The first three-shot group at 100 yards with a New Ultra Light Arms (NULA) Model 20 .308 Winchester measured .5 inch center to center, assuming correct graduations on a well-used ruler. The load was fairly mild, using Hodgdon H-4895 and Nosler 150-grain E-Tip (no lead) bullets. The next group, using a slightly increased powder charge, measured 1.25 inches.

NULA has been around a good while and is run by Melvin Forbes. (New Ultra Light Arms, LLC, PO Box 340, Granville WV 26534; www.newultralight.com) Forbes is an “original thinker.” Many people are opinionated and perhaps not easily influenced by others, like Forbes, but lack creativity, unlike Forbes. Remarkably straightforward in his approach, nearly three decades ago, he created what others in the industry probably wished they had created: a lightweight bolt-action hunting rifle based on a receiver and bolt assembly with no more steel than necessary for ample strength and rigidity and a synthetic stock with the same characteristics. An excellent barrel and trigger were added to the mix with all tolerances held to minimum levels. The result was a 100-percent utilitarian rifle that was not only light but also had an accuracy capability rivaling that of a quality heavy-barreled varmint rifle.

Before this project, the only NULA guns I had seen or handled were at Forbes’ SHOT Show exhibit. When I received a review rifle, first glance left me a bit unmoved. Understatedly plain it was, but plain in the sense of having a strictly business appearance. As I slowly warmed up to the rifle, it became evident that “strictly business” went well beyond looks. The rifle was a Model 20 Series (20-ounce receiver for short-action cartridges) .308 Winchester complete with a Douglas No. 1 contour stainless 22-inch barrel. A Timney trigger is included in the package, and Talley lightweight aluminum scope mounts were ordered with the rifle.

Several actions sizes (right or left hand) are available from NULA, depending on the chambering selected. The Kevlar/graphite stock can be painted in about any color(s) one prefers, and the stock pull length is also up to the buyer. A recoil pad is fitted.

When scope selection was considered, I had all but decided a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x 36mm would be perfect for the .308 as well as a standard duplex reticle. The Leupold weighs slightly more than 11 ounces and is just under 11.5 inches in length. The proportions and finish are very much in line with the compactness of the rifle.

Most of the load evaluation was done with the scope set on 8x, but some of the groups were fired using the 6x setting. I could tell no difference in group size between the two powers. While overall group sizes may have decreased with the use of a scope of greater magnification, it would have taken away from the “pure hunting rifle” spirit of the project. Besides, if 8x is ever insufficient for game shooting, the game is too far to shoot at anyway!

I used a .308 Winchester to take my first deer in the 1960s but had no real interest in the cartridge until many years later, when I discovered it was excellent for use with cast bullets in a number of rifles. The use of jacketed bullets followed, and after experimenting with many handloads (virtually all with bullets in the 150- to 180-grain range), it seemed there was no longer a “need” for rifles chambered for cartridges like the 7x57 Mauser, .300 Savage, .30-06 and maybe some others.

Lifting the bolt handle was the first indication of how tightly fitted various components are on the rifle. Closing it also resulted in a smooth resistance – noticeably more than with most other bolt actions. Though neither motion requires undue effort, it is the same with or without a cartridge in the chamber and takes a little getting used to. Mating surfaces are hand-lapped, and bolt lugs are in 100 percent contact with lug recesses. The sear-blocking safety is stiff but positive. The bolt is locked with the safety engaged. However, a slight downward push on the safety lever keeps the safety engaged but permits the action to be opened for cycling rounds from the blind magazine.

The barreled action is full-length bedded from tang to forearm tip. The stock is said to be incredibly strong, though I didn’t attempt any half-wit TV torture stunts to prove it. When asked if he had ever tried floating a NULA barrel, Forbes’ simple answer was “no.” He also mentioned a NULA barreled action can be removed from the stock and replaced with no loss of zero.

The Model 20’s trigger broke crisply at an average of 3 pounds, probably ideal for a hunting rifle, particularly a lightweight one. Many factory rifles these days come out of the box with trigger pull weights of around 5 pounds or more; heavy by some standards but little in the way of a handicap for reasonably experienced shooters using rifles in the 8- or 9-pound range. However, a heavy trigger pull on a very light rifle would be disastrous for most as far as accuracy is concerned. The physical effort required for firing would almost certainly have an effect on an otherwise steady hold.

With the stock resting on the bag directly in line with the recoil lug, the best results with the NULA .308 were achieved. Additionally, holding the forend using slight backward and downward pressure with the left hand helped in steadying the rifle. It also prevented the forearm from flopping around on the rest during recoil. Stock design of the Model 20 is quite straight, and despite the light weight of component parts, the recoil, or at least perceived recoil, was pleasantly less than anticipated. Admittedly, I had already considered recoil, but potential fears proved to be unfounded.

Muzzle diameter of the No. 1 contour 22-inch stainless Douglas barrel (one-in-10-inch twist) measures .560 inch at the muzzle. A No. 2 contour barrel of the same length measures .610 inch and adds about 5 ounces to the overall rifle weight, according to Forbes. In theory, there should be no difference in accuracy between the two. In practice, however, the heavier barrel might provide a slight advantage for most shooters.

Many three- and some four-shot groups were fired while working up handloads for the Model 20, and the barrel often became quite hot to the touch, particularly on days when the temperature approached 90 degrees. Forbes stresses attention to copper fouling and advises removing it at the first sign, prior to further shooting, if accuracy is to be maintained. The bore of the Model 20 showed some slight copper fouling, usually after about 30 to 40 rounds, but it appeared to be insufficient to degrade accuracy. To confirm this, I tried cleaning the bore with a copper solvent after approximately 30 rounds, and later on, at greater intervals. Accuracy remained the same regardless of the stretch.

Seven bullets, representative of those commonly used for hunting in the weight range of 150 to 180 grains were used in developing loads. These included the Barnes 150-grain TSX BT, Barnes 150-grain TTSX BT, Nosler 150-grain E-Tip, Speer 150-grain SP, Nosler 165-grain Partition, Sierra 165-grain SBT and the Hornady 180-grain SP (InterLock). Powders included mostly Hodgdon’s Varget and 4895, and Alliant Reloder 15, with a couple of loads using IMR-4064 and Winchester 748. Nosler brass and CCI 200 Large Rifle primers were used exclusively.

The chamber of the NULA .308 Winchester was cut to minimum specs. Not a single piece of brass had to be trimmed until it had been fired at least a half-dozen times. A good deal of effort, time and components were expended trying different bullet seating depths, followed by three-shot groups. Most of this was to no avail. Seating depth proved to be not very critical, at least with the bullets used here, even the “no lead” variety by Barnes and Nosler.

The magazine box on the short-action NULA .308 Winchester is unique in that it is 3 inches in length, allowing for a much longer cartridge overall length than what is commonly available. With the bullets used for the test work, there was no real need for the additional length, as all bullets were ultimately seated close to the standard .308 Winchester cartridge overall maximum of 2.81 to 2.82 inches.

A heavy bolt lift in a New Ultra Light Arms rifle will be the first indication of high pressure. One can forget flattened primers altogether as a pressure indicator with a NULA, or at least that was the case with the test rifle. I never came close to flattening a primer with any load, including some loads deemed fairly “hot” and not included in the table. Neither was the bolt lift any heavier (or lighter) than it was without a cartridge in the chamber, so I will assume even the stoutest loads I put through the NULA were safe in my rifle, though they were probably maximum.