I've been developing a drop-in bullpup rifle chassis for your bolt action!

[tykempster]

MachIV,

What exactly were the AR components you were making, what made them special, and what was the price?

 

[OneWound]

OneWound,

We 3D print some products and have a printer already, but thanks for the offer on that. What do you print on?

As far as machining...I will have to think on that. We have some machines and access to just about anything, but more options are always good to have.

I have access to a uPrintSE plus which has a 8"x8"x6" bed that prints ABS plastic

 

[MachIVshooter]

What exactly were the AR components you were making, what made them special, and what was the price?

Just muzzle brakes & comps, $60-$100, depending on style. Here are a few:



The far left one is 7075-T6, the next one is 416 stainless, the last 4 ar 6Al-4V gr. 23 Titanium

This would be one of the $100 Ti hybrids:



If you're referring to the AR in the picture, the whole gun is rather special.....

 

[Caper]

MachIVshooter, Nice. I'm surprised your muzzle brakes and comps weren't sellers.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I turned a bolt action (shotgun) into a pump-action bullpup by bobbing the bolt handle, grooving the remaining stub to fit a curved and slotted cam plate like a truncated K31 bolt sleeve which fit over the bolt like a partial bolt cover. The cam plate was fastened to two slide/guide rods that ran from the bolt to a cylindrical pump grip. The guide rods ran in tunnels drilled on each side of the action and barrel.

I got this part to work pretty well. It was the trigger mechanism that I never got to work the way that I wanted.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'm surprised your muzzle brakes and comps weren't sellers.

People are cheap, man. That's why I was asking the OP about pricing. A lot of people get really excited about cool stuff until it comes time to open the old wallet.

I've moved a few, but guys buying M&P sports & DPMS budget rifles, or throwing together $400 rifle kits on $50 lowers in this stupid cheap AR environment seem inclined to buy heavy cast steel $15 chinese knock-off comps on eBay rather than spend 15-20% of their rifle's cost on a lightweight custom US made Ti muzzle device. Doesn't help that I've no name in the industry either, though. ECCO Machine & Fab is a new company of mine with very limited exposure; I don't even have a dedicated website yet, just a page on my other site.

We're still working on it. I've played with a lot of different ideas. Had one that adversely impacted accuracy, so it was scrapped. Another worked well, but you felt the blast on your face, so it's history, too. The two in the first pic, 4th and 6th from the left, almost work too well on a semi-auto, causing the muzzle to dip slightly (never lose sight of the target due to muzzle climb, though!). They sure were awesome on an M16!

The 3 port brakes do a great job; this is the muzzle of my 4.6 lb featherweight, which has less felt recoil than my 6-1/2 pound carbine with a YHM Phantom. Slightly longer than the one's I've had for sale, as I needed to make 16" with it pinned on a 14.5" tube:



This 48 port brake I did on my .308 AR worked out well, too. A little more flash through the NVRS than a bird cage, but tolerable



I know a lot of people don't like shiny natural finish, either, so we're going to offer dull beadblasted & Cerakoat options. Beadblast or black cerakoat is free, ODG and tan probably will be too. Other colors may incur cost.

And sorry to thread jack, OP. I'll open a new thread if anyone else wants to discuss the brakes.

 

[tykempster]

MachIV, no worries on jacking the thread, I think the brakes are interesting.

I suppose the only thing I can say on will this sell is "we'll see". In my opinion its a direct competitor to Desert Tech, who can't keep up with sales, and just the chassis for their platform is $3500. There really isn't anything similar on the market, as opposed to brakes where there are hundreds of choices, and little formal testing of them.

I'd also love to get into some truly radical thinking regarding the bullpup format, but to do that I need to start off with something. I'm proud that I haven't borrowed any money, and just through 3D printed item sales we are in the green throughout paying for all this chassis prototyping, etc.

 

[Elkins45]

As a lefty I can still shoot a conventional bolt gun. I couldn't shoot the bullpup version.

One real use I can see for this design is if you want to hunt with a silencer. You can keep all your barrel, add a can and still keep a reasonable LOA.

 

[tykempster]

V2 is less than two weeks out...here's the new main rail. To make it accept left handed actions I just need to code a bolt notch into the left side.

