The Ar-15 that I am intending to get has a 16.5 inch H-BAR. With an empty magazine, the weapon weighs 7.8 pounds. Is this on the heavier or lighter side?

Sounds about right in the middle for an AR with no mag or extra toys attached.

I've got a piston AR (POF) with no foregrip and a small optic, and it still tips the scale over 9lbs - you're getting off lite... literally!

That's a good weight with empty mag

CAR A2 no mag weighed in at 6.6 pure vanilla

20 Tactical 24" barrel, with ACE stock, NM hand guard, Shilen barrel, Nikon 6X18 weighed in at 9.8

6 PPC 16" heavy OLY barrel , ACE stock, NM hand guard, 4X12 Remington scope, with mag weighed in at 8 pounds.

OLY Ultra match 3X9 Nikon no mag - 9.8

6X45 20" with 4X12X50 Leupold, Aimpoint 5000 NM hand guard no mag- 9.8

Greg

All this makes me feel good. Just finished a 16" piston, White Oak barrel , Magpul CTR stock. 8 lbs

Good weight.

Weight alone doesn't tell the whole story. It depends also on balance. Two rifles with the exact same weight can feel very differently, depending on where the majority of the weight is. Too much weight toward the muzzle end can feel much heavier than more weight toward the buttstock end.

ah....such a ray of intelligence.

i had a "gunked up" carbine that once was heavier than a varmint rig.

i'm now more in favor of a trimmed out version for normal day play.

Very true on that. Muzzle heaviness is a blessing at times and a curse in others. I find that a tad of muzzle and general heaviness aids in shooting but there are times that I do prefer a lighter overall package. I'm not real strong in the upper body area and tend toward the lighter side of rifles if I am doing off hand stuff but the second I can go to supported positions I like the extra weight.

All but one of my AR's have the round NM hand guard in place and the barrels are all the heavier profile with my 20 Tactical being less than a bull but larger than a standard HB configuration. Most IPSC stuff is run and gun but it is so fast that I don;t find the penalty for the weight. It is an issue for long range aspects as the extra weight pays huge dividends when you stretch the distance. There is also some advantage that in the up close and personal stuff in that a double tap with my big guns is quick and muzzle rise pretty minimal.

I do like a very light weight rifle if it is going to be a close urban type course with a max of 75 yards in the distance department. I have a 6X45 of the wifes that is down around the 7.0 pound mark and is ideal for run and gun. It has a very efficient compensator custom built for her that really allows me to let it all hang out even with the big bullets.

For a stocker AR set up I find the CAR format well balance as long as the trigger is not one that feels like a truck on gravel with no wheels. They are whippy yet allow just enough weight for consistent holding. Heavy breathing from a course does cause some sight issues but experience in slapping a trigger makes up for some of that.

I think the ideal weight for these rifles would be about 7 3/4 pounds in fighting trim. Just my ideas and far from gospel.

Greg

My 18" barreled LR-308B weighs 13 pounds with the scope. It is probably 15+ with a loaded mag inserted.

Ouch! Thats alot of weight to carry around. Did not know LR types weighed that much.

the 308's are heavy. but I don't mind, you get used to it.

7.8 isn't bad. I have 6.5 to over 9 pounds. I like a light one, but once you get used to a 7 pound plus a little gun they seem light.



TS

7lbs would be great. But muzzle heavy makes thing suck. I hopeing less than 8 for my AR15. The 6.5 Creedmoore will be over 15.
My M-1 loaded is over 10. My M14/M1As go in over 12 loaded. Scopes other goodies over 15.

If it feels too heavy then you need to tape an extra ten pounds to it and use it that way until your use to it...
Then remove the extra ten and it will feel light as shat!

Just a tip I learned from being one of Uncle Sams Misguided Children for 20 years!

Semper Fi

DRLCB