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Ridgeline Defense RD-15 LPR
- Thread starter B4forever
- Start date
Ridgeline on Instagram. If your thinking of buying any of their stuff you should be following them anyways.
$1799. ea, and 22 currently in stock. I think I will pass on the .223 Wylde and wait on the 6mm Max uppers as I am in no hurry and I think there is a very good chance we will see them in the not to distant future. I’ll take one 11.5 inch and one 16 inch.
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Thats actually quite a bit cheaper that I was expecting, I just built an upper around a Noveske Recon barrel last month so can't jump on it right now, but it will be at the top of my list.
Dammit, @Biggy...
The only barrier was the lack of need for yet another complete rifle....and I'm $1800 lighter
(There appear to be 19 uppers left now)
Yes, im waiting on an FDE upper! Im sure itll be here soon.
Just ordered one, now working out the optic situation. Will be running an ATACR 4-16x42 in an C1 and probably a closed emitter offset RDS. It appears that’s what you are running on yours. Which J-Arm height 1.54/1.7 and cant are you using, 35/45, and what height C1 mount 1.54/1.7? I was planning on a 1.54 C1 with a 35 1.7 J-Arm hoping an ACRO would clear the ATACR turret.
EDIT: Changed my mind going to run an RCR on a 12 o’clock piggyback on a C1, so please disregard…
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This is actually my preferred method, the optic package seen is just what was lying around in the shop.
RDSs off the 12 or 1-2 o’clock always feels more natural to me, typically requiring less movement to employ, easily clears lights/lasers/UNS and most optimal for passive NV use.
I have optics set up both ways depending on use case. I think the 45 makes sense and can be faster and more comfortable, but it’s not ambidextrous. However, I think for the purpose of this rifle the 12 seems to make more sense. I’m going to try it out that way and see how it goes. I love that with the C1 I can always get a J Arm if I want to try that easily.
One other question, what is the muzzle thread size? Standard 1/2-28 or oversized 5/8-24?
1/2x28 muzzles on cut rifled barrels make sense since there’s no stress induced into the blank when rifling. You do see a difference on button rifled barrels.
Just in case anyone misses this thread…
www.snipershide.com
This highlights one of the main design development goals of the LPR, mitigation of positional POI shift. Precision is one thing and accuracy is another but it’s most ideal when you pair them together.
AR Positional POI Shift Test
Edit **I’ve had a few people ask. Here is the link to my test target if anyone is wanting to use it. https://veracitysolutionsllc.com/resources/ ** Finally got a chance to get out and test a few different uppers for POI shift and get pictures. These are NOT to bash any company but to make...
www.snipershide.com
This highlights one of the main design development goals of the LPR, mitigation of positional POI shift. Precision is one thing and accuracy is another but it’s most ideal when you pair them together.
If I didn't already have two very accurate scoped carbines and I was starting over, this would be the rifle I'd buy. Very cool, guys.
I'm curious if you are losing anything by just getting the upper (not getting the complete rifle)? (aside from the trigger and A5 extension.) Honest question.
RD now has six rifles coming, listed as "coming soon." I'm happy to see they generated enough interest to move forward with other products, always great to see.
RD now has six rifles coming, listed as "coming soon." I'm happy to see they generated enough interest to move forward with other products, always great to see.
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I'm sure eventually they will launch a rifle in a real sniper caliber like .45-70! Then Ridgeline just need send a test rifle to Ron Spomer for review, that will guarantee a 5-7 year backorder.
My RD15 LPR came in a couple weeks ago, and first thing I noticed was how tight the fit between the upper and lower were... Literally had to put the gun in a vise and break it open with a mallet. There's literally zero slop.
On some of my other magnified AR's, my reticle will shift when I'm doing dry-fire in a bag/rested position (~.1-.2 mil off POA); presumably from the hammer striking the firing pin combined with some slop between the upper/lower. With the RD15, I don't see that at all because I think the the tolerances in the upper and lower were optimized as a whole. But... I don't think you're missing much by just getting the upper, as long it fits tightly w/ the lower.
