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AR-15Mid-Range

Faxon Firearms

Faxon FX5500 ION Ultralight 5.56

4.95 lb Faxon FX5500 ION Ultralight complete rifle with pencil barrel and integral slim brake for 16-inch minimum length.

Key Highlights

  • 4.95 lb total weight on a legacy complete 5.56 rifle
  • 14.5" pencil barrel with pinned/welded slim brake for 16" minimum length
  • 13" carbon fiber M-LOK handguard plus ambidextrous charging handle and safety

Specifications

Price
$1,600
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 FX5500 ION Ultralight was built around a single design priority: minimum weight without sacrificing basic AR reliability. It weighs 4.95 pounds unloaded and uses a pencil-profile 5.56 barrel with a permanently attached slim three-port brake to meet 16-inch rifle length, plus a 13-inch carbon fiber M-LOK handguard, lightweight bolt carrier group, adjustable gas block, and ambidextrous controls. Faxon sells the rifle direct, with the integral-muzzle-device 16-inch configuration listed at $1,600.

Key Features

  • 14.5" Faxon-made 5.56 NATO pencil-profile barrel
  • Pinned and welded slim three-port muzzle brake for 16" minimum length
  • 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
  • HiperFire EDT3 trigger on older FX5500 references
  • 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
  • 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
14.5" pencil barrel with permanently attached brake for 16" minimum length
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
HiperFire EDT3
bcg
Faxon Gunner lightweight with Superfinish coating
chargingHandle
Ambidextrous
sights
None
sku
FX5500
upc
816341024540
msrp
$1,645

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