Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[hereinaz]

Bear Creek runs a sleeve over the port for their bolt action rifles.

Staff said 308 and .223 are next and coming soon for the bolt action.

It’s actually not that bad; and the way the bolt is made it should be lighter, and can be lightened more.

They are building a piston gun, and the placement of the charging handle made me wonder about options…

 

[KyleR1985]

10" plate?

Yes. Thinking that’s something between 1.5-2moa. I suspect if I slowed down, and shot my lever load I’m getting dialed in instead of AAC, i could stay around the 1.5moa mark.

As is, I’m shooting deer out to 200 with no concern about which load is in the gun.

 

[KyleR1985]

Also, this, from the Howa mini, 16” barrel:

Note - I’m not an experienced handloader. Don’t take advice from me, only data.

That said, the only signs of pressure was a slightly cratered primer on the 27g.

No sticky or heavy bolt, no sign of trouble on brass.

Shot 25, 25.5, 26 groups of 5. Didn’t get interesting until 26. The extra .1”+ of case capacity makes a big difference in velocity.

Loaded at 65* in the house, shot at 25*.

Howa mini
77tmk
F205
Once fired LC brass 31g+ water capacity avg
Loaded long.

 

[doverpack12]

Finally got around to switching my 6 ARC BCA side charge to a repeater. Pulled the gas rings, gas tube, and extractor o ring. Ran 100-150 rounds gassed to smooth things out.

Shot two separate 5 shot groups and all chambered and extracted easy. Better or easier than my solo 300 223 Shaw portless barrel.

 

[packgoatguy]

Monstrum rings seem to be a pretty lightweight pic rail option.

Still hard to beat the swfa ultralight bdc for medium to longer range precision hold-overs. Looks like a 2-2.5oz penalty over the PA 5x.

 

[Thegman]

Monstrum rings seem to be a pretty lightweight pic rail option.

Still hard to beat the swfa ultralight bdc for medium to longer range precision hold-overs. Looks like a 2-2.5oz penalty over the PA 5x.

Are the Monstrum rings tall enough to look through comfortably on an AR platform? I've tried a couple of ring options, but that was the biggest problem I had with them on ARs.

 

[packgoatguy]

Are the Monstrum rings tall enough to look through comfortably on an AR platform? I've tried a couple of ring options, but that was the biggest problem I had with them on ARs.

I wanted it as low as I could get it. I still have to bring my cheek up a tad off the height of the buffertube. Maybe a 3/16- 1/4 inch above buffertube tube height aligns perfect for my eye with the swfa and the .8 inch monstrum rings.

 

[packgoatguy]

Are the Monstrum rings tall enough to look through comfortably on an AR platform? I've tried a couple of ring options, but that was the biggest problem I had with them on ARs.

 

[C Bow]

Finally 1st Ultralight Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen

 

[hereinaz]

BCA has 5.56 bolt action uppers on their site for sale now.

 

[Thegman]

BCA has 5.56 bolt action uppers on their site for sale now.

I saw that earlier but couldn't tell if it was their pencil barrel, or something else. Any idea which barrel it has?

 

[hereinaz]

I saw that earlier but couldn't tell if it was their pencil barrel, or something else. Any idea which barrel it has?

Not their pencil barrel, looks like M4 profile is available.

And, they use a sleeve that is maybe 3/16 to cover the gas port.

 

[ezwy]

Finally 1st Ultralight Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen

Sharp looking. What’s your barrel?

 

[C Bow]

Thanks That is a green mountain barrel I got while waiting on another barrel sending it to gunsmith to treaded and ream to ackley

 

[packgoatguy]

12 inch cut bca barrel seems like it's gonna shoot well enough.

I threw the scope on to get a weight, and thought I'd put a few rounds through it. But it was too cold today to do much more than get a few bullets on paper.

Rifle overall will lose a few more ounces if I swap the aluminum upper for magnesium, shorten the handguard a bit, and clean the suppressor. I'm estimating the final result will be 3lbs 7oz or so (including Scope, rings, suppressor, and mag).

Shooting stand1 77tmk. Average was about 2480fps in 10 degrees temps. Enough velocity for 410 yards and in to stay above 1800fps terminal velocity.

 

[KyleR1985]

12 inch cut bca barrel seems like it's gonna shoot well enough.

I threw the scope on to get a weight, and thought I'd put a few rounds through it. But it was too cold today to do much more than get a few bullets on paper.

Rifle overall will lose a few more ounces if I swap the aluminum upper for magnesium, shorten the handguard a bit, and clean the suppressor. I'm estimating the final result will be 3lbs 7oz or so.

Shooting stand1 77tmk. Average was about 2480fps in 10 degrees temps. Enough velocity for 410 yards and in to stay above 1800fps terminal velocity.

Same speed as the best group of 77tmk over Varget I shot from 16” barrel

 

[Trackselk]

I wanted it as low as I could get it. I still have to bring my cheek up a tad off the height of the buffertube. Maybe a 3/16- 1/4 inch above buffertube tube height aligns perfect for my eye with the swfa and the .8 inch monstrum rings.

Yup, with my big melon it looks like the .8" or 1" will fit me perfectly, and they have taller ones. Brings my leupold down 1/2" which is a lot more compact and 1oz lighter, great discovery!

 

[doverpack12]

Anyone cut their own BCG down?
Cutting wheel, tungsten carbide hacksaw, something else?

 

[hereinaz]

Anyone cut their own BCG down?
Cutting wheel, tungsten carbide hacksaw, something else?

Man, the cutting wheel is normally my go to when I go Bubba machine shop, but I was also looking at a drill press with lots of cutting oil since the wheel would be hard to get into spots. I figured dimples and holes would reduce weight.

 

[KyleR1985]

Grind off nitride (if it is there). Once surface hardening is gone, hacksaw or band saw will handle just fine. Probably would cut through hardening if you don’t mind wasting a blade.

I just got my pic stock done. Will be cutting down my BCA over next couple days. Will report back if I’m wrong.