Ridgeline Defense RD-15 LPR

[NHPiper]

Brass looks fine but in my experience .223 doesn't show pressure signs until it does... So while I've had success loading .223 hot I try not to push the upper upper limits. Extra COAL helps a bit keeping pressure down.

Barrel shot well out of the gate, groups maybe tightened slightly but it was the speeding up I was watching for. The 200rd mark was more a cautionary move on my part less a hard number. Hell you may be good after 20 rounds.

Temp sensitivity sucks with Tac, like any ball powder

Yeah that's been my experience with the temp stuff. In NH it can be 95' in the summer and 0' in the winter, and I'm too lazy to have different loads for different seasons. My mk12 mod 1 runs about 2750 with 8208 so I figured this should run mid 2600s which is more than fine.

 

[deepsea]

Yeah that's been my experience with the temp stuff. In NH it can be 95' in the summer and 0' in the winter, and I'm too lazy to have different loads for different seasons. My mk12 mod 1 runs about 2750 with 8208 so I figured this should run mid 2600s which is more than fine.

Agreed and would do the same. 8208 has been tough to find, great powder though. That 25.8gr load was the top end of my load development but seemed to shoot fine. Was pleasantly surprised at the lack of gas in the face and still proper ejection so they did a good job gassing the rifle even with a can on there.

 

[NHPiper]

Agreed and would do the same. 8208 has been tough to find, great powder though. That 25.8gr load was the top end of my load development but seemed to shoot fine. Was pleasantly surprised at the lack of gas in the face and still proper ejection so they did a good job gassing the rifle even with a can on there.

I stocked up on like 10lbs of it over the summer when it hit stock again. Should last me a few thousand rounds.

May try StaBall again too, we will see.

 

[NHPiper]

Upper is in and I am really digging it!

The fit with my PRI lower is tight. I mean right. Zero wobble.

It is the softest shooting AR I have ever fired. I ran it with an RC2 and closed time flash hider (waiting on an RC3 and 3 prong). It is as soft, if not softer, than my Mk12 Mod 1 with an OCM5 and BRT reduced gas tube.

I ran my 77 Nosler handloads through (23.8gr 8208 in LC brass with CCI Small Rifle primers). No pressure signs.

The paper was pretty shot up, but I shot several 10 round groups from prone with a bag with each group shot in under 10 seconds. It's a clear shooter. Both groups were 1" with one that would have been 3/4" of I hadn't dropped a round now. That's fantastic for 10 round groups.

The handloads get 2750fps out of the 18" Mk12 Mod 1 Douglas barrel and 2650 of of another 16" Douglas barrel. I chronoed 14 rounds after shooting 50 rounds and got a 2570fps average with an SD of 23. I am hopeful it will speed up and settle in 300-400 rounds. Time to burn some blasting ammo.

I am super happy with it so far.

 

[NHPiper]

Round count is now around 100 with the 77gr 8208 handloads plus another 100 of 55gr blasting ammo.

The barrel has not sped up much, however the SD did really start to settle down. This isn't a load I developed for the rifle as I really like to run the same 77gr 5.56 loads through all of my rifles. It shoots 1MOA or slightly better with 10 shot groups and is now producing a velocity of 2582fps with an SD of 16. I will recheck this again in another 200+ rounds.

One thing that caught my eye is that the rifling is the lands within the barrel are frankly just rough. I compared it to the Douglas barrels I have (16" and 18") and both are just a lot smoother. Borescopes aren't the be-all-end-all, but I do wonder if that is why this barrel just seems a bit slow. If I can get it to low 2600fps I would be very happy. My 16" Douglas with the same loads is about 2650fps.

Of note, the gas port was not drilled in the groove completely, however neither of the 2 PRI Douglas barrels did that either (the Mk12 Mod1 barrel I think is a 6 groove vs the 5 groove in the Proof). I am hoping that I don't get any weird erosion that could cause issues in the jacket of the bullet.

