I am putting together two lightweight AR15 builds and was wondering if anyone had any data on which magazines are the lightest.
Shaving off an ounce or two on the magazine is worthwhile for this build because ounces shaved off every part quickly turns into pounds saved.
I’m specifically interested in two separate criteria:
The absolute lightest 30 round magazine available.
The most reliable and durable 30 round magazine that ALSO is the lightest of the options, assuming two brands of magazines are of equal reliability and durability but one just happens to be lighter than the other.
(#1 and #2 would ideally be the same magazine, but I know that’s not always the case).
#2 is for my “What Would Stone Do” project AR15 where they tried make things lightweight without sacrificing reliability, acceptable durability, or acceptable levels of performance. But they weren’t as absolutely lightweight as you could possibly go. This is meant to be the rifle you can depend on while still being lightweight and handy.
#1 is a second AR build project for fun to see how light I can make an AR15, not meant to be something that you’d try to depend on like #2. But the potential for extreme weight savings is there, because there are a lot of parts that are much lighter than the things used in the WWSD project. So I’m willing to get parts that are inferior in durability/reliability just because they are the lightest possible to see how much weight savings I can get.
The only thing I probably don’t want to start doing for the ultra lightweight AR project is start skeletonizing stuff like the magazine or receiver that would let all kinds of dirt into the system. I’m not trying to make it a completely impractical and nonfunctional firearm, I’m just willing to sacrifice more to gain more weight savings.
It’s weird that you are willing to use “substandard” equipment to get a weight savings, but dont want to skeletonize anything?
If you watch demolition ranch on youtube, Matt has a skeletonized F1 Ar15 that runs fine.
Otherwise just get outt he kitchen scale and see if the Al or polymer mags are lighter? If you stay away from stainless steel mags you shouldnt be wrong.
I’ve only used three brands of magazine: 1.) OK Surefeeds 2.) Magpul Gen2/Gen3 3.) Lancer.
Of the three the Magpuls are the heaviest, and as a far as I can tell with my calibrated hands, it’s a tie between the Lancers and Surefeeds. All three mag types have been 100% reliable.
I just did a Google using lightweight AR15 magazines and a another site came up but I won’t name it as I don’t know if it’s kosher or not for over here, and what I saw was negligible at best between the USGI style that is aluminum. The lightest magazine happened to be the actual weakest of them all and I wouldn’t trust it after reading about it’s failures.
Maybe buying a few 20 round old school USGI should do the trick? It’s what I have done on some of my go to rifles to make them even handier.
I just dont see your objective as being properly defined. Do you not already own a ton of magazines? Most member’s of this forum will tout that they do. Personally I own over 30, and from atleast 3 different manufactures. If I really wanted the “lightest” magazine possible I would go about it in one of two ways:
“Law of diminishing returns”- Just weigh the ones I have and pick that.
“Semi custom”- Grab the dremel and remove mass as neccesary
“Blow their minds”- Fire up CAD, and open the generative design tab and set the limits and parameter’s for a 30rnd magazine. Could easily be milled from a block of Al.
I gotta be real with you though, “Oz’s = pounds” shouldnt be applied to every part of the weapons system. Have you already found the lightest barrel possible? Handguard? Optics? Gas block? Muzzle device? BCG? Buffer? Pistol grip? Stock? All of those componets would shave more weight than a magazine ever could. Are you loading up with 40gr bullets on a light charge?
Tell you what, Figure out the weight Delta of the different magazines that you are willing to use and then divide by the total weight of the rifle. That will show you how insignificant magazine choice really is.
There is a negligible difference in weight between most 30-round polymer magazines and 30-round aluminum USGI magazines. Your best bet, in regard to saving weight, is to use as many lightweight components as possible. Of course, that can cost money, especially when you start buying Titanium parts. What is the configuration you are looking to do? Barrel length, profile, and gas system? Free-float handguards? Also, what is your definition of lightweight? 5 lbs.? 6 lbs.? What weight are you expecting with a fully loaded 30-round magazine? Most importantly, what are you willing to spend in order to attain your expectations?
I’m looking for actual data on weight differences.
I’ll decide if it’s negligible or not for my goals.
Just saying it doesn’t matter, without providing data, isn’t helpful.
I didn’t ask for your opinion of my overall goal.
I asked for help finding data on magazine weight differences and reliability.
You comments aren’t helpful.
Whoa guy, let’s not start getting offended at people right the bat. In regards to your query, I don’t think too many people have taken magazine weight all that seriously, so there probably won’t be a lot of data available on the subject. This may be your opportunity to contribute to the community as a whole, and do your own research, and then contribute your findings. In the end you/all of us will gain some insight, and empirical data on the subject.
Don’t start getting offended just because someone had to be corrected to keep the thread on topic and get some real answers.
Sometimes people on gun forums are really bad at answering simple questions, giving answers to questions that were never asked instead - then not even realizing their comments don’t actually help the person they were responding to.
That’s why I needed to ask, because I don’t think enough people have asked this question to make the data available.
Me personally going out and buying one copy of every magazine to weigh isn’t going to be an monetary option.
However, if the community were interested in discovering the answer to this, they could pool together the weights of their various magazines into a central thread and we’d have the empirical data pretty quickly.
No dog here, but honestly I saw no wrongdoing at all. They were being honest, some a tad bit enthusiastic with the sarcasm but it’s all tough love and meant no harm at you.
Another site if googling is your thing with the right words, has numerous threads on this topic in making the ultimate quest for the lightest rifle. Lots of knowledge in there with numbers.
Go with a quality brand aluminum USGI mag and you will (should) be satisfied. Okay, D&H(Brownells, BCM, PSA branded etc), Center, Colt, DSG, Labelle, NHMTG, etc
Why do the newbs always get offended and start spouting “don’t tell me what to do!” when you question their motives or throw out different ideas? Geez.
