Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[KyleR1985]

I did open box too. Love mine for this use case

 

[Jesseb]

Ya, I was eyeing those. problem is, I was broke when they had those . I will keep and eye out. Should have just grabbed one anyway. I really want to love the Vortex. Almost bought one a couple years ago but that 1moa adjustment just kills it. Dumbest thing I have ever seen on anything over zero X.

 

[Jesseb]

Which reticle are y’all liking? Torn between the 2. The regular bdc seems like it could be confusing since none of the drop marks would match up and I prefer a 200 yd zero. The mil reticle would solve that but looks a little busy for hunting.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Which reticle are y’all liking? Torn between the 2. The regular bdc seems like it could be confusing since none of the drop marks would match up and I prefer a 200 yd zero. The mil reticle would solve that but looks a little busy for hunting.

I went MIL. Wouldn’t say it’s too busy for hunting. Holding elevation is pretty easy. Holding wind and elevation gets a little challenging.

 

[Taudisio]

Which reticle are y’all liking? Torn between the 2. The regular bdc seems like it could be confusing since none of the drop marks would match up and I prefer a 200 yd zero. The mil reticle would solve that but looks a little busy for hunting.

I too prefer a 200 yards zero. I have the 5.56/308 reticle. I have found the holds line up decently well. At least out to 450-500 yards is where I notice it’s not on. It’s nice and intuitive after some practice. I posted these photos a while back. The does are around 100 and bob was around 50 iirc. The pic is a little blurry, but the 100 and 200 (almost 300) yard holds still fit in the deer vitals. I have decided the rifle/scope combo are ethical on deer sized targets out to 300 with me behind the wheel.

 

[gtriple]

Which reticle are y’all liking? Torn between the 2. The regular bdc seems like it could be confusing since none of the drop marks would match up and I prefer a 200 yd zero. The mil reticle would solve that but looks a little busy for hunting.

The MIL for sure. I got the ACSS Raptor at first and it’s just a pain to not have actual holdovers. So I swapped it for a MIL reticle and put the first one (a 3x) on my AR.

I think the 5x MIL SLx is the way to go for these until somebody comes out with a scope similar to the SWFA UL, but with a fixed 6x zoom and an exposed elevation turret. That would be a heck of a scope.

 

[Jesseb]

The MIL for sure. I got the ACSS Raptor at first and it’s just a pain to not have actual holdovers. So I swapped it for a MIL reticle and put the first one (a 3x) on my AR.

I think the 5x MIL SLx is the way to go for these until somebody comes out with a scope similar to the SWFA UL, but with a fixed 6x zoom and an exposed elevation turret. That would be a heck of a scope.

I wouldn’t own the swfa ultralight if it was the last scope on the planet. Waited a year to get one and my brand new example lasted 80 rounds and completely fell apart internally. Lenses rolling around inside. That was all careful bench shooting, no drops, no hunts, no backcountry roads in the bed of the truck. Padded case on a padded back seat, and a short drive on a smooth road for I think 3 range trips. The Sightron SII Big Sky 3.5-10x42 I have on there for load development is sounding better and better all the time. 13.6oz (just over 18oz with mount) and known reliable to me. 4 1/2lbs is still pretty damn lite!! But @ or under 4lbs would be pretty sweet!

 

[gtriple]

I wouldn’t own the swfa ultralight if it was the last scope on the planet. Waited a year to get one and my brand new example lasted 80 rounds and completely fell apart internally. Lenses rolling around inside. That was all careful bench shooting, no drops, no hunts, no backcountry roads in the bed of the truck. Padded case on a padded back seat, and a short drive on a smooth road for I think 3 range trips. The Sightron SII Big Sky 3.5-10x42 I have on there for load development is sounding better and better all the time. 13.6oz (just over 18oz with mount) and known reliable to me. 4 1/2lbs is still pretty damn lite!! But @ or under 4lbs would be pretty sweet!

Agreed. I’ve had 2 and didn’t love them. That’s why I said “similar to”

 

[Luke S]

Well a bear hunt was slow so I took two boys to the range with my current version of the UL UL rifle and we did some plinking. I think the rifle was about 5 lbs 13 oz with a scope and suppressor so not as light as some here but a good kid weight. A 12 and 13 year old went through around 200 rounds smacking steel targets at 200 and 300 yards. They really liked it and didn't seem to get worn out. I went with a 15 inch handguard which adds a few oz but it protects the barrel a bit better. I think careless teenagers might actually band such a light barrel.