 

[Bigjake83]

Of note, the gas port was not drilled in the lands, however neither of the 2 PRI Douglas barrels did that either (the Mk12 Mod1 barrel I think is a 6 groove vs the 5 groove in the Proof).

You may want to look again, the gas port is in a land. Looks like it's splitting a Land and groove 50/50

 

[JR1200W3]

You may want to look again, the gas port is in a land. Looks like it's splitting a Land and groove 50/50

He obviously meant groove

 

[Bigjake83]

He obviously meant groove

Well still half wrong...lol

 

[NHPiper]

Well still half wrong...lol

Good catch! Updated to correct i! I doubt it will be an issue. It's definitely shooting well enough for what I would expect.

My RC3 is on its way to the dealer so I am really looking forward to seeing how this feels with that suppressor vs the RC2.

 

[PBWalsh]

@NHPiper That velocity is a bit concerning to me. My 12.5" barrel with AAC 77 OTM is 2601 - 2634fps. Granted slower with other loadings. Does your handload have some room for extra velocity and/or pressure?

 

[NHPiper]

@NHPiper That velocity is a bit concerning to me. My 12.5" barrel with AAC 77 OTM is 2601 - 2634fps. Granted slower with other loadings. Does your handload have some room for extra velocity and/or pressure?

It does not, that is the top end of an 8208 charge. it should be getting around 2650fps once it settles. It is definitely slow right now. Several online videos said their barrel sped up by 100fps around 400 rounds in.

 

[PBWalsh]

It does not, that is the top end of an 8208 charge. it should be getting around 2650fps once it settles. It is definitely slow right now. Several online videos said their barrel sped up by 100fps around 400 rounds in.

My previous barrel appeared to speed up around the 500 round mark. Hopefully yours does as well.

 

[NHPiper]

My previous barrel appeared to speed up around the 500 round mark. Hopefully yours does as well.

Proof barrel?

 

[PBWalsh]

Proof barrel?

Black River Tactical chrome lined. I am at 238 on my current barrel (12.5" AR Performance) and have not seen any velocity increase. I expect to see it around 4-500, maybe less.

 

[BurtG]

Ordered a upper. Stuff ain’t cheap but if Rudy was involved it’s got to be good


Be interesting to see how it compares to my sgt arms 16” Douglas with jp lmos. Cause that thing is awesome

 

[BurtG]

Yeah, I have had a mixed bag of success with that. I'm currently going round and round with a 22 ARC and I want a pretty long rail on it. I've got a full length Arca on the bottom and 1.5lbs in side weights. With a ckye pod the rifle weighs 18 lb. POI will vary greatly depending on shoulder pressure, cheek pressure or head weight, and grip. More so on this gun than any of my other AR-15s. I would agree with you for a standard 13 -in handguard on a 14.5' or 16" barrel. I have two 14.5" & 16" 223Wylde and they shoot Sub-MOA without any handguard theatrics.

Right now I'm looking for uppers that offer that

VLTOR monolithic would be my choice sounds like a comp gun

Keymar but who gaf

 

[NHPiper]

Ordered a upper. Stuff ain’t cheap but if Rudy was involved it’s got to be good


Be interesting to see how it compares to my sgt arms 16” Douglas with jp lmos. Cause that thing is awesome

I think you are gonna dig it. I am really enjoying it so far. I'm gonna put another 100rds of blasting through it, wipe the bore, refoul, and chronograph to see where it has settled around 500rds in.

 

[BurtG]

Holy crap that is really, really hot and fast out of a 16". What are you running for a load?

Did it take a while for the proof barrel to speed up and settle in?

I get 2750 fps with black hills 77tmk out of a 16” Douglas fwiw. Stand 1 is 50 or more fps faster I’d have to look

 

[DOB161]

All LPR uppers are made on the same assembly benches, to the same standards. The standalone uppers get pulled prior testing as there are simply to many variables with components outside of our control to bother with, them being standalone sub-assemblies.

99% of the time it should be fine but we definitely stand behind our concept so even in that 1% scenario we’ll do our best to help you out.

