Not sure if anyone else would be interested in this but I thought I would share. (Full disclosure: no financial interest in the company, just a very satisfied customer so far)

Noreen Firearms currently produces the Bad News Semi Auto Rifle in 300 Win Mag and 338 Lapua. At $5999.00 that's bloody steep (and I'll reach for a .50BMG first)

However they do have one nice little thing coming soon. (Like Jan 30th)

A long action service rifle AR platform chambered in 30-06 with up to a 20 round magazine. (5/10 round mags standard)
Oh and 25-06 / 270 are supposed to be coming later this year.



Did I mention it has only a $1795.00 price tag on it?

Company Page
http://www.onlylongrange.com/index.asp

BN36 Rifle Page
http://www.onlylongrange.com/bn36.asp

And for all the rich folks .... the Bad News 338 Lapua
http://www.onlylongrange.com/badnews.asp


Now this might just be a gun pron page but I was wondering if anyone else would be really interested in something like this??

Dude, that's pretty awesome.
but no where on the the site did I see a $1795 price tag. At that price I would definitely be interested in one.

wonder why you cant use hornady ammo

I ordered mine last year before the price increase. $1795 is what they quoted me as the current price was as of last week.

The beauty of it is that except for the lower / upper receiver & bolt carrier they are using standard AR-10 parts whereever possible with the exception of the buffer tube / stock which is a straight AR-15 full sized rifle. The bolt is a standard AR-10 bolt. As soon as they sell the uppers themselves I have my eye on a nice 338-06 or 35 Whelen custom chambering and I have a combination deer / moose gun.

Since the uppers will be available in 25-06 (eventually) that also tells me that it's spec'd to 65,000 psi.

If you want price confirmation feel free to give them a call. Most of them are at the SHOT show but they have someone answering the phones.

Cobb made the MCR-300 / MCR-400 (and was subsequently bought by Bushmaster who then killed the entire product line) but so far I cant find anyone else that is actually making a 30-06 AR. Had to to my homework to find these guys so hopefully, my studies can be your gain as well.

At some point I'll have to provide a nice range report on it.

That's awesome!!

tag

That's a neat rig.

I'm gonna stick with my Garands, though.

Got one of those as well. But the 65K psi rating interesting as you can stretch the capabilities of the 30-06 to it's true potential IMHO.
That and I have something extra special planned for it. (Think 21st century BAR)

Now there's an interesting idea...

Rebarrel that dude for .280 Rem and enjoy.

Indeed. Wonder why it took so long!

Dude... The idea of a .35 Whelen AR has my brain all vapor locked by awesomeness.

That's a barrel installation. After the production dies down I am picking up a second upper assembly and looking at either 35 Whelen Improved or a 338-06 AI. Not sure which I should run with.

AI cartridges would be awesome, but there could be feeding issues. Just throwing it out there...

i got my BAD NEWS .338 LM for sale in this forum

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...agn#Post3954589

Very slick. I would love the 25-06!

Didn't know that. I'll start digging and thanks.

Cool but unless they make it in 22-250.. lol jk

This thing will be awesome in 25-06!

Found this on another website to explain it.



YMMV

I been waiting for someone to do this. Cant wait to see one.I'd definently be interested once they get in full production.

Some more details on the rifle. Full disclosure, I do not have any stake or interest in this company but I'd appreciate it if you tell them Brandon in Texas sent you. (Maybe they'll cut me some slack on future orders ... do you really think I'll stop at one? )



Ok, details on the 30-06 AR. The company is Noreen firearms. http://www.onlylongrange.com

While shopping for my 50 BMG last fall I ran across them and Nemo Arms. http://www.nemoarms.com

Both companies are producing either a 300 Win Mag or 338 Lapua semi automatic AR platform. At $5999 (Noreen) and $5300 (Nemo) I about had a heart attack. Then I asked Noreen if they were ever planning a 30-06 chambered AR system (because the ammo is cheaper). They said they had a prototype and were working on it.

Of course I said TAKE MY MONEY. And ordered it in very early November (pre-election) for $1XXX. 2013 prices have gone up (thanks Obama) but they are still very VERY reasonable at $1799.

Initial production was slated for January of this year but production delays and reworking the magazine have pushed it to early April 2013. Apparently I am damn near the top of the list on private citizen orders (serial number SHOULD be below 100 for those who like that kind of stuff)

I've spoken for about a total of 90 minutes on the phone with their engineers and reps getting some information so I'll put everything I know here. (A review will be coming after the rifle arrives.)

So here are the specs right off their web page. Here's the link but I'll type them out here.

BN 36 Rifle

Caliber: 30-06, 270, 25-06
Operation: Direct Gas Impingement, Side Charging Semiauto
Barrel : 22
Muzzle Brake attached, uses 5/8 X 24 threads
Weight: 8 pounds
Rifling: RH 1 in 10
Stock: A2
Magazine: 5/10/20 rounds
Trigger: Milspec or optional

Notes from my discussions with them.