Strange the some SWFA UL scopes seem to break suddenly and others do okay. Mine has not been abused but it's been on a .358 Winchester and packed around on a bunch of moose and bear hunts with no issues. Now its on my UL UL rifle.

 

[Dukhtr3]

Well a bear hunt was slow so I took two boys to the range with my current version of the UL UL rifle and we did some plinking. I think the rifle was about 5 lbs 13 oz with a scope and suppressor so not as light as some here but a good kid weight. A 12 and 13 year old went through around 200 rounds smacking steel targets at 200 and 300 yards. They really liked it and didn't seem to get worn out. I went with a 15 inch handguard which adds a few oz but it protects the barrel a bit better. I think careless teenagers might actually band such a light barrel.

Strange the some SWFA UL scopes seem to break suddenly and others do okay. Mine has not been abused but it's been on a .358 Winchester and packed around on a bunch of moose and bear hunts with no issues. Now its on my UL UL rifle.

Are u using a solo upper? My 12 year old has a hard time cycling my solo. I keep hoping it will break in but it's still very hard to cycle with around 200 rounds through it.

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[gtriple]

Are u using a solo upper? My 12 year old has a hard time cycling my solo. I keep hoping it will break in but it's still very hard to cycle with around 200 rounds through it.

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Have you sanded the feeding ramps into the barrel? That made a huge difference on the cycling for mine.

Otherwise, I'd try fabricating an extended bolt handle. A larger knurled handle would be a welcome addition when just plinking.

 

[Luke S]

Mine is another manufacturer's side charger (I don't even remember). Its a bit rough at times too. I could probably sand down the feed ramps but I just haven't got around to worrying about it.

 

[PistolPete]

Have you sanded the feeding ramps into the barrel? That made a huge difference on the cycling for mine.

Otherwise, I'd try fabricating an extended bolt handle. A larger knurled handle would be a welcome addition when just plinking.

Easy and cheap oversized bolt knob:

Post in thread 'Ultralight Ultralight Rifles'

Nov 17, 2024

Working on a project to ease extraction and chambering. I got an aluminum bolt knob from Ebay and slapped it on - its huge, so I might shorten it, but I also really want a 6 ARC and wonder if this might make it doable. Definitely increases the odds of knocking it out of battery, but we'll see how it goes.

Anyone know of a 20" lightweight 6 ARC barrel?

View attachment 734330

Bringing this back up for the extended bolt knob inquiries. If you message "kitascreations" on ebay, he'll customize the hole dimensions. I requested a .190 through hole and a .350 countersink 0.25 deep on the back...

• PistolPete

• 

Helps a lot, but also easier to knock out of battery.

 

[Thegman]

Are u using a solo upper? My 12 year old has a hard time cycling my solo. I keep hoping it will break in but it's still very hard to cycle with around 200 rounds through it.

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What part of the cycling is difficult?

 

[Big_wals]

I just got an open box one for $250 pre tax.

Was that from primary arms, or somewhere else?

 

[gtriple]

Was that from primary arms, or somewhere else?

Primary Arms. It was marked down to 290ish pre-discount and then used a 15% discount to get it for 250ish.

 

[Dukhtr3]

What part of the cycling is difficult?

It's just the last 1/4" or so. If I don't slam the bolt shut it won't go the last 1/4.

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[Dukhtr3]

It's just the last 1/4" or so. If I don't slam the bolt shut it won't go the last 1/4.

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Well I just had a light bulb go off in my head. I put some factory ammo in and it cycles perfectly. I am normally using reloads and it must be hitting the shoulder just before going into battery. This barrel must have the tightest chamber out of all my 223s.

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[Thegman]

Well I just had a light bulb go off in my head. I put some factory ammo in and it cycles perfectly. I am normally using reloads and it must be hitting the shoulder just before going into battery. This barrel must have the tightest chamber out of all my 223s.

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Yeah, I always check that while I'm sizing and bring the sizer down just past a crush fit for whatever rifle. With various AR chambers and various AR bolts there's a lot of variation. Put a tight chamber with a short headspace bolt and that's probably pretty likely.

 

[Stocky]

People with the BCA uppers have you found they solved the ARC case sticking issues? They don't seem to have primary extraction either but they have much more leverage to unlock to bolt so maybe that's enough.