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Thread: Lightweight Carbines

  1. #21
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    I need to get one of those little scales...

  2. #22
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    the light weight carbine is a difficult build.... it seems that most just want to M4 their lightweight into not being a lightweight anymore.... or have their gun so bare that its not as practical a modern fighting weapon should have.

    to me a flashlight is needed on any long gun... even a lightweight carbine...

    a more modern approach to the lightweight carbine design from the original idea of an A1 upper/C7 upper to using a M4 upper w/ solid/fu BUIS... you could get a light weight flashlight setup, buis, new lightweight aimpoint... and have yourself a tight little weapon....

    i think when you think general purpose, 1 gun to go to, style AR15 you need to have some lightweight carbine attributes in your design or your carbine is going to be slow and bogged

  3. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by jar3ds View Post
    the light weight carbine is a difficult build.... it seems that most just want to M4 their lightweight into not being a lightweight anymore.... or have their gun so bare that its not as practical a modern fighting weapon should have.

    to me a flashlight is needed on any long gun... even a lightweight carbine...

    a more modern approach to the lightweight carbine design from the original idea of an A1 upper/C7 upper to using a M4 upper w/ solid/fu BUIS... you could get a light weight flashlight setup, buis, new lightweight aimpoint... and have yourself a tight little weapon....

    i think when you thing general purpose, 1 gun to go to, style AR15 you need to have some lightweight carbine attributes in your design or your carbine is going to be slow and bogged
    Good post; I concur with your assessment. Some "KISS lightweight" enthusiasts wind up losing sight of the goal and get wrapped up in making some kind of retro-clone. One must be careful to preserve the utility of the carbine as a fighting tool.

  4. #24
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    Mines just a hunting carbine, it weighs 7.7 pounds as shown. I know I could save more weight by ditching the crane stock and extra batteries but I like the stock.

  5. #25
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    I have to concur that weight savings should always be a concern. I see the "I'm a real man, I can carry 10 lbs" argument all the time, but it's a false argument. If you can carry 10 lbs for an hour you can carry 5 lbs for 2 (for example). Strength is not the issue, it's relative stamina.

  6. #26
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    Weight savings can be nice depending on how it is done. I find that proper weight balance is where emphasis should be placed upon builds, as it effects how a rifle carries and handles when it shoots.
    CY6
    Greg Sullivan "Sully"
    SLR15 Rifles

  7. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by rob_s View Post
    I have to concur that weight savings should always be a concern. I see the "I'm a real man, I can carry 10 lbs" argument all the time, but it's a false argument. If you can carry 10 lbs for an hour you can carry 5 lbs for 2 (for example). Strength is not the issue, it's relative stamina.
    Especially since you can potentially have to JUST point a carbine at someone for what seems like an eternity until the cavalry arrives.
    NOT in training for combat deployment.

  8. #28
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    I’m reading some absolutely outstanding posts in this thread.

    Both jar3ds & Thekatar deserve a gold star next to their names for posts like this.

    Weight should be a concern on any carbine but you should also know when to say enough is enough. Unless you are a just a collector trying to recreate some rice patty fantasy giving up the advantages afforded by a red dot optic or the ability to identify your target in low light situations is a poor trade-off.

    IF your going to add accessories / weight to your carbine you should know why and what your gaining and losing by doing so. My personal #1 GO-TO carbine is a weight weenies nightmare. It is every bit of ten pounds. My LMT M4 / S&B Short Dot / Surefire classic series light / Redi-Mag / LaRue 9.0 / Vltor stock carbine is anything BUT light.

    S&B Short Dot – Perfect glass & ability to identify / target threats at ranges not possible with lighter weight Aimpoint or Eotech.

    LaRue 9.0 – Let’s be honest, it’s just cool. I could ditch the FF rail and not lose a thing because I personally have no need for the FF capability or rail space. I don’t even run vert grips anymore.

    Surefire Light – I consider the ability to identify & target threats in low light conditions to be a must have accessory.

    Redi-Mag – No faster mag change in the world. Once you learn how to run them you won’t turn back.

    Vltor stock – What can I say? It’s just more comfortable to shoot. Same thing goes for the LMT SOPOD.

    Yes, my M4 is stretching the term carbine and “Heavy” by lightweight carbine standards but I know what I’ve gained with adding those products. I’ve accepted it, made sure it worked for me and carried it for 8-10 hours a day for several days on end with zero issues.




    TWR - Damn nice carbine. I'm building one just like it shortly. Except I'm going to be using an M4 upper.
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  9. #29
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    Everything is a trade-off. It's up to each individual shooter to figure out if the added weight of a Noveske barrel, Short Dot, Redi-mag, vert grip, aftermarket stock, etc. are worth it to them, or if the added performance afforded by these parts are even needed for your application.

    Personally, on my general purpose carbine, I have no use for adjustable magnification or the added accuracy of a heavier barrel, so choosing a 3x compact ACOG and a .625 barrel aren't compromises at all for me. I do like having a vert grip with an extra bolt in it and a stock with extra batteries in it, so those are extra-weight items that I'm willing to compromise on. Fortunately with Larue mounts you don't have to worry about lights. You can easily take them on and off depending on whether they're needed or not.

    Weight savings for me isn't about whether or not I CAN carry the rifle, it's about not wanting to or needing to.

    There's also a recent thread around here somewhere about building a lightweight gun for a small woman, in which case the need for weight savings is even greater.

  10. #30
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    I thought the whole point of building a lightweight carbine was that it would be lightweight. I guess some are, compared to an M40A3 rifle or M240G.

    Red dots like the EOTech make my hits at range easier than irons, but, I can still make hits at range with irons. The EOTech with mount must add about a pound or more to the gun.

    I think rails are cool, but since I don't use VFGs, lasers, or mount optics to the front of the gun, their primary use (to bolt stuff on the gun) is useless to me.

    Whatever you go with, heavy or lightweight, you have to have, on a fighting gun, a minimum of:

    1) a light
    2) a sling

    All else is gravy.
    Nemo me impune lacessit

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