Finally Finished Light(er) Weight Orphan

Tinman357 · Feb 4, 2020

Skylerbone::::
You're a lucky man indeed. Built my daughter a lightweight setup a few years ago. Had to keep it from her though. Some issues arose that made me sell everything off. Finances and life got in the way.

Glad you have it good. Appreciate it for all it's worth.

GunnyUSMC · Feb 4, 2020

If you really want to go lightweight a good synthetic lower is a great start.
I have built four rifles on Tennessee Arms lowers. The first three that I built ended up finding homes with friends that had to have them after they played with them.
The last one I built, I have refused to sale. I do need to put it on a scale to see what it weighs.

GunnyUSMC · Feb 4, 2020

The first one I did in gray. The upper on both is a Bootleg lightweight.

And it you go with a lightweight BCG, you can loose more weight.

Skylerbone · Feb 4, 2020

Tinman357 said:
Glad you have it good. Appreciate it for all it's worth.

Believe it or not I’m just a blue collar guy who works OT and Holidays. Like a lot of guys I’ve lost it all before (thank you ex-wife who took out secret loans to buy her boyfriend a motorcycle and boat in cash) and clawed my way back slowly. I’m definitely thankful for what I have now, and, knock on wood, these builds done with the kids (now 6 after remarrying) will both secure their future right to own an AR and keep them interested in shooting.

I hold little hope the parts now in transit will be coupled to my lower long enough for me to shoot it, and that too is fine with me.

Skylerbone · Feb 4, 2020

@GunnyUSMC i think that Tennessee was my inspiration for the grey scheme I used on my RRA irons only retrofit. I waffled on the Magpul slim guard but opted for a Luth-AR in the end. I did order a slick side which might save a tiny bit but at some point I intend to green light an even lighter build, though not one of those exotics with titanium.

This is the stock for my daughter’s rifle, 5.7oz.

GunnyUSMC · Feb 4, 2020

Skylerbone said:
@GunnyUSMC i think that Tennessee was my inspiration for the grey scheme I used on my RRA irons only retrofit. I waffled on the Magpul slim guard but opted for a Luth-AR in the end. I did order a slick side which might save a tiny bit but at some point I intend to green light an even lighter build, though not one of those exotics with titanium.

This is the stock for my daughter’s rifle, 5.7oz.
View attachment 889583

I’ve been looking at those stocks. A have a true pencil barrel that takes a .625 gas block. I might shoot for a super lightweight build in the future.

BSA1 · Feb 5, 2020

@Skylerbone I installed a set of UTG Low-Profile Flip-up Sights on the build I finished last weekend. My favorite LGS had them in stock and after a little research decided to go with them. I like their small size and profile. They only add a little over three ounces in weight.

Then Delta Team Tactical sent me daily deal email that had Omega Premium Flip-up Sights on sale. I have no idea what the quality of them are but I brought them in anticipation of another build using a full-length free float handguard and a optic as my primary sight.

Neither set is not likely to see much use. They are for reassurance for me as I don’t trust batteries.

BSA1 · Feb 5, 2020

GunnyUSMC said:
The first one I did in gray. The upper on both is a Bootleg lightweight.
View attachment 889556 View attachment 889557
View attachment 889559

@GunnyUSMC I like the two tone gray and black. Was it a lucky accident that the Lower gray matches the Magpul gray?

Tinman357 · Feb 5, 2020

SKYLERBONE:

I was referring to your family and location as the reason you are a lucky man. You and your daughter look happy. The rifles come and go. Treasure every day with what matters.

GunnyUSMC · Feb 5, 2020

BSA1 said:
@GunnyUSMC I like the two tone gray and black. Was it a lucky accident that the Lower gray matches the Magpul gray?

Tennessee Arms makes their gray lower to match Magpul’s gray. They also have OD green and Magpul OF green.

Skylerbone · Feb 5, 2020

I can relate, and indeed the monetary damage was the least of it.

BSA1 · Feb 5, 2020

Dang ye eyes @GunnyUSMC. You may be the inspiration for what I am going to build with my other Anderson smooth side upper. Well I need to get the calculator out and start calculating weights. :feet:

GunnyUSMC · Feb 5, 2020

BSA1 said:
Dang ye eyes @GunnyUSMC. You may be the inspiration for what I am going to build with my other Anderson smooth side upper. Well I need to get the calculator out and start calculating weights.

I am here to cause your bank account pain and your heart joy.

Shimitup · Feb 5, 2020

GunnyUSMC said:
The first one I did in gray. The upper on both is a Bootleg lightweight.
View attachment 889556 View attachment 889557
View attachment 889559

And it you go with a lightweight BCG, you can loose more weight.
View attachment 889558

Love those AR's Gunny, especially the Bootleg uppers, those are really cool. I thought I'd throw in a pic of my first build all finished up, it seems to continue the Magpul slim handguard theme you've got going. Mine weighs in at 6.8 lbs. I kept it simple for my first for one, the many options are mind boggling and I couldn't wrap my brain around anything fancy.

GunnyUSMC · Feb 5, 2020

Shimitup said:
Love those AR's Gunny, especially the Bootleg uppers, those are really cool. I thought I'd throw in a pic of my first build all finished up, it seems to continue the Magpul slim handguard theme you've got going. Mine weighs in at 6.8 lbs. I kept it simple for my first for one, the many options are mind boggling and I couldn't wrap my brain around anything fancy.

View attachment 889724

Nice rifle.
I did one like that too.

Shimitup · Feb 5, 2020

GunnyUSMC said:
Nice rifle.
I did one like that too.
View attachment 889726

Shimitup · Feb 5, 2020

GunnyUSMC said:
Nice rifle.
I did one like that too.
View attachment 889726

, I did a double take on that, thought it was mine at first glance.

GunnyUSMC · Feb 5, 2020

There’s a large digital scale here at the lab. I just put my Spartan AR with the Tennessee Arms lower on it. With the empty mag, just as pictured here, it came in at 6.55 lbs.

Skylerbone · Feb 6, 2020

Parts are rolling in so I thought I’d snap a few more pics with measurements.

New stock for the daughter’s rifle.

Feels good on the shoulder with no slippage.

As measured on my cheap digital scale (0-11 lbs).

Complete rifle minus magazine and ammo. 6 lbs. 2.5 oz.

LOP is MOL fixed at 10 1/4”. The set screws (2) align with the carbine extension’s last two detent positions. It may be possible to secure the stock with just one screw and add ~1” to pull length. As is it should be an excellent set up for my daughter.

...and I’m nearly back to square 1. With any luck the rest of the parts will arrive Saturday. I’m curious if mine breaks the 6 lb threshold with its slick side upper. I’ll be nabbing back my RDS and adding a 1.5-4x Leupold Mark AR to hers.

Skylerbone · Feb 8, 2020

I was pleasantly surprised to find my parts waiting for me Friday, tempered by the realization I had forgotten to order a linear comp. Despite that and a second snafu I proceeded with assembly and finished this morning.

The remaining parts. I misplaced my 5/32” bit and forgot the KVP linear comp.

I stopped at my local Theissens for a new drill bit and this Zeiss Terra 2-7x followed me home. I’m calling it a $175 drill bit, despite its shelf price of $5.

After lapping and torquing. The Phase 5 handguard indexes to the barrel nut via 6 screws but is not indexed to the gas tube.

Upper, bolt, and charging handle, bare muzzle.

Full rifle (minus muzzle device and optics), what are the odds!

The not so twins

Finally Finished Light(er) Weight Orphan

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