I’m just getting back into AR’s (got a 6920 to re-familiarize myself) and things have certainly changed since my SP-1 days! :eek:
Anywho, I’m now researching something light & affordable for the wife (who’s petite & recoil-shy) to replace her PS90.
Doesn’t need to be Tier-1 but does need to be rugged/reliable enough for her casual use, the current options are overwhelming.
I’m thinking Aimpoint Micro w/no FSB or BUIS, perhaps a pinned 14.5" middy w/an H2 buffer.
Any budget out-of-the-box or minimal assembly required suggestions? (Haven’t reached the DIY level yet). TIA…
Tomac
Robb Jensen (a Staff member here) did exactly what you are looking to do, and made a very nice lightweight AR for his spouse.
If I recall correctly, he used a BCM pencil barrel 16" middy upper. You might dig through his posts, it was a really good thread with a lot of weights and thoughts on his choices.
Robb’s also built an upper for me, and it runs like a champ.
Thx! What’s his user name? No search results under his given name.
Tomac
Sorry, I must have read the title wrong. I thought you were looking for an affordable lightweight wife.
How affordable does the rifle need to be? Price range? If you’re going to run a T-1 or H-1 you must be willing to put some $ into it. The easy answer would be a BCM ELW with KMR rail and some kind of light weight stock. Easy, not the absolute lightest, but pretty light and you wouldn’t have to build it.
Jensen used a bunch of lightweight specialized parts. EDIT: Not as many as I remembered.
I’ve built several “Lady Rifles” using 14.5" LW Middy Uppers, 11" Lightweight Hand guards, and Magpul K Grips.
If I were building one now, I’d simply opt for BCM’s 14.5" or 16" Mid Length Extreme Lightweight Upper paired with a 10" KMR Handguard and one of the Tactical Muzzle Comps.
I shy away from using extremely lightweight stocks because I prefer to keep the balance point just rear of the magwell which balances better for women or those with less upper body strength.
I can’t add much that hasn’t already been stated, but I concur with a BCM lightweight middy in 14.5 inch pinned with a kmr on it. A regular MOE stock is very light, but isn’t all tacticool like some of the other ones. I’d suggest some BUIS though. If you use BCM’s mod one flash hider with a middy she’ll hardly notice any recoil. Of course the H1 or T1 is about as light as you can get for a red dot.
I second what serious student already mentioned about finding that thread. Lots of good info there.
Here is a thread that lists a bunch of lightweight parts. On a very lightweight rifle. But I wouldn’t call the build “affordable” as it uses some reasonably “exotic” parts.
Noveske-Ultralight
OK, here is Robbs thread about featherweight rifle link— Project-Featherweight
His project was in 2009 and things have changed a bit since then. You can probably approximate the weight of his rifle with the BCM stuff and not have to build it yourself. Good luck.
Another option is the Ranier Arms RUC2. Advertised as weighing 6 lbs 1.4 oz, without sights. Believe it only comes in 16", but that’s a plus to me as pinned MDs are a hassle should you want to change them, or the gas block. https://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=4278
Colt 6720.
It is almost as light as a 14.5 pinned lightweight.
I have seen prices under $900 NIB.
I would look at this, it is finally back in stock. Get some 10 & 20 rnd PMAGS to help keep weight down.
https://www.primaryarms.com/Spikes-Tactical-14-5-Mid-Length-Lightweight-LE-w-p/str5050-mls.htm
This and the 6720 have possibilities. I’m not familiar w/Spikes Tactical, are they gtg?
Tomac
Just to think outside of the box…
Have you considered an 11.5" bcm upper on a pistol lower with a Sig arm brace? It can still be shouldered (rather comfortably from what others say here) and would shift the balance and make it feel even lighter for her.
Interesting idea, how’s the recoil and aimed accuracy?
Tomac
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?118998-New-Stabilizing-Brace-for-AR15-Pistol-quot-SB15-quot
From what I understand it’s about as accurate as any 11.5" rifle, it can be shouldered, and doesn’t look or feel as goofy as you’d think. The above thread has convinced me to go this route while waiting on a tax stamp. It would also avoid the hoopla of contacting the atf if you ever had to cross state lines with it, as it’s a pistol.
This is looking better and better. I’m still getting up to speed on AR’s, is it better to purchase a complete AR pistol (who makes them, who’s gtg?) or assemble from components?
Tomac
I would buy the upper from BCM. They have quite a few 10.5 “add 11.5” uppers in different configurations.
You can buy completed pistol lowers, or assemble your own. The hardest part of the lower is aligning and tightening the receiver extension. I think aero precision and spikes offer complete pistol lowers. I would find a lower locally and have everything else shipped to my door if I were going it.
After that add the arm brace.
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Spikes is well know for making quality firearms for the money, they are GTG but do not stay in stock long. Also with your restricted budget it would be easier to do. This or a Colt AR6720.
Don’t know exactly wha your budget is but it seems you are o the right track. I would do a BCM complete upper with a 10" KMR and either a 14.5" ELW/ELW-F with muzzle break for recoil (unless the noise will be too much for her). Get a blem BCM complete lower from Grant at GandRtactical (he also has the uppers, don’t forget the BCG). Then slap a stock on it, something mid weight like a B5 Bravo or CTR on the back to bias the weight towards the rear (which is important to feel light weight at the pivot of the pistol grip) and put you T1/H1 on with either a DD Micro mount or Fortis F1. Use Magpul MBUS gen 2 polymer sights if you did do BUIS and you would have a highest quality, lightweight rifle for maybe $1600 you can get all of this stuf through GandR. He has great deals on Aimpoint Micro/DD micro mount combos.
If you really want to obsess over this the possibilities are endless and very expensive. Keep it simple and focus on weight saving in the barrel and handguard.
I also really like the idea of a 10" KMR w/ 11.5" lightweight barrel and an Sig arm brace in the rear of a pistol lower with the same acceaories.
Good luck.
This^
If you want to go the NFA route, get the BCM 11.5" upper w/ BCM KMR 10".
The KMR is not only EXTREMELY light weight, but it is VERY low-profile, which would allow your wife an easy and comfortable grip of the rail.