@Rudy Gonsior Is Ridgeline going to do any deals for BF? I’m looking to buy an upper and don't want to buy one this week if they’ll be any kind of sale on them next week.

 

[Rudy Gonsior]

@Rudy Gonsior Is Ridgeline going to do any deals for BF? I’m looking to buy an upper and don't want to buy one this week if they’ll be any kind of sale on them next week.

Ok, so I poked my head into marketing/sales and it sounds like there will probably be something for Black Friday but exactly what hasn’t been nailed down.

Also a recent question was asked about stand alone upper receiver dropping prices to mirroring the rifle but I don’t have anything concrete.

 

[DOB161]

Ok, so I poked my head into marketing/sales and it sounds like there will probably be something for Black Friday but exactly what hasn’t been nailed down.

Also a recent question was asked about stand alone upper receiver dropping prices to mirroring the rifle but I don’t have anything concrete.

Right on. I appreciate you scoping it out. I’ll hang tight and see where things land.

 

[B4forever]

@Rudy Gonsior what is the gas port spec on these rifles?

 

[Rudy Gonsior]

@Rudy Gonsior what is the gas port spec on these rifles?

Gas ports are 0.093+/-0.001

 

[BurtG]

Seems quality. Looking forward to shooting it

Torn between the 1-10 and 2.5-20. 4-16 gives up too much low end for me. Still waiting for my huxwrx. Tbac will have to do for now

 

[NHPiper]

Seems quality. Looking forward to shooting it

View attachment 8552583View attachment 8552584

Torn between the 1-10 and 2.5-20. 4-16 gives up too much low end for me. Still waiting for my huxwrx. Tbac will have to do for now

1-8 and 1-10 optics are practical ones. Yes they make sense, but they aren't great at the low end (red dot) or upper end. I'd go 2.5-20 with a dot. My favorite.

 

[stanley_white]

Seems quality. Looking forward to shooting it

View attachment 8552583View attachment 8552584

Torn between the 1-10 and 2.5-20. 4-16 gives up too much low end for me. Still waiting for my huxwrx. Tbac will have to do for now

I have been thinking the same myself. For me it comes down to target ID vs spotting impacts. 1-10 is good for the former, the 2-20 is probably good for both.

-Stan

 

[RickyRodney]

Is the FDE anodized or is it cerakote?

 

[BurtG]

Someone was interested in my velocity

 

[djarecke]

1-8 and 1-10 optics are practical ones. Yes they make sense, but they aren't great at the low end (red dot) or upper end. I'd go 2.5-20 with a dot. My favorite.

Is the only 2.5-20 the NX8? I tried one the other day and thought they were ok but not great. In the same class as a MK4 or 5.

 

[BurtG]

I’d probably do a 2.5-10 NXS with a red dot on a “fighting” rifle

 

[NHPiper]

Is the only 2.5-20 the NX8? I tried one the other day and thought they were ok but not great. In the same class as a MK4 or 5.

Yes, that's the nx8. I had one last year and hated the glass. It fish bowled bad especially as you started dialing elevation. And getting my zero stop set literally wasted hundreds of rounds. It was a crappy zero stop system unless you want to set it to run that speed drop factor which something like a Mk5 won't allow.

I actually think the Mk5 glass is far superb especially under clip ons.

 

[Rudy Gonsior]

Is the FDE anodized or is it cerakote?

The factory FDE is anodized. Several people have cerakoted their black rifles but I don’t recommend it.

 

[BurtG]

I had disregarded these “groups” because I haven’t shot anything not alive in the past 3 months and my bag was 2” too short for this range and etc.

Found my target box on trash day and decided to measure. Should be real good with a capable shooter
77 razor core and black hills 77tmk

 

[NHPiper]

Pretty similar to mine with my handloads. 0.75-1MOA for 10 round groups.

 

[NHPiper]

Took a C35 out tonight, courtesy of SOK and shot it at 450yds with the Ridgeline.

The upper is so smooth, even with an RC2, that my buddy (who shoots a lot), didn't know the BCG had locked back when he was shooting.

