Melvin Forbes: 40 Years of NULA, A Legacy Remembered.

Published on September 3, 2025
Duration: 19:21

This video details the genesis and development of Melvin Forbes' lightweight NULA rifles, focusing on the design philosophy behind achieving extreme weight reduction without compromising structural integrity or accuracy. It highlights the meticulous engineering involved in selecting actions, barrels, and stocks, and the innovative approaches taken to create a rifle that is both exceptionally light and robust, capable of handling full-power loads.

Quick Summary

Melvin Forbes' NULA rifles are designed for extreme lightweight performance, inspired by a need for a more manageable hunting rifle. Key to their design is reducing action diameter and length, using specialized components like Douglas barrels and custom stocks, and understanding that a smaller pressure vessel can be stronger. This meticulous engineering results in rifles that are both exceptionally light and robust, offering superior balance and handling.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to NULA Rifles
  2. 00:30The Genesis of the Lightweight Rifle Concept
  3. 01:12The Friend's Heavy Elk Rifle Experience
  4. 02:20Request for the Lightest Seven Mag
  5. 02:37Component Selection: Barrel and Action
  6. 03:14Action Choice: Seiko vs. Winchester Model 70
  7. 03:32Stock Selection and Initial Build Weight
  8. 04:00Setting the Goal: 6mm Rifle at 6 lbs
  9. 04:25The Four-Year Stock Build Process
  10. 04:37Stock Design: Stiffness and Support
  11. 05:25First Shot Show Experience (1984)
  12. 06:19Feeling Out of Place in the Industry
  13. 07:00NRA's American Rifleman Cover Feature
  14. 08:05The Impact of the Magazine Cover
  15. 08:53Meeting Jim Carmichael at Shot Show
  16. 09:59Presenting the 7mm-08 Rifle to Carmichael
  17. 11:06Carmichael's Reaction and the 'New Guns for '85' Feature
  18. 12:57The Familiarity of a Well-Balanced Rifle
  19. 13:07Design Considerations: Reducing Diameter and Length
  20. 13:48Bolt and Firing Pin Modifications
  21. 14:30Extractor Location and Ejection Port Design
  22. 14:57Structural Integrity and Action Weakening
  23. 15:15Can It Handle Full Power Loads?
  24. 15:38Pressure Vessel Analogy
  25. 16:21Customer Feedback: The 'Alive' Rifle Feeling
  26. 17:15Balance and Handling in Lightweight Rifles

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the inspiration behind Melvin Forbes' NULA rifles?

The inspiration came from a friend's difficult elk hunt with an excessively heavy rifle. This experience highlighted the need for a lightweight, yet robust, hunting rifle that wouldn't be a burden in the field, especially in adverse conditions.

How does NULA achieve such lightweight rifles without sacrificing strength?

NULA rifles achieve extreme lightness through meticulous engineering, including reducing the diameter and length of the action, using lightweight components like Douglas barrels and specialized stocks, and understanding that reducing the diameter of a pressure vessel can actually increase its strength.

What are the key design considerations for NULA rifles?

Key considerations include minimizing weight through component selection and material reduction, maintaining action stiffness for accuracy, ensuring proper balance for handling, and designing the stock to compensate for any stiffness lost in the action. The goal is a rifle that feels 'alive' in the hand.

What role did the American Rifleman magazine play in NULA's success?

Being featured on the cover of the American Rifleman in 1987 was a pivotal moment for NULA. This exposure significantly boosted sales and brought widespread recognition to Melvin Forbes' innovative lightweight rifle designs, transforming the business.

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