Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[ezwy]

How are the 90 ELD-X doing in the 6x45, with respect to ogive length for crimping, powder space in the case, velocity, and accuracy? How does loading them compare to the 87 V-Max?

Seems like it could be a good bullet for the 6x45 (??).

Good accuracy so far. Still developing loads. No crimp on these. My die is set to a COAL 2.28” with the eldx to feed easy in a duramag (lands are about 2.305 in this x-caliber barrel). Without adjusting the die it loads the v max about 2.275. With the CFE 223 I’m using now I’m getting a little powder crunch when seating that far in. To get an increase in velocity I’ll have to load out more or switch powders I think. 2530fps average shooting in the cold yesterday. A little primer flattening so I don’t think I’ll push this powder any more.

 

[doverpack12]

Chopped BCA bcg finally. Runs way smoother in the office at least. Pleasant surprise.

Also, 4 ounces was a surprise, I figured 2.5-3. So that’s nice.


View attachment 840378

How did you end up cutting? I bought a 22 ARC barrel so want to run that one gassed a little first so smooth things out before I cut my BCA bolt off. I bought carbide hacksaw blades but can use a cutting wheel if I need to.

 

[KyleR1985]

How did you end up cutting? I bought a 22 ARC barrel so want to run that one gassed a little first so smooth things out before I cut my BCA bolt off. I bought carbide hacksaw blades but can use a cutting wheel if I need to.

Regular ole 32tpi hacksaw blade.

Took saw apart and put blade inside bcg and cut each leg from inside out with bcg clamped in vise

 

[KyleR1985]

What was the final weight of the good bits after chopping?

7.8oz for bcg after removing back half of the carrier.

 

[packgoatguy]

Packgoatguy can I ask what mag you used with this build

Lancer L5

https://gunmagwarehouse.com/lancer-l5-ar-15-223-5-56-10-round-advanced-warfighter-magazine.html

 

[C Bow]

Lancer L5

https://gunmagwarehouse.com/lancer-l5-ar-15-223-5-56-10-round-advanced-warfighter-magazine.html

Thanks that is the mag I bought I appreciate it

 

[packgoatguy]

What the configuration to the stock now packgoat? How about a close up?

This time I went with a castle nut so it can be installed in any lower.

 

[HighUintas]

This time I went with a castle nut so it can be installed in any lower.

That looks like two CF tubes epoxied together at a 90* with a carbon arrow for a 45* brace. Is that right? And pretty stiff/stable feeling?

I like the creativity!

 

[packgoatguy]

That looks like two CF tubes epoxied together at a 90* with a carbon arrow for a 45* brace. Is that right? And pretty stiff/stable feeling?

I like the creativity!

Its a work in progress. The first epoxy I tried didn't give me the strength I was looking for. But I like the overall idea, as it leaves the full tube open as I will want to put a small survival kit inside it.

 

[Luke S]

No real accuracy testing yet but i had kids shoot my UL UL rifle the other day with random practice 223 ammo. One boy created a ragged hole approximately 0.35 by 0.55 at 25 yards from a field position no fliers. Looks like it with be a shooter with the Shaw barrel. The kids liked it too. Recoil was mild with a CAR 15 style stock I found.

 

[packgoatguy]

That looks like two CF tubes epoxied together at a 90* with a carbon arrow for a 45* brace. Is that right? And pretty stiff/stable feeling?

I like the creativity!

Tested out a different epoxy. It added some weight, but the joint has held for a few hot loads unsuppressed (which is a notable amount of recoil in a 3lb rifle).

 

[HighUintas]

Tested out a different epoxy. It added some weight, but the joint has held for a few hot loads unsuppressed (which is a notable amount of recoil in a 3lb rifle).

Which epoxy have you found to be best so far?

 

[packgoatguy]

Which epoxy have you found to be best so far?

Original jb weld

 

[packgoatguy]

8 inch, 12 inch, and 16 inch Straight Pull AR rifles.

At least with my testing and resources, I'm reaching an end of the possible weight savings.

I think it is possible to get below 1lb 12oz with the 8 inch barrel... but getting below 2lbs with a 16 inch barrel will be a real challenge.

I believe there are a few grams to be saved in the future with the following... but I doubt that collectively, these would all add up to more than 3-4 ounces of further weight savings.

skeletonized carbon lower design.
Aluminum bolt knob instead of TI
Skeletonized Aluminum bolt carrier
Skeletonized carbon grip (and shorter)
Skeletonized magnesium upper
BCA profile 16 inch portless barrel

That said... for anyone else who thinks that pushing the boundaries of weight savings isn't just a fools errand... let me know if there are other areas you think that we could push a bit further.

I think that it is notable that until just a year or two ago, I don't think that anyone had even thought a sub 3lb rifle was even possible... and now we are looking at the possibility of a sub 2lb rifle.

 

[Thegman]

I think that it is notable that until just a year or two ago, I don't think that anyone had even thought a sub 3lb rifle was even possible... and now we are looking at the possibility of a sub 2lb rifle.

The question now has changed much more from "How light -can- it be" to "How light -do I want- it to be". Pretty good "problem" to have!

 

[packgoatguy]

For anyone who is interested... here are some weights of relevant parts and pieces

 

[packgoatguy]

A few more weights

 

[packgoatguy]

The question now has changed much more from "How light -can- it be" to "How light -do I want- it to be". Pretty good "problem" to have!

Agreed.

Although, I can say that at least with the 223/5.56 cartridges, and with a suppressor installed... even the lightest configuration possible (8 inch barrel with a red dot) isn't unpleasant to shoot, and the weight isn't so low as to make the recoil mess with my shooting.

That said, I think my real interest comes from shaving ounces from the rifle so that I have the option to add them back in with higher performance add-ons.

For example... I love my Scythe Ti suppressor. At 8oz, it's about the best suppression I can get. However, when I put my Resilient Jolene suppressor on the same rifle (which adds 2.7oz) it is almost night and day in the level of suppression performance. So, if all else being equal, I can shave 2.7oz from the base rifle platform... then I can justify the use of the quieter Jolene, but be at the same overall weight that I had started at.

Likewise, my SWFA ultralight 2.5-10x32 is a great and very useful scope with the bdc reticle. However, for a 9.87 ounce weight penalty (by comparison) my Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32 is a vastly superior scope. So, if I shaved those ounces off of the base rifle... then I get to enjoy the same overall weight (but with much better scope) than if I had just left 'well enough alone' at a 3lb base weight rifle... and in truth, that's exactly where I'm at now. My first straight pull build last year was right at 3lbs bare rifle. Now I'm at 2lbs 4oz. That 12oz difference let's me have the same overall finished weight now with a Jolene and the NXS as I did last year with the Sythe and the SWFA... same final weight overall... but better performance with the current setup because the weight savings let me upgrade the accessories.

 

[passinggas33]

A few more weights

Why you got to do us dirty and post all these in grams? My brain doesn’t work that way . Thanks for posting these.

 

[Dukhtr3]

Bear creek has 6 arc bolt action uppers back in stock. I picked one up to try out.

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