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Posted: 9/28/2014 5:22:34 AM EDT
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I'm wanting to add an 308 gas gun to the collection but I'm not sure which direction to go. Essentially I'm going to use it as a precision rifle out to 600-800 or so. I'm running a Remington 700 right now, and I reload.
Prefer to keep it reasonably light, probably 16-20 in barrel. Accuracy and reliability over other factors like portability or trying to be a dual use gun. Will run the rifle supressed part of the time, it will have to share an AE30 for the time being. Budget is $1,500-2,000, less optics, etc. Needs to be relatively available, or the parts availability need to be decent. I've built enough AR15's I'm not afraid to build my own. I'm not replacing the bolt gun rather looking to supplement the stable. I've looked at a lot of stuff, Armalite, DPMS, even Larue and GAP by in the end I'm getting bogged down in the choices and lack of trusted information. A buddy has an Armalite that I shoot on occasion and it's been reliable for him, but thats the limit of my .308 AR experience. I appreciate thoughts and experiences. |
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This is my newest .308 AR build. (Picture I am just waiting for my rails to come in.) Also this is not a joke but for now I am using the knock off version of the Dueck Defense 45 degree offset BUIS I bought off of Amazon for $20 and I don't care what anyone says about quality, I put them on my 5.56 AR and went to range for a day they work awesome. Price before scope: $1850 Price after scope and mount: $2450 Parts List: Rainier Arms Switch 15.5" Rail Rainier Arms Select .308 18" SS Barrel Rainier Arms UltraMatch Billet Upper/Lower (Comes with Raptor Handle) Rainier Arms Compensator RAC Rainier Arms Low Profile Match Grade SS Gas Block Rainier Arms Match Grade Midlength Gas Tube Seekins Precision Billet Mag Release ALG-QMS Trigger Set CMMG MK3 lower parts kit (Minus Fire Control) DPMS .308 Bolt Carrier Group DPMS .308 Carbine Buffer Spring DPMS .308 Carbine Buffer MFT Engage Pistol Grip MFT minimalist stock Bushnell Elite Tactical 2.5-16x42 Scope (Got a great deal on a brand new one) Aero Ultra lightweight 1" Forward assist scope mount 30mm     |
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Quoted:
Here is a picture of it before scope on scale 8lbs with empty mag. (Same rails I am waiting on are in this picture I just had to swap them) http://www.artactical.net/ar308/rainier_308_ar_001.jpg Good looking AR |
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Quoted: Good looking AR Quoted: Quoted: Here is a picture of it before scope on scale 8lbs with empty mag. (Same rails I am waiting on are in this picture I just had to swap them) http://www.artactical.net/ar308/rainier_308_ar_001.jpg Good looking AR |
I've spent weeks mowing over the options including doing a build myself... I chose this today... with the cost of parts and all, I was hitting around the $1100 mark just for the upper. I finally said screw it and went with a factory DPMS as my LR-65 has fired some great groups with hand loads.
It sure as hell won't be light.. but I'll use it mainly for LR shooting from prone and various "supported" positions. Besides, my tree stands are all 2-man stands with PLENTY of room. |
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Quoted: I've spent weeks mowing over the options including doing a build myself... I chose this today... with the cost of parts and all, I was hitting around the $1100 mark just for the upper. I finally said screw it and went with a factory DPMS as my LR-65 has fired some great groups with hand loads. http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/905/Or3Vf5.jpg It sure as hell won't be light.. but I'll use it mainly for LR shooting from prone and various "supported" positions. Besides, my tree stands are all 2-man stands with PLENTY of room. Is it me, or does it look like the rail/barrel is bending down
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Is it me, or does it look like the rail/barrel is bending down Quoted:
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I've spent weeks mowing over the options including doing a build myself... I chose this today... with the cost of parts and all, I was hitting around the $1100 mark just for the upper. I finally said screw it and went with a factory DPMS as my LR-65 has fired some great groups with hand loads. http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/905/Or3Vf5.jpg It sure as hell won't be light.. but I'll use it mainly for LR shooting from prone and various "supported" positions. Besides, my tree stands are all 2-man stands with PLENTY of room. Is it me, or does it look like the rail/barrel is bending down It's bent... that's why it was on sale... lol. Actually, it must be the photograph... I sure as hell hope so... 
