Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[doverpack12]

Anyone know the actual length of the CP Firearms Buttstock? Their video says a LOP of 13” but I don’t know if that’s for one of their systems or a standard lower? Too short but I really like it otherwise and I think the length would come out right on my folder.

My A2 and farrowtech is 5.8 oz. I replaced the A2 tube with carbon but forgot to weigh before I installed it on the folder. I had to make the A2 shorter on the folder

 

[Jimbee]

Measure gas port hole diameter.

Find closest drill/tap size hole requirement, above thay gas port diameter.

Buy drill bit/tap.

Drill it.

Chuck tap into drill press. Run table up to tap almost touching barrel. Run chuck by hand to tap. It’s going to be a tiny tap. Go slow, use cutting fluid of some kind, go backwards often. You only need a few turns.

2/64 fits the BCA well.

I briefly thought about breaking the tap short on purpose for this use case.

Great idea but I already broke a tap off.

 

[KyleR1985]

Anyone know the actual length of the CP Firearms Buttstock? Their video says a LOP of 13” but I don’t know if that’s for one of their systems or a standard lower? Too short but I really like it otherwise and I think the length would come out right on my folder.

My A2 and farrowtech is 5.8 oz. I replaced the A2 tube with carbon but forgot to weigh before I installed it on the folder. I had to make the A2 shorter on the folder

For what it’s worth I cross threaded a screw the second time I tightened it. Which then stripped the hole in the printed plastic. I think it’s crap cheap hardware. I would use caution tightening, and don’t overtighten. Honestly, I’d replace the hardware straight away with good stuff.

Besides that, or, including that, it feels like a toy. I haven’t shot with it yet, but think it’s plenty strong for these .223’s.

 

[Jimbee]

I tried that with a copper ring and it blew it right off first shot. Lots of pressure coming out of that little hole.

Did the clamp break/fly apart, or?

 

[Thegman]

I'm thinking a pex tube plumbing clamp might be a easy way to cover a gas port. Outside diameter of 1/2 inch pex is .625 which happens to be exactly the same diameter of a pencil barrel gas bock. I have both stainless and copper ring type clamps. Thoughts?

I've heard of someone using a BAND-IT clamp,

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which seems similar to the stainless PEX clamps. Maybe a stainless clamp would work. Worth trying. That said, I also never heard how well the band-it clamp worked over time.

One other point: When blocking a 30 cal and larger barrel, I've noticed that they fairly quickly plug themselves with copper, underneath the gas block. Once they're plugged, a lot of weaker/leakier seals might work that would fail under unimpeded gas pressure. That copper pex clamp might even be fine at that point.

 

[Thegman]

I'm thinking a pex tube plumbing clamp might be a easy way to cover a gas port. Outside diameter of 1/2 inch pex is .625 which happens to be exactly the same diameter of a pencil barrel gas bock. I have both stainless and copper ring type clamps. Thoughts?

I'd never seen the stainless clamps before, but I see they're the same type of clamp that's often used to clamp CV boots in place. They've been pretty easy to crimp in place when I've used them replacing ATV CV boots.

As you say, the 1/2" clamp is for 0.625 O.D. pipe. The 5/8" clamp is for, I think, 0.75" O.D. pipe. They're 300 series stainless so should resist heat pretty well. Looks like some types would allow the crimped portion to be underneath the barrel, with a solid band of stainless over the top. Might work great (??).

If it works, it would be a really cheap way to run the BCA pencil barrels.

 

[ezwy]

Did the clamp break/fly apart, or?

It just blew it loose/bent it out in one spot. I had paper and tape over it as well to check for gas escaping and it blew them to shreds.

If you were to use stainless and maybe a little plug of JB Weld in the hole first it might work. After my failed experiment I just got a $10 gas block from AR15 discounts. I also did a little drop of JB weld un der that and let it dry upside-down to make sure it didn't go down into the barrel. I wasn't as worried about weight on that build though.

 

[Thegman]

It just blew it loose/bent it out in one spot. I had paper and tape over it as well to check for gas escaping and it blew them to shreds.

If you were to use stainless and maybe a little plug of JB Weld in the hole first it might work. After my failed experiment I just got a $10 gas block from AR15 discounts. I also did a little drop of JB weld un der that and let it dry upside-down to make sure it didn't go down into the barrel. I wasn't as worried about weight on that build though.

Did you ever check the JB weld in the gas port after shooting for a while? I'd guess it would get broken/burned/blown apart, but maybe not(??).

 

[ezwy]

Did you ever check the JB weld in the gas port after shooting for a while? I'd guess it would get broken/burned/blown apart, but maybe not(??).

I should probably do a check. I’m probably 50 rounds in. Maybe I’ll check in 50 more

 

[KyleR1985]

SA-15 Stripped Folding Lower Receiver

Stripped billet lower Shield Arms FLR

www.shieldarms.com

I think I found a weight at 12.5 ounces. If prioritizing volume over mass, looks like a good option.

TNA Carbon Lower and 3.5-8 ounces for folding adapters, you're looking at a 5-10 ounce penalty for what appears to be a really solid folding option.

Price wise, seems to be break even.

Wonder if one of these could be lightened a few ounces.

 

[HighUintas]

I happened to see this

https://buck-rail.com/product/qd-adjustable-stock-adapter/

I don't know the weight, but I assume it would be pretty minimal. Adding a pic rail adapter might bring it up 3-5oz I'm guessing,... But it would be a fairly cheap option

 

[Stocky]

That's the switch-barrel Kimber 84m mentioned a few posts back. It was light as hell, took forever to build, and cost three or 4 times what these ARs do. It was a very sweet rifle though. Total weight with the 16-inch .308 barrel was 3 pounds, 10.6 ounces. I think that was with scope rings, too.

Would love to see some more pictures of this setup. We can't get AR based platforms very easily anymore and this appeals as a project.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Would love to see some more pictures of this setup. We can't get AR based platforms very easily anymore and this appeals as a project.

That Kimber was a fun gun, but if I were to embark upon another lightweight bolt-gun, I'd likely start with a .223 Howa Mini and see how low I could go. Between action milling, barrel turning, and a custom MPI Microlite stock, I believe a skilled builder like Rick Steinhour at Extreme Rifle Works could get it below 3.5 pounds. It wouldn't be nearly as lightweight as a straight-pull AR, but for those who prefer traditional ergonomics, I think this is the way to go.

 

[Stocky]

That Kimber was a fun gun, but if I were to embark upon another lightweight bolt-gun, I'd likely start with a .223 Howa Mini and see how low I could go. Between action milling, barrel turning, and a custom MPI Microlite stock, I believe a skilled builder like Rick Steinhour at Extreme Rifle Works could get it below 3.5 pounds. It wouldn't be nearly as lightweight as a straight-pull AR, but for those who prefer traditional ergonomics, I think this is the way to go.

I've skeletonised a Howa mini (not as extreme as I could have gone. And taken barrel to 12 inchs tensioned in a carbon fibre sleeve. But just didn't like the action a whole bunch.

I've got a project in the works doing a single shot like the stowaway that will be the true ultralight.