How light could you make an ar pistol?

[That_FNG]

so me and buddy got to thinking, with all the use of available polymer and carbon fiber in AR15, how light could you make an AR15? I saw forgotten weapons video on the Olympic arms ar15 pistols, specifically the one that had detachable magazine but was under 50 ounces.

Since the 90’s there has been so much advancement in the AR platform such as carbon fiber handguard, carbon fiber barrels, skeletonized parts, etc, could one now manufacture an ar15 pistol with detachable magazine under 50 ounces?

 

[Edwardteach72]

so me and buddy got to thinking, with all the use of available polymer and carbon fiber in AR15, how light could you make an AR15? I saw forgotten weapons video on the Olympic arms ar15 pistols, specifically the one that had detachable magazine but was under 50 ounces.

Since the 90’s there has been so much advancement in the AR platform such as carbon fiber handguard, carbon fiber barrels, skeletonized parts, etc, could one now manufacture an ar15 pistol with detachable magazine under 50 ounces?

If this is to be able to get around the safe act by beating the 50oz part its unfortunately a dead end..

With an ar15 pistol having the magazine outside of the pistol grip having it detachable makes it a no go

 

[dsdmmat]

Well in NY weight won’t matter. The detachable mag outside the pistol grip automatically dooms it to be a mythical AW.

The 94 AWB died in 04 so the weight limit at a federal level is now done as well.

However, you could probably get one down to 40 ounces.

 

[Edwardteach72]

But if we are just going to have fun with things..

Let's see, ok we are looking for just under 3.125lbs

 

[Edwardteach72]

We need

Buffer tube, buffer and spring buffer.

Charging handle, upper receiver lower receiver (and going to look at polymer for these)

BCG - J P ENTERPRISES - AR-15/M16 ULTRA LOW MASS CARRIER W/223 BOLT .... 5.8oz (also $437)

Lower parts kit.

Barrel (I'll suggest 8" to save weight) 18oz

Gas block and gas tube

Handguards.


(I'm going to look up parts and weight and update this as I find them and lets see what we come up with)

 

[That_FNG]

If this is to be able to get around the safe act by beating the 50oz part its unfortunately a dead end..

With an ar15 pistol having the magazine outside of the pistol grip having it detachable makes it a no go

Even with no pistol grip? What about a spur grip. If one was to manufacture an ar15 pistol that only ever had a spur grip on it and never had been manufactured with a pistol grip, then it would not have a detachable magazine out side the pistol grip, as it never had a pistol grip to start with. Can’t have a detachable magazine outside a pistol grip if it never had a pistol grip.

 

[Podmonkey]

I know you can get a 16" carbine down to under 5lbs so I imagine a pistol would lop another pound off that yet. Bearing in mind that that such lightweight ARs use very expensive components, lotta carbon fiber, lightweight receivers ect. On the other hand a quality but otherwise run of the mill 4150 pencil profile barrel, such as the one Faxon offers, will weigh slightly less than currently available carbon fiber barrels as the carbon comes run a very thick profile.
I spec'd out my own 14.5" pinned and welded build using that Faxon pencil barrel and a lightweight receiver set from Battle Arms and all carbon fiber furniture from Smoke Carbon Composites and came up with a 4.85 lb. weight total. And a total build price around $2,200!

 

[Edwardteach72]

Even with no pistol grip? What about a spur grip

By definition a "pistol" is designed to be fired with one hand

 

[That_FNG]

By definition a "pistol" is designed to be fired with one hand

Hmm, well then would it not be considered a pistol then, and instead into either AOW or simply firearms category

 

[Edwardteach72]

I know you can get a 16" carbine down to under 5lbs so I imagine a pistol would lop another pound off that yet. Bearing in mind that that such lightweight ARs use very expensive components, lotta carbon fiber, lightweight receivers ect. On the other hand a quality but otherwise run of the mill 4150 pencil profile barrel, such as the one Faxon offers, will weigh slightly less than currently available carbon fiber barrels as the carbon comes run a very thick profile.
I spec'd out my own 14.5" pinned and welded build using that Faxon pencil barrel and a lightweight receiver set from Battle Arms and all carbon fiber furniture from Smoke Carbon Composites and came up with a 4.85 lb. weight total. And a total build price around $2,200!

Yea lightest BCG I was able to find (and added to my current let's see build list above) was 5.8oz and $440

 

[That_FNG]

For clarification this is not something me or him intend to do, but simply a late night bar discussion that got me thinking

 

[Edwardteach72]

Hmm, well then would it not be considered a pistol then, and instead into either AOW or simply firearms category

Plus you would have to ditch the handguards or anything covering the barrel. Which honestly would help keep the weight down lol

 

[Edwardteach72]

For clarification this is not something me or him intend to do, but simply a late night bar discussion that got me thinking

Oh no I get that. I've had the same hmmmm before but things have gotten lighter since then.. that's why I added the running comment part with known weights.

Hell let's see if we can theoretically get under that 50oz

 

[That_FNG]

Oh no I get that. I've had the same hmmmm before but things have gotten lighter since then.. that's why I added the running comment part with known weights.

Hell let's see if we can theoretically get under that 50oz

We’ll think beyond that. Could you get below 40oz or even to 30oz if you used the Lightest parts possible and only built it with what was essential to using it. For example, would you need a bolt hold open catch? I don’t think so

 

[Edwardteach72]

We’ll think beyond that. Could you get below 40oz or even to 30oz if you used the Lightest parts possible and only built it with what was essential to using it. For example, would you need a bolt hold open catch? I don’t think so

Could also ditch the forward assist. That's useless, and the dust cover, while usefully itd save weight

 

[dsdmmat]

Even with no pistol grip? What about a spur grip. If one was to manufacture an ar15 pistol that only ever had a spur grip on it and never had been manufactured with a pistol grip, then it would not have a detachable magazine out side the pistol grip, as it never had a pistol grip to start with. Can’t have a detachable magazine outside a pistol grip if it never had a pistol grip.

Nope still will be classified by the NYSP as an AW

 

[Marine Cpl]

What Edward said. The weight is one feature. The pistol grip another. The handguards are another feature. The ability to accept a magazine outside of the grip is another. It has to not have the ability to accept a fixed magazine in order for the features to not apply.

 

[dsdmmat]

Polymer upper and lower with a 22lr BCG and shortened barrel, carbon fiber HG probably get you to 28 ounces.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Polymer upper and lower with a 22lr BCG and shortened barrel, carbon fiber HG probably get you to 28 ounces.

What's the weight of a 22lr bcg?

 

[dsdmmat]

What's the weight of a 22lr bcg?

Got to be less than half of what a lightweight 223 is

 

[togmaster]

I built one and it came in under 5 oz.

 

[dsdmmat]

The complete upper from CMMG weighs 2 pounds 15 ounces. Sub a polymer upper and a carbon fiber HG and cut the barrel down to 6 inches it would be super light.

 

[Acer-m14]

am i limited on how many helium balloons i tie to it ..

 

[HEX]

Since the 90’s there has been so much advancement in the AR platform such as carbon fiber handguard, carbon fiber barrels, skeletonized parts, etc, could one now manufacture an ar15 pistol with detachable magazine under 50 ounces?

People used to do this all the time pre safe act because it was a way to have few enough features to have an AR pistol. It was not at all uncommon to see "stripped" pistols.