Lightest weight non-restricted semi auto precision rifle available?
- Thread starter Runt
- Start date
If you stick to AR pattern DI it won't be hard. Take a BCL 102 with a lightweight HG and re-barrel. They weigh 9 lbs, two mods and you're just into the 7.9 lb range with sub-MOA accuracy. My factory rig seemed better than others that have posted their results here ( if you check my posts from earlier in the year, I shot sub-MOA with 168 GMM ) , but with a Criterion lightweight I think anyone's 102 will show sub-MOA accuracy and consistency. The Faxons are light, accurate, stress relieved as well. I shoot lots of surplus so I stuck with 308, but you could always go 6.5 CM if ammo cost is less of a concern.
Lightweight Handguard - Go with one of the ultra lightweight ones you can remove up to about 14 oz vs my first run 102 HG. The newer 102's might have lighter HG's so take those numbers with a grain of salt. The SLR Helix and Odin O2 are super light.
Lightweight Barrel - The factory BCL 102 barrel is 2 lb 12 oz. You can get that down to 2 lb 6 oz with the 18.5" Criterion lightweight or 2 lbs 4 oz with a Faxon lightweight 20" (their real world weights are a couple oz heavier than claimed) . That removes another 6-8 oz.
You could lose a little on the BCG or stock, although the factory stock is already very light (about 9 oz). I chose to go slightly heavier stock with a +3 oz gain in the fixed MOE, I wanted to balance the gun a bit and a fixed for reliability. I also didn't want to bother with potential reliability/cycling issues and cost of the lightweight BCG's so I kept it stock. But potentially you could get the gun in that 7.5 lb real world range. And don't trust the claimed weights because 95% of the time they are out by a couple oz. My weights above are confirmed on an accurate digital scale, not a bathroom scale.
Lightweight Handguard - Go with one of the ultra lightweight ones you can remove up to about 14 oz vs my first run 102 HG. The newer 102's might have lighter HG's so take those numbers with a grain of salt. The SLR Helix and Odin O2 are super light.
Lightweight Barrel - The factory BCL 102 barrel is 2 lb 12 oz. You can get that down to 2 lb 6 oz with the 18.5" Criterion lightweight or 2 lbs 4 oz with a Faxon lightweight 20" (their real world weights are a couple oz heavier than claimed) . That removes another 6-8 oz.
You could lose a little on the BCG or stock, although the factory stock is already very light (about 9 oz). I chose to go slightly heavier stock with a +3 oz gain in the fixed MOE, I wanted to balance the gun a bit and a fixed for reliability. I also didn't want to bother with potential reliability/cycling issues and cost of the lightweight BCG's so I kept it stock. But potentially you could get the gun in that 7.5 lb real world range. And don't trust the claimed weights because 95% of the time they are out by a couple oz. My weights above are confirmed on an accurate digital scale, not a bathroom scale.
Looks like majority of what responses you are going to recieve are now the obvious. BCL102 and build it with whatever you have set your standards too. An ATRS MH or MV will bring you to the same price range as a built BCL.
Is there anything stopping you from trying out anything besides a Semi? I can't personally speak on a .308 for bear defence, tho what would you think about lever action rifles? It seems like you are more after a brush gun than a target shooter. 45-70 in a lever and your going to be stopping damn near everything coming at you if you do your part!
Is there anything stopping you from trying out anything besides a Semi? I can't personally speak on a .308 for bear defence, tho what would you think about lever action rifles? It seems like you are more after a brush gun than a target shooter. 45-70 in a lever and your going to be stopping damn near everything coming at you if you do your part!
Cameron SS
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ground Zero
IF only AR 180s weren't on the naughty list.
Maybe off topic but....
If you're looking for accuracy, the 6.5 Grendel is Sllllloooooowwwwww. I've only shot the calibre a couple times but my experience is supported somewhat by this article:
https://rifleshooter.com/2015/02/6-5-grendel-review-18-special-purpose-rifle/
If you want to run heavy bullets on an AR15 platform, maybe 6.8 SPC II?
I'm building basically your exact specs on on a macabee upper and lower. It will be NR, and the availability of drop in parts and ability to upgrade over time should provide a solid platform for a sub MOA DMR or PR build. That being said, I'm 100% buying an MDR when they hit the shelves.
If you're looking for accuracy, the 6.5 Grendel is Sllllloooooowwwwww. I've only shot the calibre a couple times but my experience is supported somewhat by this article:
https://rifleshooter.com/2015/02/6-5-grendel-review-18-special-purpose-rifle/
If you want to run heavy bullets on an AR15 platform, maybe 6.8 SPC II?
I'm building basically your exact specs on on a macabee upper and lower. It will be NR, and the availability of drop in parts and ability to upgrade over time should provide a solid platform for a sub MOA DMR or PR build. That being said, I'm 100% buying an MDR when they hit the shelves.
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Have one. Its a nice rifle actually but I do agree rather flimsy but good for its intention of a compact light weight 3" group rifle.
So what's your budget?
Since you say you want to hunt with it I'd say you need to go with a BCL-102 and then spend a bunch of money on it, or buy a Modern Hunter with carbon fiber wrapped barrel to keep the weight down (light profile will work as well). My MH with Proof Research barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor is 9 pounds without optics and 11 pounds with a Sightron 3-16x42.
Your other option is the Modern Varmint in 6.5 Grendel but from what I've read about that cartridge it's kinda lacking velocity for hunting big game as it will be limited to shorter ranges in order to have enough energy to make a clean kill and you'll have to select a good projectile to ensure proper expansion and penetration.
