Then you can run the buffer anyway you want. Taking all the weight out of the buffer will give you less reciprocating mass and will have less perceived recoil. Just make sure to start out with your gas turned pretty low if you gut the buffer. I run a completely gutted carbine buffer with (LW BCG, adjustable gas block, and muzzle brake) the recoil is very minimal.
I know its not a true 1x but you might want to look into Leupold's offerings such as the vx r Patrol, coming it at 12ish oz that would keep everything very light weight. Even their VX HOG if your not dead set on illumination, It comes in at 8oz and has a pretty good reticle.
Looks just like my build. You can piece together a LPK from Primary Arms that way you get each piece that you want, or order a LPK with a grip without the fire control group from Palmetto State Armory. As far as buffer tube you can look into the WMD Guns NiB-X Nickel Boron Buffer Tube, the coating may help the spring and the buffer move more freely if you dont go with the JP CS.
If your accurate then maybe your shooting speed isn't as big of a problem as what your doing when your not shooting. (Reloads, Movement) If you can I would try video taping yourself because in the middle of a match we all feel like we are going fast. You can review the match tapes and see what's slowing your times down and improve on those areas.
Having shoot the Stretch16 against an 18", still choose the Stretch 16, and I shoot many of the longer distance matches.
Then I'm I'm super happy with my purchase Started looking into the Stretch because of your mention of them on the forums Mark, Thanks!
Huge fan of the stretch 16 and a 16" barrel for 3 gun around my parts though we don't have a lot of distance. I can see were out West an 18" would help.
Thanks for the responses guys! My gun runs at the moment but I was thinking about introduction a LW BCG and was a little confused as to what other parts I needed to optimize that system. Im gonna go with Taccom buffer.