New Ultralight Arms M20: Wilson Combat Carries The Torch

With Wilson Combat at the helm, the legacy of New Ultralight Arms is intact. The new M20 exemplifies this.

July 12, 2024 By Joe Kurtenbach

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It was already late when sunlight finally broke through the winter gray clouds and leafless branches of the Virginia timber. As I descended from my blind, the sun’s position high in the sky confirmed there would be no deer this morning. Despite striking out on a late-season buck, I couldn’t have been happier to be hunting with an old friend made new again. The synthetic-stocked New Ultralight Arms rifle I carried was conceived in West Virginia, just a few miles over the Blue Ridge from where I stood. However, the example I held, a Model 20 in .308 Win., was born in Arkansas, and wore the stylized, eagle-emblazoned “WC” logo of Wilson Combat.

Melvin Forbes, the founder of New Ultra Light Arms (NULA), often described himself as “Just a hillbilly trying to make a living.” Those of us in the know, however, might ascribe the man a less humble title. “Father of the Lightweight Rifle” seems about right. In 1983, Forbes built his first lightweight bolt action on a bet. Weighing just 5 pounds, 14 ounces, without a scope, the resulting 6mm-chambered rifle met his criteria for a sub-6-pound gun. It also provided the proof of concept necessary for Forbes to raise capital and found the Ultra Light Arms company in 1985. The custom-grade rifles saved weight by using shorter, light-profile barrels, and actions trimmed down to their bare minimums for standard- and long-action cartridges. Most notably, Forbes used handmade composite stocks to take advantage of strong, lightweight materials such as Kevlar. Not only were Ultra Light Arms easy on the shoulder, but they also balanced perfectly between the hands and earned a reputation for excellent accuracy.

Since its inception, companies have sought to scale-up Forbes’ operation and recreate his recipe for lightweight performance, often with mixed results. An ill-fated acquisition of Ultra LightArms by Colt caused Forbes to buy back his company, renaming the venture New Ultra Light Arms to sidestep trademark entanglements. Too, larger firms attempting to produce flyweight rifles often succeeded in trimming ounces but failed to meet the consistency and accuracy standards exhibited by Forbes’ guns. The trouble, most simply, was that custom-grade firearms could not be built with a production-grade mindset. The knowledge and skills required to achieve economies of scale and highly efficient assembly lines differ entirely from those needed to hand-fit a stock or tune an action.

M20 heart of rifle displayed — The classic NULA profile gets updated with a straight comb on an AG Composites stock. (Photo courtesy of Joe Kurtenbach)

Enter Bill Wilson and the Wilson Combat family of brands. As Forbes looked toward retirement after 40 years of gunmaking, he sought to secure his legacy of portable performance. Who better to take on a custom gun shop than a successful and enterprising custom gunsmith? In May 2022, Wilson Combat officially added New Ultralight Arms to the fold and began the process of relocating operations from Granville, West Virginia, to Berryville, Arkansas.

Model 20 Redux

In his original parlance, Forbes numbered his designs based on the weight in ounces of the action. Thus, a Model 20 would denote a 20-ounce action, while a Model 28 action would weigh 28 ounces. Generally speaking, the Model 20s accommodated .308 Win. and smaller chamberings, the Model 24s were sized for cartridges like the .30-06 Sprg. and .270 Win., and Model 28s handled .300 Win. Mag.-class loadings. Forbes even made larger Model 32 and 40 actions to accommodate big-bore loadings up to .416 Rigby. Although, in my opinion, the shine of a lightweight rifle wears off a bit when paired with heavy-recoiling dangerous game loads.

For our evaluation, I received a new-production Model 20 chambered in .308 Win. No, I didn’t take the rifle down to the studs to confirm whether the action met Forbes’ old 20-ounce mark, but I can report that the model numbers will remain tied to distinct families of cartridges. For the Model 20, Wilson Combat is initially chambering .308, .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Rem., and, interestingly, .358 Win. Barrel lengths will range from 16 inches up to 22 inches, depending on chambering and preferences, and pre-scope weights will land between 4 pounds, 14 ounces, and 5 pounds, 4 ounces.

barrel threading and thread protector — The bell-end of the muzzle accommodates for a 5/8-24 thread pitch to add a suppressor. (Photo courtesy of Joe Kurtenbach)

Starting with the barrel, our test sample wore a 20-inch tube of 416R stainless steel cut to a light sporter contour. The barrel is button-rifled at a rate of one twist in 11.25 inches. I’m told that Bill Wilson wasn’t satisfied with the accuracy using a 1:10 twist rate, so a running change was made. Another smart addition from Wilson’s team was the slight bell near the muzzle. The lithe barrel’s diameter expands to 0.745 inches, providing just enough waistline to thread the muzzle with the .30-cal. standard 5/8-24 pitch. No need for adaptors if you choose to use a suppressor or muzzle brake. A thread protector comes standard with wrench flats to facilitate removal.

