I've been on a soul-searching journey toward the ultimate in simplicity and especially light weight in a fighting carbine. My accessory-laden M4 is getting to be just too dang much of a burden for my 50+ year old arms (getting old sucks), and I hit upon the idea to strip as much off as possible and go with the absolute minimum setup.
When I got my Pennsylvania State Police Colt 6520 with fixed carry handle, pencil barrel, and flashlight-handguard, I realized that's where I needed to start. Even though I wouldn't stick with that big honkin' flashlight setup on the 6520, it did give me ideas...
That means going "doodad-free" as much as possible.
I decided to try to build a KISS carbine with emphasis on light weight using off-the shelf items. I didn't want to just mount a lighter weight flashlight setup on the 6520 because I wanted to keep it pure, and I also wanted a flat top AR to be my go-to once I decide on an optic.
I started with the Colt 6720: basically an M4 with the pencil barrel.
I tested my favorite optic, the Meprolight M21, inside the house with a bright weapon light, and the reticle washed out badly. I had never used that optic anywhere but outside at the range and at the ranch. I was not expecting it to be that bad against light-colored walls with the Surefire on. I actually had a better sight picture with the large A2 iron aperture.
I was able to use the large rear iron A2 sight aperture just fine inside the house with the flashlight blazing against the light-colored walls.
I may go with an Aimpoint T2 eventually, but for now: scratch optic.
Next, I removed the fat M4 handguards on the 6720 and installed MagPul handguards with a quick detach sling swivel, rail for the weaponlight, and weaponlight mounted on the handguard rail. I also installed an AFG to help pull it into my shoulder. Still too heavy.
After yanking all that off, I installed a plain Jane set of CAR-15 handguards, a Midwest Industries front sight-mounted rail, and a Surefire G2 with LED kit (that's 2010 calling). Much better.
Even though the 6720 is a flat top, the fact that the large A2 aperture works better against the inside of my house than the Meprolight made me put the carry handle on it for now, even though I think it will get an Aimpoint T2 later. The flashlight only illuminates a few yards in front of me outside at the ranch, so I'm not really giving up some long-range night-fighting ability by using irons only right now. As it's more useful indoors than outside after dark, I decided to make it more useful for CQB than any imagined long-range encounter on the moonlit north forty.
So the bottom line for now is that I've got a bone-stock Colt AR6720 with pencil barrel, carry handle, CAR handguards, Midwest Industries front sight mounted rail, and Surefire G2 in a old VLTOR light ring. Only a lightweight optic and a lighter weaponlight will make me change anything.
That's about as simple and lightweight a setup I can think of using stock parts. I will continue my quest for a lighter weaponlight and the ultimate in lightweight optics, but other than that my KISS carbine is mostly "doodad free" now, and the weight difference between it and my accessory-laden M4 is striking.
Have you set up a lightweight carbine?
Originally Posted by zombiescometh
Bookmarks