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Ridgeline Defense RD-15 LPR

I'm going to have to get one of the FDE ones, they look like an amazing rifle!
 
I'm going to have to get one of the FDE ones, they look like an amazing rifle!

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You might have to hold your breath. Only one in existence at the moment…and she’s mine.
 
Well could it be improved on? Yes, I mean that’s how we got to this point of development, we took ideas already in play and made some improvements. Improvements are always a balance between performance gains and efficiency in effort, especially in regards to actually bring something to production.

Important things to note is what you see on the prototype in terms of fouling is 5000+ rounds of SURG and accuracy testing. The roll pin hole obviously leaks a little initially as the system fouls but seals up as carbon fouling builds. Additionally when you take into account how much easier a traditional gas tube and roll pin is in regards to manufacturing, it’s a compromise that makes sense. You gain a better gas system with marginal effort rather than building the “perfect” one at a cost that is 3-5x the price.

Here’s a closer look at the gas leakage. As you can see the tapered gas block does a great job and does the lion’s share of sealing it up. Again the roll pin and gas tube exhibit an expected amount of leakage but remember that’s an entire day of like 150+ magazines.
View attachment 8388767
I mean for the price point, just go full KAC gas system. All that just to step on your dick with a TDP-style tube.
 
I mean for the price point, just go full KAC gas system. All that just to step on your dick with a TDP-style tube.
Thanks for the design consolation doc, checks in the mail. 🙄

There’s good reason (even beyond patent infringement) why one might want to in corporate certain elements and avoid others. Only change I’d look back to make is a straight gas tube and that’s simply for convenience, not even performance.
 
Eh bubble flare with A/N fittings can’t be patented (can it? I’m not an IP lawyer) and they let the E3 patent expire a while ago 😆
 
Which is literally (pretty sure I am using that word correctly here) why I said there’s good reason “even beyond patent infringement”.
I don’t read good, but it’s not infringement if it’s expired.

Either way, the min/maxing of a flare fitting gas tube is kinda gamesmanship isn’t it? What's a KAC gas system cost in parts these days...probably $350ish for the block, castle nut, tube, and flare fittings.
 
That build is sick!! (with optic, mount and bipod) it has to be pushing $6K but it's nasty.

I really like that upper/lower (wish it was full ambi bc Im lefty) and the arca rail (y)
 
@Rudy Gonsior are there any updates to when these start shipping to customers? Or are you guys working through the wait list and those of us farther down just haven't received the email yet?
 
That build is sick!! (with optic, mount and bipod) it has to be pushing $6K but it's nasty.

I really like that upper/lower (wish it was full ambi bc Im lefty) and the arca rail (y)
$3200 rifle
$1700 NX8
$600 CkyePod
$1100 RC2
$350 scope mount
$600 Acro

More like pushing $8K

I agree, the fdee looks really good
 
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@Rudy Gonsior are there any updates to when these start shipping to customers? Or are you guys working through the wait list and those of us farther down just haven't received the email yet?

I signed up back in December and got an email to purchase last week (and unfortunately had to pass), so they are working through the list and shipping rifles.
 
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Is the ARCA rail machined into the handguard or is it attached with M-LOK or some other type of fasteners ?
This version of the rail has integrated ARCA. There is a prototype rail that’s full M-LOK, so I won’t say it could never be an option (hard parts done but the integrated ARCA, this is the way.
 
@Rudy Gonsior are there any updates to when these start shipping to customers? Or are you guys working through the wait list and those of us farther down just haven't received the email yet?
The boys in shipping are working through the list (which was massive long) but I’d say we should be through by June.
 
Since we're asking questions...how retah'ded would it be to buy one of these and immediately pull the barrel and put a 22ARC barrel on the rifle? 😬
 
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Since we're asking questions...how retah'ded would it be to buy one of these and immediately pull the barrel and put a 22ARC barrel on the rifle? 😬
I inquired about stripping it down to paint it FDE, I was advised against it. It sounds like they would prefer to do anything with barrel swaps in house.

Ill get one when the FDE versions become available which will be later this year. :)
 
If a guy got an email last week and paid for it when should he expect to receive it?
I honestly don’t know enough to say what that time line is like at the moment. I am sure there are growing pains as we scale up, so please be kind to Blake, besides managing the rifles they also manage shipping for our Outfitter warehouse.

My focus has been part QC, production and test fire. Once the rifles pass beyond into inspection and shipping, I shed a tear for each to bless them on their journey but I know not where they go, it’s easier that way. 😅
 
Since we're asking questions...how retah'ded would it be to buy one of these and immediately pull the barrel and put a 22ARC barrel on the rifle? 😬
Others have inquired, but let me answer for the group. Can it be done? Yes there are no proprietary tools needed but knowledge of induction heating would be required, along with corresponding skill sets. I don’t want to belittle anyone but successful disassembly is likely beyond your typical hobby AR builder…which is why it voids the warranty.

