Light as Possible

[rtjrom]

I havent posted on here in so long but does any one have any idea how light a mag reail can really be milled down to? And also if any one knows what the lightest a body can get? that would be much appreciated also

[MANN]

go to themagsmith.com look at the forums. Rough has posted all the weights for stock agd pieces, and his gear.

Edit: I feel generous

http://www.themagsmith.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33

[rtjrom]

Thanks for the link, but I have poured over that before. I am talking really light for the rail, for example the alpha rail that Logic used to make weighed in at 2.1 oz. I was wondering if anyone knew if people stilled miled that much off or if anyone milled more off. But thanks again for the help.

[MANN]

cyberave68 I think that is what his name is. He is making some sick rails. He had a thread in the misc sell.

[rtjrom]

Why thank you again ill go look for that thread right now. Do you know about how long ago?

[MANN]

Ill pm you some of his recent designs

[MANN]

you have a pm

[rtjrom]

Actually i was really comtemplating on using the original carbon fiber frame. They are strong, light, and easy to find. But i dont really do much diving but i am looking to do just a really stripped down clean looking automake that is purely functionality and comfort. I am also looking at using a milled down y-grip also.

p.s. I feel pretty honored to have Rogue posting in my post. You are pretty much an Automag Celebrity.

[etjoyride]

ps. Thanks for the compliment. But I am just a regular dude.

Far from it my good sir, you know perfectly well that you have done an extraordinary amount to help create/sell new automag parts and keep automags "with the times" (or something like that)

[rtjrom]

Well thank you very much for the advice, so you would suggest using an intiliframe rather than a y-grip? I was also thinking about trying to pick up a new/used Chimera if I could find one.

But about you being an ordinary guy, I disagree with that. You have done so much for Automags and have made so many more options available for Automags. Thank you for that too.

[olinar]

i would go for the carbon fiber frame.if you really want a double you can always chipe the trigger guard and add a dbl trigger.and a foregrip is really pointless if you dont use it much.i think the dallara rail is the lightest but there is rom for more milling.you can have the whole fornt where the twistlock and foregrip mount milled mount if your not using them.
and for everything else itll be some custom work from a couple people but if your talkin a couple ounces i think its a waste but if you want it it can be done.

[rtjrom]

Yea a lot of it has to do with budget at the end, but no there will definatly not be a fore grip and really a double trigger is a must. Its just that without a trigger guard the gun isnt tourny legal at all, so that is the hard decision with the carbon fiber frame.

[CoolHand]

. . . . .Ive got rails down to nothing, but they dont last long before they bend and cause functionality issues. I try to hover around 3.0 oz., and have found that dropping below 2.5 oz. is really running a gamble. . . . . .

The only way I was able to get the Alpha down to 2.1 ozs was the narrow places in the rail. I cheated basically by making them very narrow but thick walled so they wouldn't bend. Well, that, and they're about 1/8" thinner overall and nearly 2" shorter than an RTP rail since they were based on the Classic style rail. I could have taken more meat out yet, but as you say, they get a little flimsy when you go too far. To get an RTP rail down below 3ozs cannot leave much behind.

I'm afraid that a ULE body, a super light rail, and a CF frame might lead to a marker with stiffness issues. Hell, I've seen mags with ULE bodies on stock RTP rails with Intelliframes bind up LVLX bolts by having one frame screw or the other too loose or tight.

The Mag lives right on the edge of functionality at all times it seems, so you have to cut weight in places that the marker won't mind when it comes to stiffness.

Pretty much any production type rail will be fine, be it RPG, Logic, AGD, or hell, even an Omega if you can find one. And even most one off milled rails will be fine, but I'd be wary of cutting big notches across the rail between the frame screws or under the valve. So long as you keep a long rail going front to back, you should be fine stiffness wise.

[Pneumagger]

Lightest rails are based off of the classic rails - as Coolhand stated, they are naturally shorter than an RTP based rail.

That being said - I believe the Logic Alpha was the lightest production rail ever and the DW Dallara (sold by RPG) is the lightse currently in production.

[rtjrom]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I mean i dont plan on getting a rail then hacking pieces out of it. I know that will lead to flex in any mechanical chassis. Tho i would like to hear all your advice on frame and body selection. I have always been somewhat drawn to the y-grip but Rogue said the intelliframe would be lighter. Also is replacing the single trigger on the carbon fiber frame with a double trigger as easy as replacing any trigger?

Thanks guys again for all the help and its really awesome to be getting advice from so highly respected AO members.