Build the lightest AR10 ever?

Do what I did and buy the DPMS G2 Light Hunter.

This shooter got under 5.5# for a bare rifle, but you are looking at using some very uncommon hardware.

http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?57826-All-New-AR-308-build-under-5-5-pounds

At some point, with that rifle in that caliber, wouldn't you start getting diminishing returns from your lightening efforts? There's a pretty good reason that .30 caliber rifles are as stout as they generally are.

So I'm not really concerned about recoil.

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I could be wrong, but I believe the poster is referring to the 50-60,000psi pressure from a 308.

The G2s are light, but they don't have a lot of configurations. The G2 Recon still weighs 8.5lb with an 18 inch barrel. An 18 inch M&P 10 weighs 7.71lb, with an 18 inch barrel that's thick up until the gas block, not a pencil barrel like the standard G2s. But with JMT Enterprise's new polymer lower, you could probably get one pretty light.

tarosean said:

I could be wrong, but I believe the poster is referring to the 50-60,000psi pressure from a 308.

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Exactly. Punishing yourself is one thing, but the gun itself has to be able to stand up to the cartridge.

Quote:
Do what I did and buy the DPMS G2 Light Hunter.
Can you give me your overall thoughts on this rifle? Weight? Reliability? Is it suitable for limited defensive use? Construction?

Thanks man!!!!

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It's a great rifle. I don't know what the weight is but it's not much more than a AR15 in rifle length. It's very accurate and has been 100% reliable. It's very well balanced.
My reloads shoot sub MOA. It is a little rough on brass.
A lot of shooters think it's the new standard for the AR .308 platform.

FWIW the MP10 carrier is substantially lighter than some others.

The first production AR-10s only weighed 7.5 pounds, and were considered quite accurate.

So, an AR-10 can be made very light.

I didnt know the original used a barrel liner. If you swap in a steel barrel that will add 2lbs

Less than that. Look at Christensen Arms, they're about 4-500 for a carbon fiber AR10 barrel. The problem is that they still aren't that light. 2.3lb.

http://www.christensenarms.com/products/carbon-barrel/ca-10-barrels/

Only the first few prototype US-made AR10's had the hybrid aluminum-steel barrel.
The early Dutch produced AR10's weighed 6.85 lbs and had deeply fluted steel barrels.
Barrel photo and rifle photos below.

The AR10's made in the US in the 1950's are generally called "Hollywood" AR10's. The first
Dutch made AR10's are called "Cuban" or "Sudanese" contract AR10's. The Cuban rifles
(like in the photo below) lacked the heavy bayonet lug and barrel shroud. The Sudanese
rifles had the bayo lug as well as a threaded flash-hider to accomodate a BFA.

Hollywood AR10 SN 1002 has its hybrid aluminum-steel barrel fail during testing and continued
its life with a steel barrel. Hollywood guns SN 1001, 1003, and 1005 still have their hybrid barrels.

Now with today's carbon fiber technology the whole issue of hybrid barrels is again on the table.

I just bought an Adams Arms Small Frame 308. Piston driven 308 that has 56% lower parts commonality with the AR-15. Advertised at 7.8 lbs from the factory. I didn't weigh it, but it isighter than some AR-15s I've built. It's around 11 lbs with Samson Evolution Rail, Silencerco Harvester and Vortex Viper PST scope. Very manageable recoil and 11 lbs is really not bad considering all the stuff I have on it.

Here are the places modern AR10's are porky:
Heavy Barrels
Massive Carriers
Unnecessarily beefy receivers
Rail with scope is heavier than integral carry handle.
Forward assist adds weight.
Handguards and stocks are not as light as the fiberglass originals.