2A Armament Balios Lite BLR-16
2A Armament · Rifle · In Production · 2014
Overview
The 2A Armament Balios Lite BLR-16 is a premium, ultra-lightweight AR-15-pattern rifle built almost entirely in-house by 2A Armament of Boise, Idaho. It is built on CNC-machined 7075-T6 billet upper and lower receivers featuring a flared magazine well, a 'slick side' upper, a rear tensioning screw for a tighter receiver fit, and a screw-in bolt-catch pin. The 16-inch 416-R stainless barrel is QPQ-treated and runs a mid-length gas system with a 1:8 twist. Weight savings come from extensive use of titanium components -- including the T3 muzzle compensator, gas block and takedown pins -- bringing the complete rifle down to roughly 5 pounds. It feeds from standard AR-15 magazines and ships with the 2A 15-inch BL-RAIL free-float handguard available in M-LOK or KeyMod, an ALG-ACT trigger, a Magpul MIAD grip and a Mission First Tactical minimalist stock.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2268 g (80.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 838 mm (32.99") |
| Barrel Length | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Direct Impingement |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 930 m/s (3051 fps) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3600 m (3937 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 203 mm (7.99") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Barrel Material | Stainless Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Hard Anodized |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56mm NATO — also known as 5.56 NATO, 5.56x45mm, .223 Remington (chamber compatible)
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector
- Features: Mid Length Gas System, Free Floating Handguard, M Lok Rail, Picatinny Rail, Flat Top Receiver, Rotating Bolt, Threaded Barrel, Qpq Coating, Titanium Compensator, Billet Receiver, Tensioning Screw, Forward Assist, Dust Cover, Ambidextrous Charging Handle
Variants
- 2A Armament Balios Lite BLR-16 Gen 2 — Second Generation
- 2A Armament Balios Lite BLR-16 (KeyMod) — Keymod Rail
- 2A Armament Balios Lite BLR (.300 BLK) — Alternate Caliber
Production
Production years: 2014-present
Built to order in low volume at 2A Armament's Boise, Idaho facility
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: 2A Armament
Notes
MSRP around $2,177. Complete rifle weight approximately 5.0 lb. 416-R stainless 1:8 barrel with QPQ finish, 1/2x28 muzzle threads, titanium T3 compensator with suppressor mount. Handguard offered in M-LOK or KeyMod. Later updated as the Balios Lite Gen 2, which added a redesigned tension-lock rail and the patent-pending 2A Regulated Bolt Carrier (RBC) adjustable gas system. Built to order with a 4-8 week build time; ships with one Magpul P-MAG.
Background
2A Armament made its name in the premium lightweight AR market by machining nearly every component in-house and leaning heavily on titanium to shave ounces. The Balios Lite -- named for one of Achilles' immortal horses in Greek myth -- became the company's flagship AR-15 and a benchmark for sub-5-pound builds.