tackleberry45
Member
What are experiences, good or bad, with some of the .308 based ARs? I have looked at DPMS, Rock River, LMT. Use will be whatever I might need it for and is why I am looking to the AR for its modularity.
.308 based AR selection
- Thread starter tackleberry45
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Grunt Medic TXARNG
Member
Very limited experience with this platform here - but have you looked at the Fulton Armory Titan line? Based on my VERY positive experience with fulton AR15s, I have bought a Fulton .308 AR lower fro my next build - my opinion only, here.
madcratebuilder
Member
When I researched the 7.62 AR's I narrowed it down to two choices.
#1 was ArmaLite because of the improved bolt catch and mag release. Plus it uses the M14 style mags, a proven design that I'm familiar with.
#2 was DPMS for it's price point and the fact it can use relatively low cost Pmags.
ArmaLite mags are only 5-8 bucks more than Pmags and I already have several dozen M14 mags so i went ArmaLite lower and Noveske upper. I found some super buys on new/used parts and was able to put this together for just a few hundred more than a base model DPMS. If I had been looking at new store prices I probably would have gone with a DPMS.
#1 was ArmaLite because of the improved bolt catch and mag release. Plus it uses the M14 style mags, a proven design that I'm familiar with.
#2 was DPMS for it's price point and the fact it can use relatively low cost Pmags.
ArmaLite mags are only 5-8 bucks more than Pmags and I already have several dozen M14 mags so i went ArmaLite lower and Noveske upper. I found some super buys on new/used parts and was able to put this together for just a few hundred more than a base model DPMS. If I had been looking at new store prices I probably would have gone with a DPMS.
TexasPatriot.308
Member
I can only speak for mine. Armalite AR10A2 and Bushmaster BAR10, great, trusty beautiful and real shooters. (the Bushmaster will put a hurt on your ears if you dont wear hearing protection)
Frankl03
Member
I have owned 2 Ar10s (Carbine and Rifle length) and right now I own one of the new Bushmaster 308s (similar or made by DPMS).
I like Armalite but the 20 inch model was just a bit heavy.
I really like the new Bushmaster LR 308. Its has a 16 inch barrel, mid length gas system. Its light and easy to carry. Its has a heavy contour barrel and is reasonably accurate. Also unlike DPMS it comes with a chrome lined barrel, chamber and bolt carrier. It came with FA and a dust cover. The fact that it takes Pmags is great. With pmags I have had no feeding problems. I haven't tried the mag it came with yet.
Now Bushmaster has come out with a MOE version with MOE handgaurd, grip and stock. It also comes with a rear sight and front (A2 style) sight base.
I like Armalite but the 20 inch model was just a bit heavy.
I really like the new Bushmaster LR 308. Its has a 16 inch barrel, mid length gas system. Its light and easy to carry. Its has a heavy contour barrel and is reasonably accurate. Also unlike DPMS it comes with a chrome lined barrel, chamber and bolt carrier. It came with FA and a dust cover. The fact that it takes Pmags is great. With pmags I have had no feeding problems. I haven't tried the mag it came with yet.
Now Bushmaster has come out with a MOE version with MOE handgaurd, grip and stock. It also comes with a rear sight and front (A2 style) sight base.
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First off they are not as reliable as the SR25 or AR10 pattern. FAL mags are hard to find and cost as much or more as 308 PMags. The bolt carrier group, lower, barrel and barrel nut are unique to only the FAL mag variant AR which is just one. While with the SR25 pattern AR there are over 25 different rifle companies that support the platform and I know that there ar eover a dozen that make the AR10 platform.
Why would you want to limit yourself to a rifle that has parts support of only one manufacturer?
I thought the whole point of the AR platform was modularity, you can't have that with the FAL mag variant.
BTW I have owned the LAR8 which is the FAL mag variant AR I liked it. It was accurate but it had reliability issues and the customer support was not there.
I now own an SR25 patterned DPMS, and I love it!
Z-Michigan
Member
The Armalite and DPMS are both very good. I have a DPMS. I like the range of aftermarket accessories, the low price, and the increasing selection of magazines for its pattern. The SR25/DPMS pattern is becoming the standard and most parts, barrels and receivers are initially designed for that pattern, with some later getting an Armalite version as well.
