Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[Taudisio]

Curiosity, do the light weight (non ported barrels still have the bulge in the middle they just do not drill the port? Or are they thinner full length and not port and thierfor lighter?

If they have no bulge and are lighter and you save the $50 (after shipping) of the Samson gas block, you could possibly spend the same $ but get a slightly lighter setup.

(You would just lose the option of turning it into a gasser at a later date.)

Please educate me as I have ever seen an ar barrel that was not ported.

You are referring to the “gas block journal”. Yes it cuts weight not having it. Some non-ported rifles have been ordered without the journal. X-caliber, you don’t get the option of no journal. So it depends of what company you order the barrel from.

 

[JJ3]

Need to order some 300 blackout mags for my hunting UL AR pistol I am putting together. Aero Precision lower, solo upper, looking for magazines in the 5ish round capacity range.

What has been working well for people?

Lancer

 

[Gettincloser]

You are referring to the “gas block journal”. Yes it cuts weight not having it. Some non-ported rifles have been ordered without the journal. X-caliber, you don’t get the option of no journal. So it depends of what company you order the barrel from.

Exactly that! That you for converting my terminology into proper reference!

Who have yall had the most success (accuracy) ordering a lightweight barrel from that does not have the gas block journal.

I am wanting to build this rifle once and do it right the 1st time. That way I do not look back 6 mo the later and start swapping parts and wind up with the rifle I want and 80% of spare parts next to it!
...I have done that before on other projects and would rather not do that again.

 

[Thegman]

The only non-ported production barrel with no journal is the Shaw 223 Wylde non-ported.

Tactical Ordinance may make you one as well. @robtattoo knows, or if not, will in a few days.

 

[robtattoo]

Exactly that! That you for converting my terminology into proper reference!

Who have yall had the most success (accuracy) ordering a lightweight barrel from that does not have the gas block journal.

I am wanting to build this rifle once and do it right the 1st time. That way I do not look back 6 mo the later and start swapping parts and wind up with the rifle I want and 80% of spare parts next to it!
...I have done that before on other projects and would rather not do that again.

The only non-ported production barrel with no journal is the Shaw 223 Wylde non-ported.

Tactical Ordinance may make you one as well. @robtattoo knows, or if not, will in a few days.

Yup. Shaw will make you one to order (unless I'm getting mixed up with the group buy....)
I currently have a Tactical Ordinance barrel en-route to me that I custom ordered ($362) in 6x45 with no journal or gas port.

We also recently had a pretty unfortunate group buy from Satern barrels that were turned without journals.

However, the best bang for the buck is the BCA. Hands down, no question. They're phenominally accurate & you can't beat the price. If the journal bothers your eye, you can always use a longer handguard to cover it

To do away with the gas port, all I've ever done is drill it out & tap it to 8-40, then install a grub screw with red loctite. I file/ sand the screw down to match the journal profile & it's literally invisible. My Wilson .300 barrel has been running like that for about 400 rounds now with no leaks whatsoever.

If I had a more accurate lathe, I'd be sorely tempted to try very slowly turning off the journal & seeing if it made any accuracy difference without affecting the temper & stress relieving.

 

[Gettincloser]

We also recently had a pretty unfortunate group buy from Satern barrels that were turned without journals.

What made it unfortunate?

And thank you for the insight. If the BCA barrels are that accurate, I can deal with an extra ounce.

 

[robtattoo]

What made it unfortunate?

And thank you for the insight. If the BCA barrels are that accurate, I can deal with an extra ounce.

Well..... mine averaged around 5-6" groups (best was about 3", worst I couldn't pick out 5 shots on a 14x14 sheet of paper) , very low velocities (compared to book load data) & had brass expansion.

Satern are going to rectify the situation though, so hats off to 'em.

 

[Gettincloser]

The 223 for bear and.... thread cost me a pile. Lets just say my wife, daughter, nephew and I have one. Now yall are getting me down a deeper rabbit hole! Here we go!

 

[robtattoo]

It's all good, clean, expensive, soul-sucking fun & you know it.

 

[doverpack12]

What made it unfortunate?

And thank you for the insight. If the BCA barrels are that accurate, I can deal with an extra ounce.

BCA was lighter than the Shaw portless on my scale.
16.5 oz BCA vs 17.7 Shaw

 

[ezwy]

Exactly that! That you for converting my terminology into proper reference!

Who have yall had the most success (accuracy) ordering a lightweight barrel from that does not have the gas block journal.

I am wanting to build this rifle once and do it right the 1st time. That way I do not look back 6 mo the later and start swapping parts and wind up with the rifle I want and 80% of spare parts next to it!
...I have done that before on other projects and would rather not do that again.

For the easy button you can also order the BCA barrel and order their “gas collar” made for their bolt actions to block the gas port. They’re like $12.

