Have you ever seen or fired a skeletonized AR 15? In a nutshell, a skeletonized AR 15 is a rifle that has had a series of parts with machined cutouts so that it looks sort of like a skeleton, hence the name.
There are a few advantages to skeletonized AR 15 parts and builds, which will be covered here, along with some things you can do to accomplish the same basic objective.
What a Skeletonized AR 15 Offers
The main advantage of a skeletonized AR 15 is that it will be lighter than a standard rifle. This makes it preferable because some argue that it is easier to carry a skeletonized rifle, and that since it will be lighter, it is easier to point and shoot more accurately and with less fatigue.
In addition to weight savings, it is also the case that some skeletonized parts can aid in heat dissipation, which can potentially improve the performance of the rifle. At the very least, minimal thermal stress can help alleviate wear.
With this being said, there are some considerable drawbacks associated with skeletonized AR 15 rifles and parts too.
The Drawbacks
While a skeletonized AR15 rifle will be somewhat lighter than a build made with whole, unskeletonized parts, it is also the case that the skeletonization process considerably increases the surface area of the build. It also opens up parts of the rifle that would otherwise be closed off.
These two factors together result in one serious shortcoming for skeletonized rifles, and it is that there are more points of potential ingress for dirt, dust, sand, fouling and other debris. It also means that a skeletonized rifle will be harder to clean than one that is not.
This is presumably one of the reasons that mil-spec rifles are not skeletonized, but nonetheless, you have to make that decision yourself. If the weight savings and heat dissipation are worth the extra work to keep the rifle clean, it might still be worth it to build a skeletonized AR.
Skeletonized Adjacent but Not Exactly
One other way you can save weight (and also improve heat dissipation, and in a big way) is to install a fluted barrel on your AR-15 rifle.
Though a fluted barrel is fundamentally different from skeletonized parts, the effect is the same. Basically, a fluted barrel is a barrel that has had metal stock strategically removed from it. There are many methods of fluting, including but not limited to spiral and flat fluting, but all of them accomplish the same two effects: they remove steel (and therefore mass) and they increase surface area.
The obvious effect of removing steel is that they make the barrel considerably lighter. That means a fluted barrel, like skeletonized AR 15 parts, will lighten the rifle.
The fact that they increase the surface area of the rifle also means that the barrel will shed heat more easily, which is equally, if not more important. A fluted barrel will cool off more quickly, reducing wear in the bore and also upholding a higher degree of accuracy.
Other Ways to Save Weight
Skeletonizing an AR15 build is far from the only way to save on weight. Here are some of the other things you can do:
- Remove the muzzle device and add thread protectors. Flash hiders don’t really do much. They do add weight though. If you remove your flash hider you can remove a few ounces from the muzzle. Just make sure to install thread protectors to protect your threads so you don’t lose the ability to add a muzzle device should you want one again.
- Lower the buffer weights. You can save a few ounces by upgrading your buffer weights, but this can impact the cycling of the rifle so do this only if you have already done the other things mentioned here.
- Install a lightweight bolt carrier group. A lighter weight bolt carrier group won’t just lighten the overall rifle, it will lower felt recoil by reducing reciprocating mass and will likely result in an action that cycles more rapidly as well.
- Replace the Picatinny rail with a KeyMod or M-LOK rail system. Picatinny rail systems are great, and time-tested. They’re also compatible with a wide range of shooting attachments and accessories. They are, however, quite heavy compared to modern alternatives like KeyMod or M-LOK rail systems.
Explore Skeletonized AR 15 Parts and More Here
Thinking you might want to swap out some of the parts on your current AR for skeletonized alternatives? If you’re alright with the extra maintenance and think it’s a fair trade for weight savings, go for it.
We carry a variety of skeletonized AR 15 parts and kits, along with assembled uppers and build kits. Take a closer look through our collection and get in touch with us at Sales@MCSGearup.com if you have any questions.