Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
AR Sponsor
9/17/2013 10:30:46 AM EDT
Need some help gathering parts for a build trying to make a ultra light rifle for my wife to use.

The pink one is hers currently.


Its is a PSA lower with a Rguns upper with 16" M4 profile barrel and obviously the pink magpul MOE furniture.

I am going to transfer over all the furniture over to the new build.

I just picked up a stripped poly lower from ATI

I am trying to figure the lightest upper I have found these two any other suggestions neither of them post the weight does any one know?
From Rainier
Rainer lightweight upper

And From DPMS
DPMS slick side upper

I like the price of the DPMS a bit more, but in some of the reviews people say it is thicker walled so if that is the case how much weight has it lost?

Now onto the barrel I am thinking of a 14.5 pencil profile with a pined FH and needs to be carbine length gas for the hand guards what barrels out there are like this?

Also for the flash hider recommendations?  This will be my first rifle I have with a 14.5 pined.
9/17/2013 10:43:01 AM EDT
[#1]
For barrels I have found this DD ( not in stock)

DD barrel

for the QandA looks like brownells said its 1.4 pounds.
9/17/2013 11:07:00 AM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
Now onto the barrel I am thinking of a 14.5 pencil profile with a pined FH and needs to be carbine length gas for the hand guards
View Quote

A 14.5/14.7 midlength is an easier shooting rifle.  Use a free float handguard, getting rid of the fixed front sight base takes a bunch of weight off the front of the rifle.

Also for the flash hider recommendations?
View Quote

I like the Vortex, it's also available predrilled for permanent attachment.  The AAC Blackout is also very good.

IME, for females it's not so much that you need to get the lightest possible rifle, it's more a matter of keeping the balance point to the rear and keeping the length of pull shorter.  Also the new more steeply angled "CQB" grips would probably be a good idea, along with a Magpul trigger guard to ease the bite of the stock trigger guard ears.
9/17/2013 11:08:45 AM EDT
[#3]
BCM 14.5 lw upper with pinned BattleComp 1.5
9/17/2013 11:10:08 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Quoted:

A 14.5/14.7 midlength is an easier shooting rifle.  Use a free float handguard, getting rid of the fixed front sight base takes a bunch of weight off the front of the rifle.

I like the Vortex, it's also available predrilled for permanent attachment.  The AAC Blackout is also very good.

IME, for females it's not so much that you need to get the lightest possible rifle, it's more a matter of keeping the balance point to the rear and keeping the length of pull shorter.  Also the new more steeply angled "CQB" grips would probably be a good idea, along with a Magpul trigger guard to ease the bite of the stock trigger guard ears.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Now onto the barrel I am thinking of a 14.5 pencil profile with a pined FH and needs to be carbine length gas for the hand guards

A 14.5/14.7 midlength is an easier shooting rifle.  Use a free float handguard, getting rid of the fixed front sight base takes a bunch of weight off the front of the rifle.

Also for the flash hider recommendations?

I like the Vortex, it's also available predrilled for permanent attachment.  The AAC Blackout is also very good.

IME, for females it's not so much that you need to get the lightest possible rifle, it's more a matter of keeping the balance point to the rear and keeping the length of pull shorter.  Also the new more steeply angled "CQB" grips would probably be a good idea, along with a Magpul trigger guard to ease the bite of the stock trigger guard ears.



I know mid length gas would be better but magpul only makes the pink hand guards in carbine length sadly I am partially building this rifle around that...

this BCM barrel might be a good choice for what I want.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-LIGHT-WEIGHT-Barrel-Stripped-p/bcm-brl-car%2016lw%20%20std.htm
9/17/2013 11:22:45 AM EDT
[#5]
I had a similar build (not pink) using that exact Rainier upper + a lightweight profile barrel and half-moon BCG from a Colt 6520. Slapped an LMT SOPMOD stock on, and it balanced out very nicely. One of the easiest handling rifles I've owned, and I still regret selling it.
9/17/2013 11:23:23 AM EDT
[#6]

Quoted:






I just picked up a stripped poly lower from ATI
View Quote




no, just no
9/17/2013 11:26:26 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Quoted:


no, just no




View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:


I just picked up a stripped poly lower from ATI


no, just no







I figured one poly lower isn't going to kill me, well hopefully not. I have plenty of forged/billet AR's might as well get a poly...

And if it breaks I can just put it in the trash can with my AK
9/17/2013 11:27:28 AM EDT
[#8]
Does any one know the weight of the rainer and the DPMS slick side?
9/17/2013 11:42:04 AM EDT
[#9]
After looking at the cost of some of this stuff, I am thinking of scraping this project getting a used bush master carbon 15 locally and putting the pink furniture on it. There is one listed right now for $650
9/17/2013 12:21:21 PM EDT
[#10]
I just re barreled a carbine with a DoubleStar .600" pencil barrel from Brownells.. made a difference.... 5 shot groups at 100m around 1.5" or better... full floated... if you need to work on balance, some weight can be added to the battery carriers in a SOPMOD style stock
9/17/2013 12:46:11 PM EDT
[#11]
Not sure if its lighter or not, but the DPMS slick side is a thick bitch.  It certainly doesn't appear any lighter.

