Custom AR .308 build

[captaintony]

All,

I am starting a custom AR .308 build, and I would like some input.

I am new to the AR platform and the parts suppliers, so if you would, please add where the parts can be purchased.

The main reason is we have a "hog" problem, and I think the AR platform would be the fastest way to eliminate them.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

T

 

[GI_Jared]

The main thing that sucks about the .308 platform ARs is that there is no consistency between the manufacturers. My advice on the issue is to either buy a complete 308 AR gun and modify it to your liking, or do a custom build 300 black out AR. I don't have much experience with hog hunting so I am not sure how much power you are looking for.

My starting platform for a 308 AR would be the new S&W MP-10. They sell for around $1200.


If you do want to go down the custom build road, then this page has a lot of good info under resources
http://www.308ar.com/

 

[Reloadron]

Building an AR type rifle chambered in .223 Remington / 5.56 NATO is a relatively easy task due to the ability to interchange most of the parts. The same isn't quite true of the AR rifles chambered in .308 Winchester / 7.62 NATO as many of the rifles do not share parts.

If in fact you want an AR type rifle chambered in .308 Winchester / 7.62 NATO for hunting hogs I would suggest you buy rather than try to build a complete rifle ready to shoot out of the box. There is also no shortage of of other rifles out there that cost less than the AR types and are suitable for hog hunting. However, if an AR type is what you want I like the Armalite Family of AR 10 rifles.

There are others out there that cost less and will also kill a hog very dead. My overall thinking here is that for what you mention I would look for a turn key solution rather than buy parts and try to build. S&W has some good rifles out there.

Ron

 

[Redlg155]

I'll echo the others and state afactory factory rifle is your best bet.

 

[MistWolf]

Many are having success killing hogs with the 5.56x45. Lower recoil, faster follow up shots and cheaper ammo. If you still prefer to go with the 308, go with the M&P-10. It's a good shooting and consistent rifle and is well made and light for it's type. This one with scope, sling, Magpul furniture and a fully loaded 20 round mag comes in just under 12 lbs. It also has ambidextous controls, if that matters to you. Barrel is 18" long with a 1:10 twist 5R rifling. I've shot this one out to 300 yards and had no trouble keeping all my shots inside a dinner plate sized target at that range
View attachment 677370

It comes with a carbine buffer and recoil is a bit sharp. I tried it with an H2 which did soften it a bit. I plan to try an H3 and a stiffer action spring to see how that works. I think S&W missed the boat by using a middie length gas system instead of something longer. The 308 generates enough volume of gas to run an 18 inch barrel witha rifle length gas system. The flash suppressor is much too long and doesn't seem to do anything to reduce muzzle rise. Trigger is on the good side for a typical standard AR and should be removed, cleaned and lubed. Still, it's a good rifle and about the best value for a 308 AR on the market

 

[adelbridge]

Look hard at the LR 308 pattern. I bought a Remington R 25 and reverse engineered it to fit my hog hunting needs. You can get a CMMG upper and lower if you want to build from scratch. Look to a 20" or shorter sporter profile barrel to save on weight. If I had to do it again I would get a dpms carbon fiber free float hand guard. .308 is perfect on hogs, I have dropped 200-300 pounders drt.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Check out the sticky on hogs in the hunting section. Good info there.

I've completely rebuilt 2 AR-15s, and I'll probably build the next from scratch. That said, I'd probably tend toward a factory rifle in 308, for the reasons listed.

If you do go for a build, be really thorough on your parts research and choose parts that are the most interchangeable.

The flash suppressor is much too long and doesn't seem to do anything to reduce muzzle rise.

Not to be a stickler, but a flash suppressor isn't intended to reduce muzzle rise. You need a muzzle brake if you want to affect performance changes.

 

[MistWolf]

That is so, but some suppressors also offer some recoil control. For example, the design flash supressor of the M14, for example, was supposed to also work as a compensator . I did read one review of the M&P-10 in which the author claimed the flash suppressor worked well to soften recoil. I got a good giggle out of that one

 

[powder]

I am starting a custom AR .308 build, and I would like some input.

