A skeleton grip for an AR15 is an attractive prospect. Not only will it add plenty of cool factor to the platform, but it will carry the material benefit of making the rifle much lighter. This is one of the biggest material selling points of skeletonized AR15 parts. They can make the rifle a lot lighter, which in turn can make it a lot less fatiguing to carry.
For this reason, many shooters are drawn to skeletonized AR15 parts because it results in a build that is less taxing to carry and shoot overall. But there is one big thing that should be considered here that arises directly as a result of upgrading with skeletonized parts, and it has to do with rifle maintenance.
So, with no further ado, here’s what you need to think about before you follow your heart and upgrade your rifle with a skeleton grip for an AR15.
The Surface Area Factor
Skeletonized AR15 parts like skeletonized grips are typified by the fact that they have excess material machined away or omitted entirely. This lightens the parts which then carries the benefit that the rifle is lighter and easier to carry and shoot.
However, as material is removed, and the part is skeletonized so as to maintain its structural integrity, it follows, necessarily that surface area increases. It also follows that there are more voids in the build.
There is a twofold effect here. The increase in surface area also means that there is more space to clean, and the increase in the number of voids also means that there are more opportunities for dust, fouling and other particulate matter to find their way in to the build.
This combination is a tough one when it comes to maintenance, because it makes the rifle harder to clean and increases the labor involved.
Now, with a part like a skeleton grip for an AR15, this is hardly a matter of grave concern. You could let your grip get as dirty as you want and it won’t compromise the performance of the rifle, although it might not produce the best aesthetics.
If you skeletonize another part that allows particulate ingress into an area that compromises the action, then it will affect the performance of the rifle, and it will make it harder to clean. You should also take the potential effects of corrosion into consideration as well.
So, the bottom line here is that you need to be aware that the greater the number of skeletonized AR15 parts you install, the harder it will be to keep the rifle clean.
One More Thing
It is important to recognize that mass is one of the main drivers of felt recoil, and not just the mass of the bullet, but the mass of the rifle.
Now, in the respect of what this article addresses (skeletonized AR15 parts) there are two components of rifle mass: static mass and reciprocating mass.
Reciprocating mass is the portion (or parts) of the rifle that moves when the gun is fired. So, for instance, the bolt carrier group constitutes reciprocating mass. Holding all else equal, the higher the reciprocating mass, the greater the force of felt recoil will be.
Static mass is the portion of the rifle that does not move during cycling. So, the barrel, the stock, the grip, the handguard - these all constitute static mass. Holding all else equal, the higher the static mass, the lower the force of felt recoil will be.
This is important here because most skeletonized AR15 parts are static components, so even though the rifle will be lighter and easier to carry and point, recoil might go up a little bit, especially if you’re not chambered in a light caliber like 5.56 or .223.
Another Way to Lighten the Rifle
For those of you that are put off by the extra work it will take to maintain the rifle and otherwise keep it clean, one thing you can do to lighten the rifle instead of installing a skeletonized part is to install a fluted barrel.
Fluted barrels are much lighter than standard barrels, which is critical because the barrel is one of the few steel components of an AR, and therefore relatively speaking, one of the heaviest parts. Lightening the barrel is much more significant than lightening the grip or the stock.
But, on top of the fact that a fluted barrel is lighter, because it has higher surface area, it will also significantly improve heat dissipation characteristics, too.
Shop Skeleton Grips for AR15 Rifles and Other Skeletonized Parts Here
Still thinking skeletonized AR15 parts like a skeleton grip for your AR15 might be for you? Check out our collection of skeletonized parts and if you have questions get in touch with us; we would be more than happy to help.