 

[tykempster]

Well guys, here is V2!



Here are the changes/additions that will be made:

1) forgot the cheekpiece, that'll be done of course

2) bolt extension offering, to bring the bolt handle forward

3) more vertical grip, or perhaps changing the angle at which the grip attaches

4) mlok or keymod slots in the forend

5) radiusing of sharp corners, lightening grooves and such, overall streamlining

6) flush cups and sling swivels added in

 

[R.W.Dale]

If anything it's pretty

 

[farmerboy78]

How much?

 

[Geno]

tykempster:

It's coming along nicely. Keep us posted.

Geno

 

[bannockburn]

tykempster

Thanks for the update! Maybe I missed it in one of the previous posts but what does the whole platform weigh, bolt action included?

 

[tykempster]

Farmerboy: It's going to be $1500-$2000. Will be a short discount period for preorders

Bannockburn: This weighed exactly 10lbs. Barreled action was 5.5. There is probably a pound to cut out easily still.

 

[farmerboy78]

It's nice, but at that price point I'd be out... you are pricing it to the point 90 percent of people can't afford it.

 

[tykempster]

Farmerboy, I understand. If you think the price is high, don't think I'm turning a big profit. Materials and machining is well over $1000, plus packaging, there's insurance to cover, etc.

The only similar product is the DT SRS:

https://deserttech.com/html/rifle_builder.php?r=2

You're looking at $3400-$3600 just for the chassis, where you could have a total build done with this chassis, have much more adjustability, and weigh less for the same price.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

You're looking at $3400-$3600 just for the chassis, where you could have a total build done with this chassis, have much more adjustability, and weigh less for the same price.

Post something about your trigger mechanism as well. The nice thing about the Desert Tech rifles is the shockingly clean break on the trigger. Well, that and being able to swap bolts and barrels to change calibers.

What you're doing is interesting though.

 

[tykempster]

Well Derek, I can guarantee it will feel top notch. The first prototype was an OEM xmark trigger my partner and I modified to work with our linkage. Pull weight increased .25lbs, and the feel was still quite nice.

This second version (and production models) will feature a custom trigger unit made for us by one of the largest trigger companies in the country, shipping the chassis to them very soon to see what they come up with!

 

[Charles S]

Please continue to keep us posted. This is a very interesting project. I am interested.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I always wondered why hydraulic actuation isn't considered for bullpup triggers. That would eliminate the heavy spongy feel from complex linkages.

Just a small 1-1 system with some sort of pressure retaining break valve. That or electricity like the etronix

 

[bikemutt]

I always wondered why hydraulic actuation isn't considered for bullpup triggers. That would eliminate the heavy spongy feel from complex linkages.

Just a small 1-1 system with some sort of pressure retaining break valve. That or electricity like the etronix

I've wondered the same thing myself. Perhaps moving from a strictly mechanical linkage invites more scrutiny from ATF?

 

[tykempster]

Don't worry, there are plenty of ideas I have...just need to get some R&D capital I'm real pleased with the fact that I haven't borrowed any money, and am in the green thusfar.

 

[ECVMatt]

I definitely applaud your innovation, but just don't get this one. I realize that you are making a bolt extension, but that seems a bit extraneous and the position of the magazine is very close to the grip. The DT is the opposite with the bolt forward and the magazine further back.

For the price I think I would just save up a bit more and get a purpose built bullpup like the Moonshiner:

http://bluegrassarmory.com/rifles/accordion-b/level-2c.html

OR the DT mentioned above.

It looks as though you've found an endeavour to keep the mind fecund, so that in itself is worthwhile! I hope you prove my skepticism wrong.

 

[tykempster]

We'll see how the bolt extension looks in practice, I don't think it will look any more radical than a chassis does in general. Remember this is only the second prototype. The grip does need moved up, I put a more vertical grip on it and it freed up some space, but 1/2" more and it will be just fine.

If you note the Moonshiner magazine is just about as close to the grip. To me it's much less aesthetically appealing...you could always buy this chassis and then have a custom barreled action to put in it for about the same price. Then you'd have the adjustability my chassis offers, and a lighter weight.