Skeletonized AR 15 rifles are often built or customized because they look cool, and they do. But there are real material advantages to building a skeletonized rifle.
At the same time, like any decision in life, there are tradeoffs you have to be willing to accept if you are going to build and shoot a skeletonized rifle. Hopefully this article will help you determine if they are worth it for your unique use case.
Where a Skeletonized AR15 Wins
The clear advantage that a skeletonized AR15 rifle will provide is weight savings. You can shave several ounces off of an AR15 rifle by installing skeletonized AR parts such as a stock and pistol grip. If you build an ARP, the pistol brace can be skeletonized as well.
Skeletonizing parts like these can shave considerable weight off the rifle, making it less fatiguing to carry, point and shoot for prolonged periods of time.
As a result, a skeletonized AR15 can be a good choice for a competition shooter that needs to carry a rifle for long periods, as well as for one who does a lot of quick pointing and shooting. It may also be the case that a skeletonized build could be the preference for anyone that was recoil sensitive, or for a lighter-framed shooter.
It is also the case that a skeletonized AR15 rifle will also dissipate heat much more effectively than a rifle which lacks skeletonized parts. This is not necessarily a huge deal on parts like a stock or a pistol grip but the rifle may dissipate heat better nonetheless.
Then there is the fact that skeletonized AR15 parts are often preferred simply for their aesthetics, which is another consideration all its own and one that cannot be discounted. If you’re going to customize a rifle or build it from a kit, you might as well like what you ultimately create.
That being said, there are some deficiencies that should be addressed here, with which you’ll want to be comfortable if you do skeletonize an AR15.
Where It’s Not So Hot
While there are some serious material advantages of a skeletonized AR15 rifle to be weighed, you should also consider that a skeletonized rifle will have a lot more open area, as well as more surface area, period.
This fact complicates a few things related to firearm maintenance. The fact that there is so much more open space means that there is a lot more room for particulate matter ingress, as well as for moisture ingress to occur. On top of that, there is a lot more surface area for fouling to adhere to.
This latter condition is the real killer, as far as those who don’t prefer skeletonized parts are concerned. The higher surface area makes it much harder to keep a rifle with those parts clean, and it takes a lot more time to do so.
But, if you’re willing to invest the extra time and energy to keep the rifle clean and really want a lighter rifle, it can still make a good option.
Other Ways You Can Lighten an AR15 Without Skeletonized Parts
Now that you know what the tradeoffs are that are associated with a skeletonized AR 15, let’s take a closer look at some other ways you can lighten the rifle:
- Get a fluted barrel. This is one of the best upgrades you can make to an AR, period. The barrel is the heaviest AR component, and a fluted barrel will not just be lighter, it will shed heat better, upholding a higher degree of accuracy and consistency.
- Remove the muzzle device. Muzzle devices serve a purpose, but they invariably add weight to the rifle. If you’re dead-set on shaving off weight, this is a good way to do so.
- Install a lightweight BCG. A lightweight BCG won’t remove much weight from your overall build, but it will remove some, and since it reduces reciprocating mass, it will also reduce felt recoil.
- Lighten the buffer weights (just be careful). Slightly lower buffer weights can lower the overall weight of the rifle but they will increase felt recoil and if you go too light the rifle won’t cycle properly, so be aware of that.
- Replace the Picatinny handguard. After the barrel, the handguard is often the next heaviest AR part. Picatinny rails are also needlessly heavy when much lighter AR handguards, like M-LOK rail systems, are an option.
Shop Skeletonized AR 15 Parts Here
Now you have two avenues: you can lighten the rifle by making some of the upgrades listed here, or you can shop AR15 skeletonized parts. Both can be good options, and we offer the versatility for you to pursue either. Shop our collection of skeletonized AR 15 parts and build kits and get in touch with us if you have any questions.