Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[Thegman]

He just threaded the steel 90 and added an aftermarket bolt knob. You could probably lengthen the gas key portion and maybe not even have to cutout the upper much (but risk punching yourself in the face).

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We talked about some ideas like this a couple of years ago, but none of us ended up going that direction.

A

Post in thread 'Ultralight Ultralight Rifles'

Jun 5, 2024

Saw this yesterday and it looks like a good option for these types of builds, they even offer a grendel bolt face so maybe it extracts well.

Straight pull

• ARK_Ginger

There was something from the apparently now-defunct Atl opp shop (above) like this, and the Kali-Key. I think @Taudisio was even talking with his gunsmith about something like this (???).

This is kind of a simplified version of the Kali-Key idea, with the bolt handle moved forward to actually make cycling more ergonomic. If I could source the handle, I'd gladly make one on an upper with a dremel. He's using the same NBS upper here as the original Solos were using. I think the mod would be easy to do with a dremel.

The main issue I see is keeping it in battery with just friction. He's not really demonstrating any real field use as one might see in hunting.

 

[Trackselk]

@Thegman
Might we be able to combine the Solo's detent ball setup with this?
The funny solution is to just use an appropriately sized rubber band

 

[Taudisio]

We talked about some ideas like this a couple of years ago, but none of us ended up going that direction.

A

Post in thread 'Ultralight Ultralight Rifles'

Jun 5, 2024

Saw this yesterday and it looks like a good option for these types of builds, they even offer a grendel bolt face so maybe it extracts well.

Straight pull

• ARK_Ginger

There was something from the apparently now-defunct Atl opp shop (above) like this, and the Kali-Key. I think @Taudisio was even talking with his gunsmith about something like this (???).

This is kind of a simplified version of the Kali-Key idea, with the bolt handle moved forward to actually make cycling more ergonomic. If I could source the handle, I'd gladly make one on an upper with a dremel. He's using the same NBS upper here as the original Solos were using. I think the mod would be easy to do with a dremel.

The main issue I see is keeping it in battery with just friction. He's not really demonstrating any real field use as one might see in hunting.

I totally forgot about that project. He still has my cheap upper and bcg. We discussed it and he drew it up. It’s been a long time though and I’m sure it has slipped his mind too. I have him working on 2 other projects that I’d prefer to be done haha

 

[Thegman]

@Thegman
Might we be able to combine the Solo's detent ball setup with this?
The funny solution is to just use an appropriately sized rubber band

That would probably work okay, although due to the increased mass of the bolt handle, it might drop out of battery more easily when bounced around vertically, like when slung on your shoulder (???). Maybe not though.

I've thought of a few other ways to have it lock up, but have been pretty happy running the Solos as is.

 

[Bearded Gnome]

TheGman did you notice the thread count at 4,444 in your response? There is a lot of interest in advancements, but good old experimentation as well. I am using this thread as inspiration to make a few builds. Normally it would be about one ULUL but I got the itch. I have parts for six rifles, one being a gasser in 358 but the rest in the usual range of .223s and a Hamm'r. Thanks for the spark. Be Well Brothers, BG.

 

[Trackselk]

That would probably work okay, although due to the increased mass of the bolt handle, it might drop out of battery more easily when bounced around vertically, like when slung on your shoulder (???). Maybe not though.

I've thought of a few other ways to have it lock up, but have been pretty happy running the Solos as is.

Yeah, that's a good point on the mass, and a bigger handle is more likely to hang up on brush. I'll probably stick with the Solo also, although I did take a look at it and looks like we could attach it over the top of the existing detent setup, just need 2 longer screws. It'd be thin enough that it might require steel construction.
I also like to sling it on my back, and my minimalist bolt handle doesn't dig into me, which is why I made it so tiny. A bigger handle would make me have to sling it over my back left handed which isn't as easy to redeploy. FWIW