Racing Technology and Guns…A Match Made In Heaven!
Racing Technology…Taking Guns to a Whole New Level
Some of you reading this title may be wondering what I am talking about or referring to? Well before I get deep into the subject matter let me first touch on something I am always excited about.
As a person who is always striving to learn more about risk reduction, safety, personal protection, firearms, etc, etc, etc… I love what is happening in the firearms industry as of late. I say “late” but it has been developing over the past 5 years, give or take. What I am talking about is the industry’s advancement in technology concerning firearms. From the mushrooming of high powered bullets, reloading advancements, barrel design and materials, synthetic stock and frame materials, manufacturing with laser precision and of course the flood of accessories adn after market “toys” that we can add to just about anything. The fact that our military and law enforcement has better equipment and hardward to work with is only one reason I am so overjoyed. If you pay attention to the new stuff coming out all the time and being developed as we speak, technology is advancing at an ever rapid rate, which is just fine with me and my quest for great protection against the criminal element! Which leads directly into the subject matter here…
Now…what does racing and guns have in common? Besides the allure of NASCAR, cammo hats, Trucks, bad haircuts, hunting season, bass fishing and many others I could mention; I mean, I love to fish and I have a couple of cammo hats, not to mention that I am desparately seeking the “right” truck for me as well. Nothing like the early morning crisp sounds of birds, rivers, animal life and the roar of my motorcycle as well…aaaahhhhh…life is good!
BUT WAIT…before I forget about what I am writing this article about, let me get right to the important stuff.
I recently read an article in the May 2011 issue of Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, about Anderson Manufacturing. Anderson has been making accessory parts for AR platform rifles for a long time. No new information there really…they have great stuff and everyone knows that….but they have been playing with other technology that just blew me away last month! Now I know that some people will be reading this and thinking, “This guy is sooo behind the times” and well…you may be correct in that assumption, BUT, I have mentioned this cool new dealy-o to a bunch of people and nobody…NOBODY…knew about it. Not even the guys at the gun counter…so there…hahaha
Borrowing a metal making process from the guys who race in NASCAR and other affiliations too of course, Anderson Manufacturing has gone and out done 
themselves this time. Developing a method of metal making, they have introduced a combination that is worth the time to find out more. RF85 – “What is that?” you say…RF85, stands for Reduced Friction 85%. WELL…friction of what against what? I want you to think about the heat generated from a black rifle, the dirt and crap that gets into it and the time you have to spend cleaning the beast so that your “baby” can stay well maintained and working properly. Yep…that’s right, lots of heat, lots of dirt and lots of cleaning as well.
Well…Anderson’s AR platform rifles are on the top of my list, as soon as I read the article and saw some footage on their website and online as well. So let me just quote from the article instead of trying to explain it on my own. “In a laboratory setting, a piece of the treated metal beneath the surface layer was bombarded with electrons to emit gases yielding the metal’s component materials, and the lubricating calcium-like material was detected.” I know that sounds strange, and without a degree in chemistry (or whatever) I have a hard time explaining it as well. So here goes: Inventing such a method for racing and making certain parts of the transmission and pistons and such, the racing folks have accomplished something this is just amazing. Less friction means less heat, less wear and tear, less oil usage and an overall longer life cycle for their car parts as well. NOW…take that and make uppers, lowers, barrels, receivers and such….you will get, theoretically, less heat, less wear and tear, less oil usage and a longer life cycle of the rifle too…right???? Not to mention that because this metal is not the top coat, it won’t wear off at all. I know… RIGHT! Can you get any better than that?
Anderson has done just that and of course named the process, RF85. In fact, they encourage you NOT to use any oil on the gun at all. Just some soapy water and a rag for cleaning….WHAT??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? sign me up buddy! www.atdmachineshop.com
Just go and check it out and see for yourself. They have even given their product to an independant testing firm to work it over and that is how they got the percentage of reduced friction and heat reduction. You can even see the results of the testing process on their site. The article I read about it was very informative and the author was very surprised at how easy it was to clean and even how clean it was to begin with. As I hunt for my perfect AR, I have certainly come to a conclusion…if Anderson’s AR (they call it the “AM”) is not the “perfect” AR for me…I’m gonna get one anyway!
So after deciding that I would get one, as soon as I could, the obvious next question was, “How much?” And to my surprise…less than my buddy paid for his Sig 556. The prices listed were anywhere from $1200 to about $1600. And you don’t have to buy any lube to keep it moving either. I also just saw a test they did where they ran the rifle for 4 hours straight and went through thousands of rounds as well, with NO malfunctions. The competitor who even came close to that number wasn’t even in the ball park, stopping at 900 rounds. The forearm was melted and the heat was there…but not like we are all used to. I mean…you gotta be kidding me…an AR that takes no oil and can take serious heat with no malfunctions??? Case closed…I’m gettin one!
SO…now that I have managed to write like a teenager with bad grades…I can only say that you have to check out what Anderson Manufacturing is doing and just think about how such innovations are going to change firearms forever. The next thing I want is a 1911 with the same metallurgy. I would love to have a pistol that is cleaned with only soapy water and a rag Bring it on!!!
Horay for new technology, Horay for firearms, and Horay for Anderson for giving us both. Check it out and let me know what you think about it.
Sincerely, from one sheepdog to another..
Damon Thueson
