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Posted: 2/10/2010 6:28:23 AM EDT
| I've seen skeletonized lowers somewhere before, but I can't remember where. My son and I are going to build a rifle, and I want it as light as possible, but with a standard weight barrel. I thought a skeletonized lower would be a good place to start. Can anyone tell me where I can get the lightest lower possible? |
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That's not the one the I've seen before, but I like it. I'm guessing that that is a custom job. |
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Quoted:
That's not the one the I've seen before, but I like it. I'm guessing that that is a custom job. As I mentioned before, it was an attempt by Oly Arms to lighten their OA93 pistol to keep it under the 50 oz limit in the AW ban. It was the short lived OA98. 
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Quoted:
I haven't yet seen a skeletonized lower, but I can imagine pairing one with a dimpled barrel (like the pix below from www.ar15barrels.com) to make a lightweight rifle that looks like no other one... http://ar15barrels.com/tech/dimpling.jpg Why run that when there are a bunch of pencil barrels hitting the market? |
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The total weight of a stripped lower is pretty negligible (9 oz)... The weight saved by skeletonizing it is virtually nil. If you wanna do it for the looks, cool (I think it looks kinda cool).
But if you want a light rifle, you're talking about shaving MAYBE 5%-7% of the 9oz. that it weighs in the first place. Save the weight in the barrel and the stock. Don't bolt a bunch of accessories onto it. Forgo a rail/ff tube... Maybe even consider doing an SBR. Those investments will yield a MUCH better return, than skeletonizing the lower; and won't result in possible weakening of the rifle. |
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Good idea. That would be the last place I would look to drop weight, unless it was a steel receiver design. It is a shame you aren't pro plastic. The CavArms lowers are considered to be excellent, and survive being run over by vehicles. And if for some reason you are able to destroy it (even deliberately) they will replace it for a nominal fee (iirc, $30-40).
How many other companies would replace a receiver if you called and said it was crushed by a loaded dumptruck running over it? |
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Quoted:
I haven't yet seen a skeletonized lower, but I can imagine pairing one with a dimpled barrel (like the pix below from www.ar15barrels.com) to make a lightweight rifle that looks like no other one... http://ar15barrels.com/tech/dimpling.jpg That thing should say "Titliest" on it somewhere...... 
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If weight is of primary concern there are manufacturers that make carbon fiber lowers and uppers. Bushmaster is probably the most well known manufacturer of carbon fiber rifles.
I own the Bushmaster Carbon15 M4, and I've been quite pleased with it. Some people dont like the carbon rifles, but mine is accurate and 100% reliable. Another thing I love about that rifle is the raised upper rail puts red dot optics like the micro T1 and clones in perfect co-witness with the iron sights without the need for an expensive riser. |
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