M1 308 vs dpms 308 vs ar10

[kmcintosh78]

Ok, lets hear it. It is possible that within the next month or 2 I will be able to acquire one of these rifles.
It will be used for mid to short range. Would like to hit paper at long distances every now and then. Maybe hunting.

Looking for reliable, inexpensive mags would be nice.

Thanks

 

[Robert]

It will be used for mid to short range. Would like to hit paper at long distances every now and then.

What ranges are we talking here? Short to me is 100m but you might be different.

 

[kmcintosh78]

100 to 200 yards.

 

[Robert]

100 to 200 is fairly short for the 308 but heck that is all most ranges give you to work with. When you say M1, do you mean M1A or a converted M1 Garand? Of the three listed I'd go with the AR 10 or the DPMS. I have a friend with a M1A and it has given him nothing but trouble.

 

[Zane]

The DPMS LR-308 is a heavy beast. The last 6 inches of the bull barrel makes the rifle very muzzle heavy. It is fine from a rested position, but is hard to hold off hand (I haven't shot one). I would not want to hunt with one unless I had a blind or other rested spot. I would not want to stalk game with it.

There are variants/configuration changes that you should look at. The LR308B has an 18 inch barrel and is much more balanced. The LR308T/AP4 is even shorter. The C is between the B and the standard. There are even more. You want to look at the configuration that is what you are looking for. I picked the LR-308L. It is the lightest of the bunch and it has the best trigger. It is fine for punching paper rested and it has worked great in 3-Gun matches.

My LR-308L isn't a fan of the heaviest loads. The groups are much tighter with 165-167gr bullets than with 175-180 gr. I'm running C-Products magazines, which are about $16 each and I have had no magazine issues with them.

I also looked at the M1A. It seemed heavy as well and I wasn't as big a fan of it.

All I can say is figure out exactly what your requirements are and then try to handle a few. I like the LR308B and L variants the best. I would like to get an AP4 upper some day. To each, their own.

 

[VegasAR15]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but are there any big differences between the DPMS 308 and an AR10?

 

[kmcintosh78]

No re-done M1s, only new.
Ar10 and DMPS 308 are different companies.
I just had my brother, who is a PMC, comment on how bad the DMPS ar15s are.

 

[spartywrx]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but are there any big differences between the DPMS 308 and an AR10?

AR10 is by Armalite. DPMS is well DPMS. The uppers and lowers are not compatible between the two, nor are magaines (to my knowledge, I don't own either).

 

[VegasAR15]

I had thought they were the same, like the different AR15 manufacturers. I wasn't aware that the uppers and lowers aren't interchangable. Good to know, since I have been planning on a DPMS 308 as one of my next rifle builds. So are the mags made by magpul specifically for the DPMS? I have seen parts kits and barrels not made by DPMS or Armalite, wonder how compatable those are with each rifle.

 

[Birddog1911]

A lot of people are under the impression that the M1A weighs more than the AR 308s. Here are the facts:
M1A Standard w/22" barrel: 9.3 lbs
Armalite AR 10 w/ 20" barrel: 9.6 lbs.
DPMS LR 308B w/20" barrel: 9.65 lbs.

My vote is for the M1A.

 

[jem375]

DPMS is what I would buy, getting very good reviews... probably my next buy...

 

[Zane]

A lot of people are under the impression that the M1A weighs more than the AR 308s. Here are the facts:
M1A Standard w/22" barrel: 9.3 lbs
Armalite AR 10 w/ 20" barrel: 9.6 lbs.
DPMS LR 308B w/20" barrel: 9.65 lbs.

My vote is for the M1A.

Keep in mind that while weight is important, the length and distribution of that weight is important in the perception of weight. The LR308B has 4" less barrel, but is 7 inches shorter than the M1A. The perception of weight will be higher with a longer barrel when held off hand. The ergonomics of the rifle will also change the perception of weight.

To answer the other question, DPMS, Remington, POF, and KAC all use essentially interchangable parts. Many parts are from the AR-15 are also interchangable. The magazines are all interchangable. I believe that Rock River is too, but I'm not certain. Armalite uses a modified M14 magazine and are AR-10 specific.

