Gun writers are a contrarian bunch, however each every so often, we agree on one thing. For the previous two years, that “one thing” has been the NULA 20 rifle from Wilson Fight.
Discipline & Stream named the NULA 20 the “Greatest New Rifle of 2023” and On Goal Journal bestowed upon it their “Editor’s Alternative” award. This yr, Weapons & Ammo named it their “2024 Rifle of the 12 months.”
I received’t contradict my esteemed colleagues at these august establishments, however bandwagons are as actual within the gun world as they’re within the sports activities world. Nobody needs to get overlooked of the occasion, so I’ve been curious to see for myself whether or not Wilson Fight’s new rifle is all hype or the true deal.
The reply will depend on who you might be, the way you hunt, and what you worth. I’ll provide you with all the information you want, and you’ll resolve for your self.
Options and Specs–NULA Mannequin 20S Mini Motion, 300 HAM’R
Size: 35″
LOP: 13.5″
Capability: 5+1
Inventory: AG Composites carbon fiber inventory with Pachmayr 1″ Decelerator recoil pad and nitride-coated sling studs
Receiver: EDM reduce from 4140 bar inventory with Armor-Tuff coating
Bolt: Absolutely machined from 4340 bar inventory
Barrel: Light-weight profile Wilson Fight button rifled 416R stainless
Set off/Security: Timney Elite Hunter (2.75#-3.25#)
Motion, bolt and barrel coating: Armor-Tuff
Backside steel: Exhausting Anodized
Accessible Calibers and Barrel Lengths: .223 Wylde 18″ (1-8 Twist), 1/2″x28 | 300 HAM’R 16″ and 18″ (1-15 Twist), 5/8″x24 | 300 Blackout 16″ (1-7 Twist), 5/8″x24 | 350 Legend 16″ (1-15 Twist), 5/8″x24
Base value: $2,995
NULA: “New Ultralight Arms”
Arkansas-based Wilson Fight was based by gunmaker and competitor Invoice Wilson in 1977 and is thought primarily for high-end 1911’s and AR-15’s. Bolt-action rifles are a brand new enterprise for the corporate, however they aren’t reinventing the wheel. They’ve primarily based their design on the rifles developed by Melvin Forbes, who roughly invented the “sub-five-pound rifle” class. Forbes offered his firm, New Extremely Mild Arms, to Wilson Fight in 2022, and Invoice Wilson and his crew got down to enhance upon what was already a superb design.
They first launched the NULA Mannequin 20 with chamberings in .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, .308 Winchester, and .358 Winchester. These rifles hovered proper round 5 kilos, and they’re reported to be exceptionally correct. Then, only a few months in the past, Wilson launched a “mini-action” model of the rifle, the Mannequin 20S. These rifles shave off just a few extra ounces and can be found in smaller cartridges: .223 Wylde, 300 HAM’R, 300 Blackout, and 350 Legend.
All rifles make the most of trendy manufacturing applied sciences to provide sturdy but exactly machined components. That begins with the receiver, which is EDM reduce from 4140 bar inventory. EDM stands for “electrical discharge machining,” and it’s used to machine extraordinarily exhausting supplies like titanium alloys, carbines, and warmth handled instrument steels. The 2-lug bolt is absolutely machined from 4340 bar inventory, and the button rifled barrel is made by Wilson Fight out of 416R chrome steel that’s been honed and double stress relieved. Button-rifling a barrel produces stress within the materials, so eradicating that stress promotes accuracy and guards in opposition to warping all through the lifetime of the barrel.
This would possibly sound like Greek to you except you’re employed in a machining store, and it’s definitely not apparent wanting on the gun from the skin. It’s additionally true that inexpensive rifles use related manufacturing strategies, and despite the fact that the NULA is a high-quality product, it’s not handcrafted. Nonetheless, every part is manufacturing unit constructed with a watch in the direction of efficiency and sturdiness, and to date I’ve no motive to doubt that this rifle will outlive me and nonetheless carry out within the discipline.
