How much does you AR weigh?

[Kenpo]

I have heard a few people over the years give their opinion as to what an "AR" should weigh.

That's interesting, for one, because AR/configurations can be set up for varying situations.

Nevertheless, I weighed a buddies AR the other day and it got me thinking about the notion.

I would be interested in hearing:

1.) How much do your AR's weigh?
a.) What is each set up for (long range, 3 gun, HD, SHTF etc)

2.) What do you think is the ideal weight range for the use? (i.e. anything over 8 lbs is too heavy for HD, but may be fine for SHTF)
a.) Do you think an AR could be excessively light or excessively heavy? (i.e No AR should be over 9 lbs even with optics, or an AR weighing 6lbs would be awkwardly light)

3.) What features/parts do you think are worth the increase in weight and why? (i.e. mid-length over Carbine, Barrel contour, Eotech/Aimpoint or maybe a Emod stock over a CTR, rail systems etc?)

Just thought it might make for an interesting discussion and some valuable points.

 

[taliv]

mine range from 4 lb (all carbon fiber) to over 14 lb (NM service rifle with buttstock and handguards filled with lead)

i haven't weighed most of them, but my guess would be 7-8 lbs since my 3 main guns have 1-4x optics that each add at least a lb, and a flashlight

 

[dom1104]

7 lb

 

[highorder]

Currently, too much.

I have a DPMS carbon tube on the way, and I think it's time to profile my middy HB down to a reasonable weight.

 

[SSN Vet]

time to profile my middy HB down to a reasonable weight

.

amen to that

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Probally 8 pounds. It's a stock DPMS A3, it's a utility rifle.

 

[kimberkid]

16" AR-57 ... 6.5
16" CAR ... 7.5
20" Retro ... 8
16" Varmint ... 9
20" Service Rifle Match ... 11
24" Varmint ... 18

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I think lightweight is the way to go.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

NM service with 20" barrel weighs about 15lbs. I have weighted with lead to balance it out.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Anywhere from 8lbs to 12lbs depending on what is attached...

The TA11 ACOG on the Larue mount at 17oz, and the Ops Inc. 16th Model at 20oz are probably the two biggest chunks of weight

 

[R.W.Dale]

my retro is around 7 ish empty and my hunting 30HRT rifle prolly round 8.5ish (now wears a smaller optic than pictured)

 

[Geno]

My custom DPMS AP4 .308 with custom steel upper weighed just over 18 pounds. With scope and ammo it was over 19 pounds and some ounces. Talk about zero recoil.

Geno

 

[GPWASR10]

This one weighs about 10.5 lb. A lot of that is in the optic though.


This one is about 7, although I am thinking about turning it into more of a retro 20".... It is a hoot to shoot the way it is though...

 

[SHvar]

My gas piston M4 without mag weighs 6.5lbs and nothing added.
Of course with a flashlight, now a laser sight, and a Bushnell T-dot reticle scope, its heavier.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

My 18" .260 (AR10 type) was around 9.5 with sling but no mag or ammo. However, I just went to a heavier handguard that's gonna add 1/2 a pound, then with the foregrip I'm adding and the mag, you're looking at 10.5 without ammo.

 

[C-grunt]

My Colt 6520 weighs 6.5 lbs according to my scale as pictured here with 20 rnd mag and sling. Its stock except I replaced the skinny hand guards with Colt M4 double heat shield.

 

[cottonmouth]

Not sure of the weight but I went with a DPMS super lite M4 upper and a flip up MI rear sight and a lite weight floating handguard. Makes for an easy handeling little rifle. My son used it to take his first deer this past season while I was home on vacation, he's seven and I put an Aimpoint on it for him. I have since bought him a youth H&R in .357 and added the Aimpoint to it. I also have a 20 inch H-bar, it's a little on the heavy side but it shoots GREAT!

J.B.

 

[rskent]

With a White Oak heavy barrel and a full wedge my Bushy weighs in at about 14Lbs.
Steve

 

[44 Blues]

My 6.8 middy weighs 7lbs 15oz with scope and Vltor Emod stock

My 5.56 middy weighs 6lbs 12oz

 

[Kenpo]

BLues,

I hear a lot of good things about the stock. It's a little bit of a heavier one though, right?

Thanks all for the responses so far! Quite a range of weights.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

1.) How much do your AR's weigh?
8-9 lbs depending on the batteries I am carrying physically within the rifle.
a.) What is each set up for (long range, 3 gun, HD, SHTF etc)
It is my only AR15 and is set up accordingly.

2.) What do you think is the ideal weight range for the use? (i.e. anything over 8 lbs is too heavy for HD, but may be fine for SHTF)
Anything under 10lbs with a loaded magazine is fine. The thing to keep in mind is that grams = ounces = pounds. Meaning be mindful of the little things because they add up fast.

a.) Do you think an AR could be excessively light or excessively heavy? (i.e No AR should be over 9 lbs even with optics, or an AR weighing 6lbs would be awkwardly light)
Personal preference. Some people want a heavy rifle or a light rifle and some, like me, want something in the middle.

3.) What features/parts do you think are worth the increase in weight and why? (i.e. mid-length over Carbine, Barrel contour, Eotech/Aimpoint or maybe a Emod stock over a CTR, rail systems etc?)
What I find beneficial is mine is set up for everything I would need it for. It has a red dot sight (Millet Zoom Dot), a vertical foregrip (storage and reference point for grip), Surefire C2Z with 125 lumen lamp. It has a14.5" M4 profile barrel with pinned flash hider for a good mix of weight and compactness. Liek I have said, it is my do-all AR15 and as a tool it needs to fill a few more niches than with people that have more than one. It all depends on what you are asking the rifle to do. You will tailor it accordingly.

Damian

 

[dom1104]

With a White Oak heavy barrel and a full wedge my Bushy weighs in at about 14Lbs.
Steve

I must be having a brain fart.

A "Full Wedge"? Vas is Das?

 

[rskent]

Dom your brain is probably OK. It’s a wedge shaped piece of lead that
fits into an A2 butt stock. You trim the wedge to get the best balance
point. A White Oak barrel is very heavy, so I use a full wedge.
Steve

 

[taliv]

i don't think it's balance that you're after, since most HP shooters that put lead in the stock, also put lead under the handguards from the receiver all the way out to the rifle's gas block

 

[RyanM]

My zombie-killing M4gery weighs 9.0 pounds, with a loaded 20 rounder.



14.5" M4A1 profile barrel, permanent Phantom 5C2, KAC RAS handguard and VFG, Malkoff MD2 flashlight in a V-TAC mount, Specter 3-point sling, and a plain old carry handle because I'm trying to learn how to shoot well with irons before I even bother with optics.

The little things really add up. Just the RAS, VFG, flashlight, and sling add almost 2 whole pounds over the stock weight.