The 800 series bolts and projects.

[Simple Man]

Working on ltwt carriers now, if I can get another company that already makes them it will leave me to do other things. If not I'll make them.
The other little bolt parts are a pain in the rear. A local guy has a screw machine, I'll check with him to make ejectors and extractors.
I've already made AR10 bolts so that ones easy.

Good deal. Slight change in your business model but it will positively affect us all. That particular platform needs more component manufacturers and will open up a whole other realm of business for ARP.

[DDriller]

Now if you will make a .308 based to shoot the .40 cal XTP pistol bullets I won't have to try to do it myself.

[MRBTX]

Sounds like you are leaning more towards the short 308 now as opposed to the 30HRT. I would certainly be down for the short 308, with your bcg and modified dies, as both it and the 30 HRT are reloading only propositions. Looking forward to the 30 caliber (AR-15 size) option.
That's very close to 300 savage power.

[Stack]

I've taken your advise and I've set some cash aside for the 6mm BR rather than the 6mm ARP. The added fps is too much to resist.
The 30 BR would be a great match too but I'd take the .308 short if you decide to do it. Either way I need one since I've been lamenting the demise of the 30 Remington AR for some time now.
I get the fact it's an iffy proposition investment-wise though. Perhaps doing a dozen or so barrel/bolt and die set-ups from off the shelf blanks just to test the market would be of value. Plus, since the lead time wouldn't be nearly as long as a production run with set-up and all a pre-order option might be worth consideration.
I'm probably being a little tooo helpful here, but it just keeps bouncing around in MY head as well. I feel like a six year old in the back seat, "Are we there yet?, Are we there yet?"

[Team Helotes]

So the bolt for the 308 short would be like the SOCOM bolt since the SOCOM uses a 308 head?

[owenslee]

Harrison,

Not to throw water on good ideas...but if your intent is to expand your business and utilize your available machine time... Go after the standard .308 / .243 / 7mm/08 / .260 market. Parts are less available as your search for suppliers has shown. The number of competitors are fewer than the AR15 market, profit margins are more favorable and you have a MUCH larger market than any niche wildcat round. It may not be where your heart is...but it is where the business is.

If .308 bolts and carriers are in short supply while demand is high and you already have a program written for .308 bolts....it's a no brainer.
Don't focus yet on complete .308 rifles or uppers. Focus on making the parts that you and everyone else can't get.

After the elections then you are well positioned to build your own rifles and uppers without relying on other sources for component parts.

A lightweight .308 16"/18" upper w. light bolt carrier would be an excellent .308 niche to start with. You already have perhaps the lightest .308 barrel on the market. You have the program for the bolts. With a lightweight carrier...Your not far from having a corner on a currently unfilled lightweight .308 upper market.

Your pricing model would put you well ahead of Armalite and on par with DPMS...while offering better quality and features. ( 5R, Melonite, SuperBolt, Scout profile, reputation for accuracy)

For individual builders with MaTen and other high quality recievers...you could be a one stop shop to supply premium parts.

For other .308 upper / rifle manufacturers...you could be a second tier part source for bolts , carriers and select small parts allowing you to run larger lot sizes for improved economy of scale.

Seems like a successful business model to me.

Just my Mfg. Engineering $.02...

Kerry

[constructor]

Now if you will make a .308 based to shoot the .40 cal XTP pistol bullets I won't have to try to do it myself.

I have one of those stuffed in a case somewhere that i have been looking at for about 5 years. The bullets are so short the cases can be pretty long and hold a lot of powder.
My only question is will a big blunt bullet feed? Also thought about the .357-.358 bullets since some of the rifle bullets could be used.

PTG did/does not want to make a 30 herrett for some reason, just ignored my request 3 different times. My biggest problem with making wildcats is getting the Reamers made.
I am thinking about asking the guys in Colorado that make my bolt lug cutters if they would make reamers, they have a 7 day turn around instead of 6 months like the PTG, JGS and Clymer does.

I'm definitely going outside the gun industry manufacturers to have parts made.

Jeff, the Socom rifles use typical AR15 bolts that really can't handle full pressure loads. Anything I do with a 308 rim size will use the .800 series bolts similar to the one you had in the 308.

[constructor]

Harrison,

Not to throw water on good ideas...but if your intent is to expand your business and utilize your available machine time... Go after the standard .308 / .243 / 7mm/08 / .260 market. Parts are less available as your search for suppliers has shown. The number of competitors are fewer than the AR15 market, profit margins are more favorable and you have a MUCH larger market than any niche wildcat round. It may not be where your heart is...but it is where the business is.

If .308 bolts and carriers are in short supply while demand is high and you already have a program written for .308 bolts....it's a no brainer.
Don't focus yet on complete .308 rifles or uppers. Focus on making the parts that you and everyone else can't get.

After the elections then you are well positioned to build your own rifles and uppers without relying on other sources for component parts.

A lightweight .308 16"/18" upper w. light bolt carrier would be an excellent .308 niche to start with. You already have perhaps the lightest .308 barrel on the market. You have the program for the bolts. With a lightweight carrier...Your not far from having a corner on a currently unfilled lightweight .308 upper market.

Your pricing model would put you well ahead of Armalite and on par with DPMS...while offering better quality and features. ( 5R, Melonite, SuperBolt, Scout profile, reputation for accuracy)

For individual builders with MaTen and other high quality recievers...you could be a one stop shop to supply premium parts.

For other .308 upper / rifle manufacturers...you could be a second tier part source for bolts , carriers and select small parts allowing you to run larger lot sizes for improved economy of scale.

Seems like a successful business model to me.

Just my Mfg. Engineering $.02...

Kerry

Kerry,
You're right, I could make the 308 barrels, bolts and carriers easy enough and small bolt parts by using some of the local machine shops or by hiring some of the old Rockwell or Mahle employees and doing it myself. I am working on some stuff as i have time. I just question the availability of receivers and handguards. Painting with a wide brush here, everyone has an AR15 and can slap a different upper on it. I'm not sure how most of the gun buying public feels about stepping up to the AR10 platform size.
I also have the "12" in the background, it uses many AR15 small parts and I can machine the rest.
Years ago(07-08) I built a bunch of custom Krieger barreled AR10s in 308. Back then I sold more of those than I did 6.8s but I could not give a way a .243.
That 243 would consistently shoot .2 MOA with 95SMKs, I did finally sell it. I know the 243 is a great long range rifle but it just seems like they are a hard sell.
I will continue to work on the 308 platform even if I have to drag some new companies into the gun biz.
On the other hand and you know me well enough to know I have reasons I want to build bigger 6.5 and 30 cal AR15cartridges... LOL
The 30 Herrett/HRT would be the easiest but since Rem dropped the RAR I think there is still a market for something faster than a 30-30 but slower than a 308 in the AR15 size.

[Team Helotes]

Thanks for the update I was thinking I would be able to run one of your bolts on my SOCOM. I do think the 308 short would be interesting, but the more I shoot my Herrett the more I love it. I must admit I shoot it way more than my 6.8.

[Stack]

H, I spent a few minutes on the phone with one of my machinists this morning and found that your problem getting reamers is easily solvable. In fact, even having your barrels reamed by the reamer mfgr. is on the table as well.
I have deep resources in some areas of machine design and mfg. PM me if you want some help and I'll put you in touch with my guy.