Lightweight Ar 223 build or buy ?

[bcraig]

Hi,I have the hankerin to get a a Lightweight AR-15 .
I want a 18-20 inch barrel,flattop type ,and under 7 pounds with Leupold 4x, say 5 rounds of ammo and simple 1 inch carry strap.Accuracy on the order of 3 shots at a hundred 1.5 inch or better.
Would I be better off to buy such a rifle (what and where) or gather the parts and assemble them myself?
Mostly used for coyotes and an occasional deer 200 yards or less.Plus I think it would sit right nicely in the corner right next to the bed(no children ever around).
Thanks
Craig

[FPH]

At this time if you want one right now, I'd simply buy one.  I  saw quite a few for sale at my local gun store today.  I have no idea what they were asking for them, as I am not in the market for an Ar.

[eisenhauer01]

You can either buy or build right now.. Prices are still high in the AR world, but they are coming down. I am looking at building another one sometime soon. For what you are trying to accomplish you can could buy pretty much any name brand carbine and accomplish it. Unless you are dead set on a 20" rifle for some reason, a 16" carbine will do everything you want it to do. They are starting to come back in stores such as Gander, and local gun stores, and you can pick one up for less than 1k.

[bcraig]

Hi,thanks guys.
You do realize I am going to have to have a bare rifle of about Five  and a half pounds to meet the seven pounds weight limit with the scope ,rings,sling and ammo that I talked about.
Thanks
Craig

[Bigeasy]

Hi,thanks guys.
You do realize I am going to have to have a bare rifle of about Five  and a half pounds to meet the seven pounds weight limit with the scope ,rings,sling and ammo that I talked about.
Thanks
Craig

Bushmaster makes a series of AR-15's with I believe a carbon fibre receiver that weigh quite a bit less then the aluminum versions.  Costs a little less as well.   I have never shot one, so I can't comment on how well they work, but they do seem popular.  Something to consider...
 
Larry

[garbhead]

I've been "attempting" to build one for about 2 months now. So far the only parts I actually have is a mil-spec stock I bought on here and a lower parts kit . I have 3 lower receivers on order that were "in stock" at the time I ordered them...The supplies seem to be increasing some, but you have to be real quick on ordering them..on several companies "notify" list, but even if I am right on it, they are always sold by the time I get on the site. I have noticed prices slowly coming down on complete rifles, so much so that I just bought a NIB Bushmaster (non-carbon) model w/2 P-mags and hard case for $899.  That's real close to pre-panic prices. Also, by the time you buy the specialized parts & tools you need to properly assemble it, plus paying FFL fees on every lower receiver you buy, you are prob ahead to find a good used one or get lucky like I did and stumble on to a good buy....Saw a NIB 300 whisper online for $850  but cant get the seller to respond to my emails so it is prob phony ad or he has sold it and too lazy to remove the listing.....my 2c worth...more coffee please

[eisenhauer01]

The Bushmaster Carbon 15 carbines are really good. My buddy has one and it is a really light good shooter. If you are that concerned with weight, I would look into one of those.. you cant beat them. You should be able to pick one up without an optic or anything else in the 700-800 range. Then you can get your optic of choice and be ready to go.

[garbhead]

Yes , the carbon one was what I was looking for, no more than I would shoot one anyway, figured tough enough for me....+ these space age materials are here to stay anyway...

[SHOOTALL]

If you can get a magazine/paper called SHOTGUN NEWS . It will list different companies with their products several have what you want as far as parts kits go. If you can find a lower reciver at a good price and that is a big if these days you might save alot of cash building. BUT it will take some looking as most parts are back ordered . I spent several weeks looking for the front sling attachment and pin for an AR I got so tired of reading "OUT OF STOCK" . 

[eastbank]

they had a lower end dpms flat top carbine at wallmart for under 600.00 dollars yesterday in pa. eastbank.

[SHOOTALL]

what it sounds like the op wants is a flat top VN era type gun , 20 inch skinny bbl and light weight.

[SCCogswell]

Given the the weight requirement, you'll probably have to build it yourself. Obviously, the barrel will have to be A1 "pencil barrel" contour.
The Ironsighter see-through rings are much lighter than the usual AR "super high" rings or flattop mount. You also probably don't need the case deflector or forward assist on your upper, nor a front sight tower; they can all be shaved off to save weight.

In case you don't have this already, here's a list of weights for the various AR bits:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tsU_kAjONKoGGfkDPaQZX1Q&single=true&gid=0&output=html


 

[bcraig]

Thanks for the input guys,keep it coming.
Craig

[eisenhauer01]

The Bushmaster Carbon 15 will be the easiest route to go. You can pick them up for a decent price. It will fall well within your weight limit. It will be as accurate as you need it to be. I have built several AR's and can tell you, it is fun, but it will not be an easy task getting what you need to accomplish what you are trying to do right now. A lot of the parts are pretty easy to get right now, or are coming back and you can get them. Some of the parts are still a little hard to get but you can.

[SHOOTALL]

check Rguns on line

[drdougrx]

Get a SW M&P Sport...will cost about 700-800.  Ready to go and plain jane as they come.

[mcwoodduck]

I would buy what model is closest to what you want and then modify the few parts you want.

[SHOOTALL]

It will be a hybrid anyway as lowers have changed over the years.