Questions on the DPMS LR-308B

[tkcomer]

Wouldn't the heavier buffer make the rifle more prone to short stroking with lighter loads?

 

[Organdonor]

I'm picking up a .308 AR in the next few weeks. I had my heart set on a DPMS LR-308L, with the hollow stock and custom muzzle with the break. But trying to find on in stock is impossible, and I was told it's a 4 month wait (or longer!) from DPMS.

So, I switched gears slightly and now am looking at picking up an Armalite AR-10 in AWB configuration. Non free floating 20" barrel, with comp, standard A2 furniture, A3-style upper. It's about $150 more, but I think it will easier to get, and have a lifetime warranty.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Geno]

In all due respect, I would not touch an Armalite in .308. I checked them out before buying my own DPMS AP4. I handled both rifles side-by-side. After handling the DPMS, the Armalite felt like a sloppy toy.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Organdonor, if you go back to the first page you will see my rifle. $974 less the bipod and pistol grip. Came with 2) 19 rd mags, cleaning kit, hard case, and a sling, all brand new. Look for an LR-308C, that is the model of my rifle.

 

[Geno]

Quite frankly stated, when the DPMS representative told me that they had several customers who were achieving single-hole groups at 100 yards, I was less than trusting. I finally stopped my break-in process for my own DPMS AP4 at 50 rounds of fire 1 shot, and break down to clean. After the 50th round and clean, I tried my hand at the best group I could.

As I see precision-shooting, it holds but one single problem: sustained and repeatable capability. With my varmint and target bolt-action rifles, that has seldom been problematic. But I never in my life would have expected an autoloading rifle to present such tremendous accuracy. My Remington M700V in 6mm Rem would consistently pattern 3/8" at 300 yards with an 18X scope. But this, this is just shocking to me.

The following 3-shot group was fired at 100 yards, with the advent of a benchrest, a Harris bi-pod, a sling and sandbag under the buttstock and zero wind. The scope was a Leupold Vari-X III, 4.5-14X40 AO. The 3-shot cluster measured .25 MOA (1/4") center-to-center:

View attachment 348367

View attachment 348368

 

[tkcomer]

Wow, that's amazing. I can't shoot that good. One reason for a semi 308 is I have bursitis in my shoulder. The 700 can really set me back for a few days if I'm not careful. I had a HK 91. It didn't kick as hard as the Remmy and I "hear" the AR style 308s kick even less. Accuracy is my main concern, but I don't want a 24" barrel. Too unwieldy. It's great to see these guns can group. I actually called about the gun, but the guy was out of his office. Wow, that breaking in procedure is even more intense than my AR-15. Not sure if I"ll be that disciplined.

 

[velocette]

I have a DPMS LR 308B and have found it to be extemely accurate, reliable and easy to shoot. From a concrete bench on a Harris bipod with my shoulder at the rear, (no sandbags etc) I get consistent 3/4" 10 shot groups with my reloads and usually much better with 3 shot groups. I found the the best factory ammo was Federal power shok 150 grain psp. blue box cheap stuff $13.00 at walmart. It shoots just under 1" 5 shot groups. My reloads work better. Both with 168 gr Sierra MK, IMR 4895, 41 gr. & Federal brass. Reloder 15, 42 gr. with RP brass. both with Federal match primers. I also tried Sierra 155 Palma bullets and got 7/16" 10 round groups but with some fliers out to 1 1/2" (could be me of course) I never had any problems with function with reduced loads when working up to my best accuracy loads either.
The LR 308 is a great rifle, I get a lot of enjoyment from easily outshooting a whole bunch of bolt rifle owners that think an autoloader is inaccurate.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Does the DPMS need a "stout" load to cycle? Sorry for all these questions but I'd like to know what to expect from the gun. And yes, the Indian ammo doesn't group worth a crap.

I am considering a LR308B as well and was wondering about ammo, like if the lithuanian 146gr mil-surp was ok to shoot. I emailed DPMS and they replied with this: "The rifles function well with American factory ammo and only really functions with 165-180 gr ammo."
Have any of you owners had problems with the lighter stuff?

 

[Geno]

These were 150 grain American Eagle. At my request, DPMS made the chamber extra-tight. When I chamber a round, then extract it unfired, their are very observable markings the full length of the round. The chamber is so tight, I have to allow the bolt to slam forward to chamber. To boot, there is no forward-assist on the receiver.

 

[ToadPS]

Probably shouldn't punt this up but

DPMS has a page explaining their "Ammunition Warnings" on the website.

Here's their beef with SA ammo:

PMP
South African produced surplus
We have used this ammunition in the past for testing purposes and found the brass is extremely soft and can "flow" into microscopic pores and grooves in the chamber creating "sticky" extraction. This has been reported in many types of rifles, but is more prevalent in semi-automatic weapons.

They have commentary or Israeli, Korean, Porto, Chilean and the Russian steel/laquer stuff too.

If interested: http://www.dpmsinc.com/support/warning.aspx

I was about to buy some SA PMP but I guess I'll go GGG now. Haven't heard of any problems with that in my studies so far.

 

[Emfuser]

I see that some DPMS AR-10s are listed as .308 chamber and some are 7.62x51. Is there the same relative danger in cross chambering present putting 7.62x51 into a .308 AR-10 as when you put 5.56 NATO into an AR-15 chambered for .223?

 

[TWAJeff]

Been doing some digging around on THR looking for opinions on this rifle and found this topic. The LR-308 is most likely my next purchase.

Doc2005, is there any way you can repost the pics of your groups? Looks like the photobucket links are dead. Thanks!