It printed a 6-8" group standing off a tripod with the thermal. I will take that all day long.

Deer at 500+yds.

 

[BurtG]

Looks like uppers are on sale in case anyone is on the fence.

 

[Nachricter]

Just received my upper in the mail and I couldn't be happier. It pairs up extremely tight on my radian lower and I'm thinking this will make an amazing combination.

Recently I picked up a demo nx8 2.5-20 and atacr 4-16 to try out for a few weeks before ditching one of them on the EE.

I've been laying on the dog bed for what feels like hours.. glassing everything I can see within 1000 yards.

I've paralyzed myself with reading too much about both and just need to go shoot and make up my mind.

 

[NHPiper]

Just received my upper in the mail and I couldn't be happier. It pairs up extremely tight on my radian lower and I'm thinking this will make an amazing combination.

Recently I picked up a demo nx8 2.5-20 and atacr 4-16 to try out for a few weeks before ditching one of them on the EE.

I've been laying on the dog bed for what feels like hours.. glassing everything I can see within 1000 yards.

I've paralyzed myself with reading too much about both and just need to go shoot and make up my mind.

View attachment 8557768View attachment 8557769

Curious which one you end up with. I wasn't a fan of the nx8 that I played with.

 

[Nachricter]

This particular nx8 seems to be quite the specimen. Edge to edge clarity, color, and resolution all seem to be fantastic. I know everyone dislikes the frequent parallax adjustment, but once it's set, everything from 100-600 is in crisp focus.

The only shortcomings (for me) is the near invisible reticle at 2.5 and the inability to run an rmr on the top without excessive work.

I don't for see getting a clip on in the near future so the low end is lost on me, and I don't have access to ranges in excess of 600 yards so the high end is also not as useful.

It's all talk until I get out to shoot but the atacr seems to be simpler.

 

[bnaples]

Mine is in and put together. Zero on Monday. New rifle, new glass and new can. Almost like Christmas.

 

[BurtG]

I’m tempted to try a 2.5-10. For areas where things are mostly closer


Shot some groups today. I know. 3 shot groups. But it’s 25* and I’m a mediocre shooter at best. Need to put a actual target up I do best holding off the actual aiming point. All groups here none admitted except for that one flier

 

[BurtG]

Oh noticedly smoother with hux 762 flow versus dominus. Think it’s louder too though

 

[kriller134]

This particular nx8 seems to be quite the specimen. Edge to edge clarity, color, and resolution all seem to be fantastic. I know everyone dislikes the frequent parallax adjustment, but once it's set, everything from 100-600 is in crisp focus.

The only shortcomings (for me) is the near invisible reticle at 2.5 and the inability to run an rmr on the top without excessive work.

I don't for see getting a clip on in the near future so the low end is lost on me, and I don't have access to ranges in excess of 600 yards so the high end is also not as useful.

It's all talk until I get out to shoot but the atacr seems to be simpler.

I have both scopes and I lean towards the Nx8. Haven’t really put a lot of rounds through the atacr, but comparing the 2 I like the NX8.

 

[j-moose32]

Mine is in and put together. Zero on Monday. New rifle, new glass and new can. Almost like Christmas. View attachment 8557785

That FDE is looking awesome

 

[Dendro]

@BurtG & @NHPiper you guys content with how this thing performs accuracy wise? Thinking about grabbing one…

 

[BurtG]

Yes exceeds expectations

 

[NHPiper]

@BurtG & @NHPiper you guys content with how this thing performs accuracy wise? Thinking about grabbing one…

Yes, 100%. It is absolutely a sub-MOA upper with 10 round groups. I did zero load development and tossed in a load that works with my Mk12 Mod 1 for ease of keeping ammo consistent. It could probably be tightened to 0.75MOA if you wanted to go through the exercise (again 10 round groups).

It is one of my favorite uppers. If you want to be able to hit 1-1.5MOA targets out to 600-700yds, you should have no issues. I haven't tested it for the shift with the handguard, but I zeroed mine with a bipod out front and rear bag (same method with Steiner C35) and had no shift when clamping to a tripod in front of the magwell and going to 450yds at night with the C35. The upper is super tight on several of my lowers, including the PRI lowers.

