New lockhart option - Silver

While I certainly don't know what got into "BigMasterShrek"'s panties and started his rant about the CAF...

I really wouldn't say we should dismiss the utility of the Ejection Port Cover or, to a lesser degree, the Forward Assist.

I mean, sure, a good troop keeps his rifle out of the mud, but it's nice to have a semi-sealed cover protecting the BCG from all the incidental mud and dust that we operate in. Certainly I think we can all agree that anything that might keep schmutz off the BCG and out of the working parts while being carried would classify as a good thing, yes?

As for the FA, well, it did seem to have a use to Mr. Rittenhouse, so we can't rule out it's usefulness completely (if only to bump that bolt back into battery after doing a press-check). Could we just use the thumb cut out on the side of the BCG? Sure, but the FA does offer a bit more leverage in the whole deal... and I dunno about you, but I like to keep my thumbs clean and without cancer from the CLP, lol.

Just my 2 cents (adjusted for inflation) on that whole deal.
 
In 30+ years of using AR pattern rifles I can't remember a time when I actually needed the FA. IF the carrier doesn't go fully into battery, the solution is to try, try again ... pull the charge handle and attempt to feed another round. IF the problem is dirt, slamming the FA just makes the problem harder to clear.

I don't typically use the port cover but for serious conditions, it is a good idea. The FA on the other hand, is pointless ... the first rifles didn't have it because Stoner clearly didn't think such a thing was needed.
 
Eugene Stoner is on record stating that in his opinion, the Forward Assist (FA) is a useless add-on to his and Sullivan's scaled-down AR10 design, the brand new AR15. When the AR15 was adopted as the M16 by the US Army, the "Brass" insisted upon having the FA incorporated into the Upper Receiver against Stoner's protestations.
 
Eugene Stoner is on record stating that in his opinion, the Forward Assist (FA) is a useless add-on to his and Sullivan's scaled-down AR10 design, the brand new AR15. When the AR15 was adopted as the M16 by the US Army, the "Brass" insisted upon having the FA incorporated into the Upper Receiver against Stoner's protestations.

Actually I think it was related to the ammo fiasco because early M16's didn't have the FA.

Stoner specified one type of powder and the army, in its infinite wisdom, decided Stoner's opinion didn't matter and they spec'd a different type of powder, which tended to foul the DI system and upper receiver a lot more. I think there was some notion that the M16 didn't need to be cleaned and the rifles were not issued with individual cleaning kits. This caused rifles to jam up in combat and cost a number of lives as a result.

Regardless, today, in the civilian world, there is really no need nor use for the FA. Keep your rifle reasonably clean and learn the IA drills for failure to feed. It's not rocket science.

I bet our "friend" is gonna come along and post that Eugene Stoner didn't have much experience with the AR15. :)
 
Well, our Friend Bartok did say that he had some hand in developing the current Pam for the C7, there must have been a reason for the use of the FA after a brass check? Was it simply a case of "it's there, might as well use it" or something else?
 
Well, our Friend Bartok did say that he had some hand in developing the current Pam for the C7, there must have been a reason for the use of the FA after a brass check? Was it simply a case of "it's there, might as well use it" or something else?

Nope, I had a hand in developing the Army's "Gunfighter" combat shooting programme, which was a 3 PPCLI initiative based upon an abbreviated version of the Dwyer Hill Training Centre's carbine and pistol CQB shooting package. I helped to proof the final few iterations of the Gunfighter package while I was the battalion's Deputy Commanding Officer.

The Gunfighter combat shooting package is a far different animal than the basic C7/C8 Weapons Pam. Gunfighter built upon the very basic, flat-range courses of fire and qualification shoots contained within the Weapons Pam, teaching and practicing deploying soldiers in CQB combat shooting techniques. Today (IIRC), much of the Gunfighter programme has been incorporated into updated versions of the C7/C8 Pam as advanced training and ranges. Presumably much the same approach will be taken with the new pam for the CAF C22 (Sig M17) 9mm Pistol.

Sorry, but I (thankfully!) had nothing whatsoever to do with the CAF's "make Ready" weapon drill for the C7/C8, wherein the Forward Assist is automatically struck after the Bolt Carrier has been released to chamber a round (or following a Chamber/Press-Check.
 
Gas system? Or is it a piston?

Any idea where I could get a buffer & spring? What weight buffer?

Both the gas and buffer systems are standard AR.

Gas - depending on what you want to run - either rifle length, Intermediate (Knight's or Armalite), Carbine or pistol. All dependent on whether you want to register it as restricted or keep it non-restricted.
Assuming the later, then rifle length is the best choice, followed by an intermediate length with a minimal 18.5" long barrel. imho.

Buffer will depend on carbine or rifle length buffer tube and barrel length.
Assuming one runs a collapsible stock and carbine buffer, then a buffer in the 3.5-5 oz. range is pretty standard, I believe.
 