I have an ATI poly lower, with a slide fire stock on it.  So far so good.  
9/17/2013 1:58:41 PM EDT
[#12]
You must not love your wife to use that poly lower  Real men don't use plastic lowers...and you are not saving any noticeable weight...just endangering your loved ones.  Shame on you!
9/17/2013 7:18:16 PM EDT
[#13]
I don't under stand all the hate for the poly lowers this isn't going to be a battle rifle just something she will very rarely shoot and also want it for my daughter to shoot later on, might drop a CMMG kit in it.
9/17/2013 7:24:56 PM EDT
[#14]
have you thought about a magnesium stripped lower?  I have been looklng into using one for a light weight build.  I havn't been able to find a lot of reviews on them, but willing to give it a try
9/17/2013 7:25:11 PM EDT
[#15]

Quote History
Quoted:


I don't under stand all the hate for the poly lowers this isn't going to be a battle rifle just something she will very rarely shoot and also want it for my daughter to shoot later on, might drop a CMMG kit in it.
View Quote
They break all the time, that's why. And you only save a few ounces. The M4 style you have now really isn't that much heavier than a lightweight. If they are just going to the range with it, and not carrying it around for a few hours, does it matter that much?

 







The only polymer lower worth a damn is the CAV-15 currently produced by GWACS Armory.
9/17/2013 7:25:56 PM EDT
[#16]
Please sell that poly lower and buy one from these guys
gwacs armory
It will be so much stronger AND lighter. Only problem is non adjusted length so if she has small arms that could be a problem.
9/17/2013 7:30:12 PM EDT
[#17]


This rig is 5.5 pounds as pictured.  I used a DD 14.5 pencil with extended A2 FH, Mag Tactical Magnesium lower, 9mm upper drilled to accept gas tube, 9" troy alpha, std carbine stock (half the weight of an M4 stock) and Troy BUIS.  I know this is not the look you are going for, but I figured maybe this might help your search.

The rifle literally feels like a toy. I will  try to sway you away from the polymer lowers, there are numerous accounts of them breaking, and being your wife's rifle, that would be terrible to have the buffer tube break off when firing.
9/17/2013 7:43:43 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote History
Quoted:
http://i42.tinypic.com/293zsaw.jpg

This rig is 5.5 pounds as pictured.  I used a DD 14.5 pencil with extended A2 FH, Mag Tactical Magnesium lower, 9mm upper drilled to accept gas tube, 9" troy alpha, std carbine stock (half the weight of an M4 stock) and Troy BUIS.  I know this is not the look you are going for, but I figured maybe this might help your search.

The rifle literally feels like a toy. I will  try to sway you away from the polymer lowers, there are numerous accounts of them breaking, and being your wife's rifle, that would be terrible to have the buffer tube break off when firing.
View Quote



That is sexy!  I Iove it! 've been wanting to something very similar.  I really miss the GUU carbine I had in the AF and I've been dreaming of building one with a flat top and free float using a mag-tec lower.
9/17/2013 7:59:59 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote History
Quoted:
Please sell that poly lower and buy one from these guys
gwacs armory
It will be so much stronger AND lighter. Only problem is non adjusted length so if she has small arms that could be a problem.
View Quote


Otherwise known as the old CavArms MkII.  Excellent lower.  The LOP is the same as an A1.
I seen to remember somebody here making a MKII even shorter than it is already.  
That thread is probably buried in the Archives.

Here's my lightweight with the CavArms lower.  The barrel is a Govt profile.  6.5 pounds with loaded mag


If the OP used a 14.5" M4 profile barrel with standard carbine handguards and a CavArms/GWACs lower, he could bring it in under six pounds with a loaded 30 round magazine.
9/17/2013 8:07:14 PM EDT
[#20]
ok maybe I should just junk this project lol. Only good thing is the lower was only $50

might just stick it in the safe and sell it for $300 during the next panic

It was kinda of a impulse buy also got a sig pistol stabilizer brace for the pistol ar pictured above.
9/17/2013 8:19:03 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote History
Quoted:
Please sell that poly lower and buy one from these guys
gwacs armory
It will be so much stronger AND lighter. Only problem is non adjusted length so if she has small arms that could be a problem.
View Quote

GWACS lower would have to be the worst possible choice for a female, with fixed length of pull and huge grip.  Plus no weight at all in the back so puts balance point further forward.
9/17/2013 8:36:08 PM EDT
[#22]
The Rainier upper is lighter than the DPMS. If you aren't going to use optics, get an iron sighted upper. Model 604 is best. The detachable carry handle adds damn near a half a pound by the way.
9/17/2013 10:14:23 PM EDT
[#23]
Not polymer, but light:

Mag Lightweight Lower

It's "magnesium alloy."  I would like to know which one.  I once set a magnesium alloy lawnmower on fire.  It was spectacular.
10/15/2013 2:10:56 PM EDT
[#24]
Ok think I might do this again, Might build 2 now

Buddy of mine has a extra Mag tactical lower in FDE that he doesn't want would build that one for me.

They also offer a pink lower.
AR Sponsor