Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[ezwy]

People with the BCA uppers have you found they solved the ARC case sticking issues? They don't seem to have primary extraction either but they have much more leverage to unlock to bolt so maybe that's enough.

Well I have only used my bca with 5.56 bolt face, so not much help there. But, my twelve year old right hand daughter has a much easier time cycling it than she does a solo.
Most likely due to the extra leverage.

 

[TheGDog]

Howa SuperLite in either 6.5cm or .308 win is the easy-button here.

And it most-DEFINITELY has accuracy!

I legit watched my son, two times in a row... put one literally on the red bullseye dot!

After me shooting it to get Zero adjusted properly at 100... and some coaching on rifle hold off the bench... I told him Ok, now that you seem to be doing better move over to that blank one there. "Pow!" Son of a B!... right in the dang red dot! So then I tell him to move over to yet another fresh 10-ring on the target and Son of a B if he didn't hit the red dot of the bullseye again!

Load was Federal 130gr TSX at the time.

To keep it light I just put on a simple Burris 3-9-40mm E1, something like 13oz if I recall.

That thing is SO MUCH NICER for climbing up NASTY terrain!

There are machining marks on the bolt however, so it makes a "zwip!" sound for the moment while actuating the bolt. Others had posted they had good results addressing that issue by polishing the bolt with like 3000 grit wet-sanding by hand.

It's trigger is pretty good too. I still like bladed-style triggers just a leetle more, but it wouldn't stop me from buying another one of these, which I plan to do at some point.

Their stock comes with Kryptek Altitude dip on it.

Link from LGS website:

Howa Super Lite 6.5 Creed 20

This new offering has a unique Howa Action build that is in between the popular Howa Mini Action and standard Short Action platform. The perfect stick and move mountain rifle or compact tree stand go to setup that doesn’t break the bank and performs. Features: Available in new reduced...

www.turners.com

 

[Thegman]

People with the BCA uppers have you found they solved the ARC case sticking issues? They don't seem to have primary extraction either but they have much more leverage to unlock to bolt so maybe that's enough.

Yes, they seem to. I've run a 6 ARC and 30 HRT in the BCA Bolt action and it extracts fine.

Seems that the main extraction issue is getting the bolt itself to turn to its unlocked position, once there the rest is relatively easy. As you say, the BCA has plenty of leverage for that part.

 

[omicron1792]

Any of yall running the NAS3 cases? 50% lighter than brass so some weight savings and increased velocity. Seems right up y’all’s alley.

 

[Thegman]

Any of yall running the NAS3 cases? 50% lighter than brass so some weight savings and increased velocity. Seems right up y’all’s alley.

Yeah, they sound great. A few have tried them (myself included). So far I don't think anyone has stuck with them, for a variety of reasons. - Tendency to stick in chamber, not easily reloadable, no appreciable velocity gains, etc.

 

[Taudisio]

Any of yall running the NAS3 cases? 50% lighter than brass so some weight savings and increased velocity. Seems right up y’all’s alley.

I tore 4 of them in half, ripped my favorite shirt, broke the tip off my needle nose pliers, and sliced my hand open trying to neck them up .5mm with a mandrel for a 6x45.

 

[Big_wals]

Well, I had bought a couple TN arms lowers last summer with the intent to build one of these for hunting season, then life got in the way and wwe weren’t able to go to Idaho to hunt as planned. Now we are actually planning on moving back to Idaho and I decided to get back to this build.

Bought KyleR1985s bca upper and shaw barrel, the rest is parts I had laying around. Not as light as some of yall’s builds, but I was using what I had. The handguard is an aero one that I had already, took the angle grinder to it and hit it with some fresh paint. Took the weight down from 9.5 oz to 4.1. I ordered an aluminum bcg and an Ebay charging handle, gonna take it to a buddys shop and have him drill and tap it for me. Weight right now without a bcg is 3 lbs, 6.6 oz.

 

[johnnyboots]

This pic SUCKS but trying to replicate the 300blk I built (4lbs) with a larger caliber, 8.6blk. Last year I bought both the AR15 and AR10 from TN arms with the idea of doing 2 of these.

Today I finished up milling the aluminum barrel nut so the carbon handguard would slip over it. Still need to figure out an optic and mill down the bcg. It’s a fatboy. Right now it’s set up with a buffer spring and spacer, no buffer. So the action has a spring behind it. Need to get back in the shop, mill a slot in the upper for a bolt handle and tap the bcg. It won’t be anywhere near as light as the 300blk but it’ll pack a big punch.

Current weight: 6.25lbs

 

[Thegman]

View attachment 890332

This pic SUCKS but trying to replicate the 300blk I built (4lbs) with a larger caliber. Last year I bought both the AR15 and AR10 from TN arms with the idea of doing 2 of these.

Today I finished up milling the aluminum barrel nut so the carbon handguard would slip over it. Still need to figure out an optic and mill down the bcg. It’s a fatboy. Right now it’s set up with a buffer spring and spacer, no buffer. So the action has a spring behind it. Need to get back in the shop, mill a slot in the upper for a bolt handle and tap the bcg. It won’t be anywhere near as light as the 300blk but it’ll pack a big punch.

