Looking for Light AR-15 .

bigi

bigi

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I have max budget of $1200 with no optics. The one big requirement is weight, the lighter the better. What do you recomend and why? Thanks
 
A plain Jane stock AR15 comes in pretty light weight to begin with. Unless you want something under 5 pounds in which case I laugh at your budget.
 
For $1200, grab a SW MP ($700), sell the barrel/front sight/a2birdcage/grips on the EE (+$200-300), put any lightweight/pencil (better) length barrel (I put a $120 canada ammo 14.5" lightweight barrel on my first works well, my new faxon pencil was $300 - is amazingly light), grab a free float hand guard ($100-500) and any muzzle device ($100-200) for it.

Just replacing the barrel/FSB can save near a full pound. Just don't put a big honkin break on it. The vg6 gamma weighs the same as an a2 but is VERY effective, $100. Buy everything else then blow the rest of the budget on lightest handguard you can afford.

bigi said:
How about keeping it between 5&6 lbs. What should the barrel weigh only?
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16" m4/gov profile barrels are about 28-35 ounces, dunno about SW's. But you also got a FSB on them which is heavy as well.
 
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thegrandpoohbah said:
The law of diminishing returns applies here. That last 0.5-1 lbs starts to get really expensive to lose. I could be wrong but I do not think it is possible on a $1200 budget.
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This is one of those aspects not a lot of guys realize when they want to do a light weight build. It’s not hard to get a factory stock rifle to weigh not much, but if you actually want to upgrade your rifle with better parts you’re going to spend twice your budget just to shave a few ounces here and there.
Realistically, I always ask this question:

Why do you have to have a rifle weigh between 5-6 pounds?

What’s the intended purpose of this thing and do you really think you’re going to notice the difference?
My primary rifle weighs in at 9.32 pounds fully kitted & unloaded, and that includes a full size 16” BCM a barrel, a surefire, 15” rail, a nightforce NX8, sling and the usual accoutrements and when it comes to actually shooting the thing, I’ve never noticed a difference between it and my old 10.3” rifle that weighed in at around 6.5 ish pounds if memory serves.
If you want to build something lightweight just for ####s and giggles then by all means, but just beware if you get bored of a bone stock factory rifle it’s going to cost you a lot of money to upgrade it and keep the weight down.

Just food for thought.
 
C8 upper, half circle Colt semi auto BCG, standard lower, LPK, carbine receiver extension and buffer, MOE K+ grip, standard stock. Should come in around 6 lbs. Should also come in under your budget.
 
thegrandpoohbah said:
The law of diminishing returns applies here. That last 0.5-1 lbs starts to get really expensive to lose. I could be wrong but I do not think it is possible on a $1200 budget.
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Yep. The real savings are in the barrel, bolt carrier, buffer tube/stock set up, and handguards. You can save an oz or two on other parts (and yea it adds up), but the previously mentioned parts can save 1/4-1/2lb each. Definitely not cheap though. My ~5lb rifle was around 1k, my ~3.5lb build was about $3k.
 
dacron said:
Yep. The real savings are in the barrel, bolt carrier, buffer tube/stock set up, and handguards. You can save an oz or two on other parts (and yea it adds up), but the previously mentioned parts can save 1/4-1/2lb each. Definitely not cheap though. My ~5lb rifle was around 1k, my ~3.5lb build was about $3k.
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Your competition rifle is 3.5lbs?? Would love to look at it next match!
 
So about to get [h=2]Smith & Wesson M&P15 SPORT II 223rem / 556 16″(6.5lbs). Which pencil barrel and lighter handguard you guys recommend. Thanks in advance.[/h]
 
If you replace the barrel, you'll probably need a gas block as well (the front sight is the gas block on the SW), forgot to add it on the price list but they're about $60. Just note what size gas block your barrel has. Most are .750, but lightweight/pencil barrels are commonly .625. True North arms has a .625 for $40, they are definitely not as common as .725.

The first barrel I bought is now listed as a "c8 profile" at Canadaammo (14.5"), for $100 (https://www.canadaammo.com/product/detail/dominion-arms-da-556-14-5-barrel/). It was accurate enough for me (3 gun/tac matches),never tested its groups as it only has a red dot. It's finish wasn't the best, not bad just not great. On a budget, get that IMO. A 10.5 that is MUCH lighter (weighs less than 1lb) is $234,it's finish is immaculate - https://truenortharms.com/ar15_defa...ms-ar-15-pencil-barrel-in-5-56-nato-10-5.html - The 10.5 is considerably louder than a 14.5, don't put a brake on it if you go that route.

As for hand guards, I think ALG makes a good, light 10" one (or a 13" for better looks, 1.5oz heavier.) for a decent price (under $200 - https://www.armseast.ca/alg_defense...catalog&parent=96&pg=1&CatalogSetSortBy=price), but Truenortharms has one for under $100 that's 3oz heavier (https://truenortharms.com/ar15_default_store_view/lightweight-free-float-m-lok-handguard.html) depending on budget. The ALG rail needs a $6 wrench from armnseast to install, the TrueNoerthArms a $10wrench is needed from them.

For muzzle devices, go light (I've seen 1/4lb muzzle brakes), or stick with an a2 birdcage.

Still alive said:
Your competition rifle is 3.5lbs?? Would love to look at it next match!
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Of course! It feels like a toy. There is so little moving mass (titanium bcg, no weights in the buffer at all...) it actually has recoil now.
 
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