Reducing weight up front (AR15)

[RImike]

My AR is quite heavy, I was tossing around the idea in my head about machining the hand guard up front (removing aluminum) or either having my barrel fluted or get a fluted barrel. Right now, its dead nuts at 300 yards and I don't want to loose the accuracy but wow is it heavy.

 

[jasons]

My AR is quite heavy, I was tossing around the idea in my head about machining the hand guard up front (removing aluminum) or either having my barrel fluted or get a fluted barrel. Right now, its dead nuts at 300 yards and I don't want to loose the accuracy but wow is it heavy.

Is it weird that I add about 8 lbs of lead to mine?

 

[dnepro-mike]

if you are not high volume shooter and therefore have no need for heavy barrel you can opt in for GI profile barrel or even pencil barrel.
you will see a bit of a loss in accuracy, but it won't be substantial. you will still should be able to group within 4-5" at 300 yards, given you have a proper skill and ammunition.
fluting your existing barrel might be a solution that can cost you more than price of a new barrel (pre-craze prices). machining work in any shop is very expensive.
if i were in your shoes i would keep my heavy barrel and put light one instead. that way you will be left with the backup barrel.
if you can afford to spend another 150 bucks, you might just as well build a dedicated lightweight upper. keep heavy as a tack-driver/benchrest and lightweight as a all-around shooter.
also worth mentioning that plastic handguards are a lot lighter than aluminium rails. - something else to consider.

 

[Supermoto]

have the barrel turned down under the handguard

 

[ShaunSweeney]

What forend do you have? I have the old Troy MRF that came with my M&P15 and it is HEAVY compared to the new gen rails. The Troy Alpha is very light in comparison. I will be switching to that soon.

After the forend is squared away, take off any other heavy junk on the front.

I run a Magpul AFG, Troy Battlesight, Picatinny Base/QD Sling Swivel, and FourSevens Quark Turbo QB2L-X in a VTAC Light mount (polymer).

I could further lighten mine up by switching to Magpul BUIS and Troy Low-Pro QD swivel designed for their rail.

Remember ounces become pounds quickly.

 

[Gammon]

I would try a free float carbon fiber handguard. Also, if you are using optics and have a front sight, remove the front sight and replace it with a light weight gas block.

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I would try a free float carbon fiber handguard. Also, if you are using optics and have a front sight, remove the front sight and replace it with a light weight gas block.

 

[ranger4-7]

Do some push ups.

 

[ShaunSweeney]

Carbon hand guards aren't worth the cost these days. The new gen rails are very very light.

 

[SR556]

Do some push ups.

This. Scrawny 18 year old (sometimes younger) kids have hauled around heavier weapons since the dawn of man.

Stop trying to take the easy way out. I promise after chopping your rifle to shit, you'll have a pile of junk AR that isn't even a pound lighter. Hit the weights or buy a lighter gun.

 

[jgg1960]

Another option is to change the perceived front weight by adding weight into the end of the stock. Like in a see saw, the balance point will be at the magazine. Costs very little to try it. Just fill the stock with lead shot and see if it grows on you. I have a DPMS longrange 308, 24 inch long 1 inch thick full length of barrel. The added weight back behind the magazine helped in offhand shooting.

 

[SR556]

Another option is to change the perceived front weight by adding weight into the end of the stock. Like in a see saw, the balance point will be at the magazine. Costs very little to try it. Just fill the stock with lead shot and see if it grows on you. I have a DPMS longrange 308, 24 inch long 1 inch thick full length of barrel. The added weight back behind the magazine helped in offhand shooting.

Good point. Another thing to try would be shortening the length of pull. I had a Mossberg 500 that seemed ridiculously front heavy. After taking 1" off the LOP is seemed pounds lighter.

 

[RImike]

I ended up going that route, I have a magpull PRS and it balanced it out perfectly. Thanks for the advise everyone.