Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[BREAKCONTACT]

Is there a finishing “cap” for the size of carbon fiber tube you found? Something to cover the front end of the tubing. What’s your plan there?

What do you mean? I wasn't planning on putting anything over the end of the tube, just use it as is for a basic handguard, in the same style as the kaw valley and wiland pcc handguards, just with a big enough diameter to accommodate the gas tube to keep mine a semi auto.

 

[goalie]

Does anyone have a direct comparison as to how much more one would weigh with a regular aluminum lower and parts kit including Larue MBT2S compared to one with a TN arms carbon fiber lower and a New Frontier poly LPK?

I'm looking at the Solo 300 upper, Shaw port-less barrel and a KAW PCC handguard with a KAK buffer tube and Farrow tech "stock"

I have a spare PA 3x micro-prism in an ADM mount, so I'm hoping it would still be under 5 lbs.

 

[BREAKCONTACT]

Does anyone have a direct comparison as to how much more one would weigh with a regular aluminum lower and parts kit including Larue MBT2S compared to one with a TN arms carbon fiber lower and a New Frontier poly LPK?

I'm looking at the Solo 300 upper, Shaw port-less barrel and a KAW PCC handguard with a KAK buffer tube and Farrow tech "stock"

I have a spare PA 3x micro-prism in an ADM mount, so I'm hoping it would still be under 5 lbs.

There's a database of a lot of ar-15 parts with weights so you can get a close estimate of any parts combo you want, it's located here but you gotta have a gmail account so you can view the spreadsheet.

 

[goalie]

There's a database of a lot of ar-15 parts with weights so you can get a close estimate of any parts combo you want, it's located here but you gotta have a gmail account so you can view the spreadsheet.

Thanks!

 

[KyleR1985]

Guy is selling a riverman gun in the classifieds.

Bolt action AR.

Took the pictures from the ad maybe there’s something useful here.

Looks like the shop closed up to reopen next year.

 

[Taudisio]

View attachment 786758View attachment 786759View attachment 786760Guy is selling a riverman gun in the classifieds.

Bolt action AR.

Took the pictures from the ad maybe there’s something useful here.

Looks like the shop closed up to reopen next year.

I am seeing mbr10 on the side…. Maybe an ar-10? It definitely looks like it needs to go on a diet.

 

[Bigwindymt]

Let us know what you find for a clamp.

Speedway motors has gucci tubing clamps or Clark Customs sells their clamp. Just depends on the tubing size. I've used them both and they hold up great to field use.

 

[BREAKCONTACT]

Speedway motors has gucci tubing clamps or Clark Customs sells their clamp. Just depends on the tubing size. I've used them both and they hold up great to field use.

Good to know, I was thinking of going low tech, lightweight and just sectioning off another part of the leftover tube and building up two flanges with some epoxy and CF to run a bolt through to a nut on the other side, but I'll experiment first and post when I have results. The Clark custom is what I took the idea from when I found that barrel nut

 

[Bevo]

TN Arms takes a while to fill orders... like 3 weeks...even when they show in stock. And I would only buy a stripped lower from them, the complete comes with heavy mil spec parts. The NFA lowers are only a smidgen heavier and same price I believe. I do like the brass insert in the TN Arms carbon though.

I ordered two stripped lowers from them 3.5 weeks ago. Emailed a couple times for an ETA and got no response. Called 3x and nobody ever picks up. I sent another email asking for a refund, but I doubt they'll answer; probably just issue a chargeback and move on. Their website isn't even working today.

 

[goalie]

Alright, y'all are a bad influence. I started ordering parts even though I don't NEED a super light rifle. I'm interested to see how this goes. I've had good luck building my ARs I use in competition, so this shouldn't be difficult, just fun.

 

[Bigwindymt]

I ordered two stripped lowers from them 3.5 weeks ago. Emailed a couple times for an ETA and got no response. Called 3x and nobody ever picks up. I sent another email asking for a refund, but I doubt they'll answer; probably just issue a chargeback and move on. Their website isn't even working today.

Just got mine this week. Ordered first week of September.

 

[Dukhtr3]

Just got mine this week. Ordered first week of September.