Nope, I had a hand in developing the Army's "Gunfighter" combat shooting programme, which was a 3 PPCLI initiative based upon an abbreviated version of the Dwyer Hill Training Centre's carbine and pistol CQB shooting package. I helped to proof the final few iterations of the Gunfighter package while I was the battalion's Deputy Commanding Officer.

The Gunfighter combat shooting package is a far different animal than the basic C7/C8 Weapons Pam. Gunfighter built upon the very basic, flat-range courses of fire and qualification shoots contained within the Weapons Pam, teaching and practicing deploying soldiers in CQB combat shooting techniques. Today (IIRC), much of the Gunfighter programme has been incorporated into updated versions of the C7/C8 Pam as advanced training and ranges. Presumably much the same approach will be taken with the new pam for the CAF C22 (Sig M17) 9mm Pistol.

Sorry, but I (thankfully!) had nothing whatsoever to do with the CAF's "make Ready" weapon drill for the C7/C8, wherein the Forward Assist is automatically struck after the Bolt Carrier has been released to chamber a round (or following a Chamber/Press-Check.

Fair enough; having worked through the OG version of the C7 Pam, the Gunfighter program and the current iteration of the C7 Pam, it seemed like they simply took much of the Gunfighter program and copy/pasted it into the new pam in terms of basic drills. What do you make of the current Ready and Brass/Chamber/Press-check use of the FA? I go back and forth about it myself in terms of how I feel about it's use.
 
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Just comparing the Silver to the Gold/Platinum:

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  • Top Charging handle capable, but not included - side charging only out of the box.
  • Less machining cuts = ~7lbs for the Silver vs 6.8lbs for the Platinum.
  • Different Barrel material - 41V50 steel on the Silver, vs 416R stainless steel on the gold and platinum. The rest of the specs on the barrel appear to be the same as far as accuracy is concerned (5R rifling).
  • Less ambi controls and control upgrades, but you can upgrade to those things down the road including the platinum mag well.
  • The Silver has different bolt and bolt carrier material and coatings
  • The Silver Upper and Lower are 6061 vs 7075 aluminum on the Gold and Silver.
 
Lots of that info isn't really going to mean anything to the majority of people ... except those who mindlessly repeat the stuff, "everyone knows".

Historically AR receivers have been made of 7075 aluminum. However 6061 aluminum is "aircraft grade" and a lot of strong stuff is made of it. There are currently AR receivers being 3D printed from plastic so how strong does a receiver really need to be?

I've machined a lot of stainless steel barrel steel and it is typically quite soft material. Carbon steel is generally stronger than stainless and it will shed heat faster than stainless.

0.2 lbs is only 91 grams .... to put those weights into perspective.
 
Shooting Edge sold a ton of MS knock offs using 6061 , at least if I recall correctly.
I haven’t read of any issues with the receivers
 
The proprietary parts of the Lockhart Raven 556 are (mostly) those directly associated with the Receiver Set having been lengthened by ~15mm as compared to the AR15. Those specific parts are:

- Upper and Lower Receiver
- Bolt Carrier (skeletonized to offset the additional weight of the extra 15mm length)
- Firing Pin
- Charging Handle

On the "Platinum"-grade rifles, the ambidextrous Bolt-Catches and Magazine Releases are also proprietary and specific to Lockhart's Platinum Lower Receiver. The new "Silver"-grade 5.56mm rifles will use the standard Right-handed AR15 Bolt Catch and Magazine Release.

On all grades of Lockhart Raven, the Take-Down Pins are a proprietary design. I recommend picking up a set of the Extended Pins and using them in place of the Front and Rear Take-down Pins. The Extended Pins will interfere with the ambidextrous controls however, so the Standard flush-mount Pins should be used to attach the Magazine Housing.

Aside from the above exceptions, all remaining parts on the Lockhart Raven 556 are supposed to be compatible with an AR15 equipped with a mid-length gas system.

That's good to know that the silver is designed for for a standard AR bolt catch as that will save some money. As for the mag release I'll probably have to 3d print one or just pay the extra 50 bucks for the Lockhart one as it's even longer than the extended AR ones.
 
All lowers are multi cal but that doesn't include the magwell piece as of course a 308 ar 10 mag would not fit in an AR 15 magwell. That piece comes with the caliber kit.

Yes, got it.
So probably need the magwell and a bolt?
Can’t wait to do a 6.5
 
Apologies in advance, not my intent to hijack the thread. Just didn’t see somewhere more appropriate to ask this question. Has anyone personally talked to Lockhart recently? Not my intent to flame them so I won’t share my story, but if anyone has had contact with them in the past few weeks please PM me and let me know how you got through to them.

Cheers.
 
Apologies in advance, not my intent to hijack the thread. Just didn’t see somewhere more appropriate to ask this question. Has anyone personally talked to Lockhart recently? Not my intent to flame them so I won’t share my story, but if anyone has had contact with them in the past few weeks please PM me and let me know how you got through to them.

Cheers.

I’ve emailed a few times in regards to the gen 3 set that I purchased and haven’t gotten a reply back yet.
It’s been a month overdue
 
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