Musings on a Lightweight AR Build

A friend asked me about my opinions on building a lightweight AR so in blogger fashion I thought I’d blast my ramblings out on the intertoobz.

First off, lightweight AR-15’s are great fun to shoot.  Beyond that, there’s a renaissance going on as folks are embracing the rifle’s founding concept of ‘lighter is better’.  That really was the whole reason for using plastic and aluminum after all.

Having studied Tiger McKee’s excellent book ‘The Book of Two Guns’, I agree with his recommendation of keeping a fighting gun rugged and light.  His Katana rifle concept makes a lot of sense, coming in at 6 pounds with fixed sights and a lightweight A1 fixed stock.

The consumers’ desire for lighter rifles has other manufacturers answering the demand with such current options as the S&W M&P 15 Sport (6.45 lbs), Colt’s LE6900 (6.2 lbs) and DoubleStar’s C3 ‘Constant Carry Carbine’ (5.5 lbs w/o sights)

Some may want to discuss mil-spec pedigrees, but let’s save that for later and look at the features of the guns listed.  About the only common feature of these three guns is a 16” barrel with a carbine length gas system.  Otherwise their approaches to saving weight vary.  Variations are fixed vs. adjustable stocks, a fixed FSB vs. sights on a free-float handguard and lightweight barrel contour vs. M4 contour (Colt 6900).

After some consideration, here are the high points of my theoretical build list of components for the purpose of having a trustworthy ultra-light rifle.

• Lower Receiver: Noveske Gen 2 (‘cause magwell)
• Upper Receiver: Ranier Arms (forged without forward assist)
• Barrel: Daniel Defense 14.5” Midlength LW (w/ pinned muzzle device)
• Gas Block: DD .625” lo-pro; pinned
• BCG: [They still make those?]
• Stock: Ace AR-UL 9” (although it’s hard to beat an A1 fixed)
• Handguard: AP Custom Carbon Fiber Tactical (rifle length, to fit my arms)
• Sights: DD Fixed
• Light: Inforce WML (3 0z)

[Now I just need to place a few backorders…]

There are a few other tricks [adapt an A1 buffer tube to carbine buffer and spring, lightweight bolt carrier, or drill a 9mm upper for a gas tube] to shave an ounce here and there but this is about as light as a standard rifle can be.  Of course, lightweight is good but it still has to work.  I think the above list would satisfy that requirement.

So what do you think?  If you have any suggestions or recommendations for going lighter or increasing reliability, let me know.

Hunkered Down; Range Trip Delayed

Well, my plans to wring out the new M&P trigger have been torpedoed by a Honest to God Texas Gully Washer (HTGTGW) here in the Bayou City.  It’s as dark as pitch out there and when the signal on my AM radio gets through the static of all the lightning strikes just about all I hear is the Emergency Broadcast System messages.

Which reminds me of this:

We’ve got flash flood warnings, tornado watches, etc.  I cleared my morning schedule so I could go shoot but even with the 4×4 standing by, I will heed the warnings and hunker down for a while. Because although I trust myself to navigate to the streets to an indoor range and back, it’s a sure thing my route will be blocked by the nimrods that will gladly try and ford a submerged intersection with a subcompact sporting low profile rims.

Instead, I think I’ll take a glass of fresh ice tea out to the porch and meditate to the constant roll of thunder and occasional transformer explosion.  Is it too early for a Margarita?

Until Monday, let me plant this groove in your head:

If that don’t make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, you need a Margarita yourself.

 

NRA Convention 2013: Friday (bonus)

Per the request of a friend, I asked the reps at the Smith and Wesson booth if they would consider making a special run of their X-frame (.500 S&W/.460 S&W) revolver as a 10 shot .357 magnum.

Their reply was a solid, “No.”

Heh: Biden’s Loser Pout Reminds Me of… (.gif)

Don’t see it?  Click the image.

Concealed Carry Report from the State Fair of Texas

Last weekend I went to the State Fair of Texas and had a great time.  It’s the 126th year of the fair itself and Big Tex is celebrating his 60th birthday.  Of course, there were some new novelty fried foods (Fried Lemonade, Fried Frito Pie, Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll, Fried Nutter Butters) for sale.  I can tell you that the fried Nutter Butter cookies are darn worthwhile.

