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My wife is running a lightweight BCM 16" with an AAC Ranger 2. We haven't had any issues in the last two 3gun matches she's shot with it nor the 300 round rapid fire session we did.
This configuration was the result of a project to build the least muzzle-heavy configuration, intending to run it suppressed most or all of the time, and could be run reasonably hard. (i.e. didn't use any titanium for the can)
If you're planning to run suppressed 100% of the time, I'd recommend considering a thread-on Ranger 2 over the Mini4. It'll be 2oz lighter, 3-4dB quieter, a little cheaper, and you'd only be giving up the Quick Attach. I haven't found a lighter or shorter can that is both under 140dB and doesn't use titanium.
If you want the lightest, least muzzle-heavy configuration possible, you'll want to look at free float rails along with your pencil barrel. They can be lighter than plastic handguards if you select the right rail. The lightest ones I know of off hand are the Troy Alpha rails.
Some additional things to consider:
When my wife and I were planning out this rifle configuration, we found we had some decisions to make: Do we want adjustable gas? We did. This was going to be tricky for a lightweight barrel and our options were pretty much Spike's Tactical, getting a gunsmith to rig up a switchblock to work, since Noveske doesn't seem to offer one for use with pencil barrels, or a Innovative Arms WAR upper.
How were we going to handle iron sights? We decided we wanted to keep the stock iron sight rather than mount one on the free float handguard (no potential POA change issues when putting pressure on the handguard). This left the Innovative Arms WAR upper as the only gas adjustment option for a lightweight barrel that didn't require mounting a front iron sight on the handguard. It also allowed us to put off the freefloat rail until next discretionary spending cycle. ;)
Here's a pic at a match before the WAR upper came in.
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps9c3995ea.jpg
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That is almost the EXACT type of rig I'm looking to put together. Thank you so much for your advice and insight, especially considering there's already a proof-of-concept (your wife's rifle) in existence. This is great.
And to be honest, I always ignored the Ranger line of AAC products. I thought that, because they were cheaper, they were made of worse materials and were of a lesser quality. I'm guessing that's not the case, and it's because the Ranger line lacks the quick detach system (which doesn't bother me in the least)?
Ahhhh, so happy. Definitely going to pick up a Ranger, which saves me a ton of money too. Thank you so much. :)
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No problem man.
The Ranger 2 is basically an M4-1000 with just a bit less internal volume and without the quick detach- there's an extra (on average) 4oz of weight for the flash hider mount that isn't mentioned in the stats for a QA suppressor. You pay a price in weight and length to have the quick attach.
It's a little older tech on the baffles, but my Ranger 2 sounds indistinguishable from my buddy's Surefire 556-212 on a 16" AR and my other friend's AAC 762SDN on his 10.5" AR. Nice thick looking inconel blast baffle, too.
The Ranger 3 is going to be coming out at some point in the future, but it's delayed. I've got one on order, but I'm so pleased with my current Ranger 2 I'm tempted to give up on the 3 and just grab another 2. The 3 will have the baffle stack from the current M4-2000 and will have wrench flats.
I recommend picking up a good strap wrench (nylon or seatbelt strap type, not the rubber strap type) and you'll want to buy a bottle of Rocksett. Clean the threads with alcohol, apply plenty of Rocksett, install the suppressor, torque it with the strap wrench, let it set up for about 12 hours, and you're good. When it's time to punch the bore, just use the strap wrench to break the rocksett, remove the can, clean, and reinstall as mentioned above. I plan to do this every 3 months and whenever the rifle gets rained on.
I'm pretty pleased with the WAR upper too so far. Easy install if you have the tools, moving part is well designed and looks rugged, simple design, and it does reduce the velocity of the carrier group on the suppressed setting. Only worries are the proprietary gas tube and the fact that I had to unpin and slip the front sight forward to install it.
ETA: Clarification to my first post above: We did have ONE issue with the Ranger 2. The first time we dumped some mags through it to get it hot, it came lose about half a turn. It turns out I hadn't applied the Rocksett correctly and there was barely any on the threads. You want to get it from the muzzle end of the threads all the way to the shoulder. Doesn't hurt to just coat all the threads, either. I also believe I failed to sufficiently torque the can on. It's a new toy and I was probably being too ginger with it, not wanting to prematurely wear the threads.