Have you bought any parts yet?

If not, buying a new AR-10 (That's ArmaLite) is the way to go.

www.ar10t.com

 

[DammitBoy]

I do not like the Armalite AR10. It rattles and does not seem very substantial when compared to other AR .308's in the same price range.

I decided after a year of research and waiting for prices to drop back into the realm of reality to buy the Sig 716 patrol. I paid $1700 for mine and it's quality ranks up there with the $3000%+ AR10's.

It makes the Armalite and the m&p seem like cheap plastic toys by comparison. I was originally set on getting an LMT, but after handling all the afore mentioned rifles and shooting several of them, I bought the Sig...

 

[Reloadron]

Here you have it:

Have you bought any parts yet?
If not, buying a new AR-10 (That's ArmaLite) is the way to go.
www.ar10t.com

Closely followed by....

I do not like the Armalite AR10. It rattles and does not seem very substantial when compared to other AR .308's in the same price range.

I decided after a year of research and waiting for prices to drop back into the realm of reality to buy the Sig 716 patrol. I paid $1700 for mine and it's quality ranks up there with the $3000%+ AR10's.

It makes the Armalite and the m&p seem like cheap plastic toys by comparison. I was originally set on getting an LMT, but after handling all the afore mentioned rifles and shooting several of them, I bought the Sig...

Which gets us full circle to a matter of personal preference and choice based on the intended application of the rifle.

When I put mine together I had a single purpose in mind and it wasn't hunting hogs or hunting anything. I have much better rifles for hunting than using my AR 10.

Weighing in at close to 15 Lbs loaded with a 24" heavy barrel mine is not quite suitable for hog hunting and really sucks for any hunting. However, it does what I wanted it to do real well. It does get a tad heavy going over the range and shooting offhand.



So what the whole thing really comes down to is finding the rifle that best suits your needs and wants. Ultimately you and only you need to be happy with it.

Ron

 

[itsa pain]

That is so, but some suppressors also offer some recoil control. For example, the design flash supressor of the M14, for example, was supposed to also work as a compensator . I did read one review of the M&P-10 in which the author claimed the flash suppressor worked well to soften recoil. I got a good giggle out of that one

a flash suppressor is slotted on the top and sides and closed off on the bottom. that would push gas up and to both sides to me that would push the barrel down and keep the barrel from rising so much. maybe that would feel like less recoil being the muzzle does not rise so much

 

[itsa pain]

Look hard at the LR 308 pattern. I bought a Remington R 25 and reverse engineered it to fit my hog hunting needs. You can get a CMMG upper and lower if you want to build from scratch. Look to a 20" or shorter sporter profile barrel to save on weight. If I had to do it again I would get a dpms carbon fiber free float hand guard. .308 is perfect on hogs, I have dropped 200-300 pounders drt.

why did you have to redo the R25? after sending mine back 3 times it shot 3 shots in one hole and the other 2 shots 1/2 inch away and it has 20" barrel already

 

[DammitBoy]

Personal preference is king, but you can't compare the quality of an LMT or even the Sig to the Armalite or the M&P.

There is a huge difference and I'm not just talking dollars...

 

[dubbleA]

If buying a complete AR in 308 Win, don't overlook POF. They are put together very well, its actually a night and day difference, the down side is that you will pay for it. As a piston driven AR the recoil is nearly zero when turned off which makes it great shooting from a bench.

 

[taliv]

nice paint!

 

[powder]

I would have LOVED to try out an LMT, LWRC, or a KAC in 7.62? Gorgeous POF BTW...(how much does it weigh?)

At $2000+ ABOVE the price I paid, for my ArmaLite? I'm not rich, have a family and a household to run, and these rifles are re-buildable like a big block 350.

With that price difference I can buy about 4000 rds of New Lake City M80!?

