Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
1/22/2011 8:39:15 AM EDT
I am just about finish assembling my Colt HBAR.  It began life as a stock Sporter II with an A1 upper.  I installed a 1:7, HBAR upper with service legal float tube, .034 front post sight and Jewell 2 stage trgger with a 3.5lb first stage and 1 lb second.  Last purchase will be a NM rear sight and I should be good to go.

My question is how to balance the final rifle.  Where is the balance point?  I have read that it should be balanced at the delta ring.

I would appreciate any feedback on my setup and on the balance question.

Art
1/22/2011 10:22:36 AM EDT
[#1]
balance point is generally around the front of the mag well underneath the delta ring ,if you can grab it with one hand at the mag well and it doesn't want to tip too much in either direction you should be gtg
4/13/2011 12:29:54 AM EDT
[#2]
they tend to be nose heavy- you can stuff something like a lead weight in the stock and trim it until you get the right feel for you.
5/5/2011 9:22:12 AM EDT
[#3]
Get a lead buttstock weight and try it.  There are also front lead cuffs available.  You want to get the rifle to around 13.5 lbs minimum so it will settle when shooting offhand, mine weighs about 15.5lbs, some shoot it even heavier.  I would also recommend a wider front sight .072" National Match, they cost on average 15.00 dollars.  Wider is easier on the eyes, especially at the end of the day at 600yards when it counts the most.  Depending on your age and eyesight you'll want a .038 up to about .042 rear sight aperture.  Compass Lake Engineering, White Oak Armament, Rock River Arms and others sell all these parts and they're readily available.  I'd adjust your trigger to about 3 1/2 on the first stage and 1 1/2 on the second.  

Tom
8/10/2011 9:40:51 AM EDT
[#4]
I like to use a double baggie of lead shot in the buttstock compartment.  It is easy to change the balance point until you like it.   I though the lead wedges were too heavy and I ended up sawing part of it off.   Good Luck
12/8/2011 7:51:38 PM EDT
[#5]
I did a baggy of pennies in the butt compartment, and birdshot wrapped in foil,about 1.5" by 10" flatten it so it fits under the barrel. All the extra weight steadied the rifle. Man, haven't thought of that in years
8/27/2012 10:15:33 PM EDT
[#6]
I prefer the solid lead to the shot -  you know lead poisoning and breathing lead dust and all.

Under the handguards you could also buy lead stick on weights that go on the standard handguards.  Similar to the newer style wheel balancing weights.

A 3 lb lead buttstock weight makes the rifle rear heavy with the HBAR barrel.  But once you shoulder it it doesn't feel so bad.  Probably balances closer to the magwell/pistol grip.  From there you could either trim the buttstock or add weight under the handguard.