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AR-15Mid-Range

Faxon Firearms

Faxon ION Ultralight 16" 5.56

4.95 lb 16" 5.56 AR built around a Faxon pencil-profile barrel, carbon fiber M-LOK handguard, Faxon Gunner lightweight BCG, adjustable gas block, and a Faxon/Schmid match trigger. Built for action shooting and ultralight builds.

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Key Highlights

  • 4.95 lb total weight: among the lightest production 16" 5.56 ARs you can buy
  • Faxon Gunner lightweight BCG with Superfinish, adjustable gas block, and an Enhanced Match Trigger by Schmid out of the box
  • 13" carbon fiber M-LOK handguard plus ambidextrous charging handle and safety

Specifications

Price
$1,645
Weight
4 lb 15 oz
Calibers
5.56x45mm, .223 Rem
Rail Type
mlok

Capability Profile

0-10 Scale Across 8 Axes

Compatibility Tags

family: modern-riflefamily: ar-patterntrigger: ar-fcginterface: picatinny-tophandguard: mlokbarrel: longthread: 1/2x28mag-type: stanag

Overview

The Faxon ION Ultralight is built around a single design priority: minimum weight without sacrificing reliability. The base configuration weighs 4.95 pounds unloaded, which is roughly two pounds lighter than a standard mil-spec 16-inch carbine and competitive with custom-built ultralight rifles costing twice as much. Faxon achieves the weight in three places: a 16-inch pencil-profile 5.56 barrel (Faxon makes their own barrels in-house in Cincinnati), a 13-inch carbon fiber M-LOK handguard, and the Faxon Gunner lightweight bolt carrier group with their proprietary Superfinish coating. The gas system is mid-length with an adjustable gas block so you can tune for suppressed or unsuppressed shooting, and the trigger is a Faxon Enhanced Match Trigger built by Schmid (a step above any mil-std unit at this price). Controls are ambidextrous (charging handle and safety selector), the muzzle ships with a slim three-port brake on 1/2x28 threads, and a B5 grip handles ergonomics. This is not a duty rifle: the pencil barrel will heat up faster than an M4 profile under sustained fire, and the carbon fiber handguard does not love being bashed against barricades. It is the right rifle for action shooting, fast-paced courses of fire, long range days where weight matters, or anyone building an ultralight rifle who would otherwise spend $2,000+ piecing it together.

Key Features

  • 16" Faxon-made 5.56 NATO pencil-profile barrel, 1/2x28 threads
  • Slim three-port muzzle brake (suppressor-ready threads)
  • Mid-length direct impingement gas system with adjustable gas block
  • 13" carbon fiber M-LOK free-float handguard
  • Faxon Gunner lightweight bolt carrier group with Superfinish coating
  • Faxon Enhanced Match Trigger by Schmid
  • Ambidextrous charging handle and safety selector
  • B5 Systems pistol grip; minimalist stock; American-made in Cincinnati, Ohio

Pros

  • +4.95 lb unloaded weight is genuinely class-leading at this price
  • +Faxon's in-house barrel program is well-regarded for accuracy and consistency
  • +Adjustable gas block makes this a competent suppressor host despite the pencil barrel
  • +Faxon/Schmid match trigger is far better than any mil-std unit
  • +Ambi controls and Faxon Lifetime Guarantee at a mid-tier price

Cons

  • Pencil barrel heats up fast under sustained fire (not a duty profile)
  • Carbon fiber handguard is delicate compared to aluminum M-LOK rails
  • $1,645 MSRP is well above value-tier ARs and approaches premium-tier pricing
  • No iron sights or BUIS included
  • Weight savings come from a lighter BCG and buffer; some shooters find the cyclic feel sharper than M4-profile builds

Detailed Specifications

caliber
5.56 NATO / .223 Rem
Barrel Length
16" (Faxon pencil profile)
weight
4.95 lbs (unloaded)
Gas System
Mid-length direct impingement (adjustable gas block)
threadPitch
1/2x28
Muzzle Device
Slim three-port muzzle brake
handguard
13" carbon fiber M-LOK free-float
stock
Minimalist polymer (mil-spec buffer tube)
grip
B5 Systems
trigger
Faxon Enhanced Match Trigger by Schmid
bcg
Faxon Gunner lightweight with Superfinish coating
chargingHandle
Ambidextrous
sights
None
msrp
$1,645

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