I think I am running the Geissele Braided 42 buffer/spring (H2) or SpringCo green with H2. It's super soft shooting even without the A5 setup or a BRT gas tube.

Trade offs:
I don't find the arca rail that comfortable. Is it better than an Mlok rail with arca attached, yes. It is similar to the Geissele Mk18 rail. Attaching a few rail covers where my support hand likes to sit mitigates this in a way that I find completely satisfactory.

You will lose the second Mlok slot back from the barrel with the gas block. Not a deal breaker and easy to work around. See attached picture where I fit a Surefire Pro, KAC QD mount (SKU 113879) and then ran switches at the 11 o'clock and still cleared the large objective of a PVS27.

Its heavy. This isn't your slim profile upper or the one I would pick for kicking in doors (not a job I ever want). But this is definitely a gun I would grab if I had to grab one. Setup with a Mk5 3.6-18 and RMR on top, it can go from 0-700yds without issues. The barrel is thick enough to lay down some rounds without dealing with massive thermal shift and stay within its 1MOA zone.

I wish I had waited for their Black Friday sale or snagged one of the blemmed uppers they recently posted. But only to save a few bucks. If I saw one cheap and had spare money would I snag another? 100%.

 

[SFree]

Yes, 100%. It is absolutely a sub-MOA upper with 10 round groups. I did zero load development and tossed in a load that works with my Mk12 Mod 1 for ease of keeping ammo consistent. It could probably be tightened to 0.75MOA if you wanted to go through the exercise (again 10 round groups).

It is one of my favorite uppers. If you want to be able to hit 1-1.5MOA targets out to 600-700yds, you should have no issues. I haven't tested it for the shift with the handguard, but I zeroed mine with a bipod out front and rear bag (same method with Steiner C35) and had no shift when clamping to a tripod in front of the magwell and going to 450yds at night with the C35. The upper is super tight on several of my lowers, including the PRI lowers.

I think I am running the Geissele Braided 42 buffer/spring (H2) or SpringCo green with H2. It's super soft shooting even without the A5 setup or a BRT gas tube.

Trade offs:
I don't find the arca rail that comfortable. Is it better than an Mlok rail with arca attached, yes. It is similar to the Geissele Mk18 rail. Attaching a few rail covers where my support hand likes to sit mitigates this in a way that I find completely satisfactory.

You will lose the second Mlok slot back from the barrel with the gas block. Not a deal breaker and easy to work around. See attached picture where I fit a Surefire Pro, KAC QD mount (SKU 113879) and then ran switches at the 11 o'clock and still cleared the large objective of a PVS27.

Its heavy. This isn't your slim profile upper or the one I would pick for kicking in doors (not a job I ever want). But this is definitely a gun I would grab if I had to grab one. Setup with a Mk5 3.6-18 and RMR on top, it can go from 0-700yds without issues. The barrel is thick enough to lay down some rounds without dealing with massive thermal shift and stay within its 1MOA zone.

I wish I had waited for their Black Friday sale or snagged one of the blemmed uppers they recently posted. But only to save a few bucks. If I saw one cheap and had spare money would I snag another? 100%.

I have no doubt it’s heavy for size! With the Hubble Space Telescope on it you need a cart to pull it…. Hah!

 

[SFree]

I have no doubt it’s heavy for size! With the Hubble Space Telescope on it you need a cart to pull it…. Hah!

I’m envious of your system/components, maybe I’ll get there someday. Too busy trying to complete a couple of projects… alas, they all cost money

 

[Nachricter]

Got my RD-15 out to the farm today and got a halfway decent zero despite the wind. Can't wait to get it out a little bit further than the space I have available!

Man is this one soft shooting rifle with the vltor buffer setup. Thanks to Rudy and the team for such a great product.

Not sure I have the balls to paint the optic yet, maybe I'll throw some flex tape on in the mean time!