Hopefully will be able to tell you by this time next week as my upper is en route. Though I already set up my guns with the same buffer system and use the same trigger.
Very excited to hear they're going to offer barrels in the future as well. I've gotten so damn sick of chasing the dragon on trying to get decent precision(ish) barrels that:
- Aren't over-gassed as fuck (and don't need AGB bandaid)
- Aren't heavy as fuck
- Don't have idiotic lead times, custom build costs, and all the other headaches custom 1-off barrels have
- Are spec'd by folks that appreciate reliablilty and longevity
My upper just came in. I mated it to my lmt lower and I needed a rubber mallet to put it together. She is tight. Won’t be able to shoot until Thursday…
I feel like this specific RD rifle and the NF 416 ATACR are meant to go together.
Just got mine today....I have a Hodge lower I'm not doing anything with and I'm a little concerned the tolerances are so tight they aren't going to go together at all.
I don’t need another accurized AR15 but damn is this one tempting.
Had my LPR for about 3 weeks now, with 400 rounds down the barrel. Took Ridgeline's 5-day SPR class about a month ago, and got to shoot the instructors' rifles a couple times throughout the course. Was pretty much sold on the rifle after I disappointingly found out that my 16" SR-15 had 0.4-0.5 mils of positional shift going from prone/bipod to standing/bag and had some gnarly thermal shift after 30-40 round COFs (unsurprising given KAC's light barrel profile). For what it's worth, the RD-15 LPR is my first "precision" rifle with a stainless 416R barrel. I've only ever shot CHF chrome-lined barrels (mostly 5.56), and was generally satisfied with 1.5-2 MOA groups and being able to hit 66% IPSCs out to 400 yards. Some thoughts/observations:
1) Extremely tight fit between lower/upper receivers. The rifle breaks apart much more easily after generously lubing the receivers and pivot pins.
2) Muzzle device comes off extremely easily; not rocksetted at all. Surefire 3P went on easily.
3) After initial disassembly/lube, I went through Proof's recommended barrel break-in procedure (3+clean/3+clean/5+clean) with .223 55gr. Didn't bother using any bronze/nylon brushes, or a bore guide/rod. Just used an Otis cleaning cable, a couple of cleaning patches, and Boretech eliminator until patches came out clean.
4) With Black Hills 77gr OTM, I got a 10 round average of 2688 FPS (SD 14) after initial break-in. Probably about 15 rounds down the pipe at this point. Chrono'd again at 100 rounds, and got a 10 round average of 2673 (SD 9.6). Chrono'd once more at 200 rounds, and got a 20 round average of 2674 (SD 8). IMI 77gr (lot 292/C) performs similarly. Haven't tried feeding it with any other ammo other than 77gr SMKs. Barrel's probably still settling in since all of my other rifles are getting SD's of 4-5 with Black Hills. I plan to chrono again this weekend at the 500 round mark.
5) Group sizes vary between 0.6-1.2 MOA, average being about a minute (measured using the Ballistic-X app). Absolutely no issues shooting 6" steel at 400 yards. Every 1/5 groups on paper, I'll print a 1.5 MOA group. I shot the rifle yesterday, and had some disappointing 1-1.5 MOA groups when I went to check my zero -- could just be me generally being impatient with natural point of aim, or the barrel's still breaking in. The proof target that it came with had a 0.888 group (FGMM shot by Rudy), so I might have missed out on their latest batch of 0.3-0.4 minute rifles. Or I just suck at shooting.
6) Recoil/gassing-wise, it's similar to how a 16" SR-15 is gassed. I ran the KAC with an HH buffer and sprinco hot white spring with an RC3, and I would say that's the smoothest feeling set-up I've ever shot, but the RD-15 LPR is similar. The A5 system on the RD-15 is a solid choice, but the springco green spring it came with produced a pretty annoying twang sound. I got rid of the twang by generously greasing the buffer and spring w/ Slip 2000 EWG
7) Getting consistent 4-5 o'clock ejection with an RC3; the RC2 brings ejection to 3 o'clock. The rifle pairs really well with a flow-through, but it performs well with traditional high backpressure cans as well.