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It's bent... that's why it was on sale... lol. Actually, it must be the photograph... I sure as hell hope so... Quoted:
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Quoted:
I've spent weeks mowing over the options including doing a build myself... I chose this today... with the cost of parts and all, I was hitting around the $1100 mark just for the upper. I finally said screw it and went with a factory DPMS as my LR-65 has fired some great groups with hand loads. http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/905/Or3Vf5.jpg It sure as hell won't be light.. but I'll use it mainly for LR shooting from prone and various "supported" positions. Besides, my tree stands are all 2-man stands with PLENTY of room. Is it me, or does it look like the rail/barrel is bending down It's bent... that's why it was on sale... lol. Actually, it must be the photograph... I sure as hell hope so...  I saw this in the other thread. Its made for shooting from the treestand. Less math involved when shooting at a downward angle. 
Good looking rifle. |
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If you want lightweight, go with a Fortis Mfg.
http://fortismfg.com/ar10-forits-swtich-308-rail-system-14 I think these work with the 'high' railed upper receiver. I currently have a DPMS upper/lower receiver. They make great stuff but there are two heights and the last conversation I had with DPMS was less than helpful and kinda pissed me off. The guy was basically saying I was crazy that a DPMS A3 308 upper was a different height than a DPMS 308 quad rail. That rainier arms set looks like it mates up with a rail nicely. I've owned and sold off a lot of .308 ARs over the years and I am going to do it again. I bought what I thought I wanted but it turned out not to be the case...again. It's only money and I've got other rifles to play with so no big deal. Here's my advice. Figure out what you are going to be doing with the rifle 70-80% of the time. So accuracy and reliability are your priorities. I'd go with a Lilja 18-20" barrel, mine shoots amazing even for me. I have a 20" and will be building with an 18" next time. I've got a 20" Rem 700 in an AICS that shoots around 1/2 MOA when I really focus. Having a similarly weighted rifle with the same length barrel that I can't load as hot (semi-auto's just don't like to be loaded hot like a bolt gun can) isn't as useful, to me. I loaded up some Berger 185 grain Classic Hunters (nearly identical BC as the Juggernaut OTM) with a stout charge of RL-17. My brass was getting hammered with the AR and wasn't getting the velocity I wanted. The brass had ejector marks and looked fatter, more rounded out shoulders like all the crisp angles had swollen. I stopped doing that. Shot the same load in my bolt gun and the brass looks great. Might even go up a little. I very highly recommend a Lilja barrel. Dan Lilja will personally email you back an answer in a timely fashion. I have decided to go 18" for my next (and hopefully final) build. I have a heavy bolt gun that works great. Now I want a little more handier rifle in 308. I will aim for a little lighter since I can't get the velocity I want with the heavy pills from it, I'll stick to 155 or 168 and go for a little more speed. It will work great shooting 6-800 yards with little wind. I can use it to hunt Roosevelt Elk in the thick coast range here in Oregon if ever get the chance. I'll be building it with a Mega Maten upper/lower set which is angled at the back like an Armalite but is compatable with DPMS stuff. I plan on putting a KAC rail and a Magpul PRS stock (probably switch that for an A1 if I ever hunt with it). The Mega upper/lower is a 'high' railed upper receiver that will match with the KAC, Fortis, Daniel Defense, and other high quality rails. I have no idea why DPMS lowered their upper receiver height by a few thousandths. I don't care but when a scope is on there, my brass catcher scratches the bottom of the scope. My 308 AR is currently at the gunsmith getting a different quad rail (a Fulton Armory) that is the same height as the upper receiver so it fixes that issue. Everything else is great on the rifle, I have just decided I want a Geissele SSA-E two stage instead of the JP Enterprises single stange and an 18" barrel instead of a 20" to just move the balance back a little for when it's suppressed. I have really liked it but I'll be selling it to start over. Adult legos right? |
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Thanks all that have added good .02. Now, yes precision first so I'm contemplating the build route to put a known high quality barrel on it. Is the Mega MaTen the way to fly, or is it more just a preference. This will likely wear a 3-15 or so optic and get a SSAE or so trigger. I'll want to save weight were I can but still acuracy is first but it's not going to be a bench gun.
Down the road, like you I want it a bit lighter than the bolt gun if possible, but we shall see. |
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