To find a light weight non restricted semi auto that actually shoots 1 moa or better consistently is pretty much not going to happen without spending $3000+. My Modern Hunter is doing 1 moa pretty consistently with handloads and I've seen a report or two of a BCL-102 doing 1 moa or better with an aftermarket barrel but then you're going to be into it for $3000 by the time you buy another barrel and an aftermarket trigger.
I grew out of the want to hunt with a non restricted semi auto mindset a few years ago, there just isn't a good do everything NR semi and you'll always be sacrificing accuracy and/or weight in order to have something that works for you.
Honestly, I would just forget about a lightweight 1 moa or better non restricted semi auto rifle for all situations, there isn't one.
You're better off buying a NR semi that's fun and light for hiking and plinking outside hunting season, forget 1 moa and think 2-3 moa with factory ammo. Buy yourself a nice Remington 700 or Savage model 10 in your caliber of choice for hunting, my Rem 700 in 7-08 will shoot about 1 moa all day long as long as you don't let the barrel get hot and it's light weight and easy to carry hunting and best of all it's under $1000.
Since you say you want to hunt with it I'd say you need to go with a BCL-102 and then spend a bunch of money on it, or buy a Modern Hunter with carbon fiber wrapped barrel to keep the weight down (light profile will work as well). My MH with Proof Research barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor is 9 pounds without optics and 11 pounds with a Sightron 3-16x42.
Your other option is the Modern Varmint in 6.5 Grendel but from what I've read about that cartridge it's kinda lacking velocity for hunting big game as it will be limited to shorter ranges in order to have enough energy to make a clean kill and you'll have to select a good projectile to ensure proper expansion and penetration.
To find a light weight non restricted semi auto that actually shoots 1 moa or better consistently is pretty much not going to happen without spending $3000+. My Modern Hunter is doing 1 moa pretty consistently with handloads and I've seen a report or two of a BCL-102 doing 1 moa or better with an aftermarket barrel but then you're going to be into it for $3000 by the time you buy another barrel and an aftermarket trigger.
I grew out of the want to hunt with a non restricted semi auto mindset a few years ago, there just isn't a good do everything NR semi and you'll always be sacrificing accuracy and/or weight in order to have something that works for you.
Honestly, I would just forget about a lightweight 1 moa or better non restricted semi auto rifle for all situations, there isn't one.
You're better off buying a NR semi that's fun and light for hiking and plinking outside hunting season, forget 1 moa and think 2-3 moa with factory ammo. Buy yourself a nice Remington 700 or Savage model 10 in your caliber of choice for hunting, my Rem 700 in 7-08 will shoot about 1 moa all day long as long as you don't let the barrel get hot and it's light weight and easy to carry hunting and best of all it's under $1000.
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First you need to decide between 223 or 308 family. If 223 slr built by yourself with focus on good barrel and trigger and light weight parts or modern varminter. Pricing things out probably cheaper but more work to go down the slr route.
If 308 go bcl with change out of at least the trigger, handguard and possibly barrel. Seems like the newer ones are shooting better. If rebarelling I'd probably go 6.5 creedmoor but depends on if you reload and ammo budget. Can go the modern hunter way as well but from my experience I would much rather go bcl and even after changing out barrel, trigger, handguard you will still be under the base modern hunter price.
I think those are your best bets to fit your requirements but expect to pat at least 3k.
If 308 go bcl with change out of at least the trigger, handguard and possibly barrel. Seems like the newer ones are shooting better. If rebarelling I'd probably go 6.5 creedmoor but depends on if you reload and ammo budget. Can go the modern hunter way as well but from my experience I would much rather go bcl and even after changing out barrel, trigger, handguard you will still be under the base modern hunter price.
I think those are your best bets to fit your requirements but expect to pat at least 3k.
I was reading that NRA High-Power ar shooters stuff as much barrel behind the gas block as possible to ensure accuracy. So unless you go with a carbon fiber barrel to cut weight when compared with a steel bull barrel, there is an accuracy trade-off between barrel weight.
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Pffffft... Well that's an easy one...
http://www.irunguns.com/product.fnh-fnar-comp-308-dbm-20-10rd
Any further requests? Hahaha
http://www.irunguns.com/product.fnh-fnar-comp-308-dbm-20-10rd
Any further requests? Hahaha
Almost 9lbs though.....likes like a nice rifle. Really good reviews.
Wow that's a beauty! I'm going to see if I can find one of these to put my hands on.
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
I've been on the same hunt trying to find a semi auto hunting rifle... I currently use an RFB or my EBR and both weigh a little to a lot more than that... The FNAR is also available with a synthetic stock that drops it to a hair over 8lbs plus optic plus mag plus ammo...
I'm thinking Maccabee in 6.5 Grendel is the next step but kinda torn between that or a BCL102 rebarreld to something useful such as 7-08... Realistically tho... My EBR is not that bad to pack around with a padded sling for an evening and my RFB is plenty accurate and probably the handiest bush gun I've ever owned so it's not like I need to fill any gaps in the collection... Rather "I want" to buy another gun.
My issue exactly. I just want a nice light semi auto that I can carry out hiking and hunt with if the mood strikes me. When you refer to "EBR".....is that a modified Springfield M1A/M14/M305 design? If so been down that road....Really liked it. Regret selling it. Was best auto loading .308 I owned. Memory serves me right I got it down to just over 10 lbs and was accurate 1moa accurate with my hand loads.
As previous posts have pointed out it seems hard to beat the BCL102 as a starting point to build a light semi auto. Maccabee in 6.5 Grendel would be nice but it's hard to figure the cost accurately with little known about parts compatability. From all accounts more cash then a BCL102....marginally less weight and to me not as desirable in 6.5 Grendel compared to a .308 unless it's a full pound lighter....which is unlikely.
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