Most of us have carried a rifle up a hill and wished it weighed less. A team of builders working with Guns & Ammo took that wish about as far as it can go. As reported by Guns & Ammo on Oct. 14, they built a 5.56 NATO AR-15 that weighs 1 pound, 13.9 ounces bare.
The magazine calls it potentially the world’s lightest centerfire repeating rifle. That title is unofficial. Guns & Ammo notes that Guinness World Records does not track this category, and the magazine is asking Guinness to recognize it.
Who built it
The project was led by Garth Morgan, an Alaskan who has built ultralight AR-style hunting rifles for about 30 years. According to the article, the under-2-pound goal came from David Faubion, editor of the Guns & Ammo Book of the AR-15, who also supplied the starting parts. Gunsmith Ned Christiansen machined the barrel, barrel extension, bolt and carrier. Cain Arms made custom parts for the stock and handguard, and Unknown Munitions applied a Cerakote finish.
How the weight came off
Most of the savings came from polymer and from removing metal wherever the rifle could spare it. The upper, lower and lower parts kit are polymer, and the hammer is polymer too. The grip is skeletonized carbon fiber, held on with a nylon screw. The takedown pins are aluminum, and the custom stock and handguard together weigh a little over 3 ounces.
The builders also cut weight from the operating parts. They used a shortened aluminum bolt carrier and milled it further, and they removed the gas key. They also took about 2 ounces off the barrel and fluted the muzzle.
The team did not cut corners on the definition of a rifle, though. They kept a 16-inch rifled barrel, from Shaw, with a removable carbon-fiber stiffening sleeve, plus a working stock and handguard. That matters because a record claim means little if the gun is not a real rifle.
With a Shield RMSc red dot on a polymer mount, the rifle still weighs under 2 pounds. The article says that even with a titanium suppressor and a full magazine attached, it weighs less than a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun.
Does it shoot?
Yes, within limits. Guns & Ammo describes the rifle as “usable and surprisingly accurate for a 2-pound rifle” and says the polymer hammer ran without problems. The magazine is also upfront that the rifle is a showcase, not a practical field gun. Modifying the bolt and carrier shortened their service life, and the rifle is not built for high round counts. There is no price, because this is a one-of-a-kind build.
GUN Crusade’s take: what everyday shooters can learn
You will not find this rifle at your local gun counter, and that is fine. Projects like this test ideas that sometimes trickle down into rifles regular folks can buy, much as lightweight carbon-fiber barrels and stocks have in recent years.
If you want a lighter AR or hunting rifle, the practical lessons are simpler:
- Start with the accessories. Heavy optics, mounts, lights and bipods often add more weight than the rifle itself. Weigh your setup and see what you actually need in the field.
- Buy lightweight parts from reputable makers. Factory-made lightweight stocks, handguards and barrels are designed and tested for durability.
- Leave the critical parts alone. The builders said plainly that their bolt and carrier work reduced durability. Don’t grind on the bolt, the carrier or other parts that hold pressure. If you want an upgrade, talk to a qualified gunsmith.
A rifle you can carry all day is a rifle you will actually bring along. That is the real point of the light-rifle chase, even when this build pushes it to an extreme.
