Sneak Peak of B.A.D.'s O.I.P. Upper

[GOST]

Very cool looking upper used for Battle Arms Develoment's sub 4 lbs. rifle.

https://www.facebook.com/BattleArms#!/BattleArms/photos/pcb.750088851678425/750088235011820/?type=1&theater

[Airborne_EWO]

That upper is pretty badass looking.

Still waiting for a release date of their lowers.

Sent from the center of the universe!

[GOST]

There's a light weight billet lower in the making also.

[Airborne_EWO]

Damn, they just want to take all my money. Guess I better start dropping hints to the wife now so when one shows up one day I can say she previously agreed to it.

Sent from the center of the universe!

[Eric]

With only the forward portion of the upper having 1913 rails (no ability to install a BUIS) the market would be limited.

[GOST]

I guess that's part of the price to pay for a 4 lbs rifle.

[Slippers]

It wouldn't have been that much extra weight to leave 2 picatinny slots at the rear for a backup sight. Too bad. Hopefully they'll do a more normal version with forward assist and full top rail.

[Hmac]

I'd love to have one. I have no problem leaving off the iron sights, nor do I see a need for a forward assist. I see both as vestiges on a "modern sporting rifle".

[FortTom]

With only the forward portion of the upper having 1913 rails (no ability to install a BUIS) the market would be limited. Yes it does, that's my first thought. Unless the intended market is competition only, I wouldn't put my life on the line with it, and no BUIS.


I guess that's part of the price to pay for a 4 lbs rifle.
Gost, after breaking the "ears" off of the front of an expensive set of "designer" BUIS, I switched to MBUS, and found them to be just as accurate as any others. All my rifles now wear Magpul MBUS sights with a total weight of a few ounces. I don't think they designed this to have absolutely nothing attached except a T1 or such for a defensive rifle. Also the exterior has a sort of "galvanized" look. I'm guessing maybe a magnesium/aluminum alloy? Not sure, but these types of alloy's can be quite soft. I found that out the hard way with my BCM Keymod "lightweight" hand guard.

The "price" to pay for a 4lb. rifle is much higher. Barrels, hand guards, stocks (hell, I even take the rubber pads off of my stocks to save a few ounces), even FCG's add or decrease oz.'s. Then do you want a muzzle brake to keep that 4lb rifle pointed at the target, well that requires a compromise in weight somewhere else. Loss of sanity in for relying solely on a lightweight aimpoint for a defensive weapon does not constitute that "price to pay", to my way of thinking.

That being said, I'm waiting for the whole story, not a picture, to come out with specs and facts, before I start drooling over it like it was a juicy T-Bone. A picture and a one liner on facebook doesn't mean squat to me. When they're in the hands of shooters, and the reports flow in, it's just another lower that I'm not ready to open my wallet for.

Not trying to be negative, but I'm seeing this more and more. A company posts a single picture of a new unproven, and sometimes not even available piece, and people are ready to pull out the AMEX because it looks cool?[:)]

FT

[GOST]

I personally am not into the super light builds. I usually run government profile barrels instead of LW profile because To me they handle better, but to get to 4 lbs on a build your gonna have to go to extremes. I doubt this receiver is intended for anything but sport. I am more in the market for their forged lower offering.

[Slippers]

Also the exterior has a sort of "galvanized" look. I'm guessing maybe a magnesium/aluminum alloy? Not sure, but these types of alloy's can be quite soft. I found that out the hard way with my BCM Keymod "lightweight" hand guard.


BAD states that the upper is 7075 aluminum. I've handled plenty of raw aluminum parts just after machining, tumbling, and bead blasting, and that texture definitely has a post-tumbled aluminum look to it.

Edit:

Another picture, along with BAD stating that they're doing a version with a full pic rail as well:
https://www.facebook.com/BattleArms/photos/pcb.750088851678425/750084931678817/?type=1

[FortTom]

With only the forward portion of the upper having 1913 rails (no ability to install a BUIS) the market would be limited.


I guess that's part of the price to pay for a 4 lbs rifle.


BAD states that the upper is 7075 aluminum. I've handled plenty of raw aluminum parts just after machining, tumbling, and bead blasting, and that texture definitely has a post-tumbled aluminum look to it.

Edit:

Another picture, along with BAD stating that they're doing a version with a full pic rail as well:
https://www.facebook.com/BattleArms/photos/pcb.750088851678425/750084931678817/?type=1

Slippers
Good eye. I guess it was the photo itself, but it did appear to have that type of alloy look. I worked in the aircraft (mil and civilian) manufacturing industry, and have seen tumbled alum parts also. Mag/Aluminum will often have a "milky" for a lack of a better term, look to it, when in near net state. Like you said bead blasting will give it a more semi polished look with it being solid aluminum.

However, I still stand by my assertion that it takes more than a lightweight upper and lower to achieve a ultra-light weapon, including careful pre-planning on what you must have, and what you are willing to compromise, to get it. Can it be done? Sure. But to what end? An very light comp gun, with lots of carbon fiber parts, a barrel like my Voodoo Arms ultra light, which by it's pencil thin profile will probably heat up quickly (rifle not finished yet), and so forth.

We'll see.

FT

FT

A full pic rail, or at least an inch or so front and rear, for optional BUIS, would definitely make it more suitable for a SD weapon.

[UWone77]

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/UWone77/10314773_750084931678817_5910180407510786935_n_zps 8b6a4b60.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/UWone77/media/10314773_750084931678817_5910180407510786935_n_zps 8b6a4b60.jpg.html)
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/UWone77/10329071_750088235011820_7580922826657936619_n_zps 2592321a.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/UWone77/media/10329071_750088235011820_7580922826657936619_n_zps 2592321a.jpg.html)

[GOST]

I really want one of those lowers.