300 HAM’R: Large Efficiency, Small Package deal
Talking of efficiency, the NULA is an actual pleasure to shoot. The mini motion, slim-profile barrel, and AG Composites carbon fiber inventory mix to create a light-weight, well-balanced gun that enables for correct standing photographs and simple all-day carry. Light-weight rifles aren’t the trump card some make them out to be, however I discover that they enhance confidence looking within the woods the place a fast standing shot is commonly obligatory. Ultralight rifles are good on a mountain hunt, however they might be much more useful in thick cowl.
All of those advantages are made doable by the 300 HAM’R. The NULA 20S may be had in a number of mini-action cartridges, however I believe the 300 HAM’R presents essentially the most advantages to hunters. I’ve lined the 300 HAM’R intimately in a Caliber Battle in opposition to the .30-30 Win., however right here’s the Spark Notes model.
Invoice Wilson developed the HAM’R to copy the ballistics of the .30-30 Win utilizing a .223 Rem. case. He wished one thing that may very well be simply chambered in an AR-15, however he wasn’t glad with the opposite .30-caliber cartridge used for this goal, the 300 Blackout. So, he reduce the .223 Rem. case a bit longer than the Blackout to accommodate a bigger powder cost and necked it as much as settle for a .30-caliber bullet.
Left to proper: .30-30 Win., 300 HAM’R, 300 Blackout.
The end result was a cartridge that does certainly rival the rate of the .30-30 Win., however does it utilizing a smaller case and with higher accuracy. The HAM’R permits Wilson Fight’s engineers to make use of that mini motion and obtain most velocity with a brief, 16-inch barrel–making the rifle ultralight but in addition not too front-heavy, even with a suppressor. It’s the final word medium-power setup for deer, hogs, coyotes, and even elk, if the Wilson Fight web site is to be believed.
On the Vary
On paper, the NULA 20S is a superb rifle. However how does it stack up on the vary?
Placing this rifle by way of its paces, the phrase that stored coming to thoughts was “helpful.” The dictionary defines “helpful” as “handy to deal with or use” and “shut at hand.” The NULA is each: its brief general size makes it handy to make use of and simply stowable in a side-by-side or truck–even with a suppressor. Bolt weapons have a tough time not reworking into broomsticks with a suppressor on the top, however this rifle feels well-balanced firing from any discipline place, suppressor or no. (Plus, the barrel’s flared muzzle finish makes it straightforward to direct-thread a 5/8″x24 suppressor, which is the commonest thread pitch for .30-caliber suppressors.)
The mini motion cycles easily, although there may be extra play than common between the bolt and the receiver. If it isn’t effectively lubricated, this makes it stick for those who don’t manipulate it on an ideal parallel with the bore. It’s a small gripe, however it’s noticeable.
The Timney Elite Hunter set off is great, and on the mannequin I acquired got here set round 2.25 kilos. It’s adjustable between two and 4 kilos, however I felt no have to mess with it at that weight.
Transferring from discipline positions to the bench, I didn’t have excessive hopes that this rifle can be a tackdriver. I’ve fairly a little bit of expertise accuracy testing each the 300 Blackout and the .30-30 Win., and neither cartridge can do significantly better than 1.5-inch teams at 100 yards. That’s why I used to be stunned to see that Wilson Fight sends out all their NULA 20S rifles with a sub-MOA accuracy assure. I didn’t suppose the 300 HAM’R might really put up teams lower than one inch at 100 yards, however I used to be pleasantly stunned.
Ammo
110g TCC
125g TCC
110g VMAX
135g FTX
150g SST
130g HHC
Common Group (in)
0.83
1.11
1.43
1.15
1.09
1.09
Small Group (in)
0.6
0.65
1.3
1
0.75
0.9
Common Velocity
2548
2426
2601
2426
2287
2532
Top-of-the-line teams at 100 yards. Shot with 110-grain TCC ammo from Lehigh Protection.
