Finally Finished Light(er) Weight Orphan

[Skylerbone]

What started about a year and a half ago as my first AR build is finally complete! It began life as a stripped Anderson with Strike Industries LPK and stock, RRA Varmint trigger then got buried in one of the safes.

Twice since an upper found its way to this orphan only to be snagged by kids to complete their builds. But patience has finally rewarded it in the form of another first; a home assembled upper.

Nothing fancy, nothing too superfluous, just a reasonably light black rifle I’m looking forward to shooting. Finished weight was 11 oz North of the full Aero pistol build with 7.5” barrel, not bad in my book. I am firmly convinced a sub-6 lb build is more than possible in the ~$600 price range including weight (but not cost) of optic by taking care in choose parts.

Hope you enjoy the pics.


The orphan.


Along came a Ballistic Advantage 1:7 Nitride pencil middy and Aero upper.


Nitride gas tube mated to a BA lowpro gb and ToolCraft Nitride bolt.


The mailman delivered today with a Phase 5 15” M-LOK handguard.


Steel barrel nut and my trusty old Vortex SPARC.


Fitted the handguard.


Added a Kaw Valley Linear Compensator.


Gratuitous BCG close-up with Fortis ch.


I was at 6 lbs 9.5 oz before deciding to toss a set of MBUS on for fun.

The updated “family picture” where I inadvertently cropped out the poor thing (uppermost rifle).

 

[BSA1]

Very nice build. I have built a complete lower using a Anderson stripped lower and Mission First Tactical grip and stock. The Upper is a Anderson smooth side and a 16” .625 pencil barrel. All I have left to get is a 15”’ Free Float Handguard and probably a set of fold down buis. The primary sight is going to be a SIG Romeo5 Red Dot. I weighed all of the parts and the cardbox board they were in and was barely over six pounds. I did not have the SIG Red Dot with me to weigh.

 

[horsemen61]

Very nice op!

 

[Skylerbone]

Thank you. Of the 6, 1 was purchased complete and retrofitted, 1 was pinned together, 3 were lower builds with complete uppers added, and now a lower/upper build.

I still have much to learn, beginning with planning, then eventually culminating in second caliber build and the purchase of a few suppressors.

 

[greyling22]

If you were shooting for 6lbs, I use an Anderson slick side upper, an aluminum barrel nut, a thread protector instead of a comp, and maybe a 13" handoguard. You could also cut the hook off your hammer like the JP speed hammer. I bet that would get you very close to 6lbs. Mostly with the aluminum nut and the lack of comp.

 

[Skylerbone]

I didn’t have a hard number in mind (for mine) just got me thinking after weighing a few in the safe and reading about other THR members toting much lighter rifles. My HD rifle comes to mind when I think of heavy for class but I still prefer to set them up the way I want and the weight really isn’t a bother for me at this stage of life. Good tips though @greyling22

 

[Gordon]

If you wanted to lose alot of weight: get a no FA upper slickside, use plastic Magpul Buis, a lighter Gas tower or cut and ground one with sight tower removed (everyone seems to have a front sight tower in the drawer these days ) , a shorter and ultra thin and skinny font hand guard.. But you like what you like and got what you got so you have options

 

[Skylerbone]

get a no FA upper slickside, use plastic Magpul Buis, a lighter Gas tower or cut and ground one with sight tower removed

I considered much of that with that heavy beast of a rifle but as it was my first (RRA) and has been completely reliable I didn’t want to stray too far, only swap the furniture and controls. My original plan was to outfit it with an Eotech but I rather like the idea of an irons only trainer/HD. I’m still mulling over a standard/Delta/MOE configuration or perhaps building another upper for that.

 

[BSA1]

Mission First Tactical has a set of fold down sights that are really trim and low profile when closed. I don’t know how durable they are but I considering them since I don’t trust batteries

 

[BSA1]

I weighed the AR I built during the Christmas holidays yesterday. It is your typical AR carbine. It has a 16” M4 style barrel with tower front sight. The only things that sits this gun apart from the others is I used Magpul FDE MOE carbine handguard, MOE grip and MOE stock. I used a Troy fold-down rear sight which is all metal.

It weights 6 pounds 8 ounces unloaded and 7 pounds 12 ounces loaded with 30 round magazine.

