OK boys, a little more information for you.
The original Raptor project was simple a receiver project. The design goals of my Raptor were basically to produce the finest receiver on the market designed specifically focused toward long range precision hunting. I believe I accomplished that goal but the project got derailed because of my poor choice in manufacturing partner which came to light after much wasted time and money.
This brings us to the Raptor LRSS project. Unlike the original project, this is a much broader ranging project, not just a receiver, an entire precision rifle system. My goal is to offer a complete turn key system for someone wanting to long range hunt, offering legit extreme range precision with the consistancy of a 50 lb bench rifle but in a package in the sub 15 lb range.
The rifle will include several one of a kind features to improve performance and consistancy, just to hit on them quickly without any detail(sorry, not yet!!!) APS Raptor DRL barrel design, APS Raptor Performance throat and many other features in the specific receiver that I will leave till later.
Simply put, compared to the original Raptor receiver project, this is Vastly more extensive. What I wanted the Raptor receiver to offer over current receivers, the Raptor LRSS will offer the same advantage over the current top level of rifle performance.
LRSS stands for Long Range Shooting System.
The rifles will come with a few options to start with but basically similiar. The will be available with the HS Precision DM or Seekins DM floorplates to start with with the option for an internal wyatts 3.820" extended box down the road.
The stock for this project is one of my favorite. Tom Manners has agreed to work with me on the special inletting needed for my Double Recoil lug Raptor barrel system starting with his MCS-T4A stock which is very similiar to the McMillan A-5 in design and feel.
The rifles will come with the option of having a NF NXS installed on the rifle as well with a set of NF 30 mm Ultralight rings. Like I said, I want this to be a turn key rifle including hard case and in the case of my wildcat chamberings a set of loading dies as well. All rifles will also come in a quality hard case but I have not decided on manufacturer yet for that case.
The initial list of chamberings the Raptor LSS will be offered in will include:
300 RUM
338 RUM
338 Edge
338 Lapua
7mm Allen Magnum
300 Allen Xpress
338 Allen Xpress
This project has many steps, this is step one, the release of the Raptor LRSS. Step two is to work on a lighter weight(8-9 lb) sporter version using basically the same design but scaled down for a much lighter weight package.
Step three, the Xtreme Raptor. You guessed it, for the big boys. Plans are already in the works. I designed the Raptor receiver so that with only a simple receiver body diameter increase and receiver thread diameter increase, it will easily handle the 408 CT class chamberings!!!! And yes, the new Raptor design for these big rounds will also have all the other unique features of this original Raptor LRSS. Initially only in single shot but it should allow me to get rifle weight down to the sub 15 lb range ready to hunt with........
Again back to the Raptor LRSS. There are a few out there working on bull pup designs to shorten our conventional rifle systems which is very interesting work. I went a different direction in my Raptor wanting to offer a traditional rifle but with the strength and rigidity of a 50 lb bench rifle but in a rifle of conventional rifle dimension specs. I believe this rifle will do this very well as well as allow me to morph it into lighter sporter weight versions and then scale it up for some truely serious rifles.
The Actual Raptor recever is somewhat similiar to the old design but I will fully admit, there are several new features that make it a vastly superoir receiver to build on then the old design. My goal was the quality of the BAT and Nesika Bay receivers, from the prototype in my hands, that goal was FULLY met and the looks are very agressive and dramatic.
This will not be a rifle for the faint of heart, not in looks or performance. I did not set out to build a "Pretty" rifle, I set out to build a rifle that makes you step back and after looking at it for a couple seconds, the only comment I want my customers to be thinking is ****!!! I think she will do this easily. Then after shooting, I just want smiles.
No pictures yet. The rifle is nearly completed but until its finished, no pictures.
The Raptor LRSS will be field tested this coming month on a late trophy whitetail hunt and Throphy Aoudad hunt in Oklahoma. As with the first field test for the original Raptor, My good friends from OK will be with me to try her out!!! That will be the last week in Janurary.
After that I will sit down and decide what changes if any I want to the prototype Raptor design, make those changes and go from there.
At this point, I am NOT taking any pre orders, sorry. When the time comes, I will let you all know when I will be taking orders.
Pictures soon, range reports and performance reports soon after.
Stay tuned!!