Christensen Arms wants to reduce the weight of hunting rifles with their new Flash Forged Technology.
Firearms manufacturers are constantly innovating and trying to re-invent the wheel so to speak. It's a highly competitive business where every company is trying to out-do the other and as a result we are seeing some unique new innovations at this year's SHOT Show that may be total game changers.
One of those game changers comes from Christensen Arms, who just announced what they are calling "Flash Forged Technology" at SHOT Show. What exactly does that mean? Well, in a nutshell, it appears to be a more efficient way to build a better rifle stock.
In fact, Christensen Arms is saying these new stocks are up to a full pound lighter than most of today's carbon fiber composite rifle stocks. That's a big deal for a rugged hunting rifle meant to be lugged deep into the backcountry in search of your quarry. Let's examine a little more closely what they're working on at Christensen Arms.
What is Flash Forged Technology?
Basically, it's an innovation in carbon fiber structural manufacturing that Christensen Arms is adopting. They are already adopting it into some of their rifle platforms including the MESA FFT and the Ridgeline FFT. The MESA starts at only about 5.5 pounds while the Ridgeline starts at 5.3 pounds. That's going to make these rifles significantly easier to handle, especially for the backcountry hunters who must hike miles into rugged, mountainous terrain to find that big buck or bull of their dreams.
Obviously, they're not giving up too many details on the exact manufacturing process, but you can see some of the equipment they are using to forge these stocks in the video above. Because of advancements in technology, Christensen Arms employs a new manufacturing technique to form the intricate carbon fiber structure of these stocks. They give a short statement on their website on the process:
"Utilizing an aerospace monocoque shell, Flash Forged Technology eliminates unnecessary internal weight. The result is an FFT-designed stock that is up to a full pound lighter than traditionally manufactured carbon fiber composite rifle stocks - creating a more consistent shooting foundation while reducing user fatigue in the field."
At the same time, their site says these new stocks exceed strength and safety margins, so no worries about a flimsier product here.
More efficient to manufacture and better for the environment.
Another interesting aspect of this new technology is from an environmental sustainability standpoint. Even though they have developed an automated process for creating FFT stocks, Christensen Arms says they are using virgin recycled materials to create a product that produces zero waste in manufacturing. All the trimmings from the forging process are repurposed back into making more carbon fiber parts, all without producing harmful emissions or the toxins that may normally be associated with the process.
Christensen Arms President Jason Christensen notes in the video we posted earlier that the company can also completely recycle an already formed part, turning a broken or defective part back into a fully functioning one.
"If we build a bad part, we can take that part, chop it up, and it goes right into being another part," Christensen said. "And it is recyclable, and not at some crazy, just 10 percent level. We can take that full amount and reform product. And you can feel good about that in the sense that it didn't go in a landfill. It didn't create more waste that may be difficult for our world."
That's a concept we can get behind. There's enough waste and trash in this world and our public hunting areas without adding more during the making of our new firearms. For more information on Christensen Arm's FFT Technology, visit their website.
Products featured on Wide Open Spaces are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels.
NEXT: THE AXIS DEER AND HOW THEY'RE IMPACTING PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES
WATCH