I'd be happy to answer any questions from an amateur consumer perspective.
1) Extremely tight fit between lower/upper receivers. The rifle breaks apart much more easily after generously lubing the receivers and pivot pins.
2) Muzzle device comes off extremely easily; not rocksetted at all. Surefire 3P went on easily.
3) After initial disassembly/lube, I went through Proof's recommended barrel break-in procedure (3+clean/3+clean/5+clean) with .223 55gr. Didn't bother using any bronze/nylon brushes, or a bore guide/rod. Just used an Otis cleaning cable, a couple of cleaning patches, and Boretech eliminator until patches came out clean.
4) With Black Hills 77gr OTM, I got a 10 round average of 2688 FPS (SD 14) after initial break-in. Probably about 15 rounds down the pipe at this point. Chrono'd again at 100 rounds, and got a 10 round average of 2673 (SD 9.6). Chrono'd once more at 200 rounds, and got a 20 round average of 2674 (SD 8). IMI 77gr (lot 292/C) performs similarly. Haven't tried feeding it with any other ammo other than 77gr SMKs. Barrel's probably still settling in since all of my other rifles are getting SD's of 4-5 with Black Hills. I plan to chrono again this weekend at the 500 round mark.
5) Group sizes vary between 0.6-1.2 MOA, average being about a minute (measured using the Ballistic-X app). Absolutely no issues shooting 6" steel at 400 yards. Every 1/5 groups on paper, I'll print a 1.5 MOA group. I shot the rifle yesterday, and had some disappointing 1-1.5 MOA groups when I went to check my zero -- could just be me generally being impatient with natural point of aim, or the barrel's still breaking in. The proof target that it came with had a 0.888 group (FGMM shot by Rudy), so I might have missed out on their latest batch of 0.3-0.4 minute rifles. Or I just suck at shooting.
6) Recoil/gassing-wise, it's similar to how a 16" SR-15 is gassed. I ran the KAC with an HH buffer and sprinco hot white spring with an RC3, and I would say that's the smoothest feeling set-up I've ever shot, but the RD-15 LPR is similar. The A5 system on the RD-15 is a solid choice, but the springco green spring it came with produced a pretty annoying twang sound. I got rid of the twang by generously greasing the buffer and spring w/ Slip 2000 EWG
7) Getting consistent 4-5 o'clock ejection with an RC3; the RC2 brings ejection to 3 o'clock. The rifle pairs really well with a flow-through, but it performs well with traditional high backpressure cans as well.
I'd be happy to answer any questions from an amateur consumer perspective.
It obviously won't solve your issue, but I can give you the M16 MIL specs/dimensions for the upper lug(s) and lower takedown lug pocket, if interested or for comparison.
Sure. I got the calipers out last night, and the recess for the rear lug in the lower receiver is about 2.5-3 thou smaller than the rear lug on the Ridgeline upper. Still have a few lowers to check on the off chance, but the ones I had in my bench/shop area were as mentioned above.
Like it's DAMN close...like I could probably thermo fit and persuade (i.e. force with rubber mallet) it into place, but knowing how both of these are notoriously tight, I might just hold tight (no pun intended) and source a lower that's not ridiculously tight as fuck already.
Upper receiver lug widths are 0.496" (-0.003")
Lower receiver takedown
Dimensions are before finish. MIL-A-8625, Type III, Class 2 anodize thickness is 0.002” ± 0.0002”. Roughly, 50% of that thickness is "penetration", 50% is "growth".
So taking into account anodizing thickness, max lug and min pocket can both be 0.498" (not taking into account anodizing thickness tolerance)
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Basically my measurements show a flip-flop
Ridgeline upper rear lug is 0.5020
Hodge Mod 1 and 2 pocket is 0.4990 and 0.4985 respectively
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Sounds like each manufacturer decided to tighten up play from opposite ends. It might be one of those upper/lower combinations that's problematic.