 

[Skylerbone]

The original Vortex SPARC uses solid metal riser blocks for low, co-, and lower 1/3 in a stackable set. I’ve neglected to play around with different heights to determine what I prefer and order a lighter weight option with quick release. I haven’t weighed it but I’m sure there’s an oz or two of savings there as well.

Apart from showing the build off I’m hoping to provoke a bit of thought about building rather than buying as it was straightforward and offers far better selection.




Working with what I had and finishing the rifle were the prime objectives though, choosing a few weight saving components for the upper was a secondary project.

 

[DustyGmt]

Mission First Tactical has a set of fold down sights that are really trim and low profile when closed. I don’t know how durable they are but I considering them since I don’t trust batteries

I havent put them through any type of actual testing but they feel like chincy trash. Jmo. I didnt like the feel of em so I stayed away from that mission first set....

 

[BSA1]

I wondered if the MFT sights were on the cheesy side. Their stock, grip and handguard are well made and light.

If I forgo the buis without the Romeo5 Red Dot Sight I think I can get the weight down to 6 pound or maybe a little less. I may switch out a couple of legos, er parts in final assembly.

 

[DustyGmt]

I wondered if the MFT sights were on the cheesy side. Their stock, grip and handguard are well made and light.

If I forgo the buis without the Romeo5 Red Dot Sight I think I can get the weight down to 6 pound or maybe a little less. I may switch out a couple of legos, er parts in final assembly.

Yeah I like the MFT stock. The minimalist stock is another good way to save an oz or two but that sight system they got is no bueno

 

[Skylerbone]

Well...this just happened and I may have an orphan again, at least for now.

 

[adcoch1]

Well...this just happened and I may have an orphan again, at least for now.



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That happens to me occasionally... My 14 yr old daughter "adopted" my 44 redhawk as "hers"... And I just built her an AR...

 

[Skylerbone]

She started her build last night and finished up tonight. For arguments sake I always first pin my short barrel upper to new builds along with a brace then take pictures to give all the kids flexibility later on. The agreement is that they take ownership when old enough and may do what they like (keep, upgrade, or sell).

These were the follow-up shots and she really took a shine to that upper. So my options are let her have it and build another or, because she seemed to enjoy assembling her lower, have her build a similar upper.

 

[doubleh]

Seeing this makes me feel a lot better as I just though my work space was a mess.

A nice rifle and a cute daughter. I'll bet she looks like her mother. Keep her shooting.

 

[Skylerbone]

It’s always a mess unless I’m loading.

Everyone tells me they take after my side of the family, don’t know if that’s good or bad. She’s actually next to me in my avatar pic which was a series trying to get her to smile. That one was the pirate arrrgh!

The second two pics are my daughter and son in 2012 and my sister and I taken in 1977.


Finally smiled.


Middle and youngest.


Me and sis.

 

[d2wing]

Nice, thanks for sharing.

 

[doubleh]

Even with the facial camoflage I can see the resemblance quite plainly. You are a good looking family.

I should post a picture of my work bench. I spent considerable time cleaning it, my lathe, milling/drilling rig, and even the floor earlier this week. AR parts showed up yesterday and Rossi 92 sights are on the way so it's not going to last.

 

[Shimitup]

Yep, beautiful family pics, love that Rocky Mountain backdrop too. My wife and I have spent many summers hiking and climbing in Colorado.

 

[adcoch1]

My space gets messy quick but when the kids come out to "help" me, I usually clean it up a bit. Especially when powder is getting poured or little gun springs are trying to learn to fly. Had to pick up a couple extra pairs of safety glasses for my crew. My 8 yr old son is pestering me to build him an AR, might be time to order another foregrip and pull out the parts box...

 

[Skylerbone]

We let 1 spring and 1 detent fly but somehow found both in that mess. I had a second Oops Kit and some spares on hand though after her brother and sister built their ARs. Funny that the rest of my areas are very well kept and organized.

 

[Skylerbone]

I suppose it’s only money so last night I ordered the same combination of parts with an Anderson upper instead of an Aero and just maybe fourth time will be a charm. If not, at least my daughter will have a new blue mini stock from Phase 5 to match her rifle and I’ll get mine back.

I’ve neglected my goal of sticking to basics for the sake of finishing this rifle off when optics are what’s lacking. Luckily the tax man was kind this year, fingers crossed for a few upcoming sales on scopes before we get to work on the next AR.