However, THR commandos have turned another decent question into a "chart" war.....*sigh***...

 

[dvdcrr]

My mp10: sub moa, sub 9 lbs. Great rifle. I replaced trigger with aftermarket two stage. Only things I would change are the hider, block and handguard. Not that they dont work, just aesthetics.

 

[taliv]

powder, for the money, i think the cheap DPMS 308 is the best value. 308 ARs aren't like 223 ARs. in 223, there IS a spec, and the difference between "pretty crappy" and "meets min" is $300 or so, and you're $900 more to "pretty dang sweet". For AR10s, it's all a crap shoot and the difference between "start here and customize" and "top tier" is at least $2000 and often $4k. worse, with the "top tier" in 308, they're not all easily customizable due to many proprietary parts, and a lot of the big money ones have reputation of unreliability

 

[Bobson]

nice paint!

Yeah that looks really great. I showed my wife just now and she loved it too lol.

 

[powder]

Well, here's the rifle I just bought NIB for $1300.


Model: AR-10 A4 SPR with Green or Black Furniture
Caliber: .308/7.62 X 51mm NATO
Barrel: 20" Double Lapped, Chrome Lined/Chrome Moly, Threaded 5/8x24, 4140 Steel
Rifling Twist: RH 1:11.25" 150-175 Grain Ammo
Muzzle Device: Flash Suppressor
Front Sight Base: Picatinny Rail Gas Block. Top of gas block is .398 (+/- .010) lower than top of receiver
Upper Receiver: Forged Flat Top Receiver with Picatinny Rail and Forward Assist, 7175-T74 Aluminum
Lower Receiver: 7175-t73 Aluminum (forged)
Trigger: Tactical Two Stage, 1st Stage 3.5 lbs - 2nd Stage Approximately 5-6 lbs.
Overall Length: 41"
Weight: 8.9 lbs
Finish: Anodized Aluminum Upper/Lower Receiver, Manganese Phosphated Steel Barrel
Accuracy: 1.5 - 2 MOA
Included with Rifle: One 10 round Magazine, One 20 round Magazine, Sling, Hard Case, Owners Manual, Limited Lifetime Warranty

The others...

Black Rains $18-2500, COREs $18-2300, POFs around $2300, Colts $18-3300, KAC SR-25 $3600 is their bottom model, LWRC base REPR $2800...

Yup, alot of the AL stuff is proprietary, but I'll actually have one in my hands in a few days. You can't say that for most of the others. Not really interested in a $900 DPMS or a $3000 KAC, and that's just me.

PMd the OP a great deal on the authentic AR-10.

 

[DammitBoy]

That's what sold me on the Sig, only $400 more than the Armalite and a whole lot more gun.

 

[powder]

That's what sold me on the Sig

When you're ready for a new or different barrel? What will you do?

Just curious as I see SIG only sells 516 uppers, with the MSRP of $1132, but nothing listed for the 716s?

 

[DammitBoy]

Since its a hammer forged chrome lined barrel and a piston pusher, I doubt I'll ever need another barrel.

 

[powder]

Since its a hammer forged chrome lined barrel and a piston pusher, I doubt I'll ever need another barrel.

I was just curious.

I just finished researching the AR 7.62 platforms for about 6 mos and could not find a reasonable answer, to that basic aftermarket support question: is there aftermarket support for the 716s per barrels, BCGs, etc., or is it an entirely proprietary rifle to only SIG.

However, SIG doesn't source 716 barrels or uppers on their website, and the current owners don't seem to know much about even doing a basic barrel swap. I'm not trying to "throw rocks" at the 716-love my SIGs and I believe their quality and CS has recently hit a set of higher standards.

OK, guess the reports are not so hot... http://sigtalk.com/sig-sauer-rifles/14080-716-back-repair-right-back-sig.html

My concern over barrel swaps is more for going from the 16" Patrol to possibly a 18"-22" HB for stand deer hunting, but also in buying a used/abused unit that needed a new stick. Lots of info. for the OP.