Quote History Originally Posted By FightingHellfish:
Good 20” medium-profile barrel (needs to be accurate but maybe not mil sniper expensive) with muzzle brake (to aid in spotting your own shot), free float handguard (bring back the ALG for this) with short pic rail at bottom front (for bipod) and arca rail section bottom middle (for tripod), fixed stock (maybe Magpul PRS lite), the more vertical G pistol grip, QD sockets for patrol carry (so you can be hands free in rough terrain), decent duty weight trigger, include a scope mount and ALG sling swivels the box, finish the whole thing in OD green.
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Love where your going with this and I'm going to pick a couple of your ideas apart and develop on a couple.
Barrel/muzzle/handguard
So if we are varmint/Predator oriented, stationary, quiet hunting is key for me. I'd say a Hbar profile, 20" with a Geissle flash hider. NV is completely blinded by break, and I try to keep the fireballs going off in night, middle of a field somewhere to a minimum.
Your spot on with the rail. Tripod adapter or Acra rail on bottom.
B5Magpul PRS stock makes sence, but they inspire so much love/hate with consumers. Neither slings very well either, which also brings me to two big issues I've faced over the past 15 years hunting extensively with ARs.
QD noise. Dammit if every QD setup doesn't squeak or rattle after a hike or two.
Clambering a round.
I know, carry loaded. But with kids climbing tree-stands all year, I like being able to chamber quietly when I want to chamber, even if that happens to be in the bush.
Side chargers have historically been made my B-Grade budget oriented companies with very few, very expensive alternatives.
I've used my thumb to press the BCG into action before as well, but you will always get a loud "Clack" when the round goes into battery.
Something that could start in the hunting world that could bleed into the tactical community (thinking 300BLK PDW) would be someway to quietly, or much quieter at least, be able to chamber a round. A byproduct of this potentially could be quiety cycling action as well.
Slick side if a side charger was avoidable.
I'd agrue for a even lighter SSP style trigger for varmint/match. If it had Geissele reliability and able to get down under 2lbs it would be a hit. Sell it exclusively with the rifle for a year then make it individually available. Same idea as the SD and X triggers.
Agree with vertical pistol grip. Scope mount and ALG slings are an awesome idea as well.