Is This the Ultimate Backpacking Rifle?

The GOAT-15 is (so far as I can inform) the lightest semi-automatic rifle on the planet. It appears to be like and seems like a miniature AR-15, full with the identical fireplace controls, pistol grip, and adjustable inventory. However nearer inspection reveals that this can be a completely new firearm. It was designed from the bottom up by Mountain Billy Gun Lab (MBGL) of Charleston, Utah, as the final word light-weight .22 LR rifle for backcountry small sport searching, plinking on the vary, or coaching up a younger adventurer.

My expertise with the rifle has been good, however I’ll be curious to see if this idea takes off. After their preliminary launch at SHOT Present in 2024, MBGL has launched short-barreled and pistol variations of the identical platform, they usually’ve additionally teased an AK-47 variant. That product growth signifies sturdy gross sales, however I’m undecided hunters and gun homeowners are actually clamoring for a three-pound AR-15.

Solely time will inform, however I can say one factor for certain: it’s an interesting idea, and it’s a hell of lots of enjoyable to shoot.

Mountain Billy Gun Labs is just a few years outdated, however getting so far has been a protracted and tumultuous street for founder Eric Schmid.

“Our household enterprise was making bolts for Cricket [rifles] once I had the concept, and that was about 5 years in the past,” Eric informed me by way of e-mail.

Eric’s unique idea was to market a miniature AR-15 to folks who wished to introduce their children to the platform. Dubbed the “JR-15,” this rifle launched at SHOT Present in 2020, and I bear in mind strolling previous their sales space. It was positioned within the basement of the convention middle, however the crowds across the sales space rivaled these of the bigger corporations on the principle showroom ground.

That focus, as you may think, was each optimistic and adverse.

“Thirty or so senators wrote letters to the Federal Commerce Fee to have us investigated earlier than we had bought even one rifle,” Eric mentioned. “Posters comprised of our web site made their option to the Home ground in good ol’ Nancy Pelosi’s and Chuck Schumer’s arms.”

Moderately than go bankrupt by the hands of regulators and authorities attorneys, Eric and his group determined to re-tool. They positioned their new rifle, the GOAT-15, as a light-weight backpacking rifle, although it retained the identical miniature dimensions because the JR-15.

Gun corporations are all the time cautious about advertising firearms “for youths.” That’s comprehensible for all types of causes, each authorized and political. However hunters can admire the advantages of creating a child’s marksmanship expertise as early as doable. Until you need to wait till your favourite searching buddy is almost grown to hitch you within the woods, it helps to have a firearm that matches their stature. My son struggles to shoot most rifles off-hand and even leaning towards a tree. That’s an issue within the squirrel woods since these fuzzy-tailed critters don’t have a tendency to remain nonetheless lengthy sufficient to construct a steady taking pictures place. The GOAT-15’s ultra-light weight solves this downside, and it’s shortly grow to be my child’s favourite rifle.

Mountain Billy Gun Labs may not have the ability to market the GOAT-15 as a youth rifle, however I don’t have any downside saying that its miniature parts will assist bounce begin your mini-me’s small sport aspirations.

These parts will feel and appear acquainted to anybody who’s had expertise with an AR-15–they’re nearly 20% smaller. The pistol grip is in the identical location and has the identical angle, and its measurement is ideal for smaller arms. However even my medium-sized mitts didn’t have a lot hassle sustaining management of the firearm, and I used to be in a position to match three fingers across the grip.

The inventory could be adjusted to seven completely different positions, although grownup customers might want to use it at its most prolonged. Even then, the shrunken size of pull makes taking pictures the rifle really feel slightly cramped. It’s doable, however not probably the most comfy.

The set off is heavy, however that is what you need on a gun you hand to a teen. My set off gauge clocked it at 7.5 kilos, which is heavier than just about another trendy searching rifle. That helps guarantee your child has to actually need to pull the set off earlier than the gun goes bang. Simply don’t allow them to get used to the GOAT-15 after which swap to a lighter set off—at the least not with no few dry fires first. That’s a recipe for an unintentional discharge if I’ve ever heard one.

One other instructor-friendly characteristic of the GOAT-15 is the knob on the alternative facet of the protection selector. This knob could be pulled out and rotated to lock the selector on “secure.” This requires about 15 kilos of pressure, so it will probably’t be undone unintentionally or by little fingers, and it provides an added layer of security when touring with the rifle or dealing with it on the vary.

Alongside related strains, the gun additionally comes with a one-round journal (in addition to a 10-round journal). This enables an teacher to coach the basics of gun security with out having to fret about one other spherical being loaded into the chamber. It’s additionally helpful in a searching state of affairs when the thrill of a shot would possibly induce forgetfulness about whether or not or not one other spherical has been loaded.

