Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[doverpack12]

I have a 6 ARC side pull. Just cut the BCA bolt down tonight and dropped 4 oz like another member a few pages back.

I think the ARC is having trouble in Solo 300 uppers because they are a lot tighter and rougher to cycle. I can push the bear creek side charge bolt with my pinky to full lock up. Extraction is no issue but I did pull the gas rings and extractor spring rubber piece.

I also was able to run 22 ARC as a side pull. Going to sell that barrel and balance of 100 rounds I bought because I thought I could gain 150 yards terminal range over the 6 ARC but turns out not enough velocity so nearly identical range.

My solo 300 with Shaw portless is much tougher to cycle than either ARC. Extraction I don’t notice a difference other than the rougher cycling on 223.

 

[KyleR1985]

I have a 6 ARC side pull. Just cut the BCA bolt down tonight and dropped 4 oz like another member a few pages back.

I think the ARC is having trouble in Solo 300 uppers because they are a lot tighter and rougher to cycle. I can push the bear creek side charge bolt with my pinky to full lock up. Extraction is no issue but I did pull the gas rings and extractor spring rubber piece.

I also was able to run 22 ARC as a side pull. Going to sell that barrel and balance of 100 rounds I bought because I thought I could gain 150 yards terminal range over the 6 ARC but turns out not enough velocity so nearly identical range.

My solo 300 with Shaw portless is much tougher to cycle than either ARC. Extraction I don’t notice a difference other than the rougher cycling on 223.

This lines up with my experience blocking gas port and using rear charging handle on 6 arc.

Just never got around to trying the side charger.


Would be curious if the experience is the same through 100-200 rounds

 

[hereinaz]

Sorry, been out of the loop for a while on another project.....

View attachment 844477

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Any news on the group(ish) buy(ish) on the 6x45 barrels?

I am working on profiles for 16 and 12.5” barrels.

I hope to make the order in the next two weeks and open the presale.

 

[packgoatguy]

Impressive! What load were you shooting?

Just the Stand1 77tmk I've got. 2750fps

 

[hereinaz]

Coming together, need to tap the BCG for the bolt handle. And, I will mill down my upper when I get my mill running.

 

[Luke S]

So a Kaw Valley handguard showed up and I don't like it as much as the sink drain pipe I had installed as a stopgap with a barrelnut i had layingaround. The plastic pipe is just a hair thinner which makes it easier to wrap my hand around it.
So with that mind are there any handguards a bit thinner? Or any downside to the plastic? It does flex but it's not touching the barrel.

On another note I had a bunch of friends over and the UL UL Rifle got another work out. Even the younger kids liked it. I think it will get carried around a lot this year.

 

[Trackselk]

So a Kaw Valley handguard showed up and I don't like it as much as the sink drain pipe I had installed as a stopgap with a barrelnut i had layingaround. The plastic pipe is just a hair thinner which makes it easier to wrap my hand around it.
So with that mind are there any handguards a bit thinner? Or any downside to the plastic? It does flex but it's not touching the barrel.

On another note I had a bunch of friends over and the UL UL Rifle got another work out. Even the younger kids liked it. I think it will get carried around a lot this year.

The carbon fiber tubes several of us are using are 1mm thick. Probably the lightest option

 

[ezwy]

So a Kaw Valley handguard showed up and I don't like it as much as the sink drain pipe I had installed as a stopgap with a barrelnut i had layingaround. The plastic pipe is just a hair thinner which makes it easier to wrap my hand around it.
So with that mind are there any handguards a bit thinner? Or any downside to the plastic? It does flex but it's not touching the barrel.

On another note I had a bunch of friends over and the UL UL Rifle got another work out. Even the younger kids liked it. I think it will get carrie

So a Kaw Valley handguard showed up and I don't like it as much as the sink drain pipe I had installed as a stopgap with a barrelnut i had layingaround. The plastic pipe is just a hair thinner which makes it easier to wrap my hand around it.
So with that mind are there any handguards a bit thinner? Or any downside to the plastic? It does flex but it's not touching the barrel.

On another note I had a bunch of friends over and the UL UL Rifle got another work out. Even the younger kids liked it. I think it will get carried around a lot this year.

If you match the inside diameter of an Amazon carbon tube to a slim profile barrel nut you can get slimmer. I have a solo barrel nut. 35mm I think.

