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Eve Flanigan 10.19.23
AG Composites isn’t precisely a family identify, however any time spent searching for a searching rifle within the final 10 years has absolutely led most readers to see their merchandise. The corporate makes carbon fiber shares for various US rifle producers. On the 2023 Outside Information America Gun Writers’ Convention at Texas Gun Expertise, writers together with myself acquired a first-hand have a look at AG Composites’ wares in addition to an orientation to the corporate’s manufacturing strategies, historical past, and tradition.
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Carbon fiber is a well-liked platform for bolt gun shares for many good causes. It’s light-weight, sturdy and impact-resistant, and really customizable in look. AG Composites grew from a easy thought when its founder and CEO, a former Military Ranger, famous its use in housing a recognizing scope within the hunt discipline. Why not deliver its weatherproof, shock-resistant qualities to rifle shares? By way of a protracted collection of challenges, together with a provider who embezzled practically all of the fledgling firm’s cash and an business that wasn’t prepared for the idea of artificial shares, AG Composites finally emerged because the world’s main provider of composite shares. The corporate makes shares for various household-name manufacturers together with Tikka, Springfield, Bergara, Kimber, Wilson Fight, Alamo Precision, and extra. Almost all are designed for the ever present Remington 700 platform upon which most non-chassis searching rifles are constructed. People who wish to “construct” their very own rifle can order direct from the corporate utilizing their on-line rifle builder.
A shocking truth in regards to the manufacturing of AG Composites’ shares is how a lot the human contact is concerned in manufacturing. There are 70 steps within the course of, and 66 of them are carried out by human palms. Automation cuts the fabric, however palms good the form and apply designs. Shares are made in proper/left halves, then melded collectively by a chemical course of that yields one monolithic piece.
The Springfield Armory Waypoint rifle collection is an effective instance of AG Composites’ merchandise on the mass market. “It’s like a household reunion photograph,” stated the presenter. The patterns all have a constant look, however every one is exclusive. “The end course of is artwork carried out by well-paid workers,” stated the rep. In an age when most facets of gun manufacturing are machine-automated, it was a shock to listen to the extent of human contact that goes into each composite inventory. Commissioned workers begin artisan work early within the course of, guaranteeing that every reduce inventory is a correct match to its mould. After coaching, minimal anticipated manufacturing is 48 shares per week, with most workers producing between 100-200. “We have now one man who seems 300 per week and so they’re all good; he is sort of a machine at his job,” acknowledged our presenter. Shares are inspected individually by one other group earlier than occurring to the hand-painting course of. Excessive-end, automotive-grade paint priced at $150 per gallon is used for sturdiness and a tremendous end. Painters are largely ladies who work with sponge software of paint. To the buyer’s eye, the look of a selected inventory is constant. However these within the know can determine particular person workers’ work when every inventory, as some slight stylistic variations exist. That is additionally true of texturing. Some shares have textured grip areas, and this course of can also be hand-applied to exacting requirements. All handwork undergoes inspection earlier than shares depart the manufacturing facility.
Worker involvement in AG Composites is essential. The corporate doesn’t settle for consumer-submitted artwork for effectivity and in addition to maintain the manufacturing facility’s merchandise constant and tasteful. However that isn’t to say workers don’t have enter. The truth is, they’ve designed a number of the signature searching patterns after being challenged to take action as a group constructing/recreation train. One instance is a sample that has vertical strains, which they speculated would make a great camo sample as a result of bark grows in vertical strains.
Craftmanship and artistry are built-in, and so is toughness. AG Composites is the one inventory maker that warmth cures its merchandise. This therapy makes them impervious to sizzling/chilly . This finally aids in accuracy since their shares can’t flex or crack with excessive local weather publicity.
Local weather isn’t the one side of discipline readiness with these shares. They bear what our manufacturing facility rep calls “redneck torture checks,” together with being run over by vans, shot, and full of Tannerite and fired upon – the latter leaving the inventory very battered, however nonetheless usable. AG Composites additionally makes the “undermetal” fitments inside shares. Their aluminum inserts present sturdy attachment factors for slings, bipods, and such. Classes discovered on this division have led the corporate to insert longer inner metals as a result of shoppers so usually change gear, stopping time and frustration spent by each producers and shopper.
Uncooked carbon fiber utilized by AG Composites comes from Spain and is sourced from the identical manufacturing facility as Ferrari and Porsche physique components. Sound dear? It’s, with about $600 in materials and manufacturing prices going into each inventory for a median base worth of $725. However a cheaper different is on the way in which late this yr. That data is at the moment underneath wraps. Any variety of manufacturing facility rifles together with Springfield and Bergara present their patrons with a hand-painted, hand-finished AG Composites inventory that’s related, however by no means an identical to others in its product line. Present/retired navy and first responder reductions are provided.
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