Source
r/guns•
zers

Lightweight AR-15 options

I have been getting my girlfriend into shooting, and she doesn't like my AR, saying that it is too heavy (my scale says it weighs almost 12 pounds)

I have done some research and found a few different options out there, so far my favorite being the Bushmaster SuperLight Carbine with Red Dot, since it's quite cheap, which means if the polymer upper is an issue, can be replaced without much hassle.

I just wanted gunnits thoughts on the matter (of lightweight AR's in general and that particular one), thanks for your help!

Posted May 29, 2012, 11:32 PM UTC

322
morleydresden•

Nothing special is required, standard AR-15s typically weigh around 7 pounds. If your's is 12, I assume it has a very heavy profile barrel for something like varminting or you've hung a bunch of tactical crap on a massive rail system. You can go lighter with thinner barrel profiles etc, but I'm not sure I'd bother. 7 pounds is light enough for just about anyone.

5
zersOP•

Well, I have a quad rail system, but it didn't have anything on it when I weighed it, I am just convinced bushmaster made the receiver out of lead.

2
Centrist_gun_nut•

It's probably the quad rail and barrel more than the receiver.

4
BattleHall•

What kind of rail and what profile barrel?

2
zersOP•

I have an m4 style barrel but 16 inches, carbine length, and the quad rail says utg on it

1
Centrist_gun_nut•

The UTG quad rail might be the heaviest rail there is.

2
beflict_19•

I've got a Colt Defense AR Govt Carbine that came stock at 5.8 pounds(unloaded of course). That doesn't include any quad rail, just standard foregrips. Prices for that particular model are usually between $1100-$1500 I believe.

5
BattleHall•

Thin barrel profile helps a lot. So does mounting a minimum of extraneous stuff. I might go with a polymer lower if you can lay your hands on a CavArms, but I wouldn't go with a polymer upper; not enough gain for the trade-off.

3
HotelCoralEssexLOL SHADOWBANT•

Any box stock AR, like an LMT Defender, should be plenty light.

2
PharaohJoe•

Just get an AR with a normal fore grip. Once you start throwing rails, and target barrels on it, they stop being the lightweight 7 pounds and change assault rifle they are.

2
ZaneMasterX13•

My AR comes in at a hefty 13lbs. I have a heavy barrel, compensator, and quad rail. Im guessing if you just got a regular barreled AR with a plastic foregrip you would be good to go. Itll probably come in around 7lbs. If all else fails get her a 10/22.

2
DumbGrunt•

The SIG M400 is a really good option for a Carbine style AR. It's very lightweight and a pretty good rifle overall. It runs right around 1000 and comes with all the magpul accessories such as the grips, stock and flip-up sights.

2
samadamscummins•

Stag arms has some nice lightweight AR'S

2
mildcaseofdeath•

If I wanted to build the lightest AR I could, off the top of my head I'd do this: 14.5" light contour barrel with pinned and welded muzzle device, flat top upper with plastic hand guards and Magpul BUIS, and an Ace Ultralight stock. If I wanted to go crazy with it I'd also get the JP Enterprises Low Mass Operating System since the bolt carrier is aluminum. There might be a lighter set-up with a low pro gas block instead of a front sight base and an optic instead of BUISs, but I don't know (Aimpoint T1/clones thereof maybe?)

2
blindtranche•

Polymer upper?

2
zersOP•

That bushmaster has either carbon fiber or polymer reinforced with carbon .. not sure there are conflicting reports in reviews

1
blindtranche•

Yes, but it is the lower not the upper.

2
zersOP•

"Upper & Lower Receivers molded of durable, water resistant Carbon 15 Composite with Operational Controls same as any AR15 type firearm. "

http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_carbon15_AZ-C15M4PRE.asp

1
blindtranche•

Thanks, I learned something new. I knew lowers were made of polymer, but I didn't know about the uppers. It doesn't seem like a good idea to me to have a polymer upper as the upper houses the barrel extension. I mean the bolt locks into the extension on one end and the barrel on the other. It just seems to me that the extension should be fixed in metal, but I am not an arms designer so my thinking is uninformed. Nevertheless, for the little weight savings in that part, I personally will stick with aluminum.

Anyway, thanks for the correction.

2
[deleted]•

Rock River LAR15 Entry Tactical - 7.5lbs

1
ZaneMasterX13•

This is a good option too. AR style in a .22lr for cheaper than the M&P.

0