 

[Thegman]

So a Kaw Valley handguard showed up and I don't like it as much as the sink drain pipe I had installed as a stopgap with a barrelnut i had layingaround. The plastic pipe is just a hair thinner which makes it easier to wrap my hand around it.
So with that mind are there any handguards a bit thinner? Or any downside to the plastic? It does flex but it's not touching the barrel.

On another note I had a bunch of friends over and the UL UL Rifle got another work out. Even the younger kids liked it. I think it will get carried around a lot this year.

If the plastic handguard works well, you may not need to be in any big hurry to change it. I haven't run mine on a rifle, but it does seem stiff enough, is only very slightly heavier that my 9" 1mm wall carbon tube, 1.9 oz handguard and, although this is subjective, is more comfortable to hold.

I just made mine to test the concept, but I'll try it out on my next build.

 

[Thegman]

If you match the inside diameter of an Amazon carbon tube to a slim profile barrel nut you can get slimmer. I have a solo barrel nut. 35mm I think.

I think you've mentioned this previously, but how did you connect your tube to that barrel nut?

 

[TurtleHerder]

Super cool builds! I recently put together a DI 6ARC, which I opted for "light" but not strictly "ultralight"... and things definitely add up. Never even considered doing straight pull AR platform before

 

[ezwy]

I think you've mentioned this previously, but how did you connect your tube to that barrel nut?

I just drilled holes and tapped the anluminum barrel nut and used some short Allen head machine screws. I just used two of them. The carbon tube is super rigid and it’s very tight over the barrel nut.

 

[Trackselk]

I just drilled holes and tapped the anluminum barrel nut and used some short Allen head machine screws. I just used two of them. The carbon tube is super rigid and it’s very tight over the barrel nut.

Same here, only the Jag Composites nut is already threaded for every position which is really handy. I think it dresses it up nicely.

 

[Timjohnson11]

This looks awesome.. To save me from reading through 157 pages, can someone summarize the go to Rokslide build here? What is Rokslide's go to upper? barrel? forend? stock? Keeping value/price in mind

I FINALLY finished mine, with the exception that I’m probably going to cerakote the barrel just to “black out” the gun. But ultimately they can’t even compete with some of the weights that some of you guys have done. Am a little disappointed in the weight but overall it’s my lightest gun and my most compact to throw in the pack. I went with the folder just to help make it more compact, but it did add 4oz.

Also a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you on this thread that have thrown out tips, ideas, links, etc to help make this happen. Really appreciate it as I’m a guy that has never built an AR ever.

View attachment 842839
4# 15oz with a BIG suppressors and fully loaded with 5 rounds.

View attachment 842840
4# 4oz with muzzle brake and fully loaded with 5 rounds.

I put a Burris 5x little scope on it that weighs 10 ounces. Wish I would have put something different on it optics wise, but I’m not sure what else I would do other than the SWFA ULUL but that would actually add 2-3 more ounces just due to rings. If i could find another one, I would likely do that as I have it on a few of my other guns and I’m used to it.

Last question, I think I need to polish the feed ramp cause I’m having a hard time getting it to feed. And these magazine seem to be too tall because the carrier group catches on the magazine follower. Any tips or ideas to fix this?

Thanks again everybody!!

 

[180ls1]

Same here, only the Jag Composites nut is already threaded for every position which is really handy. I think it dresses it up nicely. View attachment 845203

There is a $3 neoprene scope cover on Amazon that might save you a bit of weight and will probably fit tighter. It's a perfect fit on my swfa 2-10

https://www.amazon.com/Guaber-Protective-Riflescope-Resistant-Camouflage/dp/B0D1JWGLXD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30VLCBSDQB8A0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-tQHd4qebvghu8-EDzdQ5JWIKDyMhpFehV_PqlAwAdQdTAV13YNNUT_OphOk2ZFRwoMM_ZswaAE2v4hXz0c3j-EBKJ4etYlnKujJdn2LVGfxT9pXzv8JoL5oOp9I0mBOt_ju4u6oyqJb3_BJiZqFqJ1HO4UBwgwLcju0_iYhRlJ-DsbgEN6E7kGsR1jDP09AtFm-A2ARsuTHWEyeSZRTfWTE2z9WWO_y3TPHHjac5kvP7Mtd5ddkWX-LysZz39uknUE9hpWK2ffpvt46jG2QVnllP2GKSPP5dsUaMR53XwfA9IwqGGiNNdwN6_YKYhNZYvw8Ruq1UJdPDffQNJy0ckWIdhKxEXexKfm0aVDcIKPpKiraEgb_eWEBlMRyiZx-t2eLQP522vQ3rcJtvL1z_X7RwQiFuYogNm_M5UTdMfHXMAhqLRCOO898ree97COM.iKNcZgWNLDJpINy9FpP0rs9uTHJ1y6-9JtkYTjelvVc&dib_tag=se&keywords=scope+cover&qid=1740504832&sprefix=scope+co%2Caps%2C1028&sr=8-1

