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Posted: 9/27/2012 8:30:55 AM EDT
| I need something light weight for my wife, currently she has a Stag Arms 16'' M4 on a psa lower, with stock carbine hand guard and MOE stock, it has a primary arms red dot with there cant mount. Took her out shooting with it the other day for the first time and she kept saying it felt heavy. So looking for something light weight that she will be able to notice a difference with. still trying to get her fully switched over to the dark side so i need something she will enjoy shooting. not sure where to start or what to look for. thanks guys. |
| I'm guessing your wife doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles, so I am making the recommendation of a S&W M&P Sport and add a Nikon M223 mount on it. It's pretty light and with the glass she will likely be more accurate and enjoy it more. Plus if she doesn't like it you didn't bust the bank and you get a fun inexpensive rifle to shoot. |
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Get a lightweight 14.5'' and have it pinned from either PSA or BCM so that it meets the 16'' barrel length required by law.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Standard-14-5-LIGHT-WEIGHT-Upper-Receiver-p/bcm-urg-car-14lw.htm You can also get it in a mid length gas system if you prefer. |
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I would agree on a lightweight barrel profile 14.5 cut and pinned to 16". I prefer a mid-length, but they do shift the weight forward a little by pushing the front sight toward the muzzle. If she's complaining about weight, she probably won't like that. Anything you can do to shift weight rearward usually helps. My heaviest AR is a 9mm, but the weight is right on the pistol grip because of the heavier bolt and buffer. For that reason my wife prefers it over my other AR's, despite the fact that they all weigh at least a 1/2 pound less than it does. You might try adding some weight to the stock just to see if she likes a different balance which gets some weight off of her outstretched reaction side hand.
You could also try moving the optic rearward, and have her use 20rd mags (or downloaded mags) rather than full 30's. If you are using full-size/double heatshield M4 handguards, try the Magpul MOE's. They are lighter and slimmer, and will better balance with the MOE buttstock. Those M&P Sports are really nice rifles for the money, but be aware that they use a fairly heavy barrel profile (much heavier than an M4), so that would likely be making the problem worse, not better. |
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I would agree on a lightweight barrel profile 14.5 cut and pinned to 16". I prefer a mid-length, but they do shift the weight forward a little by pushing the front sight toward the muzzle. If she's complaining about weight, she probably won't like that. Anything you can do to shift weight rearward usually helps. My heaviest AR is a 9mm, but the weight is right on the pistol grip because of the heavier bolt and buffer. For that reason my wife prefers it over my other AR's, despite the fact that they all weigh at least a 1/2 pound less than it does. You might try adding some weight to the stock just to see if she likes a different balance which gets some weight off of her outstretched reaction side hand. You could also try moving the optic rearward, and have her use 20rd mags (or downloaded mags) rather than full 30's. If you are using full-size/double heatshield M4 handguards, try the Magpul MOE's. They are lighter and slimmer, and will better balance with the MOE buttstock. Those M&P Sports are really nice rifles for the money, but be aware that they use a fairly heavy barrel profile (much heavier than an M4), so that would likely be making the problem worse, not better. ^ great tip |
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I would agree on a lightweight barrel profile 14.5 cut and pinned to 16". I prefer a mid-length, but they do shift the weight forward a little by pushing the front sight toward the muzzle. If she's complaining about weight, she probably won't like that. Anything you can do to shift weight rearward usually helps. My heaviest AR is a 9mm, but the weight is right on the pistol grip because of the heavier bolt and buffer. For that reason my wife prefers it over my other AR's, despite the fact that they all weigh at least a 1/2 pound less than it does. You might try adding some weight to the stock just to see if she likes a different balance which gets some weight off of her outstretched reaction side hand. You could also try moving the optic rearward, and have her use 20rd mags (or downloaded mags) rather than full 30's. If you are using full-size/double heatshield M4 handguards, try the Magpul MOE's. They are lighter and slimmer, and will better balance with the MOE buttstock. Those M&P Sports are really nice rifles for the money, but be aware that they use a fairly heavy barrel profile (much heavier than an M4), so that would likely be making the problem worse, not better. ^ great tip we were using 30rounders but only had 20rounds loaded in them. I am leaning toward the light weight upper with a diff hand guard and try to shift weight back to see if that helps. do you all think a vertical forgrip would help any? |
| Try a BCM lightweight midlength 14.7" upper with pinned A2 & standard handguards. That's about as light as it gets and the middy is a pretty soft shooter. Even shoots the underpowered steel stuff with no issues using a standard carbine buffer, but runs best using Federal XM193 and a heavy buffer. If you're running the PA M3 or M4 clone that's a good sight but very heavy, I'd try one of PA's micro red dots. I'm running a Bushnell TR-25 on my Beretta Storm carbine and a Truglo reflex sight on my 9mm AR, either of those are much lighter than the M3/M4 clones. A full 30 round mag is pretty heavy as well, only loading 10 rounds at a time will make a big difference as well. |
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I would agree on a lightweight barrel profile 14.5 cut and pinned to 16". I prefer a mid-length, but they do shift the weight forward a little by pushing the front sight toward the muzzle. If she's complaining about weight, she probably won't like that. Anything you can do to shift weight rearward usually helps. My heaviest AR is a 9mm, but the weight is right on the pistol grip because of the heavier bolt and buffer. For that reason my wife prefers it over my other AR's, despite the fact that they all weigh at least a 1/2 pound less than it does. You might try adding some weight to the stock just to see if she likes a different balance which gets some weight off of her outstretched reaction side hand. You could also try moving the optic rearward, and have her use 20rd mags (or downloaded mags) rather than full 30's. If you are using full-size/double heatshield M4 handguards, try the Magpul MOE's. They are lighter and slimmer, and will better balance with the MOE buttstock. Those M&P Sports are really nice rifles for the money, but be aware that they use a fairly heavy barrel profile (much heavier than an M4), so that would likely be making the problem worse, not better. ^ great tip we were using 30rounders but only had 20rounds loaded in them. I am leaning toward the light weight upper with a diff hand guard and try to shift weight back to see if that helps. do you all think a vertical forgrip would help any? Maybe have her brace the back of her left elbow (actually mainly lower tricep area) against her body. In that case, if it works for her, I wouldn't run a vertical grip because it will cause more grip strain in my opinion...Many people are taught to shoot that way. I know it's standard with AR15is to reach way out on the handguard, but different things work for different people. EDIT: A well grip is another option... I have one on one of my rifles and I likey |
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I'd just swap your upper for a 14.5" Lightweight from BCM w/ a pinned muzzle device.
