Future of Precision Rifle Rifles - No Action Action???

[LuvDog]

Anyone else see this post about Arken / Outlier. I know we have some Arken Optics fans here.

I'm not convinced this is the way to go. Seems like its missing key components to keep it a precise.


View: https://youtu.be/U1lPn9QIqe0?si=Q8s1PjyG9tFp1ut2

OPS Rifle System

Meet the Guns America "Best Innovation" product from SHOT SHOW 2025: The Outlier Precision Rifle System The Outlier MICRO-ACTION is the star of the show. Weighing in at just 2 ounces, the tiny SERIALIZED micro-action runs the precision rifle system with efficiency. Paired with a patented...

www.getoutlier.com

Maybe it would make a good hunting rifle because of it's weight?

 

[PappyM3]

Anyone else see this post about Arken / Outlier. I know we have some Arken Optics fans here.

I'm not convinced this is the way to go. Seems like its missing key components to keep it a precise.


View: https://youtu.be/U1lPn9QIqe0?si=Q8s1PjyG9tFp1ut2

OPS Rifle System

Meet the Guns America "Best Innovation" product from SHOT SHOW 2025: The Outlier Precision Rifle System The Outlier MICRO-ACTION is the star of the show. Weighing in at just 2 ounces, the tiny SERIALIZED micro-action runs the precision rifle system with efficiency. Paired with a patented...

www.getoutlier.com

Maybe it would make a good hunting rifle because of it's weight?

It weighs 9lbs without an optic. I wouldn’t exactly call it light.

 

[MickeyD’s]

It weighs 9lbs without an optic. I wouldn’t exactly call it light.

Well the trend these days is 20lb rifles so it’s quite light

 

[PappyM3]

Well the trend these days is 20lb rifles so it’s quite light

Not for a hunting rifle.

And for a precision competition rifle it is too light.

And if I wanted a 9 lb hunting rifle, it would have a buttery smooth full steel action and a beautifully grained walnut stock.

It’s at a weird spot. I’m also highly skeptical on its precision potential with its design. I’d be happy to be wrong about that one. But I don’t think I am.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

It weighs 9lbs without an optic. I wouldn’t exactly call it light.

Is it 9lbs with that broom stick of a barrel and suppressor system? I couldn't find the specs listed. If so, that is pretty light.

 

[PappyM3]

Is it 9lbs with that broom stick of a barrel and suppressor system? I couldn't find the specs listed. If so, that is pretty light.

It’s a carbon barrel with a big hollow section to work alongside the silencer. So don’t ascribe any potential accuracy (edit: or weight) based on its thickness.

But yes, the weight includes the silencer. But 30 silencers seem to weigh between 8 and 16 ounces. So it’s an 8-8.5lb rifle without factoring in the silencer. Pretty bad considering their idea to hog out the action to just a small back piece and using a big barrel extension. I’m guessing the chassis isn’t too light, but I imagine it is also proprietary to keep the action back to the barrel extension connected. That’s just a guess on my part.

I do really appreciate the innovation here. Trying something new. I also really like the integral silencer that uses an empty chamber in the barrel to increase volume (though it would be hard to redirect enough gases to fully utilize that space). I just don’t think they really thought out what market this would fit into.

 

[Mesatchornug]

I’m also highly skeptical on its precision potential with its design. I’d be happy to be wrong about that one. But I don’t think I am.

That's my first thought.

The tolerance stack between a traditional receiver and a a barrel is one interface. There are one or two more steps to the optic.

Here, the pic rail is floating between the barrel and rear receiver, with interfaces at either end.. The receiver connects to the barrel through the magwell, with the same two interfaces. This means there's a four-bar linkage with the receiver and barrel at opposite ends. For the barrels to be user replaceable with a couple screws, we are relying on machining tolerances and drop in fit.

I imagine there are directional, tapered tombstones to ensure alignment, but there's still a ton of risk there.

 

[LuvDog]

For a chassis rifle, I think it's weight is pretty darn light for what it is.

But I'm also in the skeptical camp. How do you make sure you're keeping POA and POI aligned?

He's right though... they're thinking way outside of the box.

 

[whatluck]

You gotta be careful reinventing the wheel. The threshold to payoff is so high that you really need to innovate for your invention to be worth retooling/rebuying/retraining/trusting with your life.

Any new firearm invention is simply a novelty until proven to be a game changer by perhaps the most vigorous studies and (usually) multiple R&D cycles.

Never buy version A hardware.

 

[Mountain]

Think AR15 for a moment: The lower receiver isn't really bringing anything to the party for accuracy so long as it is a solid receiver and not creating any bad harmonics. I think same would hold true for a bolt action if done right. A top shelf barrel with a well mated bolt and a great trigger can get you your 1/2 MOA accuracy so long as that barrel is securely mounted in the 'chassis' and there's no unwanted flex overall nor any play for the bolt lugs. Design the bolt action with an AR-like barrel extension and the receiver becomes a piece of hardware to hold stuff, not a source of accuracy.

 

[LuvDog]

My concern here is the pic rail for the scope is mounted to 2 separate pieces. The back it attached to the trigger micro chassis and the front it to the barrel extension. How do you ensure those two stay in alignment.

 

[KMM696]

My concern here is the pic rail for the scope is mounted to 2 separate pieces. The back it attached to the trigger micro chassis and the front it to the barrel extension. How do you ensure those two stay in alignment.

That, I believe, is why they use the floating bolt head. When the bolt head locks into the barrel extension, because it's floating it can align itself with the barrel extension and it doesn't really matter what the other end of the bolt does. Similar to what Savage has done with the 10/110/axis.

Looking at this from how to make a left-handed version out of it, they would need a left hand barrel extension, notch the chassis for the bolt on the other side. They might also need the rear receiver module made for lefty.

I'm having trouble seeing what the advantage to them building it this way is, but that'll come out as more of them escape the factory. Interesting idea, though.

 

[Broc Tuah]

Think AR15 for a moment: The lower receiver isn't really bringing anything to the party for accuracy so long as it is a solid receiver and not creating any bad harmonics. I think same would hold true for a bolt action if done right. A top shelf barrel with a well mated bolt and a great trigger can get you your 1/2 MOA accuracy so long as that barrel is securely mounted in the 'chassis' and there's no unwanted flex overall nor any play for the bolt lugs. Design the bolt action with an AR-like barrel extension and the receiver becomes a piece of hardware to hold stuff, not a source of accuracy.

You can already get 1/2 MOA out of a lot of existing rifles, cheaper and off the shelf.

 

[Mountain]

My concern here is the pic rail for the scope is mounted to 2 separate pieces. The back it attached to the trigger micro chassis and the front it to the barrel extension. How do you ensure those two stay in alignment.

Good point.

 

[Compooky]

So instead of a receiver extension, they’re just using 2 bolts and the top rail to hold the barrel?

 

[paul73]

It weighs 9lbs without an optic. I wouldn’t exactly call it light.

i am quit sceptical of what that is, and also see this below as a huge 'danger will robinson' thing:

"**We do not recommend Magpul AICS mags with the OPS"

wtf would that be? all other rifles i got eat from magpul aics just fine. very odd and not a good sign.

plus, arken by itself is a dirt cheap acceptably clear glass. this thing does not seem be neither dirt cheap, nor great, nor well known, yet.

looking at the video - it seems to be quite a horrible design. i do not like it.