On that flew under the radar at SHOT Show is the ATHENA Precision Chassis Rifle by Drake Associates.
Currently offered in a 5.56 platform and coming soon to 7.62, the ATHENA is monolithic design with the lower receiver and handguard machined from a single piece of aluminum, leaving a freefloated, 18″ Satern Button Drake Heavy Profile Contour Barrel (16″ and 20″ also available). However, there is a top section of the handguard incorporating Picatinny rail which can be removed. The 6 O’clock position also features partial Pic rail for a bipod.
This results in average accuracy of .6 – .7 MOA at 100 yds, with the best group at .366 MOA, using 77 gr Federal OTM ammunition. Now get this, it’s at a muzzle velocity of 2,737 fps.
this looks like sage chassis but for the ar15..
Cant wait to see the accuracy in 7.62
This makes a lot of sense. Would love to see and use it in person.
The only terrible thing is that I would have to sell my SCAR-H to fund something of this nature. Or my Tavor, and thats just for the Chassis.
The whole gun is $1,776
With the results they are getting this seems like a solution in search of a problem. Guns built onstandard receiver sets built by a talented armorer/gunsmith like Steve at Citizen already perform at atleast and equal level if not better.
Steve is the man and his customer service is top notch..
I think you’re missing the point, with this lower chassis the barrel is going to be as truly free floated as a modern precision bolt gun.
If you like Steve at Citizen, try to imagine how great a rifle using this chassis would be AFTER he he worked on it. (Flip side, do you think he could get consistent sub-MOA if he was restricted to using M16A2 handguards?)
“Solution in search of a problem” is my favorite gun cliche.
Imagine one of these chambered in .224 Valkyrie!
I featured that baby a few months ago too. It sounds pretty damn cool. Wonder if they’re looking at 6.5CR as well?
I spoke to the Drake Rep and he mentioned an MSRP of $1,700.00 for the rifle chambered in .556 and is stating that they were getting hits out to 1,000 yards.
Regardless of the accuracy or cost, aesthetically that thing looks great. I really like the lines; futuristic without going overboard.
What does it weigh? Are they trading slightly better MOA for a lot more weight?