DJ Phallic Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Austin, TX newbieI just bought my first AR, a DPMS LR-308 and love it but this bad boy is heavy! I have a 3-12x56 scope, bi pod, and an XLR-250 light mounted above the scope. I went pig hunting this week with it and my biceps felt like I had hit the gym from carrying it around all night. It's got me hesitant to use it as my standard weapon on my hunts so I was wondering if anyone has dealt with this and how the problem was overcome. The obvious thought is to buy a new barrel which is shorter and lighter but my knowledge on this subject is nonexistent. Can I do this? Do I need to purchase a whole new upper barrel assembly? (My finances sure hope not!) What should I do?
imschur Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Show us what you got. Perhaps shorten your existing barrel and get a lighter stock if applicable
edgecrusher Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Lots of ways to lighten the load but it costs money, what is an acceptable weight?
planeflyer21 Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Welcome DJPhallic!Cheapest fix is a couple of 30# dumbells. <thumbsup>Carried while you're hiking.Jon
JGshooter Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Welcome from Leander. I feel your pain brother. I hog hunt out near Lockhart. I installed a 1 point sling onto my Armalite AR-10, seems to help a bit. My weapon has a pencil barrel which takes a little weight off but not much, still muuuuch heavier Than my .223. but that .308 works great on them Hogs...
Madhouse Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Welcome fellow Texan!My DPMS is a heavy bitch too.
washguy Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Hiya I ran into the same weight problemo with my first 308 build...used the dpms barrel...yikes I couldnt stand the weight .on my second build for galfriend I went to the rainier select 18" barrel...my what a difference! Im using the trx extreme 13" forepiece and the magpul acs stockwhich brought the weight waaay down...sold the dpms sass and got another ranier barrel....both rifles are sub moa and a joy to shoot...get yourself the 16" and the troy rail <thumbsup>Wash
DJ Phallic Posted December 4, 2011 Author Report Posted December 4, 2011 Wow! I can't believe all these responses! Thanks to all of yall! So can I just purchase that Rainier barrel and do the swap myself? Once again, I'm new to this. <dontknow>
washguy Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Yeppers you can replace the barrel ....you need the proper barrel nut wrench and a lower reciever insert for the vice...dpms has a good one. you gotta get rid of that gas block and the fore thats on there and use a troy extreme or another light weight one to get the fat off that rifle! dont be gettin any bull barrel either....that select the ranier offers is awesome snag a 16" if you can....oh and wear some hearing protection too <munch> Washheres the ranier in 18"
unforgiven Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Planeflyer got it right, ;) if it was light everyone would have one :)try a sling pain is good it's your body way of letting you know your alive,save your money for ammo they are hungry mothers.Shoot on bro. <thumbsup>
DJ Phallic Posted December 4, 2011 Author Report Posted December 4, 2011 Washguy, that's what I'm talking about! Yours is what I'd like mine to be! That is a killer looking weapon. So you did all your research before you made your swtches, any advice on where to look and what is a good deal on those items? I really appreciate your advice! <thumbsup>
DJ Phallic Posted December 4, 2011 Author Report Posted December 4, 2011 I just weighed it with loaded magazine and it weighed in at 16 lbs 10 oz!
washguy Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Washguy, that's what I'm talking about! Yours is what I'd like mine to be! That is a killer looking weapon. So you did all your research before you made your swtches, any advice on where to look and what is a good deal on those items? I really appreciate your advice! <thumbsup>Hiya DJ Thanks ! I didnt start with an off the shelf dpms....I built the rifle using a mega ma 10 upper lower...and then adding the dpms sass barrel which i then found out I also needed a gun bearer cause it was so heavy for galfriend and me too...soo I already had the tools....the dpms claw bout fort bucks from jse surplus and a dpms 308 wrench from them....then call Jeff Morgan at troy and tell him your serial number so they can send you the right height rail...theres 2 different upper heights from dpmsget a low profile gas block.. jse again...find a nice muzzle break...pri works for me.... dont be afraid to change the workings....if you can chew gum and walk at the same time you wont have a problemo....if you cant do that...then we are here for ya to help you make the changes oopsie...you will need a work bench with a vice though <thumbsup> Wash
washguy Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 I just weighed it with loaded magazine and it weighed in at 16 lbs 10 oz!Holy Crap! <munch> Wash
washguy Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Since its raining here..i got off my fat azz and weighed the rifles on a crappy digital scale...both guns scoped, both 18' barrels...no mags in them . the ar 15 6.8spc is 9.5 lbs and galfriends 308 18" rainier barrel{ the one in the picture } is 10.7 lbs <thumbsup> Wash
DJ Phallic Posted December 4, 2011 Author Report Posted December 4, 2011 It's raining here, too. I am gonna look into your recommendations, thanks!
planeflyer21 Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 I haven't weighed my Operator but it has to be around 11 pounds.Been swinging it around when no one else is home, it is building up muscles I forgot I had. Also just hold it up in a shooting position to work those muscles too.Jon
Dusty44 Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Just for your reference, my factory DPMS with 24 inch fluted SS barrel and Nikon scope, dry (no magazine, no ammo) weighs 12 lbs 6 oz.
Jgun Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 I'm curious, can either of you guys help me out here, I see that the OP said that his 21" weighs 16 lbs, 10 oz loaded, while Dusty 44 states that his fluted 24" weighs 12 lbs 6 oz, unloaded. Can the unfluted 21" barrel, and 20 rds of .308 really weigh 4 lbs. 4 oz. ? more than the same gun with a fluted 24" ?
unforgiven Posted December 5, 2011 Report Posted December 5, 2011 Standard Operator w/20" HBAR, Redfield scope,sling[Vtac],FnFal mag w/150 gr. Remington 13.5# piece of cake,big piece RRA gotta love it.Shoot on bro. <laughs>
DJ Phallic Posted December 5, 2011 Author Report Posted December 5, 2011 Actually mine is the 24 inch stainless bull barrel, super heavy!
edgecrusher Posted December 5, 2011 Report Posted December 5, 2011 I would start with a barrel and hand guard diet for an easy three pounds!
unforgiven Posted December 5, 2011 Report Posted December 5, 2011 Good looker DJ what type of glass, does that extra light work? Shoot on bro.
DJ Phallic Posted December 5, 2011 Author Report Posted December 5, 2011 The scope is a cheap one, it's a sportsman's choice 3-12x56 with light up reticle, the light is from elusive wildlife technologies, their XLR-250. I went hog hunting thursday with a couple other guys that had lights and mine was EASILY twice the power of theirs and half the price!
98Z5V Posted December 5, 2011 Report Posted December 5, 2011 12.75 lbs, just like this. No ammo in the mag, but mag installed. 20rds of ammo brings it up another pound.Details of it are in here:http://308ar.com/forum/dpms-lr-308-general-technical-discussion/lr308-self-build/
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