Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[robtattoo]

By all means, get a receiver rod. Or, someone here will let you borrow one. They'll all fit the SOLO upper.

That said, for straight-pull builds, I've never had an issue with just going hand tight with the barrel nut or using a strap wrench to go just beyond that.

2 pieces of 3x2 clamping top & bottom of the receiver in a machine vice.
That's all I've used in about 25 AR builds. Never had a barrel nut back off yet.

 

[StupidLightweight]

There are many advantages to a reaction rod for upper receivers. They slide through the upper and lock into the steel barrel extension, enabling you to rotate the upper to work on the sides, bottom, and top without ever stressing the aluminum receiver.

Trust me, if you do frequent AR work, they pay for themselves. Since getting one, I’ve never used a clamshell or anything else and never will.

 

[Thegman]

2 pieces of 3x2 clamping top & bottom of the receiver in a machine vice.
That's all I've used in about 25 AR builds. Never had a barrel nut back off yet.

There are many advantages to a reaction rod for upper receivers. They slide through the upper and lock into the steel barrel extension, enabling you to rotate the upper to work on the sides, bottom, and top without ever stressing the aluminum receiver.

Trust me, if you do frequent AR work, they pay for themselves. Since getting one, I’ve never used a clamshell or anything else and never will.

Remember though, this is the robtattoo we're talking to here, he's special...in a good way!

 

[Luke S]

Well my upper arrived so I put together what I have on an aluminum lower.

The blue tape is to let me know if gas is leaking out of the reversed gas port. I carved the hand grip down a bit as an experiment. Next time I won't go quit as short but it's okay. I can't find a scale right now but it's definitely lighter than anything I have in the house. When I swap in the polyester lower and ditch the aluminum handguard I can lose a bit more.
This is basically what I wanted as a backpacking "rifle." We can shoot grouse with light handloads and it should have enough power for big game out to 250 yards. All while being comact and light enough to carry on trips where I'd probably leave a normal rifle behind. Next step is a lighter barrel possible in a rifle length.

 

[Thegman]

Well my upper arrived so I put together what I have on an aluminum lower.
View attachment 801449
The blue tape is to let me know if gas is leaking out of the reversed gas port. I carved the hand grip down a bit as an experiment. Next time I won't go quit as short but it's okay. I can't find a scale right now but it's definitely lighter than anything I have in the house. When I swap in the polyester lower and ditch the aluminum handguard I can lose a bit more.
This is basically what I wanted as a backpacking "rifle." We can shoot grouse with light handloads and it should have enough power for big game out to 250 yards. All while being comact and light enough to carry on trips where I'd probably leave a normal rifle behind. Next step is a lighter barrel possible in a rifle length.

What chambering? A BO or 5.56?

 

[Luke S]

What chambering? A BO or 5.56?

5.56. A blackout would be fun but not terribly practical. But I have thought about it....

 

[robtattoo]

Remember though, this is the robtattoo we're talking to here, he's special...in a good way!

My Mum says I'm special.......

 

[C Bow]

Is the solo 300 charging handle 10 x 32 treads Thanks

 

[Thegman]

5.56. A blackout would be fun but not terribly practical. But I have thought about it....

What barrel is it? Trying to figure out the suppressor deal you've got going with that.

 

[Luke S]

It's a genetic 7.5 inch barrel that we had lying around. The suppressor is a Polonium 30. According to the bathroom scale the whole package with a poly lower is 5 pounds. That means roughly 3.5 pounds for the bare gun. Not sure that is totally accurate until I get a more precise scale. But definitely moving in the right direction.

 

[JBradley500]

Is the solo 300 charging handle 10 x 32 treads Thanks

I think so. I used a 5mm thread checker the other day to make sure I didn't ding up the threads doing some tinkering and Google says 5mm and 10-32 are basically indistinguishable.

 

[goalie]

Well my upper arrived so I put together what I have on an aluminum lower.
View attachment 801449
The blue tape is to let me know if gas is leaking out of the reversed gas port. I carved the hand grip down a bit as an experiment. Next time I won't go quit as short but it's okay. I can't find a scale right now but it's definitely lighter than anything I have in the house. When I swap in the polyester lower and ditch the aluminum handguard I can lose a bit more.
This is basically what I wanted as a backpacking "rifle." We can shoot grouse with light handloads and it should have enough power for big game out to 250 yards. All while being comact and light enough to carry on trips where I'd probably leave a normal rifle behind. Next step is a lighter barrel possible in a rifle length.

Where are you at? I ordered mine minutes after they were available (I was on the notification list) and USPS has been messing with me ever since. I'm all of 20 miles from Eagan MN where they ship from, and if tracking is correct, after two trips back and forth from St Paul to MPLS it's finally at my local post office for delivery today.

 

[Luke S]

Goalie I'm in Alaska BUT that is not a Solo upper. Just a side charger.

 

[goalie]

Goalie I'm in Alaska BUT that is not a Solo upper. Just a side charger.

USPS still sucks

 

[KyleR1985]

If anyone is a member on the 6ARC forums, might be worth reaching out to this guy to see how this has gone since.

 

[packgoatguy]

I'll post this here... because I feel like ya'll will understand... I get asked by friends and family why I care so much about setting up an "ultralight" rifle...

This will be at least part of my answer from now on.

Two rifles, both shooting a 6mm projectile with virtually identical powder, recoil, etc. Both weigh about the same (the simple setup actually weighs 2oz more). But, if I hand both rifles to a novice shooter, they can accurately hit targets (with minimal instruction) 2-3 times as far out with the full setup than with the simple setup. In the end... starting with a lighter weight base rifle, I get more accuracy enhancing features for the same final weight.

Rifle 1: 114.7oz
Tikka T3x Superlite 243win
Simmons 3x9 scope


Rifle 2: 112.7oz
Custom Rem700sa clone, 6mmCM
Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42
Scope caps
TBAC Ultra7 suppressor
Vertical grip
Folding stock
Adjustable cheek riser
Spare ammo holder
Tripod

 

[Thegman]

I'll post this here... because I feel like ya'll will understand... I get asked by friends and family why I care so much about setting up an "ultralight" rifle...

This will be at least part of my answer from now on.

Two rifles, both shooting a 6mm projectile with virtually identical powder, recoil, etc. Both weigh about the same (the simple setup actually weighs 2oz more). But, if I hand both rifles to a novice shooter, they can accurately hit targets (with minimal instruction) 2-3 times as far out with the full setup than with the simple setup. In the end... starting with a lighter weight base rifle, I get more accuracy enhancing features for the same final weight.

Rifle 1: 114.7oz
Tikka T3x Superlite 243win
Simmons 3x9 scope


Rifle 2: 112.7oz
Custom Rem700sa clone, 6mmCM
Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42
Scope caps
TBAC Ultra7 suppressor
Vertical grip
Folding stock
Adjustable cheek riser
Spare ammo holder
Tripod

Those are good points. I've found people that have tried both are much more likely to end up like this.


Hard to explain to someone with no experience with them, but once people have carried both UL-UL rifles, and "normal" rifles, the light bulb is much more likely to switch on.

 

[goalie]

I owe everyone in this thread a beer.

Under 5# with silencer, optic and magazine

 

[goalie]

Almost 4# exactly without the can.

 

[KyleR1985]

Someone may have posted this already.

7.7oz for right side charging upper receiver. Option for rear.

https://www.cmttac.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=122

For reference the BCA weighs 10oz.


I suspect you could build a side charging upper that weighs same as solo, for around the same price, with aluminum bcg. If you wanted right side charging or to DIY.