So if you guys are confident go for it but for some it’s going to be biting off a bit too much.
 
Others have inquired, but let me answer for the group. Can it be done? Yes there are no proprietary tools needed but knowledge of induction heating would be required, along with corresponding skill sets. I don’t want to belittle anyone but successful disassembly is likely beyond your typical hobby AR builder…which is why it voids the warranty.

So if you guys are confident go for it but for some it’s going to be biting off a bit too much.
Nice, very niche gun........looks well put together.
But not for everyone for sure, especially at that price point.
I really see no need for the GB system being used, as the deficiency of either the set screw or clamp version just doesn't justify the cost or the possible benefit.
Also, 1 MOA is really pretty ho-hum.........not that it's bad by any means, but easily exceeded by many builders here, regularly, but more or less equivalent to real life performance from KAC, at least on the 3 I have.
The receiver set looks great & would be nice if available at some point in time.
Also, that kind of weight in the barrel just really isn't necessary for 1 MOÀ, & if heat from any level of sustained fire is a consideration for using the heavier profile, then I'd prefer a CL barrel anyway, the best of which will still do 1MOA.

JMHO

MM
 
The wild card is the receiver set. If you price out all the usual suspects of components you'd be at about $1500.

$580 Proof barrel
$100 SLR gas block
$300 Premium nitrided BCG
$85 VLTOR buffer system and back end
$80 Normal Magpul furniture
$80 PRI M84 ch
$200 trigger

Add in a premium builders kit and your within $300 - $500 for a built gun.

ADM UIC $1000 but doesn't get the handguard off the barrel nut

Radian $1300 but doesn't get the handguard off the barrel nut

LMT MRP-L $1200 and you finally get the handguard off the barrel nut but then you have a silly short foreend and buy into $200 barrel conversions forever.

Seekins- unobtanium

What's hilarious about all this is the Aero Enhanced uppers provide a solution to the barrel nut issue for about $250 and they offer 16.6" fore ends for 18" barrels, but GD that fat handguard is ugly. If you want the same solution as the Aero the next option up is this as far as I can tell. But if barrel swaps can't be accomplished it would kill it for me. I'm just not that excited about a 16" .223 Wylde. That's definitely a purist mentality. You can watch their Instagram videos and tell they're working a niche mentality. And potentially insulating themselves from other perspectives and wants in the market. I could see all the Micah Mayfield LARP'ing bros buying into it but it's too limiting if it's only a $3200 16" .223.
 
The wild card is the receiver set. If you price out all the usual suspects of components you'd be at about $1500.

$580 Proof barrel
$100 SLR gas block
$300 Premium nitrided BCG
$85 VLTOR buffer system and back end
$80 Normal Magpul furniture
$80 PRI M84 ch
$200 trigger

Add in a premium builders kit and your within $300 - $500 for a built gun.

ADM UIC $1000 but doesn't get the handguard off the barrel nut

Radian $1300 but doesn't get the handguard off the barrel nut

LMT MRP-L $1200 and you finally get the handguard off the barrel nut but then you have a silly short foreend and buy into $200 barrel conversions forever.

Seekins- unobtanium
No mention of Mega MML?
 
ADM UIC $1000 but doesn't get the handguard off the barrel nut

Radian $1300 but doesn't get the handguard off the barrel nut

LMT MRP-L $1200 and you finally get the handguard off the barrel nut but then you have a silly short foreend and buy into $200 barrel conversions forever.
HG not being on the barrel nut is a really nice to have, but surely not a deal maker or a deal maker, IMO.

Plenty of guns shoot just great with the HG on the nut.
The total package is really what matters.

Not being able to more or less easily disassemble the gun & doing so voiding the warranty is more significant than the HG issue.

Niche gun for niche buyers.

Easy pass for me.

MM
 
HG not being on the barrel nut is a really nice to have, but surely not a deal maker or a deal maker, IMO.

Plenty of guns shoot just great with the HG on the nut.
The total package is really what matters.
Yeah, I have had a mixed bag of success with that. I'm currently going round and round with a 22 ARC and I want a pretty long rail on it. I've got a full length Arca on the bottom and 1.5lbs in side weights. With a ckye pod the rifle weighs 18 lb. POI will vary greatly depending on shoulder pressure, cheek pressure or head weight, and grip. More so on this gun than any of my other AR-15s. I would agree with you for a standard 13 -in handguard on a 14.5' or 16" barrel. I have two 14.5" & 16" 223Wylde and they shoot Sub-MOA without any handguard theatrics.

