I have about decided to buy my daughter a Kimber Montana in 223 to deer hunt with this season.I don't think an AR will be nearly as light but I wanted to explore the possibilities before buying anything.

Can someone give me some advice on how light an AR can be for about $1300?

How light are you looking for?

Even with a pencil thin barrel and the smaller handguards/heatsheilds rather than a rail, an AR will run a pound or two heavier than a Montana .223. That said, a collapsible stock on AR might be adjusted to fit her better.

If she's big enough to shoulder a Montana, I think I'd go that route. It's a simpler mechanism for her to deal with, the triggers can be adjusted down really nicely, and the .223's are accurate. They're also not as loud as AR's, which might make her more comfortable.

What he said...

R H I have a Colt 6720 with a Eotech on it. Ill weigh it tonight. I also have a Montana in 7mm-08 with a Leupold 3X9 that my son shoots. Ill weigh it too.

I myself would like to have a Montana in 223. But if your just worried about recoil, you can load down about any caliber to reduce recoil and still kill effectively within ranges most kids are going to feel comfortable shooting.

Without going to carbon receivers (which I would not recommend) a pencil barrel carbine will weigh right at 6 pounds without optics.

My Remington Mountain Guides weigh 7 pounds with optics, the Montana weighs a tad less I believe.

Tough choice but if she can fit a Montana, I'd lean that way, probably cause I have a few AR's and no Montana, yet...

I've posted about this in the Hunting Rifles and Deer Hunting forums but I've not explored the AR option.

She is only 8 and weighs 65 lbs.My 243 Sako L579 at about 7.8 lbs has too much recoil for her with 100 grn factory loads.I might could use reduced loads but I won't cut down my Sako anyway. She really needs 223 level recoil.

We can get proper LOP by grinding away all but about 1/4" of the Montana recoil pad.The adjustability of the AR would be nice but she needs something as light as possible also.

The Montana is probably a better choice but I didn't think it would hurt to explore the AR as a possibility.

I have one of the Bushmaster Carbon 15 with collapsible stock and a EoTech sight with the flip-up rear sight that will co-witness with the EoTech. Bought this for my grandson and he has killed several deer with it and with just over 1200 rounds down the tube. It has functioned perfectly, no issues. This rifle weight is 5.75 lbs, which he can can all day long. Recoil isn't back either.

I just wanted to say,She has squirell hunted two years with me.One with a BB gun to learn safety and one year with a 22 extremly closely supervised by me.No matter what she uses this year,she will be right becide me in a shooting house at all times.

Just wanted to let anyone know,I won't be turning an 8 year old loose in the woods with a gun.

Light - if you do NOT add an HBAR barrel, metal free-float forearm tube, 30 round magazine, and a OMG huge scope. The M-4 carbine weighs just under 7 pounds with a 30 round magazine, the full size AR-15 about 8 pounds loaded. If you pick you rifle in line with what you want it to be, it will be the light weight carrier that you are looking for.

I would like to think that I could build/buy a pretty well made light AR-15 style rifle for $1300, and still have some left over for scope and ammo. Looking at the Bushmaster webpage: Bushmaster's Carbon 15 = 5.1 pounds

http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_xm15_MAZ-C1516SLORC.asp

Again, may not be be what you are looking for, but the AR can be a light weight rifle if doen with the right vision.

Colt makes a limited production AR (TALO?) that would be perfect. It has a lightweight rail with Magpul front and rear sights and a freefloated pencil barrel. I can get the SKU for you on Tuesday when I go to work.

Colt 6720.

^^^

Colt 6720 weighs 6.2 oz if I remember right. I have a buddy who used one of Colt's 14.5" pencil barrels (even though they were bringing $400+) with a pinned Vortex. It was under 6 pounds by a few ounces.

I tried to weigh mine, but my scales just were not up to the task. Ill try and take them to the buther tomorrow and use the meat scales.

My 6720ish gun weighs 7.2 pounds with an eo-thingie (512) complete with M16 carrier, H buffer, LaRue BUIS and 2 CR123 batteries in the grip.

Here we go Colt LT6720R UPC 09828901941 and it is a Talo.
http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=COLT6720R&items=talo

I kinda like that one.

i built one with a plum crazy poly lower ad a carbine length pencil barreled upper that weighed in at 5 3/8lbs total cost was just over 500.00

The scope and mount are going to add a pound or so. This is a 6720. If you could use a Leupold straight 4X and lighter mounts I wonder if you could shave 10 ounces off of this. This is 1-7 so heavier bullets than 1-9 in the montana. Montana is 5 pounds 6 ounces, add a scope and mounts you would be at 6.5 maybe.

I like AR's for small frame individuals because they tend to fit the smaller shooters better. The collapsible stock and 16" M4 barrels place the weight closer to the shooter's body and their off hand can be placed on the front of the mag well pulling it to their shoulder.

The weight is less important than where the weight is.