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Posted: 3/24/2009 6:14:36 AM EDT
| Just got my AR reassembled and the empty weight is 10.6 lbs!!! its a bear to try and aim standing. It has a HBAR 1-8 twist that i am contemplating having adco contour that bad boy down to gvt profile. What do you guys think? would contouring make my riffle not feel like front heavy beast anymore? also would this affect accuracy at all other than make shooting off hand easier? |
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Light AR's are sweet.
I just finished my "Parts gun" Cavalry arms lower SP-1 upper w/ A2 handguards... With an empty 30 round mag it comes in just under 6 lbs. Personally I love the feel of a Gov't profile AR. Perfect balance of weight and handling. Send it to ADCO. They do great work. KyARGuy |
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1:8 twist? Sounds like stainless, IIRC there is a reason why you don't see LW stainless barrels - but check with ADCO those guys will know if it's OK to profile a stainless steel barrel.
At 10.5 lbs sounds like you've added a bunch of stuff to it. A 'stock' HBAR 20" A2 type rifle is only 8.5 lbs. What else is on your rifle? |
| Its a DPMS DCM national match with stainless barrel that I changed out the a2 carry handle for a BCM flat top receiver. It has a dcm free float tube, stock hand guards, pro mag scope mount with a nikon prostaff 3x9 and a picitany gas block. and I was planning on having it contoured under the hand guard not gvt profile' |
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Quoted:
Its a DPMS DCM national match with stainless barrel that I changed out the a2 carry handle for a BCM flat top receiver. It has a dcm free float tube, stock hand guards, pro mag scope mount with a nikon prostaff 3x9 and a picitany gas block. and I was planning on having it contoured under the hand guard not gvt profile' A Government profile 20" barrel is the same diameter as a H-Bar from the FSB forward. It is thinner from just behind the FSB, to the shank of the barrel just in front of the upper receiver. Here is what a 20" Government profile barrel looks like. 
I don't see any reason that you couldn't do this to a stainless match barrel if you wanted to. KyARGuy |
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My 16" midlength gas system, medium contour barrel carbine weights more than yours, mine weights exactly 11.0 lbs. empty.
My added components are LaRue 9.0 FF rails, TD std VFG, Vltor EMOD stock, Aimpoint M2 with LaRue cantilever QD mount, Surefire M961C weaponlight and Vickers VCAS padded two point sling. Compared to my ligher M4gery 16" carbine that only weights 8.6 lbs empty, with added components of, KAC M4 RAS rails, KAC VFG, Magpul CTR stock & H buffer, EOTech 551 with LaRue QD mount, Surefire M951C weaponlight, and Vickers VCAS two point sling. For a target rifle role just leave it alone but if you wanted to carry it around either a medium contour or thinner government profile under the handguards will make it lighter, it should not affect accuracy much because you're using a free floating handguard. |
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I just sent my upper to Adco to have the the barrel contoured under the handguards and fluted in front of the gas block. I did it because I have the same issue you have; it weighs in at about ten pounds.
Some people will no doubt call me an idiot, because the upper in question is a LaRue Stealth, but I don't want to start building a whole new rifle with current prices/parts availability. From reading other threads in the forum I've found that Adco says accuracy will not be affected unless you fire very rapid fire and/or full auto. My rifle is still going to be able to outperform me. I just sent it in on the 23rd, so it may be a while before it gets back, but when it does I'll weigh it and post the weight loss here. I'm hoping it will be considerably easier to handle. |
| Just got my upper back from Adco, they fluted the barrel from the gasblock forward and contoured it to a government profile under the handguards, it lost 10.5 ounces. The whole setup, empty, now weighs 9 pounds 8 ounces, with ACOG and LaRue mount, VFG, and SureFire M961XM07 (9 volt-3 battery) light. It feels a lot better going from the low ready to up, though it's still a bear to point one handed. They did a nice job, put black KG Gunkote on, looks nice, $240 altogether. |
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I guess if you end up doing a lot of walking, hiking, marching etc. every ounce matters. But I also see it from the other side, just get stronger.
I used to handle a lot of different items for inspection, from 5lbs to 60+lbs all day. Plus I did some light weight lifting (<150lbs) as part of a (3x week) work out routine. Gained a tremendous amount of grip strength and upper body strength over time. As a result, I turned better groups with my pistols. I also felt if I ever had a physical altercation, that I was fit enough to extricate myself from the situation. Then I got hurt and do mostly desk work. All of that muscle went to pot, and so did my pistol accuracy. As far as being physically fit enough, it's a toss up, and I sure as hell couldn't outrun anybody. That's why I'd say keep it heavy and work on your upper body strength, build up some muscle over time. Then if someone ever knocks you down without your weapon, you can get up and whip their ass. |
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Believe it or not some people even add weight to DCM rifles, getting them up to 15+lbs. They put sticky lead weights under the A2 handguard or even full lead sleeves that are form fitted under them. Of course the buttstock is filled with a lead wedge too. I think it's overkill. It's intended to reduce wobble and allow for a more stable offhand position. I don't add any weights (anymore).
I've found a better solution that still works under DCM rules and does not add weight. Simply replacing the A2 stock with an A1 stock shifts the center of gravity rearward and makes the rifle feel a lot lighter. You may want to try this $20.00 to $30.00 option before turning your match grade barrel down. The A1 stock will accept the A2 butt plate assembly provided you use A1 bolts. |
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