The ATRS Modern Hunter Updates January 25 2015

[alberta tactical rifle]

For those who have been following our 3 year project from the beginning, much of this new thread will already be old news to you. For those who have not and do not want to read several hundred posts I will try to save you that task.

We at Alberta Tactical Rifle Supply have successfully designed and are now manufacturing one of Canada's only NON RESTRICTED semi automatic center fire modular rifles. The rifle we have named the Modern Hunter looks to many as just another restricted AR10 style rifle. Although it does look very similar and shares a few common parts with the AR10, the RCMP lab has classed it as NON RESTRICTED as it shares no direct lineage to the AR10 or any other of the restricted or prohibited semi or full auto rifles that have been produced in the last 75 years. The FRT# of the production rifles is 149826

We offer this rifle in several calibers. 243, 260 ,7mm08, 308, 338 Federal and 6.5 Creedmoor. The shortest barrel length is 18.6 inches although longer barrels can be spec'ed to individual taste and requirement.

This is a direct gas impingement operating system a proven Eugene Stoner design so extremely reliable in function the same as the AR15 and AR10 rifles are. Some of the AR15/AR10 furniture is compatible with our rifle so like the AR rifles there is a fair bit of dress up capability available.

Current base model of the rifle is $3500.00 due to the rapid decline in value of the Canadian dollar.
The lightest configuration runs about 8 lbs, so is still a reasonable weight for a hunting rifle.
We just got back from SHOT Show and have found possibly a few more stocks and hand guards that look compatible, but we will be updating that ONCE we have the samples here to confirm fitment. Until we know we will not be releasing details on what may or may not fit.





The side charge handle parts along with the side bolt release will be black on the production rifles, it is just expensive to send a few small parts out for nitriding, so took the photo of the rifle as we are testing it. The stainless steel barrel can be finished in polished silver finish, matte silver or at additional cost CeraKoted the color of your choice. We are also offering a Carbon Fiber Wrapped barrel option for those wanting to keep weight down but heat dissipation as high as possible. The Proof research CFW barrels are a significant cost upstroke to the rifle but for those wanting state of the art performance, these do the job. All the benefits of a heavy contour barrel as far as being stiff and the best possible heat dissipation.

This is the sort of accuracy we have been getting during testing, again more to follow when we get more range time.


Over the next few days I will be posting more as I get time.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

No .223?

Not yet but the plan is to scale the MH down and make a Modern Varminter in 223 in the no too distant future.
No firm dates yet obviously but the plan is in motion.
If we are gonna shake up the black rifle market, we may as well shake it up real good

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Hope to see one of these at the Lande this year

Be careful what you wish for!! That is our plan for Lande this year.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Any plans for a .300 win option?

That too is in our plan, but that will be a ways into the future. First is to get the MH orders filled, then hopefully the RCMP will not take years to approve the Varminter, then we can start the R&D to build the Modern Magnum rifle line.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Just a question.....how does the decline of the Canadian dollar effect the price of a Canadian made product? If anything does it not improve the marketability of the product to other countries?

The cost of the raw materials has gone up as have the costs of the US made parts like triggers, barrels and furniture.
On some commodities the marketability could be enhanced, but as there really is no world market for this gun as Canada has dictated the stupid laws this rifle is meant to deal with, the chances of world wide marketability is almost nil.

 

[ATRS Shaun]

The sooner a MV gets to the RCMP, the sooner it would be approved...
In your spare time, of course.

Oh, don't worry.... we remind Rick daily... ;-)

 

[Lyndo]

Just a question here. Feel free to flame away after I ask.
But; if the modern hunter got the thumbs up on non- restricted status, what could possibly make the modern varminter not get the same thumbs up?

I ask because hot damn I want one bad

Shoot straight - chrisco

remember that we're talking about the Canadian gun laws here and the RCMP that runs show, common sense doesn't exactly apply... It shouldn't be an issue but there is always a chance. Heck, look at the modern hunter, they submitted a pre-production version that was approved as a non-restricted rifle. Then when they submitted a production version for review that was 100% the same except for aesthetics, the RCMP delayed approval and had certain individuals trying to label it as restricted. I'm not sure how close it came to being re-classified, but it wasn't a cut and dry non-restricted classification by the sounds of it.

 

[cerebral_bore]

remember that we're talking about the Canadian gun laws here and the RCMP that runs show, common sense doesn't exactly apply... It shouldn't be an issue but there is always a chance. Heck, look at the modern hunter, they submitted a pre-production version that was approved as a non-restricted rifle. Then when they submitted a production version for review that was 100% the same except for aesthetics, the RCMP delayed approval and had certain individuals trying to label it as restricted. I'm not sure how close it came to being re-classified, but it wasn't a cut and dry non-restricted classification by the sounds of it.

This is why the whole process needs to be changed.

This and the MP40, StG-44, B&T 556, MPAR and countless other firearms stuck in regulatory purgatory limbo.

