New Watchtower Bridger Rifle

[TxLite]

Seems like an interesting design. Has a hybrid steel/titanium barrel. Not sure it does a whole lot since it still weighs 6.8lb, but very interesting design. Appears to be a milled steel barrel with a titanium sleeve.

BRIDGER™

Explore Watchtower Firearms, the next great American firearms company offering a variety of premium firearms, including Spec Ops, Military, Hunting, and more.

watchtowerfirearms.com

 

[NSI]

Out of curiosity, what do you think are the chances they shot 30 round groups with and without the Titanium sleeve installed? I'd like to see those groups...

-J

 

[ResearchinStuff]

That's the longest trigger reach I've ever seen.

 

[TxLite]

Out of curiosity, what do you think are the chances they shot 30 round groups with and without the Titanium sleeve installed? I'd like to see those groups...

-J

If I was guessing, next to zero

 

[Muddler]

I understand there is a lot of machining involved on the barrel to justify the cost. But idk what problem it solves.

 

[wind gypsy]

I understand there is a lot of machining involved on the barrel to justify the cost. But idk what problem it solves.

The same problems that carbon barrels solve..

 

[nighthawkf-117]

I do think that's an interesting concept. I wonder if it could really help improve barrel mirage with longer strings of fire

 

[NSI]

I do think that's an interesting concept. I wonder if it could really help improve barrel mirage with longer strings of fire

Now there’s an interesting use case. Of course not what’s being advertised, but useful (not for hunting).

-J

 

[wind gypsy]

I do think that's an interesting concept. I wonder if it could really help improve barrel mirage with longer strings of fire

Interesting thought. Instead of trying to get barrels to cool faster, they are insulating them with titanium which doesn't conduct heat as well as steel. So less mirage but hotter barrels?

 

[TxLite]

Interesting thought. Instead of trying to get barrels to cool faster, they are insulating them with titanium which doesn't conduct heat as well as steel. So less mirage but hotter barrels?

Still has to be better at cooling than carbon wrapped

 

[Sundodger]

Very interested to see how this shakes out.

Looks to be high cost to manufacture, and to get it right would take some very impressive engineering.

Would love to see a thermal stress analysis done on it with a program like ANSYS. I bet it will grow in some strange ways.

 

[dieselchessy]

Im curious the stress relieving that may need to take place after such a milling operation on the barrel.

The Ruger Mark4 pistols have a barrel kind of tensioned in a tube as do the Waypoint 2020 carbon barrels, and probably others. The concept seems to function ok. Not sure what it improves though.

 

[Muddler]

The same problems that carbon barrels solve..

I guess I didn't articulate my thought well. I knew that was the purpose. But does it do it any better than carbon at the expensive of titanium and a bunch of machine work. Idk.

 

[wind gypsy]

I guess I didn't articulate my thought well. I knew that was the purpose. But does it do it any better than carbon at the expensive of titanium and a bunch of machine work. Idk.

Yeah, my comment was tongue in cheek as I don't really see much benefit to carbons either.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

LRI already offers aggressive fluting (murder hornet/ pattern X) that shoots fine without a sleeve

 

[Axlrod]

Out of curiosity, what do you think are the chances they shot 30 round groups with and without the Titanium sleeve installed? I'd like to see those groups...

-J

Looking at the scope on it, I bet they shot at least 30 rounds trying to get it to stay zeroed.

 

[khuber84]

I dig the paint scheme! This is just ur run of the mill custom component rifle, McMillan, Timney, defiance, hawkins with their proprietary concept barrel that's prob gonna be more than a carbon. This rifle will have a msrp near 6k I bet.

 

[TxLite]

I dig the paint scheme! This is just ur run of the mill custom component rifle, McMillan, Timney, defiance, hawkins with their proprietary concept barrel that's prob gonna be more than a carbon. This rifle will have a msrp near 6k I bet.

Pretty close. Website shows $6,500

I do like that paint scheme though

 

[Coleredding00]

Im curious the stress relieving that may need to take place after such a milling operation on the barrel.

The Ruger Mark4 pistols have a barrel kind of tensioned in a tube as do the Waypoint 2020 carbon barrels, and probably others. The concept seems to function ok. Not sure what it improves though.

From what i interpreted from the backfire YouTube video (cringe), the honeycomb structure is separate. There is a stainless steel liner just like a carbon barrel, then the machined structure, then the titanium tube. That being said, it may still put pressure on the barrel in strange ways as it heats but they claim that’s the exact reason they designed it is to fix the issue of carbon barrels walking.

 

[dieselchessy]

From what i interpreted from the backfire YouTube video (cringe), the honeycomb structure is separate. There is a stainless steel liner just like a carbon barrel, then the machined structure, then the titanium tube. That being said, it may still put pressure on the barrel in strange ways as it heats but they claim that’s the exact reason they designed it is to fix the issue of carbon barrels walking.

So a tube in a tube in another tube to make a composite tube.

Maybe this is the next best thing.

Its amazing how quickly firearms and gear are advancing. Soon we’ll have lazer guns we can miss with like in star wars.