri-lug mount on many barrels. The G1 FAL had a dual lug QD for it's flash hider, blank fire adapters and rifle grenade launcher.

It might just be twist and pull but a little stuck due to time. It might need a slight twist if someone aggressively tightened it previously.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Oh, I thought you were looking for Gretel.

 

[David Buffington]

A small update ... While I haven't actually found a solution to the magazine, I have found evidence that a problem exists.

In a 2004 entry in the 1911 Forum, a member posted some SRT parts for sale:

This rifle was sold a few years ago and was built on a Sako AII .308 action. It had a Shillen heavy, fluted barrel with threaded muzzle and muzzle brake. It had a synthetic folding stock, made by Grendel. It held 10 rounds in a fixed magazine. The rifles were extremely accurate. The only problem was, they didn't feed reliably, sometimes. This follower and spring were supposed to be the fix for the problem. They are still in the wrapper.

So a problem exists and a fix (hopefully) exists.

Dave