Making an AR-15 lighter

[Grizzly2]

This Colt Competition Rifle (licensed name) Ar-15 came with this free floating heavy tube hand guard. It looks and feels like a pretty solid chunk of aluminum. How much weight could this rifle loose with something lighter but the same 15" length? I have already swapped the long rail for a shorter one. I was also considering loosing the heavy, load muzzle brake for a flash hider. This is an 18" with a rifle length gas tube is why I thought to stay with a 15" hand guard. Would it be worth the changes for what I think might save some weight? It came with a 3 shot target showing a .389" 100 yard group fired indoors through a tube. The barrel the factory originally installed had the chamber cut with a dull reamer which left marks on the fired brass. It's target was barely under an inch. When I called they sent me a shipping carton and installed a new barrel, with the larger muzzle brake and upgraded to this stock. It shoots pretty sweet as is, though I haven't yet worked up the same load they used.

 

[brasscollector]

If weight saving was on the menu for me, I'd probably pull off the tube and weigh it so I had a reference to go by. Be rather disappointing to buy a new MI handguard only to find you shaved off less than a half ounce. If the muzzle device is too heavy your lightest option is probably a simple thread protector. Swapping a brake for a flash hider would be just rearranging deck chairs on the titanic (weight-wise).

 

[wiscoaster]

That's already an aluminum slim-line handguard. I don't think the difference from swapping is going to be worth the effort.

 

[Charlie98]

The majority of the weight is in the barrel, and the only good avenue to shed weight that will make a difference.

 

[Grizzly2]

Thanks guys, that was what I was wanting to know.

The mb to flash hider change was to hide flash and reduce the noise and blast to the sides. I figured most of the weight was probably in the barrel but I wasn't sure if the guard would change much.

 

[Buzznrose]

The majority of the weight is in the barrel, and the only good avenue to shed weight that will make a difference.

Agree...and swapping to a lighter barrel could affect the performance.

There are lighter hand guards but realistically, not sure how much weight you’ll shave off.

How much does this gun weigh, and how much weight do you realistically think you can reduce this gun by?

A quality, lightweight AR will have a 13.5’barrel, minimalist style stock, etc. Your gun does not fit the ‘lightweight’ profile nor is it supposed to be from what I see, based on the type and length barrel on the gun.

 

[Jim Watson]

What does it weigh now? Give us some numbers.
Original AR15 was listed about 6.5 lbs, just to give you a benchmark. Everything done to it since then has added weight. Even the M4 with 14.5" barrel is only 3 ounces lighter.

 

[Charlie98]

My lightweight AR carbine... 16" middy lightweight barrel...



I could probably shave a half pound by spending about $200... but why? A target rifle benefits from a little weight, and certainly the barrel does. It just depends on what you end-game is.

 

[Grizzly2]

Agree...and swapping to a lighter barrel could affect the performance.

There are lighter hand guards but realistically, not sure how much weight you’ll shave off.

How much does this gun weigh, and how much weight do you realistically think you can reduce this gun by?

A quality, lightweight AR will have a 13.5’barrel, minimalist style stock, etc. Your gun does not fit the ‘lightweight’ profile nor is it supposed to be from what I see, based on the type and length barrel on the gun.

All of what you say is very true. I bought it right after San Bernardino effected me after seeing the two AR-15s that were used. It was the last one in the lgs and I liked the weight and heft then. I've been shot at by snipers (well not real snipers or I'd be dead) and I wanted something that held steady with a good accuracy potential. I've always liked competition rifles to be a bit muzzle heavy. Then when it was home I realized it was too heavy for the woman. I like what it is and how it shoots. I was just fishing for info, not having played with all the parts out there. I'm sure the fix is either a light weight model, a different upper or something like a M1 Carbine for the women if I even wanted to go there. Before all this shortage hit, I kept looking on Palmetto for a lightweight upper but hesitated without enough info and knowledge.

I'm guessing, but realistically I can't imagine even saving 1/2 pound would be gained by changing the guard and that would probably be barely noticed.

 

[Grizzly2]

It was listed at 7 pounds iirr. I'm sure it is all of that.

 

[Buzznrose]

...

I'm sure the fix is either a light weight model, a different upper or something like a M1 Carbine for the women if I even wanted to go there. Before all this shortage hit, I kept looking on Palmetto for a lightweight upper but hesitated without enough info and knowledge.

I'm guessing, but realistically I can't imagine even saving 1/2 pound would be gained by changing the guard and that would probably be barely noticed.

I agree with both points. a lightweight upper (light hand guard, 13.5’ - 16’ barrel will have a significant reduction in weight (%-wise).

something like this would definitely lighten the load:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...-fde-freedom-upper-with-bcg-ch-rear-mbus.html


Other options:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-...el_length[0]=14.7"&upper_barrel_length[1]=16"

 

[Charlie98]

a different upper

That's your answer. Just find a completed upper with a lightweight 16" barrel and your problem is solved.

I carried an M16A1 (20" barrel) when I was in the Army, which seemed perfectly fine. After I built my 16" lightweight, my Colt H-Bar 20" seems like a boat oar compared... but it all depends on what you want it for.

 

[aaronu]

Rifle gas system, longer barrel and handguard. Really the rifle's weight is derived by its mission. Change it too much and you change its capabilities. And it is not complete... still needs a sights or an optic.

But there are a few things you can do to lose weight.

1. Select a lightweight sighting option. Most LPVO's weigh about a pound (mine is 16.9 ounces). Tactical stuff like ACOG is similar. EOTech, 11+ ounces. On the other hand Aimpoint Micro T-2 is under 4 ounces. Barely more than MBUS.

2. Some of the carbon fiber weave handguards are down around 4 ounces... and $300. Rifle length Magpul is 12 ounces. Fifteen inch free float rails can easily be 12 ounces to a pound. Here's an article on lightweight handguards.

ETA: Handguard isn't, or shouldn't be a cosmetic consideraiton. Bear in mind, handguard length isn't just cosmetic. Considering weight is important to you, look for the shortest possible handguard that works.

3. A full 30 round mag weighs about a pound. Switching to 20-, 10- or even 5-round mags will save a lot of weight. 20 round mags might be a sweet spot.

4. CTR is a good stock and not very heavy. Switching to something like the MFT minimalist might save 3 ounces.

 

[taliv]

Both arfcom and m4carbine net have sticky threads with gigantic list of parts and weights. It’s pretty good resource for you to figure out how much you’d save by swapping one part for another

 

[army_eod]

Go to Fulton Armory and see if they an upper with criterion pencil bbl.