Why Are ARs So Heavy?

[wanderinwalker]

Yep, just what the title asks. Who foisted all of these HBAR, heavy contour AR barrels on the unsuspecting public? Do people really think they need a 7.5lb .223?

Seriously, my father had an SP-1. It was a full-length rifle, slick sided, and only weighed like 6 pounds! (Of course it had a 7 lb trigger...) Why do people put up with a 16" carbine that weighs 7-lbs today?

And I was just looking at the Armalite AR-180B. That looks pretty good: full-length tube, useable sights, takes AR mags and trigger parts, manufacturer's claimed weight 6-lbs. I'm thinking about that one!

BTW, I have a heavy barreled AR already, but it's a dedicated match gun for Service Rifle competitions. In a non-match, non-varmint rifle, why can't we lighten up a little?

Just trying to get everybody thinkin' tonight...

 

[dispatch55126]

Mines lighter than my Yugo SKS and that's all that matters.

 

[Bartkowski]

Some people want a very accurate rifle that has the AR style controls.

 

[sarduy]

the AR heavy?

well it all depend on what AR and what are you using that AR for.

The M4 is a very light AR compared to a Varmint AR, because some use scopes and other just small rear sights only, Other use 20/24 inches Heavy Barrels and others 14.5/16 inches light barrels, same if you add features like flash light, reddots, mounts, bi-pots and other things like mag capacity, a 30 or 40 rounds mag weight more than a 20 round mag.

AR15 Varmint (heavy and accurate at long range)



M4 CAR(very light and handy, Great for CQB)

 

[jpwilly]

I've got them both, a heavy bbl varmint/target AR and a light handy carbine too. I wouldn't want to go on a march with the HBAR.

 

[Soybomb]

Why do people put up with a 16" carbine that weighs 7-lbs today?

I haven't plopped mine on a scale lately enough to recall but I think my lightweight profile 16" barrel ar with regular handguards is 7 pounds or more.

Numbers aside, I agree with the spirit of the heavy barrel and 10 pounds of crap bolted on to it really takes away from the gun.

 

[CBS220]

Because people are convinced they need a heavy barrel, free float rails, a flashlight, two thirty round mags, a heavy stock, a fancy new pistol grip with a storage compartment, a bipod, and the biggest scope they can find.

While the AR performs well when tacticooled out, the rifle was invisioned as a lightweight rifle... not the heavy thing it is now!

Still lighter than most of the alternatives, though, in many configurations.

 

[H2O MAN]

I know a thing or two about heavy EBRs

 

[556A2]

Because it costs less to machine HBARs compared to Lightweight & Govt. Profiles.

 

[vzenmn]

My 16'' midlength with heavy barrel weighs 7.5 lbs empty. A little front heavy but I do like that and still easier to carry then my 10 lbs M1 Garand.

 

[hankdatank1362]

I know a thing or two about heavy EBRs

No kidding! How much do some of your M14s weigh?

 

[Omnivore]

Celebrate diversity

They make light ones, medium ones, and they make heavy ones. They make 'em in larger calibers... Buy the one you like.

Should they all be exactly the same?

There's been an evolution process. Start out with a very light, basic rifle. Oh, now those reflex sights make it possible to operate with tremendous success in low light. Oh, they make it faster to get on target too. Oh wait-- night vision is really cool, and gives us a massive advantage. You know what? Now what we need is an IR laser/illuminator for better use of that NV equipment. Now we're movin' and shakin'. Where to put it all? Better have some more rail surfaces. Now where do I keep by spare batteries?

Hey, if you don't want all that stuff, it's a free country. I have the AR HBAR with nice optics, I have several 19th century black powder repros, and a bunch of other bang sticks in between.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I like them light.



The original AR15 was built to be lighter than the competition. I hate HBAR's.

 

[cracked butt]

Because it costs less to machine HBARs compared to Lightweight & Govt. Profiles

I've heard that argument before, but I don't buy it.
If you are machining barrel blanks,you are probably using a CNC setup. To remove a litle more metal is only going to be a few extra seconds on the lathe and a bit more tool wear- maybe an extra few dollars per barrel at most.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

You don't think a few dollars will add up barrel after barrel??

 

[cracked butt]

It doesn't add up if its what the customer wants and what the customer buys.
Think about it- if a store were to put thin profile barreled carbines on a rack of HBAR carbines (all of the same brand)and charged $5 more for the thin profile, which one would sell more? What if they did the same with 20" rifles? I'm betting that the sales would favor heavy barreled for the rifles and thin profile for the carbines for no other reason than the end customer has different perceived uses for each.
FWIW, it makes no sense to put a HBAR on a carbine- even the M4 profile makes little sense other than to appeal to mall ninjas- but apparantly that's what sells.

 

[HeavyDuty]

My LW scales out at just under 6# - LW profile, A1, M4 stock. It carries nicely.

 

[H2O MAN]

Quote:
I know a thing or two about heavy EBRs

hankdatank1362

No kidding! How much do some of your M14s weigh?

I'm glad you asked

My loaded MK14 Mod 0 weighs in at a stout 14 lbs. as pictured below.

My unloaded M21A5/C-IED E2 EBR weighs 12 lbs. as pictured below.

 

[El Tejon]

Why so heavy? Because people carry them all the way from the trunk to the firing line.

 

[Walkalong]

Why so heavy? Because people carry them all the way from the trunk to the firing line

Best answer yet.

 

[H2O MAN]

My lightest M14 is just 9 lbs.

The stock weighs 2 lbs. on it's own.

 

[taliv]

my lightest AR is about 4lbs. i haven't weighed the heaviest, but it's probably close to 18lbs.

 

[streakr]

My plain jane DPMS M4 weighs under 6lbs, my son's 20" HBAR with scope weighs almost 9.

You can make them heavy or light depending on your preferences.

Want heavy? Thompson M1 with 30 rd stick...13+lbs.!!! but a hoot to shoot!!

S

 

[csmkersh]

wanderinwalker, if you think ARs are heavy, try a 1927 Thompson some time.


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[H2O MAN]

El Tejon Why so heavy? Because people carry them all the way from the trunk to the firing line.

A little extra weight is not really a bad thing. You wouldn't want to fire many 7.62 x 51 rounds from a rifle that was too light.