Some random thoughts on "weight"

[ruthabagah]

well: used to think that I could carry a heavy rifle all day, just like when I was in the army 25 years ago, so I did not care much about weight in my build. I made them all super sturdy and with all the tacticool accessories that would make me a better bench shooter...

Then I started playing airsoft, where i did the same mistake, and quickly realized that if I really needed to fight for my life, I would need something i can fight with, run with, roll and hide behind cover if i had to and do this all day...

Gone are the heavy build, the fancy red dots and other accessories. I go light, sturdy, basic.

[SA Friday]

Ounces make pounds. Pounds make pain.

My rifles from 10-15 years ago are very different than that I build today. It's hard to overlook the ease of use and carry of a DD lightweight 16" middy when it shoots just as well as a 15 year old 20" Colt HBAR. Short of M855, the average additional acceleration is about 15 fps per inch of barrel. Owning both barrels, I can attest the accuracy difference is a push. The DD is CHF and chrome lined, can't get any better life span. Why carry the weight? No reason to.

Hand guard weight; die quad rails, die! Half a lb of weight, bu-bye.

Upper and lower weight; forged vs milled. Of equal strength the forged will be lighter.

There's just not a lot of reliable builds that are ultra-light where some of the parts are just too compromised to really rely on, but there are quite a lot of really strong middle of the road weighted parts now a days. You can easily get into a 6lb range optic topped rifle with very high end reliable parts. Longer and heavier barrels do have their place in specialized ARs, but there are just too many good lighter options out there to lug around a 9 lb AR if you don't want to.

[HoneyBadger]

Am I the only one glad that this wasn't another drama-filled crossfit thread?

My ARs range from 5lb 4oz to 9lb 11oz. Different rifles for different missions.

[Great-Kazoo]

Am I the only one glad that this wasn't another drama-filled crossfit thread?

My ARs range from 5lb 4oz to 9lb 11oz. Different rifles for different missions.

YOU EVEN LIFT, BRO !

cause i know your phone ain't worken

[HoneyBadger]

YOU EVEN LIFT, BRO !

cause i know your phone ain't worken

Did you call? I turn my phone off when I'm sleeping, especially after I work night shifts. I got sick of my mom pocket-dialing me in the middle of the day.

I'll ring ya in a bit.

[Erni]

Seriously, DYEDL, bro?

I think part of it is balance and not just weight. The nose heavy ARs are a bear, the well balanced ones feel lighter than they are. For instance a quad rail mid weight vs 20" A1.
Tots agree that the quad rails need to die, and be replaced by the mlock or keymod.

The lighter the AR the more ammo you can shlep, unless it is broken.

So what is a good setup for a lightish AR, that is a good balance of weight and reliability?

[Great-Kazoo]

Seriously, DYEDL, bro?

I think part of it is balance and not just weight. The nose heavy ARs are a bear, the well balanced ones feel lighter than they are. For instance a quad rail mid weight vs 20" A1.
Tots agree that the quad rails need to die, and be replaced by the mlock or keymod.

The lighter the AR the more ammo you can shlep, unless it is broken.

So what is a good setup for a lightish AR, that is a good balance of weight and reliability?

14" faxon .625 barrel, choice of lower, minimalist buttstock, carbon fiber hand guard, flip up sights. Pick a rds, if you like. It's even lighter once you've sent that $200 out for your stamp.

You could run a 11.5" bbl instead, maybe those magpul slim line hand guards. It's what one's comfortable with. Currently replacing a 12" cut down stag M-4 with that faxon on the wife's SBR. She has 200 rounds tops on it. But, nooooo wants lighter. This already has a cavarms lower, carbon arms tube, TBAC brake for when she absconds with my ultra-7 can.

[SA Friday]

14" faxon .625 barrel, choice of lower, minimalist buttstock, carbon fiber hand guard, flip up sights. Pick a rds, if you like. It's even lighter once you've sent that $200 out for your stamp.

You could run a 11.5" bbl instead, maybe those magpul slim line hand guards. It's what one's comfortable with. Currently replacing a 12" cut down stag M-4 with that faxon on the wife's SBR. She has 200 rounds tops on it. But, nooooo wants lighter. This already has a cavarms lower, carbon arms tube, TBAC brake for when she absconds with my ultra-7 can.

First world problems.

[dan512]

Not to derail this thread too much but...
To the OP, you mentioned having a case that locks your rifle in the car. Can you expand on that? I am curious what you are using. Feel free to pm me.