building a light ar?

"A pistol is what you use to fight your way back to the rifle you never should have left behind!" Clint Smith, Thunder Ranch

Moderators: carlson1, Keith B


Topic author
wsmarines
Junior Member
Posts in topic: 5
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:25 pm

building a light ar?

#1

Post by wsmarines »

I want to build a super light AR. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to buy. It doesnt matter if its an upper by itself or a lower by itself. Im going for around 6 pounds and if possible below 6 pounds. There is no brand preference either.
User avatar

pbwalker
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 3032
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 10:12 am
Location: Northern Colorado

Re: building a light ar?

#2

Post by pbwalker »

might want to check out Plum Crazy Firearms.

http://www.pcfmfg.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They've got one that is 3.2lbs.
*NRA Endowment Member* | Veteran
Vote Adam Kraut for the NRA Board of Directors - http://www.adamkraut.com/

Topic author
wsmarines
Junior Member
Posts in topic: 5
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:25 pm

Re: building a light ar?

#3

Post by wsmarines »

pbwalker wrote:might want to check out Plum Crazy Firearms.

http://www.pcfmfg.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They've got one that is 3.2lbs.
my fault i was looking for a full size rifle ya know something that i dont have to pay a $200 tax stamp on something with a 14.5 inch barrel with a fixed comp.
User avatar

pbwalker
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 3032
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 10:12 am
Location: Northern Colorado

Re: building a light ar?

#4

Post by pbwalker »

Did you see their lowers? The rifle on the home page is just a sample of what can be built. They weigh 1lb, 7oz...

http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/PlumCra ... sembly.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
*NRA Endowment Member* | Veteran
Vote Adam Kraut for the NRA Board of Directors - http://www.adamkraut.com/

Topic author
wsmarines
Junior Member
Posts in topic: 5
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:25 pm

Re: building a light ar?

#5

Post by wsmarines »

pbwalker wrote:Did you see their lowers? The rifle on the home page is just a sample of what can be built. They weigh 1lb, 7oz...

http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/PlumCra ... sembly.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
i cant navigate their website for some reason

Carry-a-Kimber
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 1715
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:58 am
Location: Harris County

Re: building a light ar?

#6

Post by Carry-a-Kimber »

If you are looking for lightest weight possible a Plumcrazy or Cavalier polymer lower will definitely help. Also a "pencil" barrel (Bushmaster Super LW), polymer Magpul MBUS, and either carbon fiber or aluminium free float tube. A sub 6lb carbine should be no problem.
User avatar

40khammer
Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 183
Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 3:25 pm

Re: building a light ar?

#7

Post by 40khammer »

A plum crazy lower and a dpms sportical upper with a pencil profile barrel and
AB arms mod 1 handguards. gives you all the versatility you need in a very lightweight package. Will cost you less than $650 too.

Topic author
wsmarines
Junior Member
Posts in topic: 5
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:25 pm

Re: building a light ar?

#8

Post by wsmarines »

40khammer wrote:A plum crazy lower and a dpms sportical upper with a pencil profile barrel and
AB arms mod 1 handguards. gives you all the versatility you need in a very lightweight package. Will cost you less than $650 too.
is there a complete rifle that i can buy for that platform?

Carry-a-Kimber
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 1715
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:58 am
Location: Harris County

Re: building a light ar?

#9

Post by Carry-a-Kimber »

wsmarines wrote:
40khammer wrote:A plum crazy lower and a dpms sportical upper with a pencil profile barrel and
AB arms mod 1 handguards. gives you all the versatility you need in a very lightweight package. Will cost you less than $650 too.
is there a complete rifle that i can buy for that platform?
Bushmaster offers their Superlight . It weights 5.1lbs.
User avatar

OldCannon
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 5
Posts: 3058
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:19 am
Location: Converse, TX

Re: building a light ar?

#10

Post by OldCannon »

Something to consider:
When an AR upper and lower are assembled into a complete rifle and sold, you're paying an 11% Federal Excise Tax. If you buy a lower and upper together, the ATF still considers it a complete rifle for tax purposes. Your gun dealer is obligated to add that tax if you purchase both together, even if it's from separate manufacturers.

I _always_ recommend that you purchase separately. This gives you more purchasing power as well as the ability to take a more flexible approach to your AR platform. Personally, I think this helps people from a psychological standpoint as well. There's nothing special about an AR sold as a complete unit, other than it might mask the fact that the two together are built out of mil-spec and cannot be used in other ways (Double Star -- grr, don't get me started).
I don't fear guns; I fear voters and politicians that fear guns.

Topic author
wsmarines
Junior Member
Posts in topic: 5
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:25 pm

Re: building a light ar?

#11

Post by wsmarines »

Thank you to everyone for your help. I think im going to go with that bushmaster super light.
User avatar

Wes
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 885
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:02 pm
Location: Ft Worth
Contact:

Re: building a light ar?

#12

Post by Wes »

let us know how you like it if you do get it, i have been looking for something similar and that might just do it for me as well
Alliance Arsenal - Firearms and transfers in north Ft. Worth
User avatar

Bob Wolff
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 384
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:48 pm

Re: building a light ar?

#13

Post by Bob Wolff »

Start with an milspec upper, not billet
flat top (no handguard)
16 inch pencil barrel with add on gas block with small rail on top for foldable front sight \
Folding rear sight
Any milspec lower, I don't like poly lowers myself (personnal preference)
bravo co bolt carrier group
ARFX stock
any handgrip
Find the shortest handgrip/forearm you like

pretty light AR, I built one like this

Some links with info that will help (might be dated):
http://www.03designgroup.com/technotes/ ... omparisons
https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key ... utput=html
http://www.ar15.com/mobile/topic.html?b=3&f=12&t=172238

Bob
Last edited by Bob Wolff on Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
NO matter how responsible he seems,
NEVER give your gun to a monkey.

Ameer
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 1397
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:01 pm

Re: building a light ar?

#14

Post by Ameer »

pbwalker wrote:might want to check out Plum Crazy Firearms.

http://www.pcfmfg.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They've got one that is 3.2lbs.
Are they still in business? There's a lot of COMING SOON with no updates in two years or more.
I believe the basic political division in this country is not between liberals and conservatives but between those who believe that they should have a say in the personal lives of strangers and those who do not.
User avatar

OldCannon
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 5
Posts: 3058
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:19 am
Location: Converse, TX

Re: building a light ar?

#15

Post by OldCannon »

Ameer wrote:
pbwalker wrote:might want to check out Plum Crazy Firearms.

http://www.pcfmfg.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They've got one that is 3.2lbs.
Are they still in business? There's a lot of COMING SOON with no updates in two years or more.
Not sure if this is appropriate. I'll let the mods decide. There's an outstanding poly lower now being built by New Frontier Armory here (http://newfrontierarmory.com/catalog/in ... s_id=34089" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). That price is no joke: $99 for a complete lower, not a stripped one. The trigger is a 4.5lb single-stage. I have several of these that will be available next month (I will be one of the first 25 in the US to carry them). If you want to get one, PM me. I intend to have one available for "demo" as well (could meet you at ARC or BOTW on a weekend and let you try it with your own upper).
I don't fear guns; I fear voters and politicians that fear guns.
Post Reply

Return to “Rifles & Shotguns”