Zombie Killer

[PlatinumCouch]

I have had a couple of factory AR15 platforms over the years (Armalite and Bushmaster). Recently, I decided to build my own, with every part of my own choosing and own assembly. We have all seen the AR15 with every part possible hanging from a picatinny, mlok, keymod, rail. Although all of those things "Look Cool".... I have come to a shocking realization after my build and shooting this rifle. Lighter is better!! I decided to make my rifle the lightest and most reliable I could without sacrificing quality and completely breaking the bank.

Got to get rid of all the stuff hanging off of your rifle. Because..that sucker gets "Heavy" after toting it around for awhile.

What does the group think of the "lighter is better" track?


My build cliff notes:
Lower Receiver-Aero Percision X15 Gen 2
Drop in Trigger- Rise Armament RA-140 AWP Super Sporting
Barrel-Faxon Gunner 16"
Upper Receiver-Aero Percision Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum
Lower Reciever Parts Kit-Luth-AR Mil-Spec
Hand Guard-Aero Percision AR-15 ATLAS S-ONE SLIM LINE HANDGUARDS FREE FLOAT M-LOK
Hard Sights-DD Dager Defense 45 Degree flip up Sights, canted Back up Iron Sights-Rapid Transition BUIS
Gas Tube-Spikes Tactical Mid Length Gas Tube Stainless Melonite SUGT0M3
Gas Block Faxon-Ultra Low-Profile Gas Block Black GB-LP-625-3
Buffer Assembly-Anderson Carbine Buffer Tube Kit Mil-Spec Black G2-J430-A000-0P
Trigger Guard-Magpul AR-15 Enhanced Trigger Guard Polymer
Grip-Magpul MOE AR-15 Anti-Slip Grip, Dark Earth
Muzzle Brake-TacFire Bird Cage Muzzle Brake Steel Black MZ1001-A2
Charging Handle-BCM VLTOR gunfighter
Bolt Carrier Group-Spikes Tactical M16/AR-15 Complete Bolt Carrier Group
Scope-NcSTAR 4x32 P4 Sniper
Butt Stock-MagpulAR-15 MOE-SL STOCK COLLAPSIBLE MIL-SPEC
Using a single point sling.

[Iunnrais]

My main AR is on the heavy side. Mainly due to the barrel (20" heavy) and the large optic on top. Not my first choice for roaming a field, but perfect for a fixed position (hog stand) and taking accurate shots across wide fields. I'd not intended that, but the barrel availability at the time drove the choice. My latest build is half the weight of the first and is definitely more fun at the range for simple plinking.

Both use the Aero pecision uppers and lowers. I'm quite partial to Aero's kit and they are my first choice for a receiver.

I'd look at whether or not you need the backup irons and the 4x scope. I had initially put a fixed mag optic on my lightweight build and have since replaced it with a simple red dot which has proven (to my surprise) to be more than adequate to the task. I've found that knowing that I've got a 2moa dot takes the mental pressure down many notches from trying to shoot the smallest group possible to simply scoring effective hits and enjoying a range session. I still have the optic in the case, but have not really seen the need to re-mount it yet. 2moa still gets me Minute of Varmit for a walk in the back pasture. Think about your use case and you might be able to save a couple more ounces. :)

[PlatinumCouch]

My main AR is on the heavy side. Mainly due to the barrel (20" heavy) and the large optic on top. Not my first choice for roaming a field, but perfect for a fixed position (hog stand) and taking accurate shots across wide fields. I'd not intended that, but the barrel availability at the time drove the choice. My latest build is half the weight of the first and is definitely more fun at the range for simple plinking.

Both use the Aero pecision uppers and lowers. I'm quite partial to Aero's kit and they are my first choice for a receiver.

I'd look at whether or not you need the backup irons and the 4x scope. I had initially put a fixed mag optic on my lightweight build and have since replaced it with a simple red dot which has proven (to my surprise) to be more than adequate to the task. I've found that knowing that I've got a 2moa dot takes the mental pressure down many notches from trying to shoot the smallest group possible to simply scoring effective hits and enjoying a range session. I still have the optic in the case, but have not really seen the need to re-mount it yet. 2moa still gets me Minute of Varmit for a walk in the back pasture. Think about your use case and you might be able to save a couple more ounces. :)

Lunnaris,
You are on spot for sure! I struggled with the backup iron combined with the scope. I decided on the offset 45 for a rapid transition from magnified to a normal eye shot. Thought about a rapid disconnect (flip to side) for the scope but the weight difference between that and BUIS was marginal. I have an EOTECH 512 Holographic on my other rifle but I was trying to combine the "shoot at the end of my driveway" and the "shoot at the end of the block" You know them "Zombies" can be pesky like that. .. The biggest difference I found "and the most satisfying' was the Faxon Barrel. It combines a milspec barrel with a pencil barrel. Amazed at the weight difference "feel" when holding the rifle in the shooting position.

[K-Texas]

I didn't get into AR 15s until after the development of the Mk262 Mod 0 load that Chris Kyle developed for and tested with US Spec Ops. That load used the Sierra 77 gr. HPBT MatchKing w/cannelure on the bullet. The purpose of the load is reliable tumbling out to 300 yards, so there is a velocity mandate of 2700 FPS at the muzzle. But, of course, there's a catch. The barrel twist rate of 1 in 8" proved best for accuracy, and the slightly faster twist rate of 1 in 7", standard for several manufacturers will stabilize those bullets, and some a bit heavier.

That's priority #1, and with 16" barrels like the Ruger AR556. Making sure that the barrel and chamber are rated for 5.56mm NATO is next, and I wouldn't be opposed to a Wylde chamber that's chambered longer than barrels made for .223 REM alone.

I handload and shoot 5.56mm NATO using 5.56mm NATO data. Not .223 REM data where a heavier bullet gets some loads labelled 5.56mm NATO, an unfortunate mistake by some data providers. I only load a single .224" bullet these days, but I have some 55 gr. FMJBT Hornady's if I need to use them. In our testing, the Hornady 75 gr. BTHP Match w/cannelure holds together better than the Sierra 77. I found this from 50 yard testing while pushing the Hornady's out of the muzzle at 2750 FPS.

The AR556 isn't a lightweight, but a big reason for it's selection was in comparing it to the competition where many of them had a 1 in 9" twist barrel. So the 1 in 8" twist was the bigger factor. If I did a build, a 1 in 8" twist barrel would be a necessity.