Right now I'm looking for uppers that offer that
 
What's hilarious about all this is the Aero Enhanced uppers provide a solution to the barrel nut issue for about $250 and they offer 16.6" fore ends for 18" barrels, but GD that fat handguard is ugly. If you want the same solution as the Aero the next option up is this as far as I can tell. But if barrel swaps can't be accomplished it would kill it for me. I'm just not that excited about a 16" .223 Wylde. That's definitely a purist mentality. You can watch their Instagram videos and tell they're working a niche mentality. And potentially insulating themselves from other perspectives and wants in the market. I could see all the Micah Mayfield LARP'ing bros buying into it but it's too limiting if it's only a $3200 16" .223.

Yeah we are in a way insulating our selves from certain markets and there is some intention behind that. That may seem odd to draw a boundary but being as we’re just starting this part of our company that means we can’t be everything to everyone.

Our initial goal was a rifle designed and marketed to be implemented as a No-Fail, turn key solution to the modern SPR/Recce rifle.

This honestly isn’t the need of most of the people here on the Hide as baffling as that may seem. I think there is a misconception that SH is the conscious collective of all things precision shooting. Reality is it’s just an Internet forum, which while populated by an abundance of knowledgeable people is also incredibly niche in regards to the actual masses of shooters out in the physical world. So keep in perspective is that more likely than not this rifle may not be for you.

And I mean that in a kind way because I understand clearly there are aspects of the design that appeal to guys that see some of the benefits but maybe not others. A good example is all of traffic here about if/when stripped receivers are going to be available?

As the current situation stands we’re building guns at the rapid rate to keep up with the initial demand. Not a bad problem but remember our priorities is to provide a fully viable modern SPR/Recce, so only being a few months into this and receivers dedicated to the forementioned cause, those of you wanting to build might have to wait for the demand to drop.

Additionally as stated previously more chambering and barrel lengths are in the works for sure but again the demand for boutique chambering like 6/22A ARC, .224 VAL, 6 MAX, etc. just isn’t there. It’s like a 1/10 ratio to the demand of 5.56 at best (probably closer to 1/20) so obviously doesn’t make a huge amount of sense to tack that right out of the gate for us.

And let’s face it, these small frame wonder cartridges are not as simple as dropping in a new bolt/barrel. We’ve seen a TON of half-baked rifles from companies (don’t get me started on the home brews 🤣) chambered 6 ARC in the last few year in classes. There’s a reason big companies like Geissele have spent a tremendous amount of money in attempting to achieve no nonsense performance of their rifles like the GRF.
 
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Nice, very niche gun........looks well put together.
But not for everyone for sure, especially at that price point.
I really see no need for the GB system being used, as the deficiency of either the set screw or clamp version just doesn't justify the cost or the possible benefit.
Also, 1 MOA is really pretty ho-hum.........not that it's bad by any means, but easily exceeded by many builders here, regularly, but more or less equivalent to real life performance from KAC, at least on the 3 I have.
The receiver set looks great & would be nice if available at some point in time.
Also, that kind of weight in the barrel just really isn't necessary for 1 MOÀ, & if heat from any level of sustained fire is a consideration for using the heavier profile, then I'd prefer a CL barrel anyway, the best of which will still do 1MOA.

JMHO

MM

I would tend to disagree on the point of gas systems not be critical to accuracy. I honestly think it’s one of the most overlooked aspects of building accurate ARs. I would probably base it 3rd in my priorities right after having a quality barrel and tight receiver interface.


In regards to accuracy requirements, 1 MOA is the maximum threshold for our rifles to ship.

Here is the first 7 rifles I pulled off of the cleaning table this morning. Again 1 MOA is just the requirement, averages tend to trend quite a bit lower…
IMG_9857.jpeg


Additionally one needs to remember that these are barrels that haven’t been shot in yet. It’s not uncommon to see something like this were the after the first round or two (in the conduct of attaining a rough zero) down the pipe the barrel really starts to come into its own.
IMG_9858.jpeg

^this is a “0.897” rifle which meets the standard but I’ve shot enough of these to know it’s likely to settle into 0.5-0.6 after a good break in.


There’s not too many companies that provide that requirement, usually what you get is a “guarantee” for 1 MOA or whatever they claim.

This is unfair to the buyer in my opinion, especially if you are a professional shooter with the welfare of others dependent on performance. These “guarantees” place the impotence of performance on the shooter first, which is only fair IF the manufacturer had as proofed the rifle prior to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen rifles that “guaranteed” to professional organizations (or private individuals) to perform at a stated level and simply don’t because of a defect that went unproofed. Usually this leads to a fun back and forth of emails/phone calls during which time that rifle is unavailable for use whether it is training or for deployment. It’s a waste of everyone’s time.

I think if you are going to guarantee something like accuracy you better proof it right out of the gate.
 
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Hi Rudy. What Federal Gold Medal ammo are you using specifically when doing your test fires?
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77gr. FGMM has been statistically one of the most consistent performing .223/5.556 factory loads. Black Hills is a close second but it’s been a little more lot to lot these days.