Current weight: 6.25lbs

What's the chambering? I wonder how well it will extract without sticking. Should be interesting.

 

[johnnyboots]

What's the chambering? I wonder how well it will extract without sticking. Should be interesting.

8.6blk I am hoping the similar case shape makes it easier over something more bottlenecked like 308 or 6.5 but there is a lot of surface area there…

 

[brockel]

People with the BCA uppers have you found they solved the ARC case sticking issues? They don't seem to have primary extraction either but they have much more leverage to unlock to bolt so maybe that's enough.

I put a 22 arc together and besides action being a little rough I’ve had zero issues. Action is starting to smooth out though

 

[David Walter]

I’ve been away from this thread for a long time and just stumbled back on it. I noticed the 6 x 45 barrel group by is now closed. My question on 6 x 45 is how heavy of a bullet can you shoot through that? Will the 103 vapor trails fit in an AR length magazine? 105 Hornady?

 

[Taudisio]

I’ve been away from this thread for a long time and just stumbled back on it. I noticed the 6 x 45 barrel group by is now closed. My question on 6 x 45 is how heavy of a bullet can you shoot through that? Will the 103 vapor trails fit in an AR length magazine? 105 Hornady?

I’m certain you could use those bullets, but they would not be optimal by any means. The 6x45 seems to fit the 95gr and under bullets pretty well. The bullet length matters more than the actual weight though. From my old research, the 87gr vmax (1.037” according to jbm) fits just about perfect when it’s a touch long for an ar mag. The vapor trail is 1.218” (see below)


The Hornady is 1.220”.
Based on my experience, I would not suggest you go into the 6x45 with expectations to shoot either of those options.
That being said, I have gotten acceptable velocity from a 95gr tmk which is 1.160”, but I don’t have enough to properly accuracy test it.

 

[groc426]

For those who are using the JAG Composites barrel nut and sourcing your own carbon fiber tubes, do you have a link to the place you purchased yours or size of tube that you used?

 

[johnnyboots]

For those who are using the JAG Composites barrel nut and sourcing your own carbon fiber tubes, do you have a link to the place you purchased yours or size of tube that you used?

I used an aluminum nut from ohhunt or some el cheapo place as I needed to turn it down on the lathe but I got the carbon from Clearwater Composites

Octagonal Carbon Fiber Tubing 1.770" ID x 1.930" OD - Clearwater Composites

This Octagonal carbon fiber tubing is fabricated with multiple layers of high strength unidirectional carbon fiber prepreg and has a 3K 2×2 twill fabric on the exterior. This octagonal tubing is roll-wrapped and fabricated in-house at our US facility. Designed For: Bending applications Fiber...

clearwatercomposites.com

 

[Thegman]

For those who are using the JAG Composites barrel nut and sourcing your own carbon fiber tubes, do you have a link to the place you purchased yours or size of tube that you used?

I've found all mine on ebay. Lot's of sizes and choices, only drawback is most is from China. Wh-Shop usually has good prices and lots of size options.

 

[David Walter]

Has anyone worked up (down?) a load using the 6ARC that still allows the action to cycle without sticking?

or is that an absurd solution to the problem when the 6 x 45 is readily available?

 

[KyleR1985]

Has anyone worked up (down?) a load using the 6ARC that still allows the action to cycle without sticking?

or is that an absurd solution to the problem when the 6 x 45 is readily available?

I ran 10 rounds though my 6ARC with the gas port plugged, and was able to cycle with standard bcg and charging handle.

Standard loads not loaded down.

Just haven’t messed with it since because it’s my gasser.

I think the solo is the issue with the 6ARC. Just don’t have the time to continue with a side charging bcg in standard upper to run a test with more rounds.

6x45 known commodity.

 

[PistolPete]

Also, with the allowable pressure difference, 6x45 doesn't give up any performance to the ARC in an AR (except OAL to shoot the really long bullets).

Has anyone worked up (down?) a load using the 6ARC that still allows the action to cycle without sticking?

or is that an absurd solution to the problem when the 6 x 45 is readily available?

 

[Thegman]

Has anyone worked up (down?) a load using the 6ARC that still allows the action to cycle without sticking?

or is that an absurd solution to the problem when the 6 x 45 is readily available?

Yeah, with the Solo, I think it's the latter.

I tried loading the 30HRT down in the Solo and it still stuck in the chamber. If I ever did get it to work, it would have to be loaded so low the 300 HAM’R would be handily kicking it's ass.

I think it would be about the same with the 6ARC and any 223/350 Legend case based 6mm in the Solo, 6x45 being the easiest of those options.

I thought it was the lightweight carrier in the Solo, but it could also be the friction between the aluminum carrier and steel cam pin...??? I should probably try one of the super-slick coated cam pins and test that idea. In the meantime, BCA bolt action seems to be the way to go for the Grendel/SPC cases. That said, I have my 30HRT barrel on a BCA upper, but still prefer the 300 HAM’R on a Solo.