Best 308 AR-style rifles

For .308 ARs there are two different main configurations. The AR-10 design made by Armalite and then the DPMS design. All of them are fine rifles and a lot of people will argue the quality between them. It all mainly depends on your budget and what system you like the best. I also forgot to mention the HK 762 and Sig 716 designs which I don't know too much about, but I do know that they are piston driven.

Not sure what price you found on an Armalite SASS. But also look at LMT MWS, Larue OBR, Noveske (I believe theirs is the same pattern as AR10), GA Precision, and I believe Fulton Armory Titan.

If you can spend around $5000 you could get an Knights Armament SR25.

If you want to spend $1000 -1500 there is DPMS, Bushmaster, CMMG and Rock River (takes FAL Mags)

Hope that helps!

What about the new Colt in .308?

I have an AR 10 Armalite built by Accuracy Systems. It was far from cheap but I have to say, I got everything I wanted in an AR rifle. Accurate (1 ragged hole at 100 in 5 shot strings), have yet to have a FTF, it's a bit on the heavy side (with my Coyote Nikon scope and sling it's just over 13 pounds) but balanced very well. The 2 stage trigger that came on it is VERY good in my opinion. Not quite like glass breaking but highly functional for hunting purposes which is what I got it for. Over all just a very good investment and I am highly pleased. To me, it's a better quality build than the DPMS version. But the DPMS version is about 600+ cheaper so you get what you pay for. I've heard very few complaints about them so they must be decent at least.

The Armalite AR 10 SASS will run around $ $2,700.00. Great gun.

These, from POF, are supposed to be high
quality. They use a short stroke piston. They
are also expensive, around $3k. I can afford
the Bushmasters in .308; they work fine.
http://www.pof-usa.com/p308/p308.htm

for the money. Armalite. the AR stands for Armalite.

You can add Les Baer to the list but I have no experience with them. I've shot a KAC SR-25 quite a few times and own a POF P308 which has been 100% reliable and is quite accurate i.e. MOA or better at 100 yards with factory ammunition.

http://www.lesbaer.com/AR308.html

Here is where I got mine from, http://www.ar-10-rifles.com/index.php pic's and descriptions of many of their full builds.

Noveske makes the nicest 7.62 AR I have shoot, outstanding barrel quality and the SWS rails are really nice. The ArmaLite SASS is a close second.

The 7.62 AR's come in several magazine patterns. ArmaLite, Noveske and AP are M14 style. KAC, LMT, CMMG and DPMS are SR-25 style. RRA is FAL and there are some that use G3 mags. The SR-25 mag is the defacto standard and ArmaLite has released new models that use the SR-25 mag.

Noveske N6

I wanted a hunter. I needed to be accurate up to 300 yds, easy to use and move around with in the brush, and compact to maneuver for off hand shots from a climbing tree stand. I traded for this DPMS LR308 and it has met/exceeded all expectations. I only got two deer this year which is plenty for wife and I (neighbors were disappointed though). First one was a 25 yds head on brush shot while moving, second was a 200 yd kneeling shot as it ran into treeline from open field. No doubt the previous guns mentioned are better quality (and more expensive) but the LR 308 does exactly what I need it for. And with my hand loads it absolutely will shoot MOA.

Gap-10, JP


Whatever u do get a platform that allows u to run pmags for the best reliabity.

arthury said:

Thanks for highlting this. I used to think that the mags were std across manufactures, like the 5.56mm platform.

Click to expand...

These big AR's do not have the same kind of parts comparability that there little sisters do. Barrel nuts, bolts and bolt carriers, mag release, bolt stop, RE and RE parts can be different across the different brands.

This AR-10 FAQ is based on ArmaLite but it shows the different parts and well help you get a handle on all the different mag types.

I have owned a POF 308 for two years now. I also have the P-415 in .223. This rifle has performed exceptionally well and I have even competed in F-Class unlimited at 1000yds. My reloads are consistently 1/2 MOA at 300 (see target). I have added only the Bipod and the optic (Vortex PST 30mm 4-16 MIL RAD) to the base platform. In my book it was everything I had wanted in an AR 308 platform and then some. It is 100% reliable (no FTF, FTE yet Accurate, easy to maintain (piston and NP3).

The only other AR 308 platforms I have owned are the DPMS Panther in SASS configuration and a Bushmaster. The POF has them beat hands down IMHO.

RRA is FAL and there are some that use G3 mags

Click to expand...

pick the one lower that uses surplus mags.than pick out your upper design you want.than contact the upper maker and ask them if they can mate your desired upper to your choice lower.
surplus mags are way cheaper in the long run than the proprietary ones,and may be easier to find.plus,if you have a 91 or an fal,you can share.

Kind of hard to rate one rifle over another when they all shoot better than we can. I traded for a DPMS Sportical and turned it into a superior weapon with a Fulton match barrel, JP free float rail, Magpul PRS stock and a Geiselle SSD-E trigger. I have less than 1800 into it and it will shoot better than I can. You relay can't go wrong with any of the current offerings available. Sure would I like an OBR? Definitely. Do I want to pay the price? No. Will it outshoot my DPMS build? Not with me behind the trigger.

I purchased an LMT 308MWS after I came back from my deployment in Afghanistan. The Brits now issue it to their designated marksmen as the L129 in Afghanistan. It's effectively an M110 (SR25) with a fast change barrel feature. It takes pmags, has a monolithic upper receiver, is direct impingement, and can be had with stainless or chrome lined 16, 18, or 20" barrels. Mine has run flawlessly for about 200 rounds and is capable of sub (even 1/2) MOA accuracy with the 16" chrome lined barrel and 168 gr FGMM ammo. $2700 out the door, top notch and highly recommended......don't hear a lot about them on this forum, full review and pics to come.

for the money. Armalite. the AR stands for Armalite.

Click to expand...

Yes, the Armalite small arms division of Fairchild Aviation which has been out of business for nearly half a century now. SR-25 stands for Stoner Rifle, as in Eugene Stoner, who designed the original AR-10 and AR-15. The current company from Illinois calling themselves Armalite makes an AR-10 that won't even accept magazines from the original Fairchild Armalite AR-10.