[bpasky]

This week I have been home from work because my whole family got the flu. The worst was my 4 month old son. I'm thankful he is better now and back to his old self. Because of him having the flu he wants to be held all the time. I held him all day and all night pretty much for most of the week. We went to the doctor and he weighs 15lbs 6ozs. When your up in the night your mind tends to wander sometimes. I got to thinking about the ACR weight at 9 lbs at a high and I've been carrying my son with mostly one arm at 15 1/2 lbs. My first thought was that guy on the youtube video doing an ACR walkthrough. He says if you can't handle the weight than go to the gym and grow a pair. The sad part is my wife holds him all the time when I'm at work, and we've got guys complaining about 8-9 pounds?!?! I actually think most are people that don't own or even held an ACR. It is a solid piece of instrument! You get what you pay for these days, and I am quite happy with my ACR. I knew when I was researching for a new black rifle that I wanted something different, something innovative and not new and not outdated. IMHO, it's the best 5.56 rifle out there even though there is no "multi" calibers. Does anyone else have the same thoughts? Or is it really that heavy and I'm just used to carrying heavier things.

 

[cjt50]

1st, glad your son is better, no more helpless feeling then trying to care for a sick toddler!!

The ACR is a solid rifle, and a bit heavier then I expected when I 1st handled one. However, I have owned mine since July and have 2k rounds thru it and don't even notice the weight any more. When I 1st bought it I really wanted a thinner barrel and would still like to get my hands on one, but it is not a priority anymore. A 300aac or 6.8 barrel is, even if the thinner barrel came out 1st. I have several .223 rifle that are lighter, (SCAR, colt 6940, and a older colt sp1 to name a few) but I find my self dragging my ACR to the range 80% of the time.

 

[OverArmedNewb]

To paraphrase a song with a similar name, "it ain't heavy, its my rifle"

 

[bpasky]

I'm sorry, I must have remembered the clean version. He says, "Go to the gym you pansy ass bitch!"

 

[ACRFan]

Glad to hear your son is better. But let me ask you this. When it comes to rifles, most of the weight is in the barrel. Hold your son out in front of you with both arms rather then on your hip with one arm. I remember in the military during bootcamp, we would be punished with holding our canteens filled with just a quart of water and after 10 minutes or so, the water seemed to slowly but surely turn into lead.

Also, form a tactical perspective, it is easier to stop the end of your rifle exactly where you want it when it is lighter during shoot and move scenarios where your are transitioning between targets.

Lighter is good, but when a weapon is too light, it will likely recoil more, as a general rule.

 

[OverArmedNewb]

People talking shit doesn't sit well with our friend GunsKnivesAndWatches. Again the weight of the ACR is one of his buttons, and someone done pushed it.

Be careful what you know folks

 

[losman]

i don't have a problem with the weight of the ACR (so no argument there), put he's only comparing gas piston rifle to another piston rifle...both rifles are a little heavier than a AR m4 type rifle

 

[MilitaryArms]

I don't believe that 8.4lbs is too heavy for a man to carry. I don't believe that's the point those who point out it's weight are trying to convey. The M16A2 is a 8lbs rifle and back in my day in the Corps we considered it to be a light weight rifle. Well, that is until you were required to hold it out in front of you with your arms fully extended for 15 minutes or more... Then it felt like a bag of freaking bricks.

I believe the point is that after 45 years of technological advances since the adoption of the M16, and considering the weight of some of the ACRs competitors, it's a little on the heavy side. The SCAR is 1.2lbs lighter than the ACR for example. To a grunt trying to reduce his load out weight, this does make a difference. To a civilian who shoots for recreation, it's a moot point to most.

The good news is that all of the weight difference between the ACR and SCAR is in the barrel. Bushmaster (or a 3rd party) could make a lighter weight barrel that would reduce the over all weight and improve the balance of the rifle.

For me, the ACR has enough other positive features that the weight issue isn't really much of an issue at all.

 

[VB]

The ACR is over a full pound heavier than a Colt 6920 with a KAC rail and Matech BUIS. This as close you can get to a civilian M4, and is the standard by which all other carbines are measured.

To drive the point home, my issue stock Colt M4 with M68 (Aimpoint Comp M2 in QRP Mount), KAC RAS, Surefire M600 light, and Matech BUIS is just about 7lbs and 10oz (unloaded).

Yes, a fully kitted military issue M4 is lighter than a stock ACR.

Changing the barrel profile is a good start. Though, I am really waiting for SBR barrels for the greatest weight reduction.

 

[SDDuc996]

Light is right.

Since I will be starting from scratch with just the receiver, after I submit my paperwork (next stateside leave) I will begin to build it up pending parts availability, using the components I want. Noveske 10" fluted/profiled barrel, and whatever else I can use to make it lighter.

Though currently not in military use, guaranteed you'd start feeling the weight of that gun when you had to hump it + your kit up the ghar.