One day, a quiet Memphis neighborhood turned into chaos when two men attempted to break into an elderly couple’s home.
Security footage captured the forced entry in broad daylight.
After breaking into the house, the two intruders beat the elderly male until he was unconscious.
Then, the intruders ransacked the house looking for valuables.
The elderly woman managed to escape and ran next door to get help.
Their neighbors didn’t hesitate.
One neighbor grabbed his Glock and the other grabbed his AR-15 from his truck and they ran toward the couple’s home.
The neighbor with the Glock tried to engage the suspects as they exited the house, but his pistol jammed.
The second neighbor soon arrived with his AR-15 and engaged the armed intruders, striking one of them.
The intruder died at the scene after being shot by a good neighbor, but the other intruder fled the scene.
The elderly neighbor was taken to the hospital but was expected to recover from his injuries and the elderly female was uninjured.
Doubtless, the armed neighbors saved the couple.
But this is also an example of the reliability and usefulness of the AR-15, and why the AR-15 is one of the most popular rifles in the U.S.
When considering your home defense gun an important thing to consider is how lightweight and easy to maneuver your firearm is.
In the Memphis case, the neighbor was able to grab his AR-15 and quickly move to the threat.
So, here are a few ways to make your AR-15 lighter without compromising the ability of the rifle.
Stock:
An AR-15 stock provides stability and helps absorb recoil, and most factory stocks are somewhat lightweight.
However, there are even lighter aftermarket stocks.
For example, if you want a lighter stock, check out carbine stocks like the Magpul MOE SL.
Another option is a carbon fiber stock such as the Lancer Fixed stock – it weighs less than 9.5 ounces.
A quality aftermarket stock can sell for about $75 so it’s a relatively inexpensive way to reduce weight.
Caliber:
Another way to reduce weight is to stick with 5.56 NATO caliber.
These days, AR-15s come in a variety of caliber options including 9mm, .308, and 7.62.
But a larger caliber will considerably increase the weight.
Since many AR-15s are designed for interchangeable calibers, I would make sure to stick with the 5.56 calibers.
It’s an effective round that isn’t going to add a ton of weight like bigger calibers.
Handguards:
Handguards protect your palms and fingers from the heat of the barrel and also serve as a mount for accessories.
There are many handguard options, but to reduce weight look for aluminum or carbon fiber handguards.
Companies such as Lancer, Magpul, and Bravo Company make quality lightweight handguards (they can weigh as little as seven ounces).
Barrel:
The barrel is one of the heaviest parts of the AR-15.
But there are different barrel designs and materials that can reduce the weight of the barrel.
For instance, fluted barrel designs are lighter.
Flutes are grooves in the barrel that increase the surface area of the barrel but also reduce weight.
In addition, carbon fiber barrels are some of the lightest barrel materials.
As you can see, there are numerous ways to significantly reduce the weight of your AR-15.
And once you get your rifle dialed in exactly how you want it…
The next step is to ensure you always have access to it.