Yep, that's my thought as well....each understands the fit aspect, and I think I just have a combo that isn't going to play well with respective tolerances on each end... not really surprised to be honest.
Only person I can be annoyed is myself...thought I would do the "easy button" and just get the upper rather than yet another receiver and the hassle involved in this forsaken state.
I just wanted to avoid the ambi mag release lol, I wasn't trying to cheap out. Thank you for posting the measurements.
Had my RDR for about a month now I guess and here are my findings running a 4-16 ATACR and a YHM Turbo K RB on a Q plan B mount. The gun has only been fired suppressed and has about 500 rounds on it. All groups shot prone off a bipod and rear bag.
Test target it came with was .73 MOA. I've only shot 77gr IMI through it. I zero every gun I own with it because I keep a ton of it on hand. First outing groups hovering in the .75 MOA range with best being .67
I don't follow Proofs process. I do all the same love it or hate it. I shoot rounds through it typically 40 -100 the first outing. I then run a boresnake through it a few times. Done.
2nd outing groups tightened up delivering a best of .55 MOA and hovering in the .6 range. Got data every 100 yds out to 1000 and micro dope. No issues.
3rd outing groups consistently in the .5 MOA range and I have not grouped it again since but will after a few more sessions.
Velocity avg with 77gr IMI has been 2690 FPS
Cold bore shot measured shooting a 3/4 inch paster at 100yds first round of the day has been consistently center and 0.1 mil high.
No noticeable POI shift from various positions but i have not shot a ton of groupings but rather I've done positional work out to 1030 yds on various types and sizes of steel. Some of the fun highlights were 2nd round impact on mini IPSC at 1030 off a barricade and Shooting a know your limits target down to half MOA size at 650 yds. I have shot grouping at 100yds off a barricade with a game changer and no shift in POI.
Great rifle that addressed a lot of my complaints with other gas guns and so far I'm really enjoying it. Super fun to be able to get consistent impacts out to 1k with a lil 16inch 5.56.
Test target it came with was .73 MOA. I've only shot 77gr IMI through it. I zero every gun I own with it because I keep a ton of it on hand. First outing groups hovering in the .75 MOA range with best being .67
I don't follow Proofs process. I do all the same love it or hate it. I shoot rounds through it typically 40 -100 the first outing. I then run a boresnake through it a few times. Done.
2nd outing groups tightened up delivering a best of .55 MOA and hovering in the .6 range. Got data every 100 yds out to 1000 and micro dope. No issues.
3rd outing groups consistently in the .5 MOA range and I have not grouped it again since but will after a few more sessions.
Velocity avg with 77gr IMI has been 2690 FPS
Cold bore shot measured shooting a 3/4 inch paster at 100yds first round of the day has been consistently center and 0.1 mil high.
No noticeable POI shift from various positions but i have not shot a ton of groupings but rather I've done positional work out to 1030 yds on various types and sizes of steel. Some of the fun highlights were 2nd round impact on mini IPSC at 1030 off a barricade and Shooting a know your limits target down to half MOA size at 650 yds. I have shot grouping at 100yds off a barricade with a game changer and no shift in POI.
Great rifle that addressed a lot of my complaints with other gas guns and so far I'm really enjoying it. Super fun to be able to get consistent impacts out to 1k with a lil 16inch 5.56.
I’ve been lobbying hard for FDE, not allowed to make promises of exactly when but its coming.
@Rudy Gonsior 2 questions.
1. Has RD considering doing a 12.5" upper in this lineup?
2. Aside from the thermal fitting (seen in RD's recent video), what makes the RD upper reciever different than Seekins, Colbalt, or Aero?
The way y'all show heating the reciever extension to mate the barrel was really cool!
1. Has RD considering doing a 12.5" upper in this lineup?
2. Aside from the thermal fitting (seen in RD's recent video), what makes the RD upper reciever different than Seekins, Colbalt, or Aero?
The way y'all show heating the reciever extension to mate the barrel was really cool!
I was surprised how tight that forearm was too. Rudy is clearly a small guy, but still, it took some effort to get hat thing to mate.
