Going Light

Because the KE Arms KP-15 lower was specifically designed to be lightweight and for that reason it's the choice for the What-Would-Stoner-Do rifle...

It's seems appropriate to compare Olive and Tabitha.

Olive is a 16" mid-length gas system chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO with a 1:7 rifling twist.

Tabitha is a 20" rifle-length gas system chambered for 5.56x45mm with a 1:12 rifling twist.

Weights are broadly similar with both weapons loaded with a 30-round magazine, with Olive's 7.5 lb. edging out Tabitha's 7.8 lb.

But Tabitha doesn't get any heavier because there's no good way to mount optics or lights.

Olive gains another 0.7 lb. when you add the Primary Arms SLx Microprism and SureFire X300 light.

The 20" barrel should be pushing the pills at a higher velocity, but I've never measured it.

They both balance well.

They both shoot about the same for me, 2 MOA, on average, but I'm a bit faster with the optic.

That's more my eyes than the gun.

Neither has any problem accepting a bayonet.

The rifling twist changes what rounds can be fired, but the local ranges are starting to ban the M855 stuff and forcing us to use 55gr stuff that's just fine from the 1:12 tube.

Olive likes ADI F1A1 ball better than PMC X-Tac M193.  Tabitha has been happy with just about any 55gr fodder I've given her.

They're so very similar and different.