Gents
I have checked our emails at Drake - Outside of this thread we have not received any inquires from anyone identifying themselves from Snipershide. So with what said this thread shows there is a lack of information on the ATHENA system on what it is or what its does.
There is a few things that need to be understood here that has not been released yet. Our website has very recently been upgraded right before the NASGW Show this week and we received more attention then we originally expected. We will be adding information daily.
The patented ATHENA Rifle system has addressed the some of the major and inherent issues with the AR15 and AR10 platforms. The Snipershide community has seen the advantages of the chassis as applied to the bolt action rifle. We know this first hand as we (Drake Associates) were the systems integrator for the Savage Stealth and Savage Stealth Evolution Rifles. On our resume, we have also have worked on the PSR Rifle solicitation with at the time Lake City ATK and PGM Precision in France. After working on thousand of chassis rifles, We have found that the same principles can be applied to the gas gun as well. We have been quite on Snipershide in recent years as our marketing was through ATK and VISTA. There was no need to run about what we were doing as this was accomplished by ATK and VISTA. We were ok with that. Also what you don't know about Drake is that we were major component suppliers to Lake City AAP, Winchester and Olin for M855, M856 and M80 Ammunition with case cups and bullet jacket cups and special programs for the US Military for 40mm Low and High Velocity grenade systems and other long range Sniper Rifle Ammunitions including the XM1022.
ATHENA System
Specifically regarding the ATHENA semiautomatic chassis rifle for the AR 15 and 10 platforms. This has been 24 months of development, patents and studies - We have found that by isolating the upper receiver group into a chassis that accuracy will drastically improve.
In that; the current AR market with the typical and current commercial free float tubes when utilized has an achiellies heel. When forces are applied to the forend, during bipod use, shooting from sling and other methods this actually creates a "moment" or energy transfer in the weapon when the weapon is fired. This results in forces moving through the commercial free float frond and onto the barrel nut then in turn are teansferred into the pin assemblies that retain the commercial common market AR upper. We have found that this has been a major issue that was never fully resolved.
What happens in the ATHENA rifle is that the AR type upper receiver footprint is solely isolated and directly mated to the monolithic chassis system. Think of this the same way the bolt action rifles are constructed when a bolt action is bedded or locked into a chassis system that the accuracy is gained. You all have seen the benefit of the chassis system if your are on Snipershide and most likely have a few in inventory.
In the ATHENA chassis rifle system, we have completely isolated the upper just like a chassis bolt action rifle. Absolutely nothing at anytime will influence of make contact with the barrel, gas system, or barrel nut system at all. In contrast, We have found that the current commercial style free float hand guard that utilizes the barrel nut attachment point can not isolate these features as the commercial system.
On the ATHENA With the upper receiver isolated - The rifle is able to shoot to the barrels potential without any of the influences as mentioned prior. (this does not mean that there are other influences on the AR platform but does mean that we have addressed one significant issue)
For those interested about one of our recent Testings (Vero Beach Florida 87 Degrees 70% RH/ 25-40 Feet ASL) was conducted using MK262 commercial equivalent - Federal XMGM556LR 77 gr OTM. We did receive on lab radar speeds as you have noted. 2737 FPS Average
Rifles were zeroed at 100 yards and testing data was obtained. Each series of tests were comprised of firing 18-21 series groups see notes below. Rifle was allowed to cool between groups. Rifle was bedded into a common test sled (nothing extravagant m-just to take some of the shooter out of the equation) Rest was secured to table/strapping and sandbags.
We tested our dedicated upper receiver (Drake Billet Upper configured with Satern Barrels 18" Heavy Contour match button barrel, low profile gas block with rifle gas system, Leupold MK4 with low profile PGM mount), with a commercial forend on a Colt M4 lower with matching trigger group that we have built for Drake along with matching Hogue grip and NEW Fab RAPS butt stock.
COLT M4 / Test 1 - In the current configuration of what is accepted as standard today, the Colt configuration proved average group sizes of 1.4 MOA (with environmental recalculation at 1.346 MOA) and the best group achieved was .701 MOA. (actually based upon 19 groups / we were weathered out for wind for a period of time)
ATHENA / Test 2 - That upper was removed off the Colt Lower, the commercial forend was removed from barrel nut, and upper was then placed into our ATHENA chassis platform. Again the same testing and cycles were obtained. Group sizes were significantly reduced to .742 MOA (with Environmental recalculation of .682 MOA) and best group on the match button barrel was .366 MOA. (wind condition at range allowed for this test to be concluded in 18 groups) This clearly shows and indicates a 49.3% increase in accuracy with the ATENA system.
ATHENA /Test 3 As for the image that you have noted with the rifle in the configuration with the Bushnell HDMR scope. This was another test run featuring the A3 upper with Satern Cut Rifle barrel in the ATHENA chassis. We ran the same testing with this configuration the rifle proved to run at .699 MOA (with environmental corrective group at .648 MOA) Best group fired from the series of 21 groups was .186 MOA. When comparing this data to the original data obtained on the Colt configured rifle this yielded a 51% Increase in Accuracy
ATHENA Test 3 NOTE Also we used the Bushnell HDMR on the A3 upper with the Satern Cut rifle barrel , the scope was also paired with NSN rings from BT Engineering. The Bushnell HDMR series has proved to work. This was the same type of glass that was on the Stealth Evolution rifle that we did for the US Army National Guard Warrior Training Center at Ft Benning for the US Army International Sniper Competition in 2017. Laugh all you want regarding the label on the scope, but the NG WTC did place 2nd Overall and Placed 1st In the Open Division with the Savage Stealth Evolution in .308.
Another Notable Accomplishments
Furthermore - Lets talk about the target at the 1062 yards. This was an independent test conducted on a installation with KD range facility with US military instructors, Using the ATHENA Rifle and 18" button barrel with the same lot of ammunition as mentioned earlier. With the 18" heavy Barrel they were able to hit at several opportunities when it presented itself at distance. They were able to hit 3/5 rounds as noted in the image. We feel that compared to a camp Perry hand built rifle the is a accomplishment especially on button cut rifling. Somewhere in this thread someone has mentioned .3-.6 MOA at 1000 - so you are clear, That study was not conducted at 1000 so we are not sure where that information was populated from.
SOPMOD-D Forend
A few have commented about the forend. Yes this looks absolutely different. The patented forend was designed to slide forward and out of the chassis system, allowing the operator to easily change the rail length for different use of night vision optics when a heavy or large day optic takes up more real estate than needed. The system is tools less allowing for easy change out, There is no need to un-bed the upper recover or remove the day optic. This will be offered in several configurations for more real estate forward of what was shown. Also in the images you will see 45 degree M-LOK attachment points. This was developed for MRD use on 45 deg. or we have a M-LOK that will give a true 90 Deg for use with LRF's or other specialty optics.
WEIGHT
Weight on the ATHENA with the 18" Barrels weighs as similar to the M16A4 system just under 9 LBS.
ATHENA LIGHT vs ATHENA HEAVY
Simply defined as Light or Heavy by CALIBERS - Light 5.56 or 224 Valkyrie and the Heavy System will feature the .308W, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington.
If you have any questions of comments, I encourage you to call us at Drake 631-749-1100 or send me a direct email. Frank Galli is aware of our program and we plan on sending him a test rifle in the near future.
Best Regards
Chris Drake
Drake Associates
1130 19th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960
631-749-1100
www.DRAKEASSOCIATES.us
cdrake@drakeassociates