Does my AR-15 need a diet?

Amps 13

Amps 13

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Leading up to the Killery scare I bought a 16" Mid-Length 5.56 Nato 1:8 stainless stealth freedom M-Lok upper & Blem lower magpul ACS- L edition.
I have added the following:
Lantac dragon Muzzle break, Geissele trigger SSA-E, Eotech 512 & a Eotech G 33 Magnifier.
I do not have an exact weight but the girl seems like she needs a bit of a diet. I would say she is about 9lb's. Would it be worth it to switch out the handguard? Recommendations on ones that would work?
Or should I let it be and grow some arms?
I do not do 3 gun or run around with it much but would like to take a class at some point and also do not have the best back either.

AR-15.jpg
 
I used to have an 18” heavy barreled AR with a scope and fixed stock that weighed 13 with no mag. Little heavy. But I carried it a lot. And it shot great. My sported barreled Remington 700 has a 2lb piece of lead sheet in the stock to balance it with the bipod on the other end and it weighs about 10.5. But I love it. Or maybe I’m an idiot lol
 
Nah ... with the lower market prices just assemble another AR going the lightweight route.

Lightweight barrel and rail with a lighter stock (Magpul CTR or MFT Minimalist maybe) and go with a very compact micro red dot (Aimpoint or clone) or MRO and you can get under 7 lbs. If you really want to get fancy and have extra funds then look at Ti parts and such to drop some more ozs.
 
a really light HG will cost some money and not really shed that much weight.

If you're wanting to swap stuff, i'd lose the optics, maybe just run the eotec, smaller stock?

But if that were mine, i'd leave it how it is, get used to the weight. The rifle looks good!
 
9lbs isn't so bad especially in a gun that has negligible recoil. Should make for very fast follow ups. On the other hand, get a something in a caliber that can actually do some damage :D
 
Burt Gummer said:
I used to have an 18” heavy barreled AR with a scope and fixed stock that weighed 13 with no mag. Little heavy. But I carried it a lot. And it shot great. My sported barreled Remington 700 has a 2lb piece of lead sheet in the stock to balance it with the bipod on the other end and it weighs about 10.5. But I love it. Or maybe I’m an idiot lol
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Doubt that. As long as you like it that's all that matters. I guess since I don't know as much I'm just double guessing myself
 
NCFubar said:
Nah ... with the lower market prices just assemble another AR going the lightweight route.

Lightweight barrel and rail with a lighter stock (Magpul CTR or MFT Minimalist maybe) and go with a very compact micro red dot (Aimpoint or clone) or MRO and you can get under 7 lbs. If you really want to get fancy and have extra funds then look at Ti parts and such to drop some more ozs.
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Really good idea but would You mind talking to my wife and letting her know why I need another AR?
 
Dave951 said:
9lbs isn't so bad especially in a gun that has negligible recoil. Should make for very fast follow ups. On the other hand, get a something in a caliber that can actually do some damage :D
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Fast follow up shots for sure and the second part was just cold....
 
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Could always just build a new upper. You could do it pretty cheap right now.
ALG handguard
Faxon or similar pencil barrel
Slickside upper
PA red dot

That would be very light and if you wait for sales, very inexpensive.
 
Amps 13 said:
Really good idea but would You mind talking to my wife and letting her know why I need another AR?
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Just don’t have them both in her sight at the same time ... when a couple firearms look similar enough then you say “oh you’ve seen my AR before honey”. It works well for 1911 ... and best for Glocks.
 
The only way you'll lose any appreciable weight off that rifle is to ditch the sighting system.
That is, unless you wanna spend a small fortune with pencil barrels and the smaller stuff that will shave ounces at a time. The butt stock might be a tad weighty, but still, ounces..maybe half pound at best.
Personally I think you have a good set-up and would just accept that it is what it is. It's really not that bad and I've seen lots worse from guys with all kinds of tactical bs bolted on. But again, like I tell my customers, anything can be done..just how much do you wanna spend?
 
NKD said:
Could always just build a new upper. You could do it pretty cheap right now.
ALG handguard
Faxon or similar pencil barrel
Slickside upper
PA red dot

That would be very light and if you wait for sales, very inexpensive.
Click to expand...
This. do a 14.5" pencil barrel with midlength gas system. A5 system if you are worried about recoil because of the reduced weight.

Also, invest in a good sling.
 
