how light is your ar15 upper?

[cc426]

I'm thinking about putting together a lightweight AR for the wife. It made me start thinking, at what point do you consider it light? I know there's quite a few people boasting sub 6lb rifles complete rifles, but i'm having trouble figuring out how much of that is the lower and how much is the upper. Seems lowers are pretty standard and there's not a ton you can do to save weight as most of it is in the upper. So my question is:

What are most people trying to achieve in weight for a complete "lightweight" AR upper with rails/handguard (not including BCG)? under 4lbs? 3.5? 3?

Also, how much does a complete mil-spec 7075 lower weigh? is there a way to lighten it without going to a plastic/mag lower?

[TomReloaded]

If its under 10 pounds, its light.

Does your wife actually care? 10 pounds is hardly anything, especially carried with both hands... and joking aside, 10lb is a heavy *** AR rifle.

[cc426]

If its under 10 pounds, its light.

Does your wife actually care? 10 pounds is hardly anything, especially carried with both hands... and joking aside, 10lb is a heavy *** AR rifle.

HAH!

Unfortunately, yes, she cares. My lightest AR is about 7.5 lbs with BUIS and red dot. She likes shooting it, but says its heavy.

I've also got a M&P 15-22 which is just under 6lbs with red dot which she says is the right weight, but she wants to shoot 223/556

I told her to hit the gym...she told me to sleep on the couch

[cc426]

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tsU_kAjONKoGGfkDPaQZX1Q&single=true&gid=0&output=html

a little more google-fu turned this up if anybody else is interested

[9mmepiphany]

This whole thing weights a little under 6lbs It is a BCM 16" ELW (not pencil thin) mid-length gas system, KMR upper, heavier FA BCG, but light MFT BMS. I've since added the BCM KM stubby forward vertical grip (5oz) so it is likely just over 6lbs now



The Blue Force sling is heavier than either the stock or the handguard

[D23]

Poly lower, pmags, pencil barrel, plastic sights, etc. I don't think it would be that difficult to build something very light.

[CenCalHobbist]

A pencil profile is the same under the hand guard as a government or M4 profile barrel. The metal after the gas block is there so you can bayonet someone and reduce the risk of bending the barrel. On a rifle you cannot attach a bayonet it is a points less profile.

[xounlistedxox]

I just built this one. Bcm lw barrel, Bcm kmr 13" rails, Bcm kmr shorty vfg, Bcm gunfighter ch, magpul moe stock kit mil spec, spikes lower, dd lpk, Bcm km QD mount, leupold vxr 1.25-4x, larue QD mount, Magoul bad lever, ergo grip magpul enhanced trigger guard, a2 flash hider, raddlock, damage industries D sling swivel, Bcm lo pro gas steel block, magpul mbus sights. Without mag it weighs 7lb 1oz. Complete rifle with no accessories weighs 5lb 6oz.

I highly recommend the Bcm kmr lightweight upper for anyone. I installed these rails myself, so it's actually heavier than the same upper if bought directly from Bcm.

I would consider anything under 8lbs as a complete rifle to be light. If you build a Bcm lw upper with Bcm kmr with an aimpoint t1 it will be under 6lb complete.

[xounlistedxox]

Double post

[peter95]

One of my lightweight builds are 7.2oz. That includes my aimpoint t-1 and f/r sights.

I'd say you can easily achieve under 8lbs. Shouldn't be too hard.

[static808]

One of my lightweight builds are 7.2oz. That includes my aimpoint t-1 and f/r sights.

a t-1 with mount weighs about 7oz. so your rifle weighs only 0.2oz!!! SWEET!!

haha, pretty sure you meant 7lb 2oz, but i couldnt resist...

[xounlistedxox]

One of my lightweight builds are 7.2oz. That includes my aimpoint t-1 and f/r sights.

I'd say you can easily achieve under 8lbs. Shouldn't be too hard.

All of my builds are under 8lbs. Even with DD lite rails, optics, lights etc. if you have a build over 8lbs these days I would consider it heavy unless it's an spr etc

[Jimi Jah]

A 16" carbine pencil barrel is lighter than a mid length since there is more lightweight diameter after the gas block. A DD lightweight carbine barrel is great. I added an aluminum gas block and a polymer front sight, all very light.

I avoided an extra length freefloat to eliminate extra weight, the railed gas block holds the front sight. That is best for me as the front sight rests on the freefloat barrel, not on the freefloat rails. Freefloat rails can flex when placed on a shooting bag forcing the front sight to be off a bit.

[wild_weasel]

Not sure of the weight but my DelTon light weight mid length upper is as accurate as most other ARs on the line.

[Dumas1012]

Not the lightest receivers or BUS, but everything you see here is 6.8 lbs. IMO anything around 7lbs is light.