As for packing iron onsite, prior to the trip I went to the Fair’s official website FAQ page where I read this:

Concealed Handgun Policy
A person holding a valid Texas Concealed Handgun License (or valid CHL from a reciprocating state) is permitted to enter onto State Fair property with his/her concealed handgun; provided, however, that CHL holders will not be permitted to carry their concealed handgun inside the Cotton Bowl Stadium, a facility defined under Texas Penal Code 46.035 as “the premises where a high school, collegiate or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place.” Note that the Fair does not provide lockers for the storage or checking of weapons for CHL holders, so if you plan to attend a game or event in the Cotton Bowl, please secure your weapon at home or in your vehicle prior to entering the fairgrounds. We want the Fair to be a fun and safe experience.

So properly armed with knowledge (and a pistol) I was a tad concerned when I saw that every patron entering was being ‘wanded’ by security guards.  I fell into a line at the gate but I had my permit in hand.  When it was my turn, I simply showed it to the guard and she smiled and said to show it to the policeman inside the gate as she waved me on.  The cop was sitting in an elevated box overlooking the gate.  I went ahead a did as I was told saying to him, “The guard said I should show this to you” as I handed him my permit and drivers license.  He looked at them for a moment and handed them back with a “Thank you”.   I went on and had a great day without giving it another thought.  In retrospect, I probably didn’t need to show the cop ‘my papers’.  It’s not like the security guard radioed him to let him know to look for me.  I didn’t feel hassled, everyone was polite and it didn’t take any extra time.

The only other bit that I’d pass on would be: the usual rules apply while at the fair so don’t partake of any adult beverages while carrying and some of the carnival rides can be rough [like the 'porch swing in a giant slingshot' and the 'vertical centrifuge'; frankly I'm surprised the midway isn't littered with empty shoes flung off of the riders] so maybe a retention holster is in order depending on how much you enjoy thrill rides.

 

Pew! Pew! Pew! (Blaster in Progress)

Han Shot First!

AR rifles are like Lay’s Chips, you just can’t stop after one. You start with one, then you change a few parts, then you think, “There’s enough parts here to start on another build.”

To trade a potato analogy for a potato metaphor, the AR-15 is the official Mr. Tater Noggin of firearms and I had a spare tater, one arm, a hat and a mouth, now I need another arm, a nose, some eyes… and, apparently, a better job to fund all this.

Do Not Play This Game!

I warned you.

 

This One’s for Old NFO

Ever want to see your name in lights?

Hey, Old NFO. Here’s your sign.

The other day I was driving back from visiting some friends in Pasa-Get-Down-Dena, Texas and saw this.  Of course, I had to stop and grab pic.  During the day the sign actually reads “Fine Mexican Food”.

Here’s the daytime streetview (use your mouse wheel to zoom in):

View Larger Map

Oh, and also go visit his blog: Nobody Asked Me.

What’s this? I have a blog, you say?

I admit that I have not been as diligent in posting as I should have been as of late (well, for a while now).  Life keeps getting in the way of things that I want to do and forcing me to keep doing the things I have to do.  When I became one of the ‘chronically underemployed’, multi-part-time-job workforce I necessarily had to prioritize my activities and blogging fell by the wayside.  Now that things have eased up (a bit) I think it’s time for some Spring cleaning.  I’ll go back through the comments and scrub out the spam that made it past the filter and while I’m at it, I think I’ll start posting new material again too.  If you are reading this, thanks again for dropping by.

Today Only: Brownells Free Ship w/ $50+ order (12.16.11)

Heads up!  Brownells, the firearms aficionado’s equivalent of the Sears Wishbook has a special today only.

Deal Alert @ Brownells 12.16.11

This is a rare deal. Usually Brownells ships with a flat rate of $12.95.  On the occasions when they do offer a free shipping deal it usually requires a a $150+ purchase.

http://www.Brownells.com  [use code: DLW]