You could sell the Eotech setup and go for a T1 style optic, I’m opposed to the Lantac and similar brakes for personal reasons but if you like it, doesn’t matter. I’m not sure if the ACS-L is any appreciably heavier than a CTR or SOPMOD, but those would be something to look at.

How much does the Eotech and G33 weigh? Would a lightweight 1-4x and mount be less weight?
 
It seems just fine the way it is, red dot + magnifier is almost always heavier than a variable optic. You could swap out the hand guard or get a light weight barrel.
 
I have a heavy 18" set up with a razor 1-6 on it... The lighter weight 16" rifle with a strike eagle 1-6x that I put together with my wife in mind ends up making the trip to the range much more often.... Probably going to sell the razor and put a nice 2.5-10x optic on my 18" it and use it more as an SPR type rifle. Its a shame that I use the $700 rifle ALOT more than the $2.5k rifle...
 
I kinda like a girl with a little meat on her ;) My gal comes in at 16.8lbs unloaded.

(1.8lb of lead in the rail along with a heavy barrel, 2.5lb of lead in the stock, plus optic and mount)

But this rifle is dedicated to NRA/CMP highpower rifle competition

n8Obqsm.jpg
 
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17 pounds!!!!!!!

Wow. Just skip the gym and go shooting a lot!
 
I like to set up a particular rifle for a particular application and keep the add-ons to a minimum. I will probably not find myself any time soon in a situation in which I need too many redundant systems to call into play if the primary system fails. I can generally just go home or go back to my truck and get a different rifle in the need arises.

The AR I usually carry in the truck and around the farm is a piston drive that just has a regular old Leupold 3.5X10/40 scope on it. I can put a light on it if the opportunity to snuff some coyotes at night arises. I have another AR with a red dot for classes and close range work. I have an old Colt Lightweight Sporter with open sights on the carrying handle and a short barrel with no brake or flash hider on it. It needs a new trigger but is a wonderful light little rifle that is almost like a handgun with a stock on it. It has been quickly available in my home for several decades. There is also a pair of 308 rifles set up for deer as well as another 223 or two since AR's are like 1911's in that you can never have too many and because wants should not be confused with needs.

Having those multiple sighting devices on the rifle is great, but how many do you need at one time? I think I would just take them off or put them back on to fit the intended use.

Nice looking rifle.
 
11B CIB said:
You could sell the Eotech setup and go for a T1 style optic, I’m opposed to the Lantac and similar brakes for personal reasons but if you like it, doesn’t matter. I’m not sure if the ACS-L is any appreciably heavier than a CTR or SOPMOD, but those would be something to look at.

How much does the Eotech and G33 weigh? Would a lightweight 1-4x and mount be less weight?
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Just got the g33 and it is a tad heavy but its maiden trip to the range really had me smiling and the Eotech 512 compared to my Spark II is definitely an upgrade. Maybe I just need another rifle ;)
 
nbkky71 said:
I kinda like a girl with a little meat on her ;) My gal comes in at 16.8lbs unloaded.

(1.8lb of lead in the rail along with a heavy barrel, 2.5lb of lead in the stock, plus optic and mount)

But this rifle is dedicated to NRA/CMP highpower rifle competition

n8Obqsm.jpg
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She's a big girl but the kind you want to be alone with often. Nice!
 
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Amps 13 said:
Just got the g33 and it is a tad heavy but its maiden trip to the range really had me smiling and the Eotech 512 compared to my Spark II is definitely an upgrade. Maybe I just need another rifle ;)
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Another rifle is always the answer
 
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My personal suggestion is to ditch the 3x magnifier and swap the handguard to this: https://aeroprecisionusa.com/ar15-atlas-s-one-mlok.html if you want to reduce your weight. I just put an Atlas on a new AR build of my own, and despite being a precision setup, is ridiculously light because this handguard weighs next to nothing. I love the Atlas and definitely sing my praises. So much less unnecessary metal tacked onto it.
 
a eotech and a magnifier weighs probably double what a good 1-6x scope weighs. You could loose the rail but wouldn't gain you as much as an optics swap would.
 
Amps 13 said:
Just got the g33 and it is a tad heavy but its maiden trip to the range really had me smiling and the Eotech 512 compared to my Spark II is definitely an upgrade. Maybe I just need another rifle ;)
Click to expand...

Or, just build another upper. Options are nice.
 
NKD said:
Or, just build another upper. Options are nice.
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You keep saying this - but we all know that you can't just leave an upper laying there. It'll soon enough be a new gun.

Wait - that's your plan all along, isn't it? I like your style.
 
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