I currently have a 20" HBAR Ar15. I'm very pleased with it and have no complaints. I'm looking at getting another, and looking at the opposite end of the spectrum. After doing a lot of carrying of the 20" HBAR with A2 stock I'm looking at going smaller and lighter for the next one. It will be for doing a lot of woods carrying with intermediate shooting at ranges 100 yards and under.  This leaves me wanting to decide between a mid length and CAR length. Both flat tops. I am not planning on going the SBR route and will stick with a 16" barrel either way.

Because of this and the fact that I will be shooting ironsights for now I think the 16" is the best bet for sight radius. I'm also aware of the fact that is will be softer shooting and should cause less parts wear than a CAR length gas system. Some extra rail space wouldn't hurt either. My overall goal is a simple lighweight rifle. Acessories to be added in the future will only be a light and optic.

So the only real question is how much lighter would a 16 CAR  be over the  mid-lenth? I'm guessing it's neglibilbe because the hanguards are the only difference as far as weight is concerned.

If I ended up going with a lightweight or pencil barrel and adjustable stock how appreciable would the weight difference be between the CAR/middy vs HBAR, especially after a lot of carrying? I am not trying to go as light as possible such as getting polymer or carbon fiber lowers. Just something better and handier for carrying a couple hours at a time. Keeping the HBAR shouldered for long periods of time becomes tiring.

And just for aesthetics, can somebody post a comparable middy and CAR next to eacother in the same picture?

http://545ar.com/calc.html - Weight calculator.





A lightweight midlength will be a few ounces lighter than a M4 profile carbine length (both with plastic handguards).





A lightweight carbine will be an ounce or so lighter than a lightweight midlength (both with plastic handguards). This also depends on how the manufacturer defines "lightweight".