Ar-10

Purchase an ArmaLite & don't look back!

Steel magazines work & have worked well since their adaptation in the M14/M1A.

Between those three, S&W.

The rock river arms and Armalite have very few after market parts and they are way more expensive. I know they are better guns for the most part but the market is just not there, spend that money on the DPMS platform and tell me its not as good or accurate as an Armalite.
here is an accuracy test i'm the middle of right now with a DPMS. i have also had no jams and gun looks great.


here is the link: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=770828

DANS40XC said:

Purchase an ArmaLite & don't look back!

Steel magazines work & have worked well since their adaptation in the M14/M1A.

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My DPMS came with steel mags and works great. Also got some aftermarket steel mags and they work great too.

My DPMS LR 308 is a great shooter and totally reliable, the new DPMS is much lighter and I understand better engineered. Most acessories are on the DPMS platform.

I've had three dpms ar10s. My current one is chambered in 243.. all have been excellent rifles.. make sure whatever you pic its on the dpms platform. By far the easiest platform to get mags and parts for

I would cross the S&W off your list due to the fact that they use proprietary parts, which they do not sell spares for and won't repair unless it falls under their minimal warranty against defects only. I blew a barrel up on mine, and have now have no way to get a replacement. See this thread: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_121/...SandW_Customer_Service____PICS_ON_PAGE_6.html

Of those you list, I like the Windham best... it's a DPMS pattern too, just with a nicer chrome lined barrel. The Windham with the 18" CL fluted barrel is what I'd go with.

All rifles use proprietary parts. It's just that the availability of spares is better with some than others.

While S&W may not be currently making spare barrels available, they've stated they are planning to make them available soon.

The DPMS Gen II looked promising, but it has compatibility problems with P-Mags, the most reliable, available and affordable of the 308 AR mags out there.

I have not had a chance to try one personally, but I think the new Colt is worth a look. One thing I like about it is it use a shortened carrier allowing the rifle to be shorter than the others

The rock river arms and Armalite have very few after market parts and they are way more expensive.

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Not true and not true. Any parts that are cross compatible between AR-15s and .308 ARs fit both of them. Barrels, bolt carriers and mags are what's unique.

They're also on par with other mid tier .308 ARs price wise.

My DPMS came with steel mags and works great.

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That may be, but the gen II Armalite mags are pretty much as good as it gets. They're also spendy, though.

With an original DPMS pattern, you can buy any part you need, either factory or after market, from a variety of sources. With an Armalite, you can get on their website and order any part you need.

Not so with a S&W. if you break something or wear a proprietary part out and they won't admit to it being defective, you have a paperweight on your hands. As for them saying spares will be available soon, the rifle has been out for 2 years. When you have several options that are so close in performance and price, I'll take the one for which there is an existing source of parts and a company that actually gives a crap about product support.

I have built a lot of ARs. I would not buy anything but a dpms. My cheapest crappiest ar10 was a sportical in 308. And that thing would shoot cover leaves at 100 yards

Double post

I was in the same situation as OP and I went with S&W. I have been really happy with mine. I have heard great things about DPMS also. I use mine for hunting as well as range use. It has been accurate and reliable for me.

MistWolf said:

The DPMS Gen II looked promising, but it has compatibility problems with P-Mags, the most reliable, available and affordable of the 308 AR mags out there.

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I believe the only "compatibility" issue is the last shot hold open on some mags. I agree that's an issue, but it's not like a feed problem and could be solved by a small mofidication to the mag follower.

I hear all the internet stories about DPMS LR's not being quality guns. However, my experience tells me otherwise. I have the older TAC20 version (LR 308) with the 20" barrel and it functions and shoots mighty fine. Now for me that is 1 MOA. It will shoot that at my normal distances of 100, 200, and 300 yards prone with a bi-pod (and no sled or rear bag stuff). Oh, and with my typical cheap 150 grain Hornady BTFMJ bullets ($22 per 100) and multi-fired reloaded brass with Varget. I did slightly polish the stock trigger group for $0 dollars.

Caliper_RWVA said:

I believe the only "compatibility" issue is the last shot hold open on some mags. I agree that's an issue, but it's not like a feed problem and could be solved by a small mofidication to the mag follower.

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Which I understand DPMS has refused to address. It may be a minor thing to mod the magazines but that shouldn't be necessary. Personally, I like the M&P-10 better. However, considering what the Colt has to offer I'm surprised it' not generating more interest

The Colt is cool as long as you like 16" heavy profile barrels. I for one do not.

I have the G2 hunter and not any problems with Pmags. Great shooter not one hiccup and accurate. Way cool piece

They can say what they want about the DPMS but the LR-308 is fantastic I never had a problem one with mine, Lube it good and it will run, They are very accurate. I just bought a SIG 716 DMR and that rifle is unbelievable it is so accurate and runs like a charm, Piston driven and so easy to clean, 1/4 -1/2 moa with 168 HPBT I hear it shoots real well with 175 Lapua's also
I prefer the 308 for longer range and more knockdown over the 223
But the 1.7 and 1.8 twist barrels shoot the heavier bullets a lot better.

henschman said:

The Colt is cool as long as you like 16" heavy profile barrels. I for one do not.

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Heavy profile barrel and comes in at 8.4 lbs? Sounds like they're doing something right. I would prefer an 18-20 inch barrel for a 308 AR, but the Colt MARC 901 is going to worth keeping an eye on

I have the Windham

and I love it. I have handled the DPMS and know a few who have one' they seem like good guns and I don't think you will go wrong with either. Windham is the old Bushmasterthey make very high quality guns like they used to before being bought out by Cerberus. They are also located about twenty miles from where I live.

QUOTE Dpms don't have dust cover shell deflector forward assist or I might get one. Windham is 1123$ QUOTE


The DPMS G2 does have all of the above.Also only weighs 7.75 lbs ,$1300 for the G2 Hunter ordered and it came in a week later.

Awesome firearm.

I have an older Windham made Bushmaster and love it for accuracy and reliability, You don't need forward assist on a 308 believe me the last thing you want to do if something is wrong is jamb the shell in there tighter. Dust covers are nice. Check warranty on all, S&W and Colt has very limited warranty I was going to get a Smith because it was cheap, But in trying to contact them 4 times by e-mail they always mailed me back and said they were busy right now and would get back to me. That was over a year ago still haven't heard from them, Colt is a 16" with a 1-11 or 1-12 twist good if you want to hoot 147 grn ammo, I like a 18" - 20" on a 308 with a 1-10 twist
Colt is also very proprietary on their rifles.
If you are in the price range of Colt check out Sig 716 it is also very proprietary But they do have trigger kits etc the Patrol is reasonably priced I went with the SIG,DMR 18"- Match grade barrel. Piston Driven, 2 stage Geisel trigger . Life time warranty if it breaks they fix it period, Good CS