• If you go on their website you will also see the Bad News 338 Lap / 300 WinMag rifle as well. That rifle is 13.5 pounds while the BN36 is only 8 pounds. I was told that the receivers for the BN36 are slightly lighter and thinner because the brute force strength is not required for 30-06 versus the other cartridges.
• Comes with a Hard Case.
• 270 Winchester & 25-06 Remington will be forthcoming after intial orders are filled and shipped [pending]
• That muzzle brake WILL be coming off when I work up accelerator rounds for this beast.
• The entire system is based off the AR-15 platform. The custom parts on this are the upper receiver, bolt carrier, lower receiver, mag and obviously the barrel [who else makes a 30-06 chambered AR barrel ... I need to know]
• The bolt is a standard AR-10 bolt system but Noreen is using a proprietary heat treat system on them to make them stronger in order to accomodate the 270 Winchester and 25-06's higher chamber pressures (65K psi / 63k psi per SAAMI specs).
• What this means is that 65K psi 30-06 cartridges are possible in a semi-auto chamber and I intend to slowly and SAFELY work up loads [while checking for pressure signs obviously] for long range and specialized 30-06 loads specific to this rifle.
• Triggers and internal parts are completely AR-15 compatible
• Noreen does offer a Timney trigger option for $260 or so [not an exact price quote so just ask em]
• For Class 3 guys I was informed that an RDIAS will fit and operate in this platform. Obviously, let's play by the rules and be legal (of course) ... (They have a video of a full auto Bad News 338) ....
  Full Auto Bad News 338 Lapua
• The stock uses a rifle length buffer tube for the AR-15
• Magazines: This is the part that is not so fun. The rifle comes with 2 magazines and they are using a proprietary design. Extra mags are at $80 a pop (at last quote) but if you order more than 10 they will drop the price at bit ($60 seems reasonable). On the bright side they use a pinning option to modify the 20 round to handle only 5 or 10 depending on what's legal for hunting around you.
• The second bright spot on the magazines is that the magazine well will be larger than 85mm (OAL for 30-06). This should allow very heavy bullet loads to be worked up.
• I'm sure that everyone is watching ammo prices like a hawk but here's an interesting twist. 30-06 is now regularly cheaper than 5.56/.223 ammo that I have been finding in stock in places.
  (http://www.gunbot.net)
• At last check if you order direct from Noreen you can expect roughly an August to September delivery date. They did however state that they have a few thousand in the pipeline going out to various dealer orders. So if you just HAVE to have it now, you can probably get it in May with a bit of a premium.

Now for myself I have some seriously interesting plans for this puppy.

I do intend to get a second upper receiver so that I can alternate calibers. Noreen has already stated that they will only sell complete rifles at this point until they catch up with initial demand.
I also intend on working up that 1500 yard 30-06 load
Accelerator rounds: Been doing a LOT of homework and talking to some serious gun nuts that do have 1 MOA working versions of their pet sabot loads. Every shooter that has a decent load says the key is tuning barrel harmonics for it.

Alternate calibers: Noreen admits to having working models for 270 Win and 25-06.
For my second upper receiver I can picture that a custom barrel will allow for some much more interesting chamberings

• 6mm-06 / 6.5mm-06
• 338-06 A-square
• 35 Whelen
• 375 Whelen
• Any of the Ackley Improved models of chambering
• 8 X 57 mm Mauser
• 7 x 57 mm Mauser
• God only knows what else that has an OAL around 3 - 3.34 inches
• I'm going to do a lot of measuring but with their report of extra space in the magazine their MIGHT be enough room for some longer beltless magnum cartridges with the right gunsmith. OAL for 338 RUM and 300 RUM are 91mm. Dakotas and others might be a possibility as well. [and a mag mod will have to be done of course]
• For those magnum cartridges you will obviously have to modify the bolt face from .473 in (12.0 mm) to .534 in (13.6 mm) [and probably more stuff too, not a gunsmith so don't crucify me] . I freely admit this might not be the best idea considering prior comments from Noreen but a man can certainly tinker a bit ....

Wolf extra power springs (like what guys are using for 50 Beowulf and 450 Bushmaster) should help with additional recoil. Experiments to follow obviously.
My Geissele SD3G trigger is sitting on the shelf waiting for this rifle to arrive. Considering how fast guys can dump mags with those things this is some serious firepower. Can you say 3 gun with a 30-06? Should be interesting to say the least ...

In conclusion I think Noreen's got one seriously winning product here. If it's as strong and reliable as I think it is (and they are marketing it as), Noreen Firearms might have just created the 21st century true battle rifle. Or maybe just a 21st century version of the Browning Automatic Rifle.

Either way, we (the customers) WIN.
I also know I'm already abandoning the 5.56 permanently.

Hope this helps,
Brandon

Garand. That is all.

Centurion,

You gave us the meat, taters, and the biscuits! Thank you for all of the information. I am shocked that's an eight pound rifle. We'll be waiting on a range report.

Funny, but I have one of those as well. Great weapon.

Now if you would, please show me a Garand with a 20 round mag and a competition trigger for 3 gun matches that weighs 8 pounds and handles 65K psi 30-06 rounds and can switch calibers with the change of an upper. And do it for under $2000 brand new.

I'll be sure to write one up. And include video.