You'll save roughly 6 ounces with the shorter barrel in the lightweight profile. I'd also cut down the front sight, handguard cap and delta ring and install a Troy Alpha 11" FF tube. The Alpha weighs in around 10 ounces while the Magpul or standard handguards weigh about 9.5 so they are very similar. Plus you lose about 4 ounces by cutting the sight and removing the delta ring and handguard cap so it's actually less weight with the Troy tube. This will also give her more hand positions and possible more comfort which may help her with the weight issue. Here is my Wife's rifle for a very close example. This is a 13" tube but I suggest the 11" for saving a couple more ounces on the end of the rifle. 
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I know stag made a few M4 barrels with a heavy profile or what they call a ( DELTA PROFILE) You could send to ADCO and have them profile it. or have them cut it to 14.5 or 14.7. You can change the H buffer to a Standard Carbine. Really a Rack Grade M4 is pretty lite. |
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I would agree on a lightweight barrel profile 14.5 cut and pinned to 16". I prefer a mid-length, but they do shift the weight forward a little by pushing the front sight toward the muzzle. If she's complaining about weight, she probably won't like that. Anything you can do to shift weight rearward usually helps. My heaviest AR is a 9mm, but the weight is right on the pistol grip because of the heavier bolt and buffer. For that reason my wife prefers it over my other AR's, despite the fact that they all weigh at least a 1/2 pound less than it does. You might try adding some weight to the stock just to see if she likes a different balance which gets some weight off of her outstretched reaction side hand. You could also try moving the optic rearward, and have her use 20rd mags (or downloaded mags) rather than full 30's. If you are using full-size/double heatshield M4 handguards, try the Magpul MOE's. They are lighter and slimmer, and will better balance with the MOE buttstock. Those M&P Sports are really nice rifles for the money, but be aware that they use a fairly heavy barrel profile (much heavier than an M4), so that would likely be making the problem worse, not better. Your information about Sport barrels being heavier profile than government profile barrels is incorrect, at least in regard to the Colt M-4 and S&W Sport we bought earlier this year. They are identical under the handguard and the S&W is has a .04 smaller diameter from the front sight forward, excepting the Grenade Launcher cut. Overall the S&W Sport is 12 ounces lighter than the Colt M-4. |
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One thing to be careful about the light freefloat tubes is heat. I recently replaced a Magpul MOE w/ a Midwest Induatries SS Gen 2 tube.
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=450 It was the lightest 9 inch I could find and it's small diameter is nice. But, after the 3rd mag I need a glove. |
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I ended up building a 16" pencil barreled mid length for the wife.
Started with a cantilever mount on the primary arms aim point clone, and a MOE stock The cantilever mount seemed to push the balance forward, so we ended up swapping it with a micro clone, and no cant mount. we then swapped the MOE forend for a rainier arms evolution rail, there is zero heat transfer with the samson/rainier setup. The rifle balances perfectly now. I agree with the above poster, weight balance plays almost more important a role than overal weight. pics of the final (for now) product, and the second pic is not loaded. sorry for the terrible pic 
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Save a bunch of money and send your current barrel to ADCO.
They can turn it down to a pencil barrel, cut it to 14.5" and pin a muzzle device for less than the cost of a new barrel. They've done multiple jobs for me. Always fast and great work. Last barrel I sent them was less than a week turn around to be reprofiled. |
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Save a bunch of money and send your current barrel to ADCO. They can turn it down to a pencil barrel, cut it to 14.5" and pin a muzzle device for less than the cost of a new barrel. They've done multiple jobs for me. Always fast and great work. Last barrel I sent them was less than a week turn around to be reprofiled. A good suggestion, and likely the cheapest and least trouble. For plan B, get her a Smith 15-22 as a trainer. They are uber-light; let her get lots of light practice (light weight, recoil, cost and muzzle blast), and also establishes some muscle memory that should transition well to her holding up a soon-to-be weightwatchered 5.56. She'll shoot the snot out of the .22, and like it; there's nothing like friendly practice.. Moon |
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Here's my wife's rifle. I hast a Troy TRX 11", a Spike's lw barrel, and a T1 http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss324/Ryegye/P1010120.jpg http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss324/Ryegye/P1010118.jpg That is awesome that your wife apparently has no desire for pink furniture. She's a keeper 
She's a cutie and it looks like she is proud of her rig. I must say that is the nicest wife rig I may have ever seen, aside from my wife's SBR. It is set up very close with a Troy rail, but everything is shorter. Very well done. |
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