Brass is heavier than steel, but not by much. Tungsten.. just add a zero to the end of the price and you might get close. Also Tungsten stucks to machine.
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Steel ARCA rails
- Thread starter Bear9350
- Start date
I've got an order in with the guys at the shop. I'm hoping by next weekend I will have them back and get it fitted up on my rifle to see how it is going to work out.
I deal a lot with welding and stamping and have a lot of experience in those areas. I don't have a whole lot of experience with machining parts. I'm sure there are plenty of guys on here that could speak much more intelligently on the subject. I think both material have pros and cons when it comes to machineabilty.
If the aluminum parts are hard anodized like some of them are, they will be very hard. Harder then the 1018 steel I am planning on milling these parts from. Regular aluminum would definitely be softer.
Unless your aluminum clamps are raw, you’re not going to need to worry about them reacting with a steel rail.
I still haven’t had my question answered about how people buying aluminum rails are paying more. More than what? Does someone a) have a steel rail on the market? and b) how is it somehow cheaper than an aluminum one?
I still haven’t had my question answered about how people buying aluminum rails are paying more. More than what? Does someone a) have a steel rail on the market? and b) how is it somehow cheaper than an aluminum one?
Marketing? Haha my guess is most aluminum rails also have a lot of lightening cuts and added machine work to keep weight down then hard coated. This steel rail is just a bar with angled cuts so not very much machine work.
So I already posted above how the weight of a 14" steel rail is comparable in weight to the 419 rail with all the brass weights added.
The aluminum stock itself is going to be more expensive. Then you add extra processing steps to mill the pockets to place the weights. Then you need to make the brass weights. This is additional material that needs to be purchased and then processed. Then you need to add the cost of whatever fasteners will be used to attach the weights to the rail.
Not caring about weight, a standard steel rail would likely cost similar to aluminum. Material cost and processing would all be similar. I guess I was specifically referencing the cost of adding weight to the aluminum rail.
You think the aluminum is going to be more expensive?
Regardless, the machining time of the steel rail is going to be longer. I'm not seeing your projected cost savings, especially with nothing to ralate them to.
Probably be cheaper to make one of out $100 bills.
Area 419 has just what you are looking for. I’m getting two:
Problem with that is it’s only in 14” version, which for a bravo or other krg chassis types is way to long (4”) off the front end.Area 419 has just what you are looking for. I’m getting two:
My J Allen Arca-6 is...
...ready for it?...
...6” off the front.
...ready for it?...
...6” off the front.
This is the stuff I made. All out of a .5" x 1.5" piece of 1018.
I added some .75 x 3" solid bar stock to the butt pad spacer to balance the thing out when I run a suppressor.
The bag rider I modeled up and had printed by a customer out of glass filled nylon (PA 3200 GF). It attaches using the existing fastener locations, just with longer bolts.
None of this stuff has helped me be a better shooter....but it does make the rifle heavier.
Haha, welp, it was worth a try anyway.None of this stuff has helped me be a better shooter....but it does make the rifle heavier.
What did the Arca rail weight end up being finished?
talked to bear9350 yesterday, said he just got them back from the shop and was gonna Mount one and make sure they worked with arca clamps
Sorry for the delay fellas. Got the milled rails back last week but had been busy and didn’t have time to get it installed right away.
The rail as I received them.
I have a 419 clamp with the pins removed. It fit well and clamped down well.
At first my plan was to cut it down to 9-3/4” inches to fit just the length of the forend. After some fit-up I decided to leave it the full 12”.
I located and drilled the holes in the appropriate places.
My plan was to insert a steel bar into the chassis to bolt the rail to. I had a couple pieces laser cut to slip inside the chassis. The notches needed to be cut out for clearance where the bolts pass through to attach the forend grip to the chassis. I drilled and tapped holes to mount the rail to. I tapped for an M5 to match the rest of the hardware on my Bravo chassis.
Then bolted everything back together.
Did a little dry fire practice and made it to the range once so far. Everything is functioning well. I am thinking I will add a thumb rest to the front of the internal mounting bracket I made. When shooting off of a barricade with a bag I like to clamp the rifle to my bag with my left hand. The gap between the barrel and steel insert worked pretty well for me to clamp my thumb on but I would like to make just a bit larger of a shelf there.
I also had a few butt spacers laser cut to balance things back out. With everything installed and an M24 contour barrel I am just a bit over 20 pounds. I don’t have a great scale to get a precise measurement.
The rail as I received them.
I have a 419 clamp with the pins removed. It fit well and clamped down well.
At first my plan was to cut it down to 9-3/4” inches to fit just the length of the forend. After some fit-up I decided to leave it the full 12”.
I located and drilled the holes in the appropriate places.
My plan was to insert a steel bar into the chassis to bolt the rail to. I had a couple pieces laser cut to slip inside the chassis. The notches needed to be cut out for clearance where the bolts pass through to attach the forend grip to the chassis. I drilled and tapped holes to mount the rail to. I tapped for an M5 to match the rest of the hardware on my Bravo chassis.
Then bolted everything back together.
Did a little dry fire practice and made it to the range once so far. Everything is functioning well. I am thinking I will add a thumb rest to the front of the internal mounting bracket I made. When shooting off of a barricade with a bag I like to clamp the rifle to my bag with my left hand. The gap between the barrel and steel insert worked pretty well for me to clamp my thumb on but I would like to make just a bit larger of a shelf there.
I also had a few butt spacers laser cut to balance things back out. With everything installed and an M24 contour barrel I am just a bit over 20 pounds. I don’t have a great scale to get a precise measurement.
Waiting for the muzzle brake-hitch attachment and bi-pod with wheels to you can cart the lead sled around the range
I sent him an email yesterday and he said materials should be in yesterday and he would be shipping today.
Sorry for the delay guys. The first set of steel inserts I got back didn't line up quite right and I needed to get them re-cut. If you were waiting on a rail it shipped today and should arrive Monday per tracking unless I sent you a message indicating other wise.
Got mine mounted up! Left it at 12” so 2” stick out in front. Works perfectly with the btc-pro and looks good too.
Anybody ever come up with an steel arca option? Looking for one on a TCS
Have you looked at the KRG version? It has enough mounting options that I'll be you could make it work on a LOT of things....
Arca Rail, Heavy (KRG) – Kinetic Research Group
kineticresearchgroup.com
interesting. I'll give it a lookHave you looked at the KRG version? It has enough mounting options that I'll be you could make it work on a LOT of things....
Arca Rail, Heavy (KRG) – Kinetic Research Group
Must be perceived, because Al to Al has much higher friction coeff than Al to steel.
Your post is correct as far as it goes, but the truth is that in this application, neither the aluminum nor the steel is typically uncoated. That’s one reason why aluminum fittings are always coated, to reduce the coefficient of friction and therefore galling.
This does not mean that I am argueing your point or trying to disagree, just pointing it out.
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There is a steel area419 one made specifically for the tcs. You might have to get it directly through manners though. It was an option when purchasing my tcs directly through them
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