Trying to build a sub 6lb AR

[OldCannon]

Well, _almost_ got there. Here's a pic of one of the first two Old Cannon uppers. I'm using Black Hole Weaponry M4 barrels in standard profile. Polygonal rifling. They shoot accurately, although my poor eyes and iron sights don't do it justice. I need to get a stable platform and do some good, controlled shot groups with some decent optics. I managed to get the complete rifle to 6lb, 1oz. I think it's a good tradeoff between weight and functionality. This rifle is perfect for 3-gunning with carbon fiber handguards and Miculek Compensator (wear good ear protection...reduces recoil like mad, but not the compression wave to people on either side of you -- then again, it's a good way to clear away people that are crowding your personal space at the range ).

I don't have a price on these uppers yet though, but if you're hoping for something in the $500 range, this ain't it. These are probably $789 right now for the upper. I'm trying to get the price down so I can hit a $749 number, but it really depends on demand.

I'll get a range report on these babies as soon as I can get out to a decent range -- Red's just isn't the best place to sight in rifles.

[C-dub]

Nice looking rifle!

[G.A. Heath]

Use an upper receiver that doesn't employee the forward assist, dust cover, or brass deflector and I bet you would be under 6lb. Now you have me getting that itch to build another AR.

[OldCannon]

Use an upper receiver that doesn't employee the forward assist, dust cover, or brass deflector and I bet you would be under 6lb. Now you have me getting that itch to build another AR.

You know, I considered all that, but the FA is one of those things that I just _can't_ leave off. Dust cover is certainly easy to pull off, but that's again one of those things I just can't bring myself to do. The barrel I'm using though is a standard M4 profile. I will make subsequent builds with a lightweight profile barrel and see how that runs. I know some folks don't like them, but I've really never found them to be a problem, unless you're putting hundreds of rounds through them in a short space of time.

[eureka40]

Good job OC!! Interesting comp on that bad boy too. I'm assuming that's an NF lower.

I think you're onto something there. My NF lower has been perfect so far, and I like the CF hand guard.

Nice touch.

[OldCannon]

Good job OC!! Interesting comp on that bad boy too. I'm assuming that's an NF lower.

I think you're onto something there. My NF lower has been perfect so far, and I like the CF hand guard.

Nice touch.

Of course it's a New Frontier lower -- that's all I have around here

P.S. - if you're local and you've bought a New Frontier Armory lower from me, send me a PM if you want to try this upper out!

[74novaman]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

[Dave2]

Well there's your problem... there's a giant superfluous screw on that rear sight!

Seriously, though, that screw is huge. Doesn't anyone make a smaller one? Same thing with the charging handle... (or maybe the camera just added .5oz)

Also, regardless of the exact weight, I want one...

[OldCannon]

<image removed>

Well there's your problem... there's a giant superfluous screw on that rear sight!

Seriously, though, that screw is huge. Doesn't anyone make a smaller one? Same thing with the charging handle... (or maybe the camera just added .5oz)

Also, regardless of the exact weight, I want one...

YHM rear sight (I like 'em) and a BCM large (mod 3) latch. I think these are quality components. I guess I could have skimped with a Magpul MBUS 2 rear sight. I also have a MaTech BUIS, but it's better suited to a DMR-type rifle, IMHO (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/2-MATBUIS" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). The dual peeps with the YHM are solid.

BTW, that's an Aero precision upper receiver -- the nice one with the American flag engraved on the top http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=5439 ... R-RECEIVER" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[C-dub]

BTW, that's an Aero precision upper receiver -- the nice one with the American flag engraved on the top http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=5439 ... R-RECEIVER" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very cool! I like that.

You gotta be kidding me. I'm already starting to think about building another one after I just bought my first one less than two months ago.

[74novaman]

BTW, that's an Aero precision upper receiver -- the nice one with the American flag engraved on the top http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=5439 ... R-RECEIVER" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very cool! I like that.

You gotta be kidding me. I'm already starting to think about building another one after I just bought my first one less than two months ago.

Uh oh, someone has BRD!

[C-dub]

Buyer's remorse disease? Nah, just thinking about having another one for the wife. Yeah, for the wife, that's it.

[74novaman]

Buyer's remorse disease? Nah, just thinking about having another one for the wife. Yeah, for the wife, that's it.

Black Rifle Disease.

Now that you've got one build like this, you start thinking about building one a different way, or a new caliber, or this or that.

I know, I have it bad and the only "AR" I own is a stripped lower. I'm so paralyzed by possibilities (and I keep putting other gun purchases in front of it) that I haven't built it yet, and I've owned it for almost a year.

[OldCannon]

Buyer's remorse disease? Nah, just thinking about having another one for the wife. Yeah, for the wife, that's it.

Black Rifle Disease.

Now that you've got one build like this, you start thinking about building one a different way, or a new caliber, or this or that.

I know, I have it bad and the only "AR" I own is a stripped lower. I'm so paralyzed by possibilities (and I keep putting other gun purchases in front of it) that I haven't built it yet, and I've owned it for almost a year.

<Uses Hypnotic voice> Come visit me. I have something to cure that BRD.

[74novaman]

<Uses Hypnotic voice> Come visit me. I have something to cure that BRD.

Be quiet, you. Last time I visited you it just made me want to build MORE than 1 AR at once.

I still see a 6.5 gun in my future thanks to getting to shoot yours...it really impressed me. But I think my first one should be a traditional 5.56 gun. I'm leaning more heavily towards a 14.5 pinned to 16 M4gery build as a good "first AR". Well, I'm leaning that way today anyway.