 

[Gettincloser]

For the easy button you can also order the BCA barrel and order their “gas collar” made for their bolt actions to block the gas port. They’re like $12.

Those seem to be out of stock at the moment. I will probably go for the Samson UL version.

 

[Thegman]

What made it unfortunate?

And thank you for the insight. If the BCA barrels are that accurate, I can deal with an extra ounce.

See below. You're not really giving up anything weight wise with the BCA pencil barrel. Even with an aluminum gas block (what I use), it's still lighter than the Shaw, which is the next lightest 223 barrel made.

BCA was lighter than the Shaw portless on my scale.
16.5 oz BCA vs 17.7 Shaw

For the easy button you can also order the BCA barrel and order their “gas collar” made for their bolt actions to block the gas port. They’re like $12.

Not sure, but when they sent me a couple of uppers, they only made 0.75" gas collars, no 0.625" at that time. Not sure if that has changed. Good option if it has.

 

[Gettincloser]

I finally caved and built a Solo upper. It's sitting at 4lb 8oz suppressed with the 5x Primary Arms microprism. Off to the range tomorrow.

View attachment 931810

What stock is that? Does it have a QD mount to remove it?

I am considering an A2 tube chopped with Carbon Fiber in the middle and paying the weight penalty for the folding adapter.

 

[PistolPete]

Well..... mine averaged around 5-6" groups (best was about 3", worst I couldn't pick out 5 shots on a 14x14 sheet of paper) , very low velocities (compared to book load data) & had brass expansion.

Satern are going to rectify the situation though, so hats off to 'em.

Just to emphasize what you already said, for the record:

it appears Satern is going to address this issue in a stand-up manner, and I would use them again.

(I really want a 20" portless 6 ARC barrel to try with my Solo and/or use with a BCA bolt action...)

 

[khuber84]

Is the solo 300 with left side handle the way to go or is the Bear Creek right hand bolt action style upper any better? Solo is obviously quite a bit lighter.

You guys mentioning BCA, meaning Bravo Company of Bear Creek Arsenal?

 

[doverpack12]

Is the solo 300 with left side handle the way to go or is the Bear Creek right hand bolt action style upper any better? Solo is obviously quite a bit lighter.

You guys mentioning BCA, meaning Bravo Company of Bear Creek Arsenal?

I would say it depends on what you are building.

223 I think the solo works well, it is the lightest but also most expensive.

Bear creek Arsenal (BCA) I haven’t used the bolt action some others have. I did build a BCA right side charge 6 ARC that shoots very well to as far as you want to shoot and is smoother/easier cycling than the Solo.

I also built a 22 ARC on Warwick Tactical right side charge. That is the middle ground upper for me. Lighter than BCA but less money than Solo. This is the smoothest of the 3. With no lower if I tip the barrel down then up, the chopped carrier and bolt will slide forward, close then open and slide back. It uses a BCA carrier that another member sanded to smooth it out.

Whatever you do follow Thegman instructions and remove the gas rings and rubber bumper under the extractor. Those two make for significantly easier cycling.

 

[robtattoo]

Just to emphasize what you already said, for the record:

it appears Satern is going to address this issue in a stand-up manner, and I would use them again.

(I really want a 20" portless 6 ARC barrel to try with my Solo and/or use with a BCA bolt action...)

Sorry Pete, I didn't intend to badmouth Satern at all, I really hope it didn't come across that way! If it did, my sincerest apologies.
I appreciate everything you did, putting the group buy together.

 

[KyleR1985]

Who knows when the barrel is chambered for an AR barrel?

If the extension is put on prior to barrel being chambered, then you can chamber their 6x45 profile to 6ARC. Arc case is shorter so you can’t do it to an already chambered 6x45.

That’s a question for Stu at Satern.

I’d buy a 6ARC barrel or one unchambered if they’d make it.

 

[robtattoo]

Is the solo 300 with left side handle the way to go or is the Bear Creek right hand bolt action style upper any better? Solo is obviously quite a bit lighter.

You guys mentioning BCA, meaning Bravo Company of Bear Creek Arsenal?

There's these guys too.....

https://www.deltateamtactical.com/dedicated-right-side-charging-billet-upper-receiver-6061-aluminum--type-iii-hard-coat-anodized.html

Add one of these (with the back end chopped off, then drilled & tapped for a charging handle) & you're gold for under $200 total.

R1 Tactical AR-15 Aluminum Bolt Carrier Group - Anodized Blue

R1 Tactical AR-15 Aluminum Bolt Carrier Group .223/5.56/300 BLK - Anodized Blue The R1 Tactical AR-15 Aluminum Bolt Carrier Group features a polished anodized blue finish with an M16 profile designed for .223/5.56mm/300 BLK. The extremely lightweight BCG weighs only 5.8 oz, and it's the perfect...

redcon1tactical.com