Two thumbs up here for Aero mounts. Great way to save weight and they are a solid mount. Another option to cut a bit of weight would be a ti gas block.
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First year hunting with 6.8 (kind of a story thread & my gun is too heavy)
After reading about the 6.8 on various forums I pieced together an upper over the summer: SBR lower, 14.5 BHW barrel, AIM BCG, and some odds & ends from the spare parts bucket. Sighted in with 120 SST and off we went.
Well, strange as it sounds, I did not take a shot with the rifle this year--but not for a lack of opportunities. I've got more than enough doe meat and my FIL brought me another so no need to shoot more. This is the first year hunting on our new place and I've come to think of them as "my deer" so I wasn't in a big hurry to kill just anything. I've never killed a real wall hanger but had some real good ones on camera and had a couple I was searching for. The one I really wanted got popped by the neighbor in November.
I also had the craziest day of deer hunting in my life--during the rut I saw 5 huge bucks chasing does back & forth in a 20 minute period. We were trying to get my hunting partner a nice buck and he was watching the one he wanted at the edge of the tree line. At the same time (with my fingers in my ears because I think he's going to shoot) I'm watching a very nice deer come trotting straight to us. He gets about 75 yards away, smells us, and takes off. Once everything calmed down I asked him why he didn't shoot the close one---he was so dialed in trying to find the big one in the tree line that he never saw the nicer deer walking straight towards him.
So--a good season. I didn't get to see firsthand how the 120 SST performs but will likely stick with it or switch to federal fusion.
One thing I was disappointed with was how relatively heavy the gun was. Without mag/ammo it weighs 8 lbs 4 oz. Since the end of the season I've swapped hand guards for something lighter but I'm not sure where else I can cut weight. I talked with BHW about cutting the 14.5 down to ~12 inches but, since it is a mid length gas barrel, they advised against it. One item I've identified is the scope mount. I've been eyeing one the Aero mounts which seem to be pretty light.
Anybody using the Aero mounts? Anywhere else to lighten things up I'm not thinking of? Thoughts?
Well, strange as it sounds, I did not take a shot with the rifle this year--but not for a lack of opportunities. I've got more than enough doe meat and my FIL brought me another so no need to shoot more. This is the first year hunting on our new place and I've come to think of them as "my deer" so I wasn't in a big hurry to kill just anything. I've never killed a real wall hanger but had some real good ones on camera and had a couple I was searching for. The one I really wanted got popped by the neighbor in November.
I also had the craziest day of deer hunting in my life--during the rut I saw 5 huge bucks chasing does back & forth in a 20 minute period. We were trying to get my hunting partner a nice buck and he was watching the one he wanted at the edge of the tree line. At the same time (with my fingers in my ears because I think he's going to shoot) I'm watching a very nice deer come trotting straight to us. He gets about 75 yards away, smells us, and takes off. Once everything calmed down I asked him why he didn't shoot the close one---he was so dialed in trying to find the big one in the tree line that he never saw the nicer deer walking straight towards him.
So--a good season. I didn't get to see firsthand how the 120 SST performs but will likely stick with it or switch to federal fusion.
One thing I was disappointed with was how relatively heavy the gun was. Without mag/ammo it weighs 8 lbs 4 oz. Since the end of the season I've swapped hand guards for something lighter but I'm not sure where else I can cut weight. I talked with BHW about cutting the 14.5 down to ~12 inches but, since it is a mid length gas barrel, they advised against it. One item I've identified is the scope mount. I've been eyeing one the Aero mounts which seem to be pretty light.
Anybody using the Aero mounts? Anywhere else to lighten things up I'm not thinking of? Thoughts?
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
Can you loose some weight with a different stock?
I had a barrel recontoured to shave weight with no accuracy loss.
I had a barrel recontoured to shave weight with no accuracy loss.
I know the barrel is a big piece of the weight but it is a tack driver and I'm hesitant to "fix" it. I've just got a regular M4 buffer tube/stock on there. Off to google lightweight stocks...Can you loose some weight with a different stock?
I had a barrel recontoured to shave weight with no accuracy loss.
Except for the barrel, you cant really save a lot of weight in any one component, its a little here and a little there, but it adds up. I's consider switching to an ARP scout barrel. Take a look at breastroker's lightweight build thread:
http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?49304-New-Project-light-weight-4-89-pound-6-8-SPC-II
http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?49304-New-Project-light-weight-4-89-pound-6-8-SPC-II
Awesome, thanks.Except for the barrel, you cant really save a lot of weight in any one component, its a little here and a little there, but it adds up. Take a look at breastroker's lightweight build thread:
http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?49304-New-Project-light-weight-4-89-pound-6-8-SPC-II
I see what you mean about a little here & there. This would save me ~2.5 oz but I have a hard time spending $50 to save <3 oz. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/30...ble-ar-15-lr-308-polymer?cm_vc=ProductFinding
I'm going to go check out breastroker's thread.
i've swapped to the areo mount and saved about 5oz over the burris pepr mount. I also use the ARFX rifle length skeleton stock. i could probably save weight by using a different hand guard (my current handguard is a UTG pro 17" mlok) but ill sacrifice a little 1st cool for a little 2nd cool.