 

[Nyksta]

I've heard talk that for reloading with popular powders such as Varget, that these cylindrical/extruded powders are aimed at bolt action rifles, and that a semi-auto gas system does better/requires quicker burning spherical powders when a gas system becomes involved. In regards to the ATRS MH direct impingement, Is this "bolt action only powder" talk BS or is it valid? Hodgdon Varget powder is my main consideration in asking this.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Too bad price went up. Wonder if other companies will follow

ALL of our suppliers have raised their prices by as much as 15% due to the dollars lack of value currently. Nightforce, Vortex, Leupold, Hornady,Federal, name anything made in the USA and the price has jumped by 10% or more just in the last 2 weeks.

I cried yesterday having to pay $5000.00 more to exchange CDN to Euros on just 1 rifle that we are bringing in from Germany. I SHOULD have sent the wire before we left for SHOT and we would not now be losing money on this deal. The joys of long lead times from suppliers, some times you win and other times you lose the profit from the deal.
At least it is cheaper to drive to work lately

 

[Topcon]

why would it be any different than any other rifles that use the same mags?

Politics of course.

It's not so much that it will be different than the other rifles like the Tavor or RA; just that there is a higher possibility of it being derailed than the .308. I would guess that is why they tested the waters with the .308.

If there were people within the process that wanted the .308 restricted, they will certainly be there again when it come to the .223. An election is coming as well which will make politicians jumpy about approving a cartridge better known for use in military applications than for traditional type hunting (subsistence deer hunting for example).

 

[moogles]

I doubt the caliber of the rifle had any thing to do with the second classification taking longer than expected. It was more than likely the work of a few butt-hurt individuals on a personal vendetta.

 

[Gobc]

ALL of our suppliers have raised their prices by as much as 15% due to the dollars lack of value currently. Nightforce, Vortex, Leupold, Hornady,Federal, name anything made in the USA and the price has jumped by 10% or more just in the last 2 weeks.

I cried yesterday having to pay $5000.00 more to exchange CDN to Euros on just 1 rifle that we are bringing in from Germany. I SHOULD have sent the wire before we left for SHOT and we would not now be losing money on this deal. The joys of long lead times from suppliers, some times you win and other times you lose the profit from the deal.
At least it is cheaper to drive to work lately

I don't blame you for this, but I hope that prices will drop back down if the dollar recovers. I remember retailers siting this a few years ago, but kept there mouths shut when the dollar went up.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

I've heard talk that for reloading with popular powders such as Varget, that these cylindrical/extruded powders are aimed at bolt action rifles, and that a semi-auto gas system does better/requires quicker burning spherical powders when a gas system becomes involved. In regards to the ATRS MH direct impingement, Is this "bolt action only powder" talk BS or is it valid? Hodgdon Varget powder is my main consideration in asking this.

When I get some range time I certainly plan to run Varget in my 308 pushing 178 Amax's. Hopefully the weather co-operates in the next couple of weeks. I am deeply into GSR withdrawl.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Rick, is it possible to have one of these chambered in 6.5x47? Nothing wrong with a 6.5 creedmoor or 260, just curious.

I am doubtful it would feed reliably. Personally I am a huge 6.5x47 fan and when I get some time I may tinker with it to see if it is possible to make it run but until I am happy we will not be suggesting or offering that caliber. The other issue I see is small base dies not being available for the cartridge and knowing that the casing has an area that is not supported in the barrel hence swell, feel small base dies will be a prerequisite for hand loading.

 

[moogles]

Can you confirm what the magazine capacity on these are limited to?

Magazine capacities are determined by the firearm that the magazine was DESIGNED and MANUFACTURED for, not by which firearm the magazine is used in. If a magazine is designed and manufactured for a pistol, it is limited it 10 rounds of the designed and manufactured cartridge. It is legal to use that 10 round magazine in a long gun without pinning it to 5 rounds.

Any rifle that accepts 5.56 (223) STANAG or 308 SR-25 pattern magazines (such as the Modern Hunter) has 10 round pistol magazines available for use.

 

[Major Sights]

Question ATRS;

When a Modern Varminter is put to paper and eventually to the real product will owners of the MH be able to just buy the Varminter "upper" and plug and play? (also though I am late the game in even seeing or hearing about the MH, I am putting away my loonies and toonies wholeheartedly).

 

[caramel]

My interest in this rifle is first because it come in 308, second, it's NR, if it was any other caliber or restricted, it would not spark much interest for me... Just saying. JP.

 

[moogles]

Question ATRS;

When a Modern Varminter is put to paper and eventually to the real product will owners of the MH be able to just buy the Varminter "upper" and plug and play? (also though I am late the game in even seeing or hearing about the MH, I am putting away my loonies and toonies wholeheartedly).

I am not trying to speak on ATRS' behalf, I mearly want Rick to spend less time answering questions and spend more time (if humanly possible) manufacturing rifles.

I cannot see switching uppers between 308 and 223 possible because of the magazine well. A 308 magazine well is a very different dimensionally than a 223 magazine well (not to mention any other changes in overall dimensions incurred from "down scaling" the design).

 

[saitek11]

The only way would require some kind of block, either a piece that bolts in, or a special upper that has some sort of magwell block designed in. The bright side of that is theoretically you don't need a new FRT for an upper. I don't have to make it work or have the slightest knowledge on how to do it, so it's purely theoretical