The remainder of the rifle’s options are self-explanatory. The total-length picatinny rails permits customers to mount optics and equipment, the 1/2×28 threaded barrel accepts most .22 LR muzzle units and suppressors, and the handguard has M-LOK slots for bipods and different taking pictures aids. The rifle does look slightly foolish with a full-sized scope, but it surely’s nice with a pink dot, iron sights, or smaller, LPVO/fixed-power scope.

Weight (unloaded): 2 lbs 14 oz

Weight (with loaded 10 spherical magazine): 3 lbs 2 oz

Barrel size: 16″ CMV Metal

Barrel Specs: 1:16 Proper Hand Twist Threaded 1/2-28

Measurement: 27.75” – 30.75” (Totally Prolonged)

Security: Patented Tamper Resistant

Motion: Blow Again, Single Shot, Semi-Computerized

Rail: Customary Picatinny Rail With M-Lok

Buttstock: 7 Place Adjustable

Journal: Ships with 1 Rd and 10 Rd

Sight: Not Included (Crimson Dot Beneficial)

The .22 LR is a famously soiled cartridge, so it’s necessary that any semi-auto rimfire be simple to disassemble and clear. The GOAT-15 isn’t as simple to take aside as an AR-15, but it surely’s not troublesome, and positively simpler than a ten/22. Two Chicago screws substitute the takedown pins and could be unscrewed utilizing a flathead on one facet and an Allen wrench on the opposite.

As soon as the higher receiver has been faraway from the decrease, the charging deal with and bolt meeting could be faraway from the rear of the higher. You’ll discover that there isn’t really a buffer or buffer spring within the “buffer tube.” The bolt meeting capabilities fully inside the higher receiver, very like a ten/22. That enables MBGL to simply convert a rifle right into a pistol with a folding inventory: all they must do is reduce off the tube and substitute it with a picatinny rail.

After you disassemble the higher and decrease, you may clear the barrel like regular. You may also take away the firing pin kind the bolt meeting, although the bolt service would not simply break down any additional. I discovered {that a} good spray with some cleansing solvent and a brand new mild coat of oil retains it functioning easily.

A part of why the GOAT-15 is so mild is because of its polymer higher and decrease. This isn’t best for optimum sturdiness, as any AR-15 aficionado will let you know. The excellent news is that you just most likely aren’t taking the GOAT-15 to Fallujah or utilizing it as a crowbar in your subsequent residence renovation undertaking. Underneath regular use situations, which embody taking the rifle into the backcountry, I wouldn’t fear concerning the polymer receivers failing. Polymer AR-15 lowers often fail on the buffer tube attachment level as a consequence of recoil from the bolt into the buffer meeting. The .22 LR doesn’t produce sufficient recoil for that to be a priority, and the pressure on the rear of the receiver is mitigated by the spring system. As for the higher, the torque required to safe the .22 LR barrel is minimal sufficient that MBGL isn’t involved about attaching it to the polymer receiver.

And, for what that is value, MGBL reps inform me they despatched a GOAT-15 to an Iowa gun vary that put 80,000 rounds via their rifle and it’s nonetheless going sturdy.

After all, whereas the proprietary components used to construct the GOAT-15 save an unbelievable quantity of weight, the rifle can also be incompatible with commonplace AR-15 components (together with magazines). When you had been hoping to put in a lighter aftermarket set off or a extra comfy inventory, you’re SOL: that is one AR-type rifle that may’t be simply modified. You should buy a full-sized gun or use a conversion package to show your centerfire right into a rimfire, however each of those choices preserve a normal AR’s weight.

I didn’t have excessive hopes that this rifle can be a tack driver. Semi-auto .22’s could be extremely correct, however I wasn’t anticipating a lot from a brand new rifle from a brand new firm.

With a .22 LR, I’m all the time proud of a one-inch group at 50 yards. A squirrel’s head is often over an inch vast, so I determine that’s a reasonably good benchmark. I used to be shocked to search out that the GOAT-15 averaged a one-inch group at 50 yards with three completely different sorts of ammunition, one in all which is designed particularly for small sport. The SK Match earned the highest spot with this half-inch group.

You’ll discover that the GOAT-15 did have some hassle with the final two hundreds within the chart above. The CCI Clear grouped properly sufficient, however not in addition to the others. And people 36-grain drugs from Federal sprayed all around the web page, so I gave up attempting to shoot teams after 10 or 15 pictures. That one “group” measured about six inches.

