For those that are interested in the weight of a basic type carbine I weighed the upper recently acquired BCM 13" KMR LW Carbine. The components are as follows;
16" LW Midlength barrel with the BCM MOD 0 Compensator
13" KMR Rail with (1) polymer rail segment.
BCM Gunfighter vertical grip (partially chopped)
BCM Diamonhead front and rear sights.
BCM BCG and MOD 4 Gunfighter.
BCM Lower Receiver Half with H buffer and BCM MOD 1 grip.
B5 Systems Bravo Stock.
Total weight of the carbine as configured after 3 separate weightings on the scale was 6 lbs. 3.8 oz. If you substituted a few things weight would probably drop down to just under 6 lbs.
I like it. I am eager to see a 12" kmr that works with rifle length front sight posts. Otherwise maybe I’ll just have to get a 13" and pop it in the milling machine.
I can’t keep up with what the internet thinks, but I remember years ago making a post about how much I hate VFGs and IG agreed with me.
Then about a year ago I got a Magpul stubby for free and I haven’t looked back. Grabbing the forearm by pulling the VFG into your shoulder and wrapping the left thumb over the top provides so much more control than without, and your ability to shoot from cover/prone isn’t compromised nearly as badly as it was with the long VFGs of the old school days. And as evidenced by IG’s pic, they don’t even add much weight. His rifle has a 1.5" longer barrel, heavier barrel profile and a VFG and it still weighs only 4oz more.
Mark, you already have the Costa beard, why don’t you climb aboard the Magpul 21st Century bro?
Agreed, a VFG is ok for shooting standing, it makes a good handstop or whatever.
But to me a VFG or any unnecessary bs like AFGs, rail covers, hand stops, tape switches, or anything just gets on my nerves, gets in the way of a hand when I’m already in a bind, hangs up on anything and everything associated with vehicles or doing anything with the gun slung and no hands on the gun.
I actually use vertical foregrip on some of my rifles. I prefer to have a short stubby grip and I’m not a big fan of the AFG. I’ve got a couple that I modified like the one in the picture and I also have a couple of the Tango Down stubby grips with the Elite Defense quick release mechanism.
+1 on this. I’ve been wanting to get a 20" government upper to slap on my A5-equipped lowers for shits and giggles. I was planning on going with the MOE handguards until I could install a Centurion C4, but if a 12" KMR comes out for use in this configuration, then BCM will have my money (well…I suppose they’re getting it either way, but they’ll get more with the KMR)
That’s got me to wondering how much more weight could be taken out of the base rifle. I know it’s chasing ounces, but I wonder just how light you could get a 16" AR. Sub 7# with optic, sling and light would be a nice little setup (IG’s gets pretty close, if not there, it looks like)
All these KMR posts are seriously making me consider building a rifle or two up with one.
You could get closer to 6 lbs even, if you tried really hard.
Here is my carbine (16" ELW, no flutes) with everything except a QD mount for the rail and a sling attached, it weighs 6.85 lbs (6lbs 13.6oz). I have since removed the Bravo B5 and put on an MFT minimalist so subract 2.9 oz. The Noveske Gen 2 lower is supposedly 1 oz heavier than a standard lower. I have a DD mount for the Micro which would save another 2 oz over the ADM I currently use.
I also have KAC BUIS but I am not sure if they are lighter than the fixed DD set.
I just need to get the IWC QD sling mount and wait for the keymod short VFG and I am all set.
Swap your ejection port cover, forward assist, and magazine catch for some V7 parts like i did.
I have an 18" gov profile barrel with rifle gas, 13.5" kmr, AFAB mini, IWC qd sling mount, Vltor A5 system, B5 bravo stock, Magpul bad lever, Magpul K2, BCM gunfighter mod 4, micro t1 in an lt660, and Magpul mbus gen2’s (and the listed v7 parts)…weighs 6.87lbs.
IG, how would you feel about hanging a can on this setup? I have a 14.5 BCM ELW Fluted with Keymod13 sitting at my dealer that I ordered from Grant. I just don’t have enough time with LW barrel to know about sustained use with say an SF Socom or AAC SR5
There’s a post on TOS with some of the lightest weight parts lists…
You can probably get there with the Mag tactical magnesium upper and lower receivers, a KMR, 14.5 ELW BCM barrel, V7 misc parts, a Magpul K2 grip, a CAR fiberlite stock, VDI Manimal FH pinned, a Trijicon RMR as your primary optic, and a x300 or TLR-1 at 12 o’clock. Getting sub-7#s is easy. Getting sub-6#s isn’t when you want an optic and light, since at that point, you’ve already cut the major weight items and you’re now shaving an oz here and there, if that.
There’s a post on TOS with some of the lightest weight parts lists…
You can probably get there with the Mag tactical magnesium upper and lower receivers, a KMR, 14.5 ELW BCM barrel, V7 misc parts, a Magpul K2 grip, a CAR fiberlite stock, VDI Manimal FH pinned, a Trijicon RMR as your primary optic, and a x300 or TLR-1 at 12 o’clock. Getting sub-7#s is easy. Getting sub-6#s isn’t when you want an optic and light, since at that point, you’ve already cut the major weight items and you’re now shaving an oz here and there, if that.
