STAG 10 Weight reduction / now offering LEV2 uppers

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commandac

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Let me start by saying my Stag 10 required VERY little for me to fall in love with it.
Gas block wasn't aligned from the factory. FTFs 80% of the time. Now it costs me 10$ of ammo in 3 seconds.
Mounted my optic, swapped trigger for Geissele 2 stage, added strap, and away I went to go moose hunting.

Accuracy is beyond acceptable at right around 1.5" moa using Barnes TTSX 168.

Only complaint I had was front end weight. (Balance)

Which brings me to the following;

1. Has anyone weighed the stock handguard that came with the STAG 10 M-lok version? (Is this a stag part, or rebranded?)
2. I searched the STAG website for the (supposedly) lighter LEV2 handguard, cannot find any information. (Offered only as a barreled upper for now)
3. Does the new LEV2 version have a different barrel (vs stock) as well? Lighter?

On sale at ~300 US, I would definitely be interested in both the lighter barrel and handguard. (Assuming that LEV2 barrel is long enough to remain unrestricted)

PS: Can we count the stock muzzle brake for total length? Or does the barrel itself need to be a certain length for non restricted status?

Otherwise I was looking at Faxon, and a new handguard. Faxon should save me roughly a lb of front end weight. I got no clue about this stock handguard, if it is already relatively light or not.
 
commandac said:
Let me start by saying my Stag 10 required VERY little for me to fall in love with it.
Gas block wasn't aligned from the factory. FTFs 80% of the time. Now it costs me 10$ of ammo in 3 seconds.
Mounted my optic, swapped trigger for Geissele 2 stage, added strap, and away I went to go moose hunting.

Accuracy is beyond acceptable at right around 1.5" moa using Barnes TTSX 168.

Only complaint I had was front end weight. (Balance)

Which brings me to the following;

1. Has anyone weighed the stock handguard that came with the STAG 10 M-lok version? (Is this a stag part, or rebranded?)
2. I searched the STAG website for the (supposedly) lighter LEV2 handguard, cannot find any information. (Offered only as a barreled upper for now)
3. Does the new LEV2 version have a different barrel (vs stock) as well? Lighter?

On sale at ~300 US, I would definitely be interested in both the lighter barrel and handguard. (Assuming that LEV2 barrel is long enough to remain unrestricted)

PS: Can we count the stock muzzle brake for total length? Or does the barrel itself need to be a certain length for non restricted status?

Otherwise I was looking at Faxon, and a new handguard. Faxon should save me roughly a lb of front end weight. I got no clue about this stock handguard, if it is already relatively light or not.
Click to expand...

I didn't weigh mine, and I don't have much to compare it to, but my stock Stag 10 handguard felt extremely lightweight when I removed it to mess with the gas block.
 
I added a Vortex Viper 2-10x32 with flip up scope covers, Burris PEPPR quick release mount , ARMS 40 sights. Also added a Lantec Dragon Muzzle Brake. A generic sling. Faxon Pencil barrel & aim sport foreend It all weighs in at 10.4 lbs. The balance makes off hand shots so easy! Great for hunting. The worst accuracy is 2" with Aguila 7.62X51 FMJ...Hurtinberg and Federal I'm average around a 1.5". However admittedly, I'm not a very good shot. I find semi. auto's harder to shoot.
 
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Muzzle brake doesn't count for overall length like the USA. You would need to get at least a 18.5" barrel like the Fulton armory that some have measured to be correct length barely.
 
It might improve the balance (but not the weight) if you went with a Magpul UBR - it's a bit heavier, and still adjustable and it puts the weight in the back to counter the heavy front end.
 
You likely won't save a tonne of weight with a handguard change. If you go something super light weight you might save a quarter pound. Modern mlok rails are all fairly light.
 
The stock hangaurd already weighs next to nothing. I find the bolt (not including the carrier) weighs more.
 
I swapped the 16.5" factory handguard for a 15" Midwest Industries SS handguard. The weight was 17 oz (with nut) for the factory and 13.5 oz (with nut) for the MI. I believe the difference mostly is the steel barrel nut , with the MI one being more lean and lower profile. I also love the slimmer diameter of the MI. The factory one was too "fat" for me.

The best way to lighten the front end is to swap in a pencil barrel. You could save up to a pound! I'm considering Maple Ridge Armory's new pencil match barrel, weighs in at 1 lb 15 oz, compared to the factory one at 3 lbs! Accuracy is supposed to be sub-moa with good ammo

Now the stock. The factory m4 stock is 7 oz. I swapped in an MOE fixed carbine stock at 9.5 oz so it's a little heavier but really helps balance out the front end. Solid and comfortable.

The rifle now weighs 8.5 lbs without optics (Arms East said factory is 8.75 lbs) with more weight in the back. It's not much, but the balance is much better.

If I put in a pencil barrel I'll get it down to 7.5 lbs which is very good weight for a .308 semi, and will make the front end even lighter and quicker to move.
 
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my 15" JP signature handguard weighs just over 18 oz or 1pound 2oz with front sight rail and sling/bipod studs attached. This is including the barrel nut which I think is where most of it's weight is coming from.

Stag 10 lower with stag-10 lower parts kit weighs 19.39oz
Stag 10 upper with stag-10 forward assist , trap door assembly and stag-10 charging handle weighs 14.32oz
Stag 10 bolt assembly weighs 19.21oz
Stag 10 Carbine buffer tube, castlenut, lockplate, spring and buffer weigh 10.16oz

total for my build so far, which does not include a magazine, buttstock, sights or barrel/gasblock assembly = 5.0675 pounds giving me room to play with for keeping it to an under 9 pound rifle fielded.
 
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playinghooky said:
Muzzle brake doesn't count for overall length like the USA. You would need to get at least a 18.5" barrel like the Fulton armory that some have measured to be correct length barely.
Click to expand...

Anything "permanent" (generally accepted as requiring tools for removal) counts for overall length. An additional muzzle brake does not count towards barrel length, only continuous length of barrel material.
 
This has got to be some of the most valuable information I have ever got from this forum.

Thank you to all who have contributed. If someone can weigh the handguard again to confirm, that would be much appreciated.
I also find the handguard a little "fat" but I assumed it was just something to get used to, as this is my first AR type rifle.
A shorter handguard would be fine by me. I have 6" passed the point of where my hand holds it. I know aiming is more precise if the bipod is at the far front, but
I use mine primarily for hunting, with the occasional target practice at the sand pit. (It's wonderful to be able to do that with an AR)

So, if the handguard is 20 oz, and I can save roughly 16 oz on the barrel, that's 1.5 lbs off the front with a lighter handguard and barrel.

Now to decide, do I go with a pencil type barrel at 18", or the heavy fluted at 18". (Faxon seems to make a great 2.2 lbs heavy fluted barrel)
Repeated shots at the pit, with the stock barrel, held great accuracy even after 20 rounds. If I ever want to keep doing range
days, I think I may want the heavy fluted and I would still save close to 12 oz vs stock barrel.
My only other experience was by Savage 110 with sporter barrel losing accuracy after 5 rounds.
 
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