These outcomes won’t look spectacular when in comparison with extra highly effective cartridges designed for long-range capturing. However for a snub-nosed cartridge just like the 300 HAM’R, that is fairly rattling good.
I used to be additionally struck by the rifle’s consistency throughout bullet weights and kinds. Some rifles, like this Savage Axis II I reviewed just lately, may be choosy about ammunition. Increased high quality rifles might not at all times shoot the lights out, however like this Sig Sauer Cross Magnum, they put up respectable teams it doesn’t matter what you feed them.
I used most of my non-infinite ammunition provide capturing teams at 100 yards, however I additionally shot just a few teams at 200 and 300 yards. The outcomes had been surprisingly good. With these 110g TCC cartridges (essentially the most correct of these I examined), I shot two 1.3-inch teams at 200 yards. At 300 yards, these teams expanded to five.5 inches, which is to be anticipated with these low-BC bullets and the stiff wind that day on the vary. I wish to conduct additional testing at ranges past 200 yards, however I’d be greater than assured in taking a 200-yard shot with this rifle and ammo. I can’t say I’d at all times really feel the identical with both the 300 Blackout or the .30-30 Win.
A sub-MOA group at 200 yards, additionally shot with 110-grain TCC.
So, What’s the Catch?
The Wilson Fight NULA 20S is a superb, thoughtfully designed rifle that any hunter can be proud to personal. Nevertheless it’s not good. Not as a result of there’s something improper with it however as a result of it’s freakin costly.
“Costly” is a relative time period, in fact. One man’s once-in-a-lifetime rifle is one other man’s weekly journey to the gun retailer. However with a base value of practically $3,000 (at the moment $2,500 with a 15% low cost on Wilson Fight’s web site), I believe I’m on protected floor assuming most hunters will balk on the price.
That’s very true given the restricted capabilities of the cartridges on the NULA mini motion platform. It’s one factor to spend an arm and a leg on a rifle chambered in .308 Win. that can be utilized on most North American recreation animals. It’s one other to spend these legs and arms on a small caliber rifle that has much less versatility–each when it comes to energy and vary.
In case you go along with a NULA 20S within the 300 HAM’R, you’ll even have a harder time discovering ammunition. So far as I’m conscious, Sig Sauer is the one different firm apart from Wilson Fight and Lehigh Protection (which is owned by Wilson Fight) to have ever provided manufacturing unit loaded 300 HAM’R. However I’ve confirmed that Sig is now not producing that cartridge, so that you’ll must order ammunition from Wilson.
Wilson and Lehigh provide an enormous number of bullet weights and kinds, and you may get a field of 20 for lower than $30. However if you wish to use the HAM’R long-term, I’d counsel getting a set of reloading dies. The HAM’R makes use of a modified .223 case and .30-caliber bullets, so reloading is comparatively cheap and the parts are available.
Final Shot
Is Wilson Fight’s new rifle all it’s cracked as much as be? I believe the reply is sure. I’m not stunned the Mannequin 20 acquired so many accolades, and I believe it deserves them.
However is it definitely worth the price ticket? That’s a extra subjective query. For the typical hunter working with the typical family finances, I believe the Mannequin 20 (versus the 20S) chambered in a high-powered cartridge just like the .308 Win. is definitely worth the once-in-a-lifetime funding. It’s the sort of high-quality capturing iron that’ll final so long as you care to make use of it, and it’ll have sufficient juice to chase something in North America.
The mini-action Mannequin 20S, then again, might or might not be value it to you, and there are undoubtedly cheaper rifles in .223 Rem., 300 Blackout, and 350 Legend that can do many of the identical issues. For a lot of, a $3,000 rifle that may’t shoot previous 300 yards is hard to justify—in your personal head or to your vital different. Nonetheless, for those who’re lifeless set on the 300 HAM’R (and I can see why you’d be), the NULA 20S is the one bolt-action recreation on the town. It’s a helpful gun chambered in an revolutionary cartridge, and in case you have the assets, you received’t be upset.
