I’m looking for info from guys who have or have had this setup. I am aware of what a low mass carrier is and how it works. I just need input from people who have run this set up hard.
I am working on a stupid lite weight build as a trail gun for long hikes into the national forest. This gun will be carried a lot, and shot only if needed for food or to protect myself. I am trying to get my pack with gun/ammo under 22lbs.
With the above said I plan on using a 14.5 pencil middy gas barrel with a carbon fiber FF tube and low mass carrier with standard car spring with a H buffer. I have no plans to use a adjustable gas block but can and will if needed.
Do any of you guys run this setup or something close? I plan on beating the gun for a couple thousand rounds to see how it runs before I trust such a lite and simple build. My big concern before spending the money is I might be wasting my time and money chasing a ghost that does not exist.
The build list:
Upper
BCM 14.5 pencil Middy barrel.
S&W splintered A upper with no FA or dust cover.
A2X flashhider.
BCM .625 gas block.
BCM gas tube.
Brownells 12" carbon fiber FF tube with aluminum barrel nut.
PRI gas buster CH.
JP Low mass carrier with BCM Bolt.
Mbus front and rear sights.
Aimpoint T1 with DD mount.
Lower
S&W splintered A lower.
LMT LPK
Colt milspec receiver extension with N1 stock.
Colt standard car spring with H buffer.
Those are the major components of the build. Grams make ounces and ounces make pounds, so I will be shaving some the parts down like the gas block and using a light of my own design that weights just under 3.5 ozs with a mount.
Can you guys that have a similar build give me any insight on what to expect.
Get a postal scale and weigh the carriers. Ultimately it’s simply a waste of money and if that little but of weight is really an issue, then you should probably just build an AR pistol.
Gunz I should have said this is for a woman. I already have a lite rifle for myself. I am simply trying to build a solid super lite for her. She does not like AR pistols already thought of that.
For Carbon FF HG: I’d go with the AP Industries Carbon Fiber FF HG [No Glue; Uses Factory Barrel Nut, Plus the slots should make mounting a WML a lot easier]
^ Believe they have a Top Pict. Railed Model, but I’m sure the std. offering could be adapted for a short pict. section for the front sight.
Sights: DD Fixed F/R
Agree with “Iraqgunz”
imho: I’d skip the lightened stuff & just run a Quality BCG from a known Manuf./Source.
Thx man I have read his thread several times. I’m not worried about the FF tube. I did look at the AP tube but decided on the Brownells, it weights 6.5 ozs with the nut.
I’m wondering if I should just use one of the shaved Colt semi auto carriers. I don’t remember how well it worked, it’s been a long time since I owned one.
One of my first was a Colt half-circle carrier. It has always been reliable after many thousands of rounds.
I’d also lose the MBUS. Aimpoint’s are more durable/reliable and easier. I don’t know the weights off hand, but I’d bet that by the time you add the piece of picatinny to the FF tube and add the sights, you’d be close to the weight of the Aimpoint. As much as everyone touts the Aimpoint’s reliability and battery life, I’m always surprised to see MBUS used in conjunction. I did it once years ago, then I realized what I had done. I’d also lose the PRI Gasbuster. If you’re not shooting suppressed, they don’t do anything but add bulk and weight. I’ve also seen more of those charging handles fall apart than any other, for what that’s worth.
I was thinking along those lines of just ditching the back up sights. The Aimpoint is rock solid and it will save weight. But I still need the front rail section for the light. You are right about the gas buster, I have seen a few fail. There are better options. I will start looking for a shaved carrier, I think you are right, I remember it working without issue.
You might save an ounce or two by a shaved carrier, but it will be expensive. JP’s aren’t cheap and I dunno if I’d trust anybody else. Deleting the Forward assist and the forged-projection to house the mechanism will save more than you think.
I’m using the stripped S&W upper with no FA or dust cover. It really does save a lot of weight. I have the rainier on another build and really like it. Right now it looks like I will just get a Colt shaved carrier and drive on. The JP’s are very pricey for what you get.
If you shaved the BCM FSB and then cut the front half off you’d probably be lighter than a gas block. It will be protected by the full length tube; the one pin should be sufficient.