Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[Jesseb]

So you flattened the tap area then drilled/tapped?

Yes, much the same as many lightened bcg’s. There is one small area of the bcg where the ID is about .250” for the tail of the bolt yielding the most material to drill and tap. I would have to look at my model but it’s somewhere around .400” long section. That’s what dictated the position of my charge handle. I think others have come to this same conclusion. I wish I would have lowered it a hair. As it is now, a standard cotter pin style firing pin retainer can slide out the slot of the upper if turned just right. I have some OG split pin, tapered head style retainer pins coming to solve that.

 

[C Bow]

After changes rifle done came in a little over what I thought but can change if I need to I appreciate all the information everyone has shared with me on this

 

[Thegman]

I used a BCA upper to put together a 30HRT rifle. I wasn't trying to go UL-UL, but it's still only 3# 14oz without trying hard...okay, without trying at all...

I've kind of become spoiled with the 223 and not sure I'll have much use for it, but I had the barrel on hand. The 30HRT won't run on a Solo upper without sticking. It works with the BCA and it'll push a 125 @ ~2,700 fps and a 155 ELD-M ~ 2,450 fps from a 16" barrel, so it's a good step above the HAM’R and can handle longer bullets better due to having a longer neck and more case capacity.

Anyway...back to the regular programming...

 

[KyleR1985]

.223 Lake City Processed Brass Standard Grade (250CT)

sagesreloadingsupply.com

Reminder as I just scooped up 1000 for the ULUL and Handi 6x45, and maybe soon an ULUL6x45.


14.9c each to the door. Really high capacity brass.

With my first 500, I decided to sort them by weight. I ended up with about 30 that were big outliers high or low. Those went to the side for things I don’t need accuracy or precision on, dummy rounds, etc. I then split the rest into two batches, one for my ULUL, one for the wife’s Howa mini.

They can do this with a 5x micro prism at 100 yards and a janky 300.00 ULUL build. I’d say for 15 cents a piece they’ll do…

 

[JBradley500]

My "spare parts" build, which is just the first version I built, showing that I replaced everything haha. 4.25lbs as is with the m4e1 lower. A polymer lower would get it below 4 lbs, but I kinda liked the idea of keeping it like this.

 

[C Bow]

If anyone needs a straight pull upper I have a Warwick 7075 aluminun and a cut down bolt shoot me a PM I am cleaning up

 

[PistolPete]

Heads up, Midway has factory second bullets (75 ELDM and 87 Vmax et al) and they actually qualify for free shipping over $99 today, which is rare that they aren't excluded.

 

[Sundodger]

I used a BCA upper to put together a 30HRT rifle. I wasn't trying to go UL-UL, but it's still only 3# 14oz without trying hard...okay, without trying at all...

I've kind of become spoiled with the 223 and not sure I'll have much use for it, but I had the barrel on hand. The 30HRT won't run on a Solo upper without sticking. It works with the BCA and it'll push a 125 @ ~2,700 fps and a 155 ELD-M ~ 2,450 fps from a 16" barrel, so it's a good step above the HAM’R and can handle longer bullets better due to having a longer neck and more case capacity.

Anyway...back to the regular programming...
View attachment 878067

How do you like that upper? They are pretty cheap and sounds like the solve the extraction issue that many cartridges have.

Have you compared weight to a solo upper?

 

[BasicUtahrd95]

I just found out I drew a tag in an open sight only rifle unit, and I think one of these ULUL builds would be perfect for that hunt. Anyone have any recommendations on open sights for AR's and/or ideas on how to optimize one of these builds for use with open sights?

 

[Taudisio]

I just found out I drew a tag in an open sight only rifle unit, and I think one of these ULUL builds would be perfect for that hunt. Anyone have any recommendations on open sights for AR's and/or ideas on how to optimize one of these builds for use with open sights?

I killed a fall bear last year with my AR and MBUS sights. It was a gas gun and not my ULUL, but the only difference is weight and semi vs bolt action. I was pushing brush so I wanted fast follows on this hunt in particular. I’ve killed one buck a few years ago with the same setup. With the right conditions, I would feel it’s ethical shooting an animal out to 150-200. I would have no issue taking an ULUL with MBUS sights for your tag.

 

[KyleR1985]

Against my better judgement I have a Shaw Portless and BCA upper available in classifieds.

 

[Thegman]

How do you like that upper? They are pretty cheap and sounds like the solve the extraction issue that many cartridges have.

Have you compared weight to a solo upper?

Mine weighs 21.7 oz, so roughly 1/2 pound heavier than a Solo upper. Definitely can't build the lightest rifle, but still can build a very lightweight rifle.

I have two. One cycles very well, the other tends to hang up, regardless of the barrel and bolt installed, so far. I'm sure BCA would address such an issue if you ran into it.