I’m undecided why I noticed a lot variance between .22 cartridges, however I can let you know it’s fairly widespread. Rimfire accuracy is simply as a lot concerning the ammunition because the rifle, so most rifles will run into ammo it simply can’t group. I don’t see that as a knock on the GOAT-15, and I’m certain you’ll have the ability to discover ammo it shoots properly.

For me, this was the actual check for the GOAT-15. Even the costliest semi-auto .22’s can battle to reliably cycle, largely as a result of the .22 Lengthy Rifle is insanely soiled. These all-lead bullets depart shavings within the motion, bullet lube will get left within the barrel/motion and collects filth, the powder doesn’t all the time burn fully, and the primer leaves residue. All of that crap collects much more shortly whereas utilizing a suppressor, which pushes it again in the direction of the motion.

Because of this all semi-auto .22’s must be cleaned periodically to operate. The query is, how lengthy will they run earlier than they begin to jam?

As soon as once more, I used to be pleasantly shocked at how properly the GOAT-15 dealt with the assorted sorts of ammunition I threw at it. I’ve been plinking within the again yard for the previous few months, and I’ve solely cleaned it as soon as, although I’ve used a suppressor more often than not.

I used to be additionally comfortable to see how properly it cycled standard-velocity, subsonic ammunition. Sluggish .22 generally doesn’t have sufficient juice to push a semi-auto bolt service again far sufficient to strip the following cartridge. However I discovered that the GOAT-15 ran simply high quality with the SK Match and CCI Small Recreation hundreds, each of which hovered round 1,000 fps. Eric tells me that of their expertise, the gun often cycles properly with something above 900 fps.

I’m not the one one who’s had expertise with the GOAT-15’s reliability. Matt Miller, the Director of Content material Partnerships right here at MeatEater, additionally bought an opportunity to take a unique pattern of this rifle for a spin. He informed me that after ensuring the motion is well-lubed, the GOAT-15 has run completely with 4 completely different sorts of subsonic ammunition. He hasn’t performed formal accuracy testing with a magnified optic, however he says he can hit a Coke can persistently at 50-100 yards, which is all you may ask of a double-deuce.

My solely reliability subject got here from the 40-grain CCI Clear ammo. Federal launched these a number of years in the past. The bullets are coated in a form of polymer, which supposedly makes the bullets feed extra persistently and leaves behind much less residue. Throughout my accuracy testing, I fired the primary three teams with none hassle, however then a cartridge bought caught midway up the feed ramp. I cleared the jam, however after that, a cartridge would fail to chamber about each 5 or 6 rounds.

The issue resolved once I switched to a unique cartridge, so I’m assured the issue was brought on by the bullet and never the rifle. These cartridges are a number of years outdated, so I ponder if the polymer coating degrades and finally ends up inflicting extra points than it solves.

Very similar to accuracy, you’ll most likely run into one or two cartridges the rifle simply doesn’t like (for no matter motive). That is regular for a semi-auto rimfire, and it’s not a knock on its general reliability.

The GOAT-15 capabilities precisely as marketed: it’s insanely mild, compact, correct, and dependable. However the query stays: does it meet an precise want?

On your common small sport hunter, I feel the reply is not any. There are extra ergonomic rifles for adults, and I don’t know many squirrel hunters who complain concerning the weight of their rimfire after a morning within the woods.

That being mentioned, there are positively classes of hunters and sport shooters who will love this gun.

The unique idea was to make an AR-15 for youth and different small-statured individuals. For that, it’s excellent. There’s virtually zero studying curve with a pink dot, and its quick length-of-pull means children can get into the attention field of a magnified optic with out craning their necks. All of the furnishings and controls are designed for smaller individuals, and the load permits for straightforward carrying and shouldering. My son took this rifle on what turned out to be an unsuccessful squirrel hunt, and regardless of not remembering to deliver a sling, he by no means complained about carrying his rifle on our 5 mile stroll via the swamps of East Texas.

In some eventualities, adults will discover the GOAT-15 helpful as properly. When you’re occurring a backcountry small sport hunt otherwise you’re backpack tenting and need a lengthy gun with out including an excessive amount of weight, the GOAT-15 is a superb possibility. Even massive sport hunters would possibly contemplate toting alongside a GOAT-15 Atom pistol with a folding inventory for some impromptu small sport searching. I can’t let you know what number of occasions I’ve been sitting in a deer stand wishing I had a .22 to maintain chattering squirrels. The Atom pistol would slot in a backpack, and a suppressed, subsonic .22 is insanely quiet. If I am not optimistic about deer motion throughout one in all my sits, these squirrels is likely to be headed for the frying pan this Fall.

Backside line? The GOAT-15 may not be for everybody, however in the event you ever want an ultra-lightweight semi-auto rimfire, this rifle might be precisely what you are on the lookout for.