Need advice on lightweight AR build

Evil_Lurker

Evil_Lurker

New member
I've got an Oly Arms 16-inch bull barrel with a Free float tube right now (I think it was the PCR-16 kit they used to make, with some minor modifications).
It's a great varmint/bench shooter, but not the ideal carry rifle for off-hand shooting.
I'm in the process of trying to put together a parts list for a new upper, here's what I want:

Light weight 20 inch upper, free float tube and flat-top receiver. Railed gas block instead of the fixed front sight. Don't need the fast twist, I'll be shooting 50 or 55 gr. only. I can't find the ideal barreled upper kit (though it may exist).

Give me some recommendations on a light-weight barrel without a flash hider/fixed front sight, I'd prefer if it's one someone has tried and found to be accurate. I'm trying to keep the weight to a minimum while still having decent accuracy and reliability.
Something like this without all the rails and fixed front sight would be ideal:

Link

I'm not worried about assembling it myself, I've got access to the tools needed and help if I get stuck. I'll be using an Eotech sight or the iron sights I already hvae, plus the lower from my Oly, so I only need input on the barreled upper.
Thanks for any replies, it's appreciated.
 
a 16" bull barrel and a 20"standard barrel weight close to the same.
i would go with a 16" fluted for the weight
 
A 20", fluted bull barrel is much lighter than the K-16 barrel that you have. A fluted 20" bull barrel is only sighly heavier than a fluted 16" bull barrel with equally deep flutes. There just isn't as much to flute on a 16" barrel.
 
What type of 20 inch barrel would give me the fastest handling weapon? Is there a particular profile I'm looking for (military profile, original AR-15A1, etc.?)
I'm planning on using this to hunt jackrabbits, so it needs to be fast-swinging and not too muzzle heavy, like the K-16 is. Is that K-16 barrel considered to be pretty much on the upper end in weight? (and no, mines not fluted).

Thanks, Dtech.
 
Well, you will have to decide what is more important: Accuracy or weight/swing. The fastest, lightest would be a military profile, very thin under the handguards and .740" at the muzzle. The deep-fluted bull barrel will be heavier, but the probability of much finer accurcy will be with the fluted bull.

The other thing you could do is go with a HMG contour (bull under the handgurds and .740" at the muzzle) and have it fluted under the handguards. It will be slighly lighter at the muzzle than a fluted bull, and cheaper to flute, with the same accuracy as the bull contour.
 
Quote:
The fastest, lightest would be a military profile, very thin under the handguards and .740" at the muzzle.



That's the info I needed, thanks. Since I'm shooting off-hand at running jackrabbits, the weight and control is a lot more important than fine accuracy. I'll swap the other upper on when I'm going for varmints and predators.

Now, who would make the best military profile barrel with a crowned muzzle and a flat-top gas block, in your opinion?
(In the below $300 range) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks again, I appreciate the help.
 
You should try looking over on ar15.com there is alot of good stuff and info on that site.

Also you may have a hard time finding what you are looking for under 300. Although if you use your bolt and carrier and charge handle you may get close to 300 but I still think you will have to go a little more $$$. Most complete upper sell for around 400 and up but you may find a used one on AR site. My opinion is go with a bushmaster or RRA, They are both well made. I have two bushmasters and both are tack drivers. Two RRA's are also tackers. And I have one DPMS on a stag lower that ain't bad either.

Hope this helps, Sniper243
 
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Hope this helps


It all helps, brother. I was talking $300 for just the barrel, not a complete upper. The only thing I'm having trouble finding is a military profile barrel without a flash hider. I may just go ahead and get that, it's no big deal either way.
I'm looking at Oly, Bushmaster and RRA for a forged receiver. The Oly I've got is just fine, I'll most likely buy another A4 from them.
 
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