 

[Trackselk]

Another bonus of the carbon tube handguard is that it's surely strong enough to drill 3/8 or maybe 1/2" holes all over, which might be a cheap 3/4 oz savings, but it's a huge noxious mess and a good bit of time, plus we'd need a carbide bit, preferably a brad point. Then, we'd want to seal the edges with epoxy so it lasts and doesn't give off tiny slivers. Not a project I've yet wanted to take the time to accomplish, but would also look nice if executed precisely...

 

[Trackselk]

There is a $3 neoprene scope cover on Amazon that might save you a bit of weight and will probably fit tighter. It's a perfect fit on my swfa 2-10

https://www.amazon.com/Guaber-Protective-Riflescope-Resistant-Camouflage/dp/B0D1JWGLXD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30VLCBSDQB8A0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-tQHd4qebvghu8-EDzdQ5JWIKDyMhpFehV_PqlAwAdQdTAV13YNNUT_OphOk2ZFRwoMM_ZswaAE2v4hXz0c3j-EBKJ4etYlnKujJdn2LVGfxT9pXzv8JoL5oOp9I0mBOt_ju4u6oyqJb3_BJiZqFqJ1HO4UBwgwLcju0_iYhRlJ-DsbgEN6E7kGsR1jDP09AtFm-A2ARsuTHWEyeSZRTfWTE2z9WWO_y3TPHHjac5kvP7Mtd5ddkWX-LysZz39uknUE9hpWK2ffpvt46jG2QVnllP2GKSPP5dsUaMR53XwfA9IwqGGiNNdwN6_YKYhNZYvw8Ruq1UJdPDffQNJy0ckWIdhKxEXexKfm0aVDcIKPpKiraEgb_eWEBlMRyiZx-t2eLQP522vQ3rcJtvL1z_X7RwQiFuYogNm_M5UTdMfHXMAhqLRCOO898ree97COM.iKNcZgWNLDJpINy9FpP0rs9uTHJ1y6-9JtkYTjelvVc&dib_tag=se&keywords=scope+cover&qid=1740504832&sprefix=scope+co%2Caps%2C1028&sr=8-1

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'm actually twisted on this heavy leupold one, because it's relatively thick padding saved my scope when I lightly dropped the rifle while wrestling my too friendly pack goats. Didn't lose zero...

 

[180ls1]

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'm actually twisted on this heavy leupold one, because it's relatively thick padding saved my scope when I lightly dropped the rifle while wrestling my too friendly pack goats. Didn't lose zero...

Yeah, I have the same thought. The one I linked is very thin but my thinking is that its good enough with such a light rifle. Who knows if that holds any merit though.

 

[Trackselk]

Yeah, I have the same thought. The one I linked is very thin but my thinking is that its good enough with such a light rifle. Who knows if that holds any merit though.

Makes sense, especially since your swfa is probably tougher than my leupold.
*edit The leupold is also neoprene I believe

 

[Thegman]

This looks awesome.. To save me from reading through 157 pages, can someone summarize the go to Rokslide build here? What is Rokslide's go to upper? barrel? forend? stock? Keeping value/price in mind

For reasonable cost, simplicity, and function, I'd start with the first build in this thread with a couple of changes:

1. Shaw's unported 223 Wylde barrel (wasn't available back then - thanks to @StupidLightweight and the people in this thread for making that happen).
2. Either a Kaw Valley PCC handguard of you choice (relatively inexpensive and very functional) or if you want something a little lighter still, one of the homemade versions people are doing here. (My 9" handguard is only 1.9 oz and probably 1/3 the cost of the Kaw Valley and just as rigid)