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I have recently built a few new uppers for my most-shot rifles / sizes with medium profile barrels. These are 100% suppressed, rapid strings of fire guns and with heavy supps hanging off of them and the amount of deflection. POI shift is a thing with the lighter BA Hanson profiles - especially on the longer 14.5s when they get hot. I built a new 12.5 and decided to go with a medium profile on it too vs a lighter tapered 12.5. I can definitely feel the extra 6-8oz or so on the front of the rifle. They are still way lighter with magnesium and super aluminum V7 parts everywhere else, but I’m curious to see how they’ll do, and how I’ll do, lol. |
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Originally Posted By Rick_A: My rifle with backup irons, an optic, and light weighs not much more than the rifle I was issued (M16A2) and I'm not trying to use it like a squad auto. It balances perfectly. Lightweight barrel all the way. My AR 308, on the other hand...is a pig.  Opposite. My 16” 308 is 6.48lbs before optic. I hunt with it and can shoulder shots at distance. It’s freakin’ awesome. .6-.8 MOA with FGGM 168s. The barrel’s not even a pencil barrel. It’s possible to build very lightweight 308 ARs. Most people go cheap and build these tanks that just sit in the safe because they’re only good for shooting paper. |
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Originally Posted By GerryOwen: I really don’t get it in a serious rifle… For a range toy or one you’re just gonna put a box or two thru a couple times a year, yea sure whatever, you do you. I carried an M4 for 23 years and hauled it around the desert and up and down mountains both here in the states and in sandbox, so I certainly get the appeal of a lighter rifle. What I don’t get is the cult following LW barrels seem to have with some people, especially those who’ve never served. LW barrels heat up quicker and accuracy degrades faster over longer strings of fire as it does, so why would I or anyone want one in a serious rifle!? Yes, in the civilian world I’m very unlikely to ever put enough stress on the barrel to need a SOCOM or HBAR profile barrel to negate accuracy degradation in a given situation, but I’ve run into so many people screeching about the weight savings of a LW barrel and all I can ever think is, “Dude, your rifle goes from your house to your car and your car to the flat range, is the 4oz of saved weight really so life changing!?” Seriously, can anyone explain it to me cuz so many of the LW advocates treat it like a damn religion. **This stemmed from a heated conversation I overheard at the range yesterday and I’ve been thinking about it since. How much does accuracy degrade? How quickly? |
USAF (Ret) 2003-2024
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Originally Posted By GerryOwen: What I don’t get is the cult following LW barrels seem to have with some people, especially those who’ve never served. I'm confused; are you saying only people who've spent time in the military are allowed to like lightweight barrels? That's a strange position to take, but okay, I'll humor you. Why exactly? |
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Originally Posted By Brahmzy: Opposite. My 16” 308 is 6.48lbs before optic. I hunt with it and can shoulder shots at distance. It’s freakin’ awesome. .6-.8 MOA with FGGM 168s. The barrel’s not even a pencil barrel. It’s possible to build very lightweight 308 ARs. Most people go cheap and build these tanks that just sit in the safe because they’re only good for shooting paper. Originally Posted By Brahmzy: Originally Posted By Rick_A: My rifle with backup irons, an optic, and light weighs not much more than the rifle I was issued (M16A2) and I'm not trying to use it like a squad auto. It balances perfectly. Lightweight barrel all the way. My AR 308, on the other hand...is a pig. Opposite. My 16” 308 is 6.48lbs before optic. I hunt with it and can shoulder shots at distance. It’s freakin’ awesome. .6-.8 MOA with FGGM 168s. The barrel’s not even a pencil barrel. It’s possible to build very lightweight 308 ARs. Most people go cheap and build these tanks that just sit in the safe because they’re only good for shooting paper. Details on build? I'm curious how heavy a barrel you used and still got 6.48lbs. |
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Originally Posted By LineOfDeparture: A rifle should be heavy enough to beat someone to death. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/310196/1000013380-3630966.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/310196/1000013382-3630965.jpg I can beat someone to death with a 16 ounce hammer . . . |
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Originally Posted By Tamarit_167: I'm confused; are you saying only people who've spent time in the military are allowed to like lightweight barrels? That's a strange position to take, but okay, I'll humor you. Why exactly? Originally Posted By Tamarit_167: Originally Posted By GerryOwen: What I don’t get is the cult following LW barrels seem to have with some people, especially those who’ve never served. I'm confused; are you saying only people who've spent time in the military are allowed to like lightweight barrels? That's a strange position to take, but okay, I'll humor you. Why exactly? I guess because they are a cult worshipping LW barrels? They just think their working LW barrels will work well enough in the homeland in case of invasion. They'll upgrade on the battlefield as needed. Works for me. |
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Originally Posted By Dial-Tone: Details on build? I'm curious how heavy a barrel you used and still got 6.48lbs. Faxon 308 “Big Gunner” with a boatload of insanely light, high-dollar V7 parts, Ti carrier, crazy light 2A Armament receiver set etc. Thing shoots .6 MOA with FGMM 168s if I do my part. Love that rifle. It has taken a TON of animals too. Lots of elk. |
USAF (Ret) 2003-2024
Joined:
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Originally Posted By Raidersgone: I guess because they are a cult worshipping LW barrels? They just think their working LW barrels will work well enough in the homeland in case of invasion. They'll upgrade on the battlefield as needed. Works for me. lolwut? the military is a cult that worships lightweight barrels? welp, heard all I need to
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Originally Posted By Brahmzy: Faxon 308 “Big Gunner” with a boatload of insanely light, high-dollar V7 parts, Ti carrier, crazy light 2A Armament receiver set etc. Thing shoots .6 MOA with FGMM 168s if I do my part. Love that rifle. It has taken a TON of animals too. Lots of elk. Can it shoot suppressed? What barrel length and gas port length? I tried to do a lightweight AR10 and couldn't get it gassed right to shoot suppressed and unsuppressed until I went full weight carrier and 5.4oz buffer. 2A Xanthos upper, lower, and rail. V7 small parts and 2055 buffer tube. Titanium Superlative Arms gas block. JP LMOS Carrier and Silent Capture Buffer. Moved to FMOS carrier and 5.4oz buffer equivalent to get it to run. Same as A5 tube and Armalite EA1095 buffer with EA1090 spring. Lowest I got was 7 pounds with ASR flash hider. And Wilson Combat 18" Tacical Hunter barrel was still too light at 38oz. I wish I could reccomend a light carrier and buffer on AR10s but it just does not seem to be capable of the mass reduction in the bolt and buffer the small frame platform is in my experience. And a 38oz barrel is also too light for a 6.5 Creedmoor. |
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