SL8 is really heavy - how can I reduce the weight?

yegor

yegor

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Im not a very weak guy, but holding the sl8 and shooting it without support gets tiring really fast, because the damn thing weighs a lot.

How can I reduce the weight of the damn thing? I was thinking of cutting the barrel, since its pretty long. Whats the maximum that I can cut off it, and still have it be unrestricted?

Anything else I can do?
 
Cutting the barrel won't reduce the weight by much. A few ounces at most. Its 20" barrel will let you cut off 1.5" and no more to keep it unrestricted. That won't make any difference. Getting some upper body exercise will help more. Mind you, your off-hand stance makes a difference too. Try moving your front arm under the forestock more.
 
A friend of mine had his barrel fluted which helped somewhat.

The SL8 is a very accurate rifle but I've always found it to be heavy, awkward and poorly balanced. AR 15 is not a bad alternative but you may not be fussy about owning a restricted rifle.
 
If I wanted a restricted rifle, I'd make it into a g36K clone.

I want it to be unrestricted because I shoot it on my buddy's property all the time.
 
You could try a G36 clone. That would be lighter than the "civilian" SL8. Or a HERA? adapter so you could use a lighter AR stock with the rifle. Other than those options, fluting or lighter barrel there's not much you can do.
 
John is correct. If you have a present non-restricted rifle, ie. semi/centre and modify it by cutting the barrel shorter than 18.5, then you make that rifle a prohibited firearm.

If you have a non-restricted rifle and wish to install a factory manufactured restricted length barrel, the rifle must be registered as restricted and then the barrel installed, and verified.

This has been the case for many years. Even in the old days of non restricted ARs, you could not simply exchange the full length 20" barrel and slap on a carbine, ie. 16", 10" etc. upper/barrel. If you did, the firearm became an unregistered restricted. The Criminal Code stipulates any short barrel that is to be installed must be from a manufacturer, rather than simply cut or modified.

Therefore, if you cut or modify the barrel yourself, to a dimension shorter than the prescribed 18.5" then it becomes a prohibited weapon. If you install a factory barrel shorter than the 18.5" then it becomes an unregistered restricted.
 
The best thing to do, is find a proper G36E barrel and install.

sl8hera.jpg
 
A SL8-5 is about 8.8lbs ( from the manual ). A G36E (18.9" barrel ) is 7.28 lbs ( G36 Armorer's Manual ).You would think most of the weight comes from the barrel but the although the SL8 barrel is a beefier profile than the G36 , its far from being a AR style heavy bull barrel.

I have a SL8 barrel on my desk and just by looking at it, I can't see you removing 1.5 lbs from it to meet the G36 rifles weight ( not even close ! )

I also have a SL8 buttstock / trigger group assembly and a G36 pistol grip and stock in my hand. The SL8 lower end is noticably heavier, thus accounting for much of the weight difference

So, I find it hard to believe its worth the hassle to buy a G36E barrel / Gas block etc ( $845 at HK Parts.net right now) and swap it just for the weight savings. Although everyone has AR barrel nut wrenches, the tools you need for a G36 / SL8 removal are way more expensive ( $100 )

All this to save less than a 1lb from a barrel swap

I would get a G36 barrel if you are trying to do a clone. This is the clone I am building for a friend. We are using HDPS stock block because I couldn't bring myself to cut the reciever. The barrel will be reprofiled since he has access to a CNC turning center so cost is $0

G36Clone.jpg
 
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