Just reweighed it after swapping hand guards.
6 lb. 7oz Rifle (no mag)
1lb 6oz Scope + Mount
7lb 13oz Total
6 lb. 7oz Rifle (no mag)
1lb 6oz Scope + Mount
7lb 13oz Total
Looking at a new scope & the aero mount which will add up to exactly 1 lb so some weight to be saved there. I'm still brainstorming.
in lightweight hiking we say grams add up to ounces and ounces add up to pounds...Awesome, thanks.
I see what you mean about a little here & there. This would save me ~2.5 oz but I have a hard time spending $50 to save <3 oz.
your wallet being lighter will help too lol
I built a lightweight 6.8 mainly for pushing woods in WI this past year. Thread at:
http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?71682-First-6-8-Build-for-Whitetails
I run the 16" Wilson Combat Lightweight Tactical Hunter barrel on my 6.8 and it is amazing how much weight it saves over my standard .223 heavy contour barrels. Plus, the barrel is a tack driver and managed to put down two whitetail bucks this past season.
Since you swapped hand guards, I would recommend the strike industries viper stock as a way to shave some weight for your next step. Since my original post going over the components of my build, I have swapped out the Magpul stock for the strike industries viper and it feels considerably lighter in my hands as compared to the Magpul.
As other mentioned above, the Aero mount is a great way to shave weight and I am also considering swapping out my Burris PEPR for one for next season.
The only other area that you could potentially really shave considerable weight would be a lighter scope, but this is easier said than done depending on the type of optic and level of magnification variability you want.
I look forward to seeing how your weight shaving progresses.
http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?71682-First-6-8-Build-for-Whitetails
I run the 16" Wilson Combat Lightweight Tactical Hunter barrel on my 6.8 and it is amazing how much weight it saves over my standard .223 heavy contour barrels. Plus, the barrel is a tack driver and managed to put down two whitetail bucks this past season.
Since you swapped hand guards, I would recommend the strike industries viper stock as a way to shave some weight for your next step. Since my original post going over the components of my build, I have swapped out the Magpul stock for the strike industries viper and it feels considerably lighter in my hands as compared to the Magpul.
As other mentioned above, the Aero mount is a great way to shave weight and I am also considering swapping out my Burris PEPR for one for next season.
The only other area that you could potentially really shave considerable weight would be a lighter scope, but this is easier said than done depending on the type of optic and level of magnification variability you want.
I look forward to seeing how your weight shaving progresses.
I'm trying to not let this turn into a bigger project but I'm going to copy your list format:I built a lightweight 6.8 mainly for pushing woods in WI this past year. Thread at:
http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?71682-First-6-8-Build-for-Whitetails
I run the 16" Wilson Combat Lightweight Tactical Hunter barrel on my 6.8 and it is amazing how much weight it saves over my standard .223 heavy contour barrels. Plus, the barrel is a tack driver and managed to put down two whitetail bucks this past season.
Since you swapped hand guards, I would recommend the strike industries viper stock as a way to shave some weight for your next step. Since my original post going over the components of my build, I have swapped out the Magpul stock for the strike industries viper and it feels considerably lighter in my hands as compared to the Magpul.
As other mentioned above, the Aero mount is a great way to shave weight and I am also considering swapping out my Burris PEPR for one for next season.
The only other area that you could potentially really shave considerable weight would be a lighter scope, but this is easier said than done depending on the type of optic and level of magnification variability you want.
I look forward to seeing how your weight shaving progresses.
I'd be happy getting this under 7 lbs
Lower:
- Lower Receiver: PSA Premium (SBR)
- Stock: Magpul MOE -- I can shave a couple of oz here
- Buffer Tube: PSA
- End Plate: PSA
- Grip: Magpul MOE (copies of stamps and some tools in the grip) -- Possibly here, take the stuff out of the grip
- Trigger Guard: N/A
- Trigger: Larue MBT
- Mag Release: Standard
- Bolt Catch: Standard
- Safety: Standard
- Magazine: PRI 5 rd. metal
Upper:
- Upper Receiver: Anderson
- Charging Handle: Standard
- Bolt Carrier Group: AIM 6.8 BCG
- Rail: Daniel Defense 9 inch (slick w/no pic rails)
- Barrel: BHW 14.5 inch standard profile -- This is a lot of weight. No real way around it other than replacing it.
- Gas Block: low profile (can't remember manufacturer)
- Muzzle Brake: 5/8 thread protector & crush washer
- Optic: Previously a beater 3-9x (going to replace this--Redfield Revolution 4-12)
- Optic Mount: Previously a Primary Arms "deluxe" (going to replace this with the aero mount)
GI sling (I stick with what I know lol)
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
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