Ouch. I ordered mine Oct 6 and I feel like that is way to long. I sure hope it doesn't take another month. They hardly answer email and never have answered the phone. Not sure the little weight difference is worth the wait. I got my lower parts from new frontier in a week. I should have just bought their lower too.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[BREAKCONTACT]

Handguard barrel nut and shim came in at 6.05 oz with the homemade carbon fiber clamp I made. I already had everything on hand to make it, but I doubt it saves more than a few grams just getting this and I definitely dont recommend making it, I just wanted to try. I also ended up using .010" shim stock under the tube, since I didn't have any .015" and that took up enough slack that I was happy with.

 

[Thegman]

Handguard barrel nut and shim came in at 6.05 oz with the homemade carbon fiber clamp I made. I already had everything on hand to make it, but I doubt it saves more than a few grams just getting this and I definitely dont recommend making it, I just wanted to try. I also ended up using .010" shim stock under the tube, since I didn't have any .015" and that took up enough slack that I was happy with.
View attachment 788815

Great job on that handguard and clamp. Nice work! Half of our experiments end up being dead ends, but we still learn a lot from them.

I'd appreciate seeing details on your clamp construction. Maybe it didn't save too much in this case, but the general idea is great and might be really useful in other applications.

 

[BREAKCONTACT]

Great job on that handguard and clamp. Nice work! Half of our experiments end up being dead ends, but we still learn a lot from them.

I'd appreciate seeing details on your clamp construction. Maybe it didn't save too much in this case, but the general idea is great and might be really useful in other applications.

I copied this design that's used for ultralight bike seatpost clamps. I used the cutoff section of handguard tube for the inner mold and i have a 3d printer and printed spacers to create the teardrop shapes and the 'H' profile center relief.

Here's the remaining cutoff from the layup with the printed cores still in it, some extra spacers that I changed some dimentions from, and the cutoff section I wrapped the carbon around. I have a 60" roll of some leftover from a canoe I made, and used the full width to make it a 6ply that was just wrapped continuously around the spacers then that was just wrapped with a tape to make the compression mold with a peice of shim over itto keep the top smooth.

 

[gbflyer]

Have you guys tried a factory ultralight? Faxon Ion?

 

[BREAKCONTACT]

Have you guys tried a factory ultralight? Faxon Ion?

I have 3 AR's so I wasn't going to buy a factory rifle, and for the cost of that, you can build lighter for less. Building AR's is very easy, and it's fun. The pictured handguard I built costs $70 to do, and is an ounce lighter than faxons comparable length handguard.

 

[gbflyer]

I have 3 AR's so I wasn't going to buy a factory rifle, and for the cost of that, you can build lighter for less. Building AR's is very easy, and it's fun. The pictured handguard I built costs $70 to do, and is an ounce lighter than faxons comparable length handguard.

Wasn’t what I asked, thanks though. I’ve assembled a AR or two and yes it’s fun.

 

[gtriple]

Holy cow, what a task it was to get this thing to feed. I spent over 2 hours sanding the feed ramps. I started with 400 grit, but it would not take off enough material, so I went down to 100. After half a dozen times installing the barrel and hand-tightening the nut to test to see if it fed. Once it was feeding smooth, I took it out and finished it with 400 then 1000 until it was smooth.

I ran a few dozens rounds of cheap ammo through it, then this was my first group with the Black Hills 77tmk. About all I could do before I lost light.


Here's the current iteration...

Weighs 5.5lbs fully loaded. After this season, I'll swap the scope and buffer tube out, which will shed about a lb and a half. Thing is a joy to carry and easy to shoot.

One note - that Farrow Tech stock isn't too tough...

 

[Taudisio]

Holy cow, what a task it was to get this thing to feed. I spent over 2 hours sanding the feed ramps. I started with 400 grit, but it would not take off enough material, so I went down to 100. After half a dozen times installing the barrel and hand-tightening the nut to test to see if it fed. Once it was feeding smooth, I took it out and finished it with 400 then 1000 until it was smooth.

I ran a few dozens rounds of cheap ammo through it, then this was my first group with the Black Hills 77tmk. About all I could do before I lost light.
View attachment 789008

Here's the current iteration...
View attachment 789012
Weighs 5.5lbs fully loaded. After this season, I'll swap the scope and buffer tube out, which will shed about a lb and a half. Thing is a joy to carry and easy to shoot.

One note - that Farrow Tech stock isn't too tough...

I’ve been wondering about the farrow tech. I have the paint on mine and you can see where it has been flexing and the paint is flaking.

Side note for those interested, I got the 95gr TMK up to 2540fps from the 16” barrel in 6x45 today. That would get it to 450 yards before it drops below 1800fps.