New lightweight AR-15 project

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NikatKimber

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Newest update:

Picked up my Tennessee Arms hybrid poly lower last night. It weighs 150gr.
TNArms-Stripped-Lower.jpg


The spec page says 5.6oz (158.8gr). I'm not sure where the other 8.8gr went, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Upside is it's lighter. Downside is: where did it come from?

Assembled lower weighs 528grs or 18.6oz.
TNArms-Complete-Lower.jpg




My goal is sub 5lbs with optic and loaded 10rd mag. 5lbs 0.3oz! So close!!!
TNArms-LW-AR15.jpg
 

NikatKimber

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So, for those interested, current parts list:

Lower:
TN Arms hybrid poly lower
NFA poly LPK w/ A2 grip
A2 buffer tube
A2 buttplate w/ A1 screw
A2 spring
A2 rifle buffer w/ weights removed

Upper:
PSA slick side forged upper
Bear Creek 16" light mid gas barrel
AIM Surplus LW BCG
Standard CH
Radical adj .750 gas block
Radical gas tube
Delta Team 12" CF handguard, without rails or end cap
Field Sport 3 chamber brake

Other:
Vortex Venom 3moa w/ pic mount
UTG .5" riser
ASC aluminum 10rd mag
10rds of 55gr FMJBT ammo
 

NikatKimber

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With a shorter handguard, you might make that sub 5lb goal

Yep.

Also need to order the new Hogue 15* grip. It weighs 1.6oz vs the A2 which is 2.4oz. The muzzle brake installed now is a brick too. It weighs in at 3.9oz. Primary Arms offers the Radical Arms titanium brake on sale occasionally for I think $30-40 that weighs only 2.2oz.
 

NikatKimber

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Range time today!

Got the gas block set up. That was interesting. The Bear Creak barrel is dimpled for the set screws, so I didn't even think to double check the block alignment when trying to tune the gas block. Couldn't get function. My buddy asks if the block is aligned, and sure enough, I'd screwed it down out of the dimple. Tuned right up after that! Der.

Unfortunately my wife forgot to take a picture of me shooting it after the handguard was back on. I had to remove it to adjust the gas block. So here I am playing Snake Plissken in "Escape from LA".

IMG_2114_Small.JPG


I look just like him, right?

Escape-From-New-York-reboot.jpg


Just need more fire I think...
 

dlbleak

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I've been following this, pretty dang cool. I had a couple thoughts though. What if you went without the FH and used a thread protector or went with a 14.5 barrel and welded the FH?
 

NikatKimber

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Thanks!

I thought about a 14.5 for about, oh, half a second. But I don't want to pin & weld. I like to change things too much to permanently attach anything.

The muzzle device is not an A2 Flash Hider, it's a full on brake.
Recycled pic, not current, but shows the brake.
lw-ar-complete-jpg.106483
 
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swampratt

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This is too fun..I would like to see some 100 yard groups from that light sucker.
Reminds me of when i was making my old 350" Nova lighter..I removed all the undercoating inside and outside the car with a heat gun and putty knife.
Removed door crash bars..aluminum dash and door panels..Lexan back glass.
But i did add weight by installing a 9" ford with ford truck springs moved forward like Mopar super stock package springs.
I had a trailer hitch also had to be functional you know.
In max effort it would run a tick under mid 11's with 370 gears and still pull my bayliner to the fishing hole 160 miles away.

So I need a range report :)
This is interestingly light.
 

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