Is a CMP gun too heavy for 3 gun?

[Guest LarryC]

I'm looking to purchase an AR15 to use primarily for IPSC 3 gun. Is a CMP/DCM type gun with a HBAR and free floated handguards a good 3 gun choice? The gun I am looking at weighs about 9 1/2 pounds. Is it the ideal rifle, or would a lighter gun be better?

I want an accurate gun that will shoot 1MOA for longer range shots, hence my leaning towards a CMP type gun.

[kellyn]

I shot my highpower AR for a couple of years in 3 gun.  I even had the lead weights in it.  The gun weighed 15 pounds!  Talk about fast splits, the front sight hardly moved.  This was before comps were legal in limited.

I can't really tell you if lighter or heavier is better.  That's up to you, I kind of prefer a heavier rifle.  To me, they settle more quickly and "glide" during transitions.  Others like a snappier handling rifle.  The FAL that I've been using is quite heavy and I don't feel disadvantaged in the slightest.

The only things that I don't like about highpower/CMP ARs include 1) you must have a 4 1/2 trigger and 2) you can't have a comp.  

[Carlos]

I use my CMP/DCM upper for 3 gun - its a White Oak Precision upper  and RRA 2 stage CMP/DCM trigger in a lower of my own manufacture.  Its heavy - more heavy than ideal, but like so many aspects of equipment in this game, its not a drawback you could not easily shoot around. Besides, if they ecer hold a match around here (area 8) with shots more than 50 yards, I know the DCM upper has more than enough accuracy to make the shot.

If you have the DCM already or can only afford 1 upper right now, buy the DCM (strongly suggest White Oak Precision) and shoot it in 3 gun. You do not "need" a new upper to compete and win. If you want to build the ideal 3 gun upper, you will find plenty of advice here.

[Patrick Sweeney]

Weight is a matter of balance and what you can handle without becoming tired.  Our research group, "The Gang of Four" once built a pin killing upper.  Steel tube handguard, heavy barrel, McArthur comp, it weighed over 14 pounds.  We found that after a few runs we couldn't hold the thing up.

Nine and a half isn't too much, and a rifle accurate enough for DCM work will definitely deliver in an IPSC course.

[DogmaDog]

My DCM service rifle has a 4 lb lead weight in the stock, and 2 1/2 lbs of lead tire weights in the handguard.  I think I'd probably "get the lead out" before shooting it in 3 gun.  I'd also get a larger rear sight than 0.040, but I don't see the heavy barrel as a problem.  

It's a trade off...heavier guns give faster shot recovery, but are harder to run fast with.  9.5 lbs isn't too heavy, if the rifle is balanced well (IMO)

Semper Fi,

DogmaDog

[Carlos]

Good point about sights - I have the interchangeable threaded inserts on my upper and for most of the matches around here, I just take out the insert leaving a huge ghost ring. Every rifle match in these parts have all targets closer than 50 yards.  Anyway, the interchangeable rear is a good feature - it lets you find what will work best for you. I think Bushmaster sells these sights.