Moving back, the action is machined from 4140 bar stock and is cut down to a very trim profile to maximize weight savings. There are no sights, but the receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mounts and Wilson Combat is already selling Talley Manufacturing one-piece rings through its online store. Options include low, mid or high rings for scopes with 1-inch or 30mm main tubes. It’s important to note that classic NULA rings and mounts, those patterns that predate Wilson Combat’s acquisition, will not function with the new guns.

M20 bolt — A red indicator ring is visible at the rear of the bolt when the action is cocked. (Photo submitted by the author)

The NULA’s bolt is a trim, no-nonsense dual-lug design. Reliable operation of the push-feed action is facilitated by the spring-tensioned extractor and the plunger-style ejector found at 11 and 3 o’clock, respectively, on the bolt face. The bolt has a 90-degree throw and purchase is ensured by the somewhat oversized bolt handle, sculpted with grenade-pattern lugs. When the bolt is cocked, a red indicator ring becomes visible at the rear.

Besides the bolt, controls include a right-side two-position thumb safety that locks both the trigger and the bolt. To cycle the bolt at all, the safety must be in the forward “Fire” position. For removal, depress the small, left-side bolt release before pulling the bolt rearward out of the receiver. The trigger and safety assembly are Timney’s Elite Hunter package which offers adjustable pull weights from 2.75 pounds to 3.5 pounds. The trigger shoe is wide and serrated, and our sample came from the factory breaking at a crisp 2-pound, 14-ounces.

Wilson Combat opted for aluminum bottom metal and handsomely engraved the new “NULA” logo on the floorplate. A serrated release button at the front of the trigger guard allows the hinged floorplate to drop, revealing the internal box magazine’s spring and polymer follower. Capacity for the .308 model is four rounds. Two hex-head action screws mate the bottom metal, stock, and receiver.

M20 rifle with bolt open — The bolt features a 90-throw, which is helped out by the aggressive, grenade-pattern knob. (Photo submitted by the author)

Unlike Forbes’ handmade and hand-bedded composite stocks, Wilson Combat worked with AG Composites to develop a carbon-fiber alternative. In the new stocks, the action is pillar bedded and the barrel floats freely. It’s a sporter-style, straight-comb, semi-pistol-grip stock that lacks the raised cheekpiece of classic NULAs. Still, it gets high marks for weight savings and the total package balances beautifully at the front of the receiver. Three flavors of camouflage finish are being offered, including Kodiak Rogue, Canyon Rogue and Charcoal Grey. Our test model wore the mottled blacks and browns of the Kodiak Rogue pattern, and it should be noted that the paint splotches not only look great, they also provide a tackier grip to the carbon fiber. Fore and aft sling studs and a Decelerator recoil pad round out the features.

Range Report

The first test for our Model 20 took place at the shooter’s paradise that is FTW Ranch near Barksdale, Texas. I hosted a Riflecraft Rendezvous there along with Guns & Ammo’s Rifle & Optics Editor Tom Beckstrand for the Guns&Ammo television show. We both had the same idea that we should highlight lightweight bolt-action hunters. Such svelte platforms prove how important the fundamentals of marksmanship are. Sure, they can be a backcountry hunter’s best friend for their portability, but even minor movements or unintended inputs from the shooter can have a big impact downrange.

Gearing up for the excursion, I dialed in the Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40mm riflescope that Wilson provided with the gun. Like the rifle, the Accupoint is an all-business hunter free of extra frills and features. Best of all, it only adds 13 ounces to the total package. Too, I took advantage of the NULA’s threaded barrel and mounted a Banish Backcountry suppressor from Silencer Central. At just 5.5 inches long and weighing less than 8 ounces, the direct-thread Backcountry was an ideal pairing for a minimalist mountain rifle. All in with scope, suppressor and sling, the kitted-out NULA tipped the scale at about 6 pounds, 12 ounces – not bad at all.

During our week at FTW we shot everything from 100-yard zero targets to 1,000-yard steel, as well as moving targets and game animal simulators. We worked through positional shooting, using field-expedient supports, and even offhand shooting through a “jungle walk” simulator. By the end of the event, I was absolutely smitten with the Wilson Combat NULA Model 20. The rifle was as handy as they come and accurate to a fault – any misses were clearly on the shooter, not the gun.

wilson combat nula m20 accuracy test — (Accuracy test provided by Joe Kurtenbach)

Back at my home range, I again put the rifle through its paces with a variety of loads. After shooting nine, three-shot groups, my overall average at 100 yards was 0.92 inches — easily meeting Wilson Combat’s sub-MOA guarantee. Full results are tabulated nearby, but the best of the bunch was Hornady’s Precision Hunter load with its 178-grain ELD-X bullet. The average of three, three-shot groups was just 0.78 inches, and the typical dispersion was two shots on top of each other with the third out to the side, forming a clover.

All in all, the new NULA Model 20 displayed all the characteristics and performance its pedigree demands. It’s a custom rifle through and through, and Wilson Combat has carried on Forbes’ tradition of utilizing modern materials and manufacturing processes to achieve weight savings and consistent accuracy. Having been professionally acquainted with Forbes and his rifles for more than a decade, I regret never holding on to one of his guns. With the Wilson Combat NULA Model 20, I won’t be making the same mistake.