If you're staying with a 223 based cartridge, I'd go Solo over the BCA. The BCA is the only game in town for the 6.8 SPC, Grendel and 7.62x39 based stuff if that's the direction you're going. At this point, I'm just not sure I'm seeing enough practical advantage of those cartridges over the simplicity of running 223 based stuff, if you're a handloader. I can definitely see an advantage of running the ARCs/Grendel if you don't handload, or do, and you want to easily run the bullets they're capable of using, especially, the 22 / 6 ARC.

 

[Tburt]

What velocity are you seeing with the 90gr eldx?

I haven't gotten my buddy with his Garmin out with me yet, been focusing on chasing tight groups first. I am there on the 90s and I am happy to finally report that I am essentially there on the 103s now. I switched up the powder to Accurate 2015, and wow - it changed everything for the 103s. In my rig, 21.7 grains of powder seems to really do the trick. I plan to do a couple more ladders from 21.8, 21.9 and maybe 22.1 and 22.2 (already did 22.0 and it was a very close second to the 21.7). Once I get my go to tight group consistency locked in, I'm going to look at the velocities.

 

[Thegman]

I haven't gotten my buddy with his Garmin out with me yet, been focusing on chasing tight groups first. I am there on the 90s and I am happy to finally report that I am essentially there on the 103s now. I switched up the powder to Accurate 2015, and wow - it changed everything for the 103s. In my rig, 21.7 grains of powder seems to really do the trick. I plan to do a couple more ladders from 21.8, 21.9 and maybe 22.1 and 22.2 (already did 22.0 and it was a very close second to the 21.7). Once I get my go to tight group consistency locked in, I'm going to look at the velocities.

Are you running 103s in a 6x45?

 

[Tburt]

Are you running 103s in a 6x45?

I am! I have a 1-7.5 twist barrel.

 

[Thegman]

I am! I have a 1-7.5 twist barrel.

Super interesting. How long are you loading them? Any idea of velocity? Will a 1 in 8 work for them?

 

[Tburt]

Super interesting. How long are you loading them? Any idea of velocity? Will a 1 in 8 work for them?

COAL - 2.315, I've "windowed" my plastic mag and they just barely fit in a SS duramag. I've ordered a pair of SS from ASC - will see how clearance is when they arrive. Still focused on accuracy and best groups - need to borrow my friends Garmin as I wait for my Athlon Rangecraft.....

 

[packgoatguy]

Not an AR15... but still relatively lightweight...

I made a few mods to a kimber 84m 22creed. Now it is uglier than ever, single-shot, has a pistol grip, and a quick detach stock. Bare rifle is around 3lbs 10oz. Barrel is fluted, but not particularly ultralight... definitely some additional weight savings could be had there. But as it sits, it's right on the edge of shootability (any lighter-weight and recoil is starting to be an issue... it feels about the same as my 6.75lb all-up 6creed right now).

5.75lbs includes:
Kimber 84m action/fluted MA bolt
18 inch barrel
Nightforce 2.5-10x42 NXS MOA
DNZ Gamereaper 30mm 1 piece rings
Scythe-ti suppressor
MDT Carbon fiber grip
ARCA rail
Quick detach stock with cheek riser

Only had a few minutes of daylight left to shoot after the JBWeld finished curing... so only got a few rounds off. First 3 shots with factory 80eldm were touching (so I guess I didn't mess it up too badly.)

CopperCreek 80eldx load gave me 3285fps on the labradar. That puts it out past 800 yards before it drops below 2000fps...

I designed it to match the ergos of my hnt26 chassis... so it fits like a glove.

 

[Stocky]

Not an AR15... but still relatively lightweight...

I made a few mods to a kimber 84m 22creed. Now it is uglier than ever, single-shot, has a pistol grip, and a quick detach stock. Bare rifle is around 3lbs 10oz. Barrel is fluted, but not particularly ultralight... definitely some additional weight savings could be had there. But as it sits, it's right on the edge of shootability (any lighter-weight and recoil is starting to be an issue... it feels about the same as my 6.75lb all-up 6creed right now).

5.75lbs includes:
Kimber 84m action/fluted MA bolt
18 inch barrel
Nightforce 2.5-10x42 NXS MOA
DNZ Gamereaper 30mm 1 piece rings
Scythe-ti suppressor
MDT Carbon fiber grip
ARCA rail
Quick detach stock with cheek riser

Only had a few minutes of daylight left to shoot after the JBWeld finished curing... so only got a few rounds off. First 3 shots with factory 80eldm were touching (so I guess I didn't mess it up too badly.)

CopperCreek 80eldx load gave me 3285fps on the labradar. That puts it out past 800 yards before it drops below 2000fps...

I designed it to match the ergos of my hnt26 chassis... so it fits like a glove.

Love to know what the hells going on with that... idk chassis?

 

[packgoatguy]

Love to know what the bells going on with that... idk chassis?

Don't judge... its just carbon fiber tube, 3d printed parts, and lots of JBweld lol. Call it a first attempt at a DIY chassis.