 

[red_cedar]

The DPMS 308 LR is a heavy rifle, more for bench shooting. The AP4 pretty sure weighs in at about 7lbs. I have been looking at the AP4 for a while now.
One day I'll break down and get one.

 

[W.E.G.]

The LR-308-T is lightweight, handy, and accurate.

100 yards, resting over an ammo can.


Size comparison

 

[Quentin]

The ArmaLite AR-10B can use modified M14 magazines or a new design from ArmaLite. The AR-10 does use some AR-15 parts, mainly in the lower receiver. (I guess technically that should be reversed - the AR-15 uses some AR-10 parts since the 15 was a spinoff of the 10 back in the 1950s.)

 

[AH-1]

I was thinking about the same thing not long ago...



SPECIFICATIONS SOCOM 16 ACTION: Rotating-bolt, gas-operated semi-auto
CALIBER: .308 Winchester
CAPACITY: 10 rounds
BARREL LENGTH: 16.25 inches
OVERALL LENGTH: 37.25 inches
WEIGHT: 8.9 pounds
SIGHTS: Enlarged military aperture with MOA click adjustments; tritium front post; Picatinny-type rail for optical sights
STOCK: Black fiberglass

this will give you a idea of the size if you haven't seen one.(pic was borrowed)

 

[dmazur]

No re-done M1s, only new.

There aren't any new M1's being made at this time. Springfield had a run of reproduction Garands a few years ago, but there wasn't much demand.

M1A's are still being made. Different beast...

 

[futureranger]

so which one is the easiest to make more accurate? i know the Army used to use M21 for sniping then went to a Remington 700 (i believe M24?) now are back with a 308 cal AR. for shooting really little groups, which of the 3 can be made to shoot the best?

 

[Z-Michigan]

Keep in mind that while weight is important, the length and distribution of that weight is important in the perception of weight. The LR308B has 4" less barrel, but is 7 inches shorter than the M1A. The perception of weight will be higher with a longer barrel when held off hand. The ergonomics of the rifle will also change the perception of weight.

I fully agree in principle, but having handled the LR-308B back to back with an M1A loaded (heavier barrel under the handguard) model several times, the LR-308B carries its weight farther forward than the M1A and requires a lot of left arm strength to hold on target. The M1A is no lightweight either, but not quite as front heavy. The LR-308B has a fully "bull" (super heavy) barrel to the muzzle, which makes a lot of weight out front, while the M1A (standard or loaded) has a relatively thinner barrel profile past the gas block.

 

[Z-Michigan]

so which one is the easiest to make more accurate?

At any given price point the DPMS .308s with a free-floated barrel are likely to be the most accurate.

If your budget is large, any of the platforms can be made into 1 MOA or less shooters. Just plan upwards of $2k to do that with an M1A and at least over $1500 to do it with an Armalite (the free-floated handguards are an option and you're starting from a higher base price than the DPMS). In contrast the sub $1000 DPMS models with a free float barrel (including the plain LR-308 and the LR-308B) seem to do less than 1.5 MOA out of the box.

This is only addressing accuracy. There are many other reasons you might consider the other rifles ahead of the DPMS depending on your uses and personal preferences.

 

[bpl]

M21 = M14 with a lot of work done to it
M24 = M700 with a lot of work done to it
SR-25/others = "AR-10" with a lot of work done to it

All three platforms are currently in use in some capacity. Most common are M700 variants and various M14s and modified M16s used as DMRs or light sniper rifles. The AR-10 rifles are used only by some special forces I believe.

so which one is the easiest to make more accurate?

Probably the M700. It has the potential for the best accuracy, although some AR pattern rifles are not far behind. The M14/M1A/M21 would come in third in accuracy potential out of these three.

 

[Wyo_F-A]

Any thought given to the FNAR or their Winchester branded SX-AR? I know the mags are expensive ($65-$80 AND it seems the round capacity doesn't vary the price), but I have been VERY happy with my SX-AR 20" heavy barrel. I spent a long time with money in my pocket for a semi-auto .308 and finally decided 6 weeks ago. The ergonomics of the rifle fit me better than the others you mentioned. I saw the SX-AR for $899.99 new at Sportsman's Warehouse (Casper, WY) two weeks ago and kicked myself for not waiting a few more weeks, as I paid a local dealer $1100 for mine.