Ultimate featherlite AR build - looking for suggestions

shooterdave

shooterdave

Uncivil Servant
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Oct 6, 2010
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106
Location
SE Okla.
Ok, guys. I'm seriously considering building an ultra lightweight AR-15. I've thought a lot about this and considering the pleasant recoil (lack of?) that is associated with the .556 platform, I think it would cool to put one together with weight being the mitigating factor in selection of components. That being said, I have a few parameters:

1. Must be a 16" build. SBR would be cheating!
2. As stated, .556/.223 caliber.
3. Rifle platform, not pistol.

That's it. I welcome all ideas and suggestions as to part selection and brands. Thx for all input!!!
 
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I have been wanting to do the same thing...

16" SS pencil barrel intermediate gas,
PRI lo pro adjustable gas block,
JP low mass bolt carrier,
JP low mass buffer,
That Bushmaster carbon upper and lower if they make one???
ACE ultra light stock or Nordic Components new wire style stock
16" Teachwear FF tube
Rolling thunder comp
Trijicon RMR sight

You gotta have a monster comp to tame the recoil that's gonna crop up from the lack of weight. The rolling thunder is the heat!

Keep us posted on the build please.
 
What about going 14.5 and pinning the the comp on? Won't gain much by weight but every bit counts.
 
Tons of info here:

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=39599&highlight=featherweight

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=35771&highlight=featherweight
 
Andrew from Lonestar Armory had a feather light at a match a few months ago. I know LSA makes a featherlight that is really light, but it has a fluted barrel rather than a pencil barrel.

http://www.lonestararmory.net/
 
Jesse Tischauser said:
Jerry dont you have one of those carbon upper/lowers?
Click to expand...

Yes. I have an older Professional Ordinance upper that was done as a special run for CDNN about 10 years ago. It sits on a DPMS lower with a JARD trigger MOE grip & CTR stock. Complete carbine with optic, VCAS sling and LOADED 30 round P-Mag tips the scales at 7 pound even. It's very fast handling and I've had no malfunctions since I upgraded the bolt & springs.
 
IMO, you can get a gun that's too light pretty easily. My 20" with the MSTC QC brake was just a little bit too light. The muzzle jumped around more than I would have liked. Keep in mind this was with a complete JP low mass operating system. I replaced with my Rolling Thunder and now it's just about perfect.

After building it I realized I was never going to shoot my other one unless I go to the same configuration (lightweight profile barrel, low mass op. system, tunable comp, carbon fiber handguard), so my heavy profile 18" barrel is going to Steve B. once this snow melts and I can get over there. :) I'll let you know how it goes.

When you start getting a really light rifle, I think it's paramount that the gas system/compensator is set up right. The Rolling Thunder comp is easy to tune by drilling holes in the expansion chamber. Adjustable gas block is a must, too, if your using a low mass carrier. Together they are just awesome...way better than I originally hoped.

I don't know how I feel about those composite receivers. Aluminum receivers with ARFX stock is freakishly light enough.
 
I would suggest using a m16 carrier on the lightweight build. It only adds an ounce or 2 and it really tamed the felt recoil and "jumping around" stuff. My kid shoots my lightweight and it looks like he's shooting a 10/22!
I would also suggest a slickside A1 upper. I personally never needed a deflector or to jam a round in the chamber.
 
You have much to learn. ;)

http://www.jprifles.com/1.4.7_bc.php

We have our own purpose designed operating systems. For the no-compromise competition rifle, the LMOSâ"¢ offers the most significant improvement in the felt impulse of the rifle as compared to any modification other than the addition of a compensator. The complete system consists of our low mass bolt carrier and lightweight buffer conversion kit. By reducing the reciprocating mass, the overall impulse as felt by the shooter is further reduced, and bolt velocity is increased without significantly affecting reliability. JP LMOSâ"¢ equipped rifles have virtually no reciprocating mass feel.
Click to expand...
 
U talkin to me?
Come shoot it i still have both carriers. This thing shoots like a bolt action .223 with the nonshrouded semiauto carrier and like a 10/22 with the FUll auto carrier. Just shot it last weekend. Colt A1 slickside upper, Colt 14.5" barrel w/ pinned YHM FH, Colt FA BCG. Car buffer.

I'm not saying I know much and i do have a lot to learn.
I don't just read peoples propaganda and believe everything they say.
When I say something it is because of my own real world experiences not because of someones advertisement or because someone says so.
 
Slow your roll buddy! Not trying to break your balls, just explaining my preferences. What JP puts on their site isn't propaganda, it's science!

I have TWO JP carriers (and a couple M16 carriers that aren't getting used...now :)) and I have shot both types extensively. Come out to a rifle match at OKCGC or USSA and we can compare. I bet I convince you.

I won't be at the next OKCGC one because I will be shooting the TX 2-gun championship, but I should be at USSA. Check out the match announcements section for more info.
 
I usually shoot the carbine match at Oil Cap. That being said, i usually shoot my AK's. Don't usually have xtra time to shoot much more than that, i actually have to work. When are the USSA matches (hours,days)and what type are they? Rifle? Rifle/pistol? How much?
 
Also, we r talking about lightweight carbines, not heavyweight 20" 3gun rigs.
 
Arcadia is the 3rd Sunday and USSA is the 4th Sunday, usually, but sometimes they change. The match announcements forum is the place to go to for match information! Mike Pinto (OKCGC rifle/3-gun MD) and Josh Appel (USSA rifle MD) are members here and usually start announcement threads each month.

$15 match fee. Round count 150+. These matches are more akin to USPSA. There's a lot more shooting, planning, and running/gunning involved than a defensive match. They are a lot of fun. Let us know if you're coming and we'll squad up! I'd like to put more names to faces on the BS'ers.
 
Several of the guys shoot factory JP rifles which are totally awesome. I personally didn't want to drop $3K on a CTR-02, so I built my own with a cheaper lower, upper, barrel, etc. Still has a JP gas block, JP competition trigger, JP low mass buffer, JP bolt group.

This gun is long but light! Jesse freaked out when he picked it up the first time...

tacrig.jpg
 
The lighter the reciprocating mass the lighter the felt recoil. End of story in my experience. I'm not sure how a heavier BCG could feel softer?
 
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