Gunsmith to work on .308 AR

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JWarren

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Hiya,


I'm starting to do a little research on one of my projects.

I am in need of finding a gunsmith service that works on .308 Caliber AR rifles-- specifically the DPMS LR-308.

I considered doing some of the work myself, but I did know I'd need a professional for one step, and doing the work myself would require an additional expenditure on tools that would be difficult to justify since I will need a gunsmith at one step anyway.

Here's what I am going to need done:

- Remove barrel, forearm, and gas block
- Re-install barrel on new A3 Receiver that I can provide
- Install DPMS SASS 4 rail free-float forearm that I can provide
- Re-install gas block
- Thread 24" SS fluted barrel

I considered sending it to DPMS to do the work, but I don't see that they can thread the barrel.

I am looking for someone that has a website with price list, has a good reputation, and has a reasonable turn-around time.


Thanks for any help you can provide.


-- John
 
Not owning a .308 AR but assuming they are near identical to the .223 version, most of that work is easily done and you may be spending a pretty penny at a gunsmith for it. Aside from the threading, the rest of it can be done with the help of a friend with a couple of tools.

Check at your range and with your friends to see if anyone can help you.
 
Yeah, I was trying to consider the cost options.

I believe that I can do the receiver swap and the forearm replacement myself.

From what I can see, I'd need to have a couple tools: A Combo Tool, a strap wrench, and a free-float forearm wrench.

I'd need to build a receiver shell out of a split cutting board. The AR-15 one doesn't work on the AR-10, and the one that does cost about $40 when the cutting board works pretty good.

It looks like my gas block is held on with a crush pin, so it shouldn't be that hard to get off.

I've got access to the following without having to purchase anything:

Pin punches
5" Vise
Strap wrench
Drill Press (god help me if I need that)
Torque Wrench

From what I can see, I think I have everything, but I've never removed a barrel or installed a FF tube on an AR before.


What I was hoping for was to determine if it would be easier to just have the receiver and forearm swapped out by whoever I get to do the barrel threading-- for a set price.

As I figure it, to thread the barrel, you'd probably have to:

Remove the gas block
Remove the barrel from the receiver
Remove the FF tube that is on the rifle

Then re-install the above.

The problem that I am running into is that some sites I've seen seem to have a seperate charge for:

-Swapping the Reciever
-Installing the free-float forearm
-Threading the barrel

As I see it, since you are going to have to remove the barrel from the forearm and receiver anyway, I'd expect the swap of receiver and forearm to be either free or a minimal charge over the threading-- since its being done anyway.

But I haven't seen anything to indicate that anyone else thinks like me on that.


Figures.


Yeah, I may just do it myself.


Thanks!



-- John
 
Have you tried Armalite? I got my barrel wrench from them about a year ago. The gas block is very easy to get off. The only issue I had was putting the picatinny front upper/lower installed. They didn't ship me the front plate and there's no way the round one would were. I finally got to the Armalite gunsmith and he sent it to me along with some extra front sight pins.
 
AR10,

Only thing is that I have a DPMS LR-308. I doubt Armalite is too keen to help me with it. :)



-- John
 
Just looked at one. Nice rifle, little heavy though. Mine WAS 9.4lb now with all the crap I put on it it's 12lbs.
 
:D Lightweight! My Bushmaster BAR-10 weighs in at 13.2 pounds, with stock furniture, scope, and bipod.
 
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