I have had minor reliability issues with my DPMS, but they seem to trace to old surplus ammo that isn't consistently powerful, possibly along with the need for break-in. I haven't run enough post-2000 308 ammo through it to really know reliability, but I think it's just an ammo issue.
The Armalite is probably higher quality than the DPMS in many ways, and their prices have come down a little bit. Also, they sell their mags at a reasonable price on their website, although Armalite AR-10 mags (derived from the M14 mag) are massively overpriced ($40-60+) if you buy anywhere else, from what I've seen.
If you like tinkering and customizing, I'd look closely at the DPMS. If you want to buy a great rifle and never do anything but add a scope, I'd perhaps focus more on the Armalite. But both are good.
I have had minor reliability issues with my DPMS, but they seem to trace to old surplus ammo that isn't consistently powerful, possibly along with the need for break-in. I haven't run enough post-2000 308 ammo through it to really know reliability, but I think it's just an ammo issue.
The Armalite is probably higher quality than the DPMS in many ways, and their prices have come down a little bit. Also, they sell their mags at a reasonable price on their website, although Armalite AR-10 mags (derived from the M14 mag) are massively overpriced ($40-60+) if you buy anywhere else, from what I've seen.
If you like tinkering and customizing, I'd look closely at the DPMS. If you want to buy a great rifle and never do anything but add a scope, I'd perhaps focus more on the Armalite. But both are good.
I bought the DPMS sportical. That was despite my initial desire for a FAL mag model. I wanted the FAL mag model for the following reasons:
1) I have 3 FALs that take metric mags and about 20 mags for them.
2) Metric FAL mags are cheaper and more plentiful than AR 10 mags (by a large margin) or SR 25 pattern mags(by a smaller margin.
I really don't understand why MAGs thinks otherwise, unless he is referring to inch pattern mags.
I decided against the FAL mag model because:
1) the DPMS was cheaper ($850 vs $1000+)
2) I learned that the FAL model was redesigned with one of the locking lugs removed, which decreased strength and I suspect might affect accuracy
3) I read alot of first hand accounts by people that had poor reliability from the FAL model.
I never even considered the Armalite AR 10 because:
1) the AR 10 only has 2 or 3 parts that are interchangable with an M16 (pistol grip and a couple detent springs).
2) the DPMS is 80% parts compatible with it's 5.56 little brother
3) AR 10 mags are expensive and not at all common. Contrary to what madcratebuilder stated, Armalite doesn't use M14 mags, it uses modified M14 mags that, once modified, cannot be used in an M14.
1) I have 3 FALs that take metric mags and about 20 mags for them.
2) Metric FAL mags are cheaper and more plentiful than AR 10 mags (by a large margin) or SR 25 pattern mags(by a smaller margin.
I really don't understand why MAGs thinks otherwise, unless he is referring to inch pattern mags.
I decided against the FAL mag model because:
1) the DPMS was cheaper ($850 vs $1000+)
2) I learned that the FAL model was redesigned with one of the locking lugs removed, which decreased strength and I suspect might affect accuracy
3) I read alot of first hand accounts by people that had poor reliability from the FAL model.
I never even considered the Armalite AR 10 because:
1) the AR 10 only has 2 or 3 parts that are interchangable with an M16 (pistol grip and a couple detent springs).
2) the DPMS is 80% parts compatible with it's 5.56 little brother
3) AR 10 mags are expensive and not at all common. Contrary to what madcratebuilder stated, Armalite doesn't use M14 mags, it uses modified M14 mags that, once modified, cannot be used in an M14.
Z-Michigan
Member
isc - have you tried buying FAL mags in the last 12 months? The supply has dried up. Good luck finding a metric FAL mag you want to own for less than $20 or so. Even at $20 they tend to be moderately used. The Korean knockoff mags aren't very good either (I own some). Maybe, someday, DSA will be offering a quality US-made FAL mag and put this all to rest, but at the moment FAL mag price and availability isn't great.
I currently have a RRA Lar-8. It's an awesome gun, I truly love it. But if I were doing it over right now, I'd pay the extra money and get the LMT .308 MWS. What a sweet looking weapon. But for the money, My LAR-8 really is a great gun. It's taken down some nice deer and hogs. and one Bobcat in the wrong place at the wrong time.
henschman
Member
If you want to know my experience... I bought a DPMS LR-308C (the 20" version). It was very accurate... it would shoot 1 MOA with surplus ammo... but it was too heavy. One thing I learned is to watch what barrel you put on these, as that is where most of the weight comes from. I personally did not want a bench gun... I was after a battle rifle that could be taken into the field. You may not care about this issue if it is a range gun only though.
