Marketed as a lightweight “survival” rifle, Mountain Billy Gun Lab’s GOAT-15 is essentially an AR-15 scaled down for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge and made feather-light for easy packing and unobtrusive storage. But that’s partly disguise. It’s also an exceptionally safe, instructor-controlled .22 for acquainting future Junior High Power shooters with the AR-15.
On the list of survival rifle attributes, the first is size. Size matters because integral to the concept is that the firearm is intended for storage in limited space. Weight is also a factor. Survival rifles were sired by World War II aerial warfare, when aircrews were first issued handguns in case of being forced down in unhappy terrain. Shotguns and rifles are better suited to defense and foraging but take up far more space and weigh more than a handgun, so long gun designs, some quite unusual and unfamiliar, were scaled down to stow in the limited confines of an aircraft. One design for civilian use that still survives today is Henry Repeating Arms’ .22 Long Rifle AR-7.
Mini Modern Sporting Rifle
In a leap of logic, Mountain Billy Gun Lab (MBGL) of Charleston, Utah, has rendered America’s favorite rifle, the AR-15, into a packable, stowable survival rifle. Barely registering on an electronic postal scale at 2.8 pounds empty, the GOAT-15 feels like it’s helium-filled. At 28 inches long and six inches tall to accommodate the pistol grip, it takes up a bit more space than some other survival rifles, but that length includes a fixed 16¼-inch barrel, more conducive to accuracy than a removable barrel.
Upper receiver, fore-end and full-length Picatinny rail are molded as a single piece of polymer; the receiver, too, is polymer, as is the faux buffer tube and the collapsible buttstock. The rifle’s exceptionally light weight we can attribute to all that polymer; the only parts that draw a magnet are the barrel, bolt, fasteners and controls.
Receiver pivot pins, hammer pin and trigger pin are all captured two-piece units, one threading into the other, dismounted with a straight slot screwdriver and a 5/64 Allen wrench. Being captured, the hammer and trigger pins are superior to standard AR-15 pins. The barrel terminates with a threaded muzzle and a thread protector that, when in place, provides a kind of recessed crown to protect the muzzle.
Being a simple .22 Long Rifle blowback action, the solid buffer tube contains no recoil parts, serving only to support the collapsible buttstock. Like those found on nearly all non-match-grade AR-15s, the collapsible buttstock fits a bit loosely. The buttstock appears it will accept a military A2 style sling swivel, and a forward swivel can be mounted to the fore-end via M-LOK. Four M-LOK slots pierce the forearm at three, six and nine o’clock for accessories. No sights accompany the rifle; the full-length Picatinny rail can accommodate any sight or optic.
There is no forward assist. A glance inside the lower receiver shows internal parts—hammer, springs, disconnector, etc.—are familiar to anyone who has opened an AR-15 for cleaning. The bolt slides out of the receiver like an AR-15 bolt carrier group (BCG), and easily disassembles for cleaning. Again, like the AR-15 BCG, removing a cotter key frees the firing pin and its return spring. A long spring atop the bolt is the recoil spring that sends the bolt forward into battery. The charging handle engages a stud on the recoil spring’s plunger to permit drawing the bolt backward manually.
Locking Selector
Beyond its diminutive size, a “Tamper Resistant Cap” mounted on the receiver’s right-hand side is the key feature of the GOAT-15. It’s function, when enabled, is to lock the safety lever immobile in the “Safe” position, which adds another layer of safety when in storage or carried in or on a backpack.
The safety lever on the receiver’s left side mirrors the typical AR-15 two-position “Safe” and “Fire” selector. The Tamper Resistant Cap on the right side is connected to the safety lever through the receiver and follows the safety lever to indicate its position, either “Safe” or “Fire.” However, the Tamper Resistant Cap has a third selectable position that can lock the safety lever in the “Safe” position when the action is cocked. In this mode, the safety lever cannot move to the “Fire” position, and the cap must be forcefully pulled outward and turned to disable it and allow the safety lever to select “Fire.”
Excellent Youth Trainer
Though marketed as a handy survival rifle, that function makes the GOAT-15 exceptionally safe for training youth, especially when introducing them to the AR-15 with an eye toward future Junior High Power Service Rifle competition. In addition to its scaled-down dimensions, the Tamper Resistant Cap mounted on the receiver’s right side provides the adult instructor absolute control over the rifle’s safety selector. The GOAT-15, in fact, was originally conceived for this purpose, and demonstrated to me it at SHOT Show several years ago. But the manufacturer was quickly castigated and silenced by anti-civil rights groups and politicians, also threatened with California’s recent law prohibiting firearms marketing that might appeal to minors. The manufacturer changed its name and now markets the same rifle strictly as a lightweight, packable survival rifle, silencing the protests. The purpose of its original concept, however, survives.
In The Field
As a packable survival rifle, the GOAT-15 would be best served with folding iron sights affixed to the Picatinny rail. However, to evaluate its accuracy performance, I mounted a Vortex 3-9X 40 mm Crossfire II scope for range sessions. Other than the Tamper Resistant Cap, controls on the GOAT-15 are familiar to everyone who owns an AR-15.
As with most survival rifles and those intended for training purposes, the GOAT-15 is not a competition-grade rifle. Accuracy, however, is surprisingly good except for consistently throwing a single flyer in seven out of eight five-shot groups fired at 25 and 50 yards. Those flyers opened up what would have been impressive groups at both 25 and 50 yards (see the accompanying accuracy table).
Accuracy would be improved with a better trigger; after considerable creep, this one finally broke at a robust eight pounds, the upper limit on my RCBS mechanical trigger pull gauge and likely the culprit in throwing the flyers. Eric Schmid at MBGL said the company deliberately makes the GOAT-15 trigger heavy because of its intended role. Because the trigger system is scaled down, no enhanced AR-15 replacement trigger will fit the GOAT-15. “We’re looking at making a better trigger to offer as an aftermarket part,” Schmid said.
Accuracy Table
Its diminutive dimensions and featherweight heft make the GOAT-15 an exceptionally fast and fun plinker. It possesses the attributes suitable for a survival rifle, but for training youth, its original design purpose makes it the best, safest modern sporting rifle-style firearm available. Also, its small size and light weight make it a candidate for disabled persons who cannot readily manipulate a heavier rifle. For survival, youth training, small game, plinking fun, accessibility and even just owning what may be the smallest, lightest modern sporting rifle in the world—the GOAT-15 is worth consideration.
MSRP is $469.99. The Mountain Billy Gun Lab GOAT-15 rimfire rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle ships with one one-round and one five-round magazine; a 10-round magazine is in the works. Go to mtnbilly.com to learn more.
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