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Posted: 8/26/2005 10:36:10 PM EDT
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As an excercise/excuse to build another one, i'm trying to build a light weight 16" barrel AR. I plan on starting with a Cav arms lower which should be good for about a pound of reduction . I'm also looking at J&T distributing's fluted H-bar barrel. What are some ideas from the forum to get as light an AR as possible? |
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go with a superlight barrel and a1 upper here are some links discussing them http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=240205 picture thread ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=243146 ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=12&t=242050 ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=18&t=240954 ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=240196 search is your friend! |
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Thanks for the links eklickwhoa. My search came up dry. I put in light(space)weight and got nothing! D'uh. Does anyone know the weight difference with the different upper recievers? Slim fast, 12 oz. icecream and 1/2 cup of hot fudge. Blend til smooth. top with whip cream and sprinkles. y  ummmmmm...
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| I've got one with a Stag lower, everything else is late '70s Colt Sporter 16". It's an A1, with the pencil barrel, and 2 position metal stock. I've never weighed it, but it feels pretty light to me. I'm sure I could lighten it up some with a plastic stock, but I'm comfortable with it the way it is. Hope this helps you out some. |
definately go with the lightweight barrel 16" with M4 profile and Cav Arms M4 type hand guards 4 pounds, 1oz  Lightweight Profile 16" Semi Auto Bolt Carrier Group, and Cav Arms M4 Handguards 3lbs 12.5oz. more weight info at this link |
| I'd get the Colt 6520 upper, IMHO, the best light weight barrel out there. Here's a source - Link. If you want a different receiver, like a flat top, simply switch it out. You can usually recover $150 of your cost by selling the receiver. |
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I just ordered a 6520. If you want the best lightweight barrel, 6520 is the way to go. It is .625, chrome lined, 556, and has the 1/7 twist. The 6520 barrel also comes with M4 feedramps. So it is the best of all worlds. I believe this barrel is .625 the whole way, whereas the Bushmaster might be a fraction of an ounce ligher because it tapers to .570. Unfortunately, the Colt is pricy. Can't have cheap, light, and all the features rolled into one..... |
Thats what I have. It is a pleasure to lug around. |
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The lightest upper receiver I found when I was shopping for components for my ultralight carbine build was the Les Baer Ultimate w/o forward assist - 6.9 oz. before you put the ejection port door on. I wish I'd known about the Cold 6520 when I did my build. I'm a relative newbie and it was my first build, so I went with the Bushmaster Superlight barrel. |
I used a Model 1 lightweigt barrel on this build.  The upper is very light, using a standard receiver. The carbon fiber tube saved me a little bit of weight too. IIRC, the Maryland AR Shooter site has a weight database of just about everything you could ever put on an AR. |
The tube on my rifle is a Clarks Custom tube. The come in rifle length, and I've had this one a couple of 20" ARs. I finally decided it would be good on this build, and the kind folks at Clark offered to cut it for the cost of the return shipping. I think it looks good with the tube buttstock, and lord knows it's light. ' I don't know what this rifle weighs, since I don't have anyting accurate enough to weigh it. I'm figuring about 5 1/2 lbs, just as a guess. |
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I used a Cav Arms Mk. II lower, Les Baer flat top w/o FA and Cav Arms Stand Alone Rear Sight, DPMS bolt carrier assembly w/o FA serrations and Colt bolt, Bushmaster Superlight Barrel w/Vortex and Clark Custom CF free float tube cut to carbine length weighs in at 5 lb. 4 oz. exactly on my digital scale. I could have gotten closer to 5 lb. by losing the iron sights and using an A1 flash suppressor instead of the Vortex. My rifle weighs 5 lb. 6.3 oz. with my 2.3 oz. OKO 4W. I wanted the Vortex and iron sights "just in case." |
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As already mentioned, go with a lightweight barrel, this is the biggest influence on total weight of the rifle. Excel sheet of weights from MD-AR15.com is the most complete reference of parts weights that I know of. If you are stuck with a heavy barrel now, there are several shops that can machine it down and re-finish to a lightweight profile. My shop services are found here: www.ar15barrels.com/services.shtml Randall Rausch www.ar15barrels.com |
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