I was not interested in less than a 20" barrel... I do not like the extra muzzle blast and flash, and I do a lot of long range shooting, so I don't like the decreased max effective range.
I found that if you want a rifle with a light profile chrome lined barrel that is at least 20" long, your options are pretty limited with AR's. The AR-10 is about it.
I sold the DPMS and bought an M1A, and am glad I did. The M1A is more reliable and dependable, much lighter, better iron sights, and is only barely less accurate (1.25 MOA as opposed to 1 MOA with surplus ammo, which is still more accuracy than I really need for the intended role).
If I were to build another .308 AR (which I'm thinking about doing), I would go with a Mega Arms MA-Ten receiver set, which gives you a DPMS-pattern mag well but lets you use either DPMS or Armalite pattern barrels and bolt carrier groups. I'd throw an AR-10 20" CL barrel on it with a DPMS barrel nut, and a DPMS chrome plated BCG, and Troy's new TRX Extreme .308 12" free float handguard. The whole thing ought to come out around 9 lbs. the way I figure it. Not too bad. I don't know that I would replace the M1A with it though... I would have to really put it through the paces to see what kind of reliability it has.
Let's face it... I am never replacing the M1A. It is stone cold reliable and has never let me down, even firing it filthy, the mud, in the rain, in sub-zero temps, whatever I throw at it... it always gets the job done. And I doubt anyone will ever invent any better iron sights in my lifetime than what comes on that rifle from the factory.
I was not interested in less than a 20" barrel... I do not like the extra muzzle blast and flash, and I do a lot of long range shooting, so I don't like the decreased max effective range.
I found that if you want a rifle with a light profile chrome lined barrel that is at least 20" long, your options are pretty limited with AR's. The AR-10 is about it.
I sold the DPMS and bought an M1A, and am glad I did. The M1A is more reliable and dependable, much lighter, better iron sights, and is only barely less accurate (1.25 MOA as opposed to 1 MOA with surplus ammo, which is still more accuracy than I really need for the intended role).
If I were to build another .308 AR (which I'm thinking about doing), I would go with a Mega Arms MA-Ten receiver set, which gives you a DPMS-pattern mag well but lets you use either DPMS or Armalite pattern barrels and bolt carrier groups. I'd throw an AR-10 20" CL barrel on it with a DPMS barrel nut, and a DPMS chrome plated BCG, and Troy's new TRX Extreme .308 12" free float handguard. The whole thing ought to come out around 9 lbs. the way I figure it. Not too bad. I don't know that I would replace the M1A with it though... I would have to really put it through the paces to see what kind of reliability it has.
Let's face it... I am never replacing the M1A. It is stone cold reliable and has never let me down, even firing it filthy, the mud, in the rain, in sub-zero temps, whatever I throw at it... it always gets the job done. And I doubt anyone will ever invent any better iron sights in my lifetime than what comes on that rifle from the factory.
JAV8000
Member
The LMT 308 MWS is relatively new to the market, but has recently been picked up by the British military forces as a designated marksman weapon system. 16" chrome lined barrel, chamber and bolt/carrier group, monolithic rail, ambidextrous controls, and apparently excellent accuracy. I'm waiting to get mine after deployment.....gotta' have it!!!!! You can get them for under 3k and from all the reviews I've seen they are an amazing weapon system. Take a look, I'm going to mount a Leupold Mark 8 to mine....another huge chunk of money, but the best of all worlds! Check it out!
My step-father bought a DPMS Lr-308 with the 24" bull barrel and the thing is a sweet shooter. At 100yrds every hole will be touching with hand loads. I helped him shop for a 308 AR pattern rifle and was so much less expensive than all the other 308 AR type rifles. The only real negatives I can say about it is the gun is pretty damn heavy with the 24" bul barrel and the chamber is very tight. You need small base dies if you plan to reload for it, at least in our experience. I would by one in a heart beat if I had the money.
surfinUSA
Member
I'm not getting a AR-10 type rifle until I have a chance to shoot the Colt Sp901.
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