Questions on the DPMS LR-308B

[tkcomer]

Does anybody have one of these? I'm thinking of getting one with the A-3 upper as I'm a lefty. Not sure if I'd use their upgraded trigger or install one myself. One reason I'm thinking of DPMS is, if I get one, and it works out OK, I may get a 243 upper for it. How do these things do with mil surp ammo? I have a bunch of '79 Indian ammo from years back. Will it cycle OK through this gun? I will reload for the gun as I'm set up for that and that's all it will have after the Indian rounds are gone. Main use will be fun gun and paper punching. Occasional critter if I have it out and see one. Is the accuracy OK with good ammo? Any inputs will be appreciated.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

I don't have an LR-308B, but I do have a recently purchased LR-308 Classic with an A-3 upper and 20" heavy barrel. The only differences I see between the 2 other than the barrel lengths is that my upper has the forward assist, shell deflector, dust cover, and an A-2 front sight. My rifle has functioned flawlessly using 1975 OFV Indian ammo and shot groups leave little to be desired, for my needs. I hope some of this can help answer your questions. Sorry about the error on my part, with the A-3 upper. My rifle slings the brass back to about the 5 o clock position with the deflector and I haven't noticed any dings in the brass from it either.

 

[tkcomer]

I'm not expecting great groups with the Indian ammo, just thought I'd use it to break the gun in and for trigger practice. Glad to hear it works. I've read where other brands don't do so hot with mil surp and I have about 1K laying around. I want the flat top for scope use.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Here is a pic of my rifle.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

I have a LR308B and have used surp with success so far...I will tell you though that using Indian voids the warranty, so beware.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Joe, no where in the literature that came with my gun does it state that Indian ammo will void your warranty. It states reloaded, israeli, korean, chilean, pmp, south african, laquer coated ammo. Doesn't say you can't use poly coated steel cases either.

 

[Geno]

If you want extreme accuracy, get the steel upper receiver. That is what I have in a DPMS AP4 variant, in 7.62X51. At 50 yards off the bench, it prints tight little clovers. One of these days I plan to mount the 36X and take it to the 100 yards bench.

I still have the original "thick wall" aluminum upper receiver and plan to have that barreled with a .260 Rem if I keep the rifle.

I have been thinking of selling it, and the 1,200 rounds of .308, to buy a very high quality, all original M1 Garand.

According to the folks at DPMS, the barrel weight is not the critical factor in their rifles' accuracy. They assert that adhering to the 200 rounds break-in process is the critical factor. The process is to fire 1 round, disassemble, clean, reassemble and fire 1 round...repeat 200 times.

Thus far, I have 20 rounds fired through mine. The process is slow, but my groups are coming out extraordinarily tight. By the way, it can be configured as the "A3" style with the carry-handle. They cost $139.00. The front sights range from $59.00 to $159.00 depending on style.

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[tkcomer]

Nice rifles! Why would mil surp void a warranty? Any warranty? I know why reloads do and can understand why coated rounds would. Just never figured out why the mil surp rounds would. Doc2005, glad to see you could mount a scope without the use of another part to move the scope forward. I had to do that on my AR-15. Does it use a standard Picatinny scope mount? The reason I ask is that I have a 3-Bucc brass catcher on my AR-15. Works great. Thought I might try it on the DPMS if I get it. That barrel break-in seems a pain though. Is that what DPMS recommends?

 

[Geno]

The rail is standard Mil Spec Picatinny. These are standard Leupold rings. In fact, it is the very same scope and rings that I use on my Weatherby Mark V.

The break-in is recommended for maximum accuracy. It isn't required. I doubt most people go though this extent of breaking in the barrel.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

Joe, no where in the literature that came with my gun does it state that Indian ammo will void your warranty. It states reloaded, israeli, korean, chilean, pmp, south african, laquer coated ammo. Doesn't say you can't use poly coated steel cases either.

Yep, my mistake! I guess I was thinking of Israeli when I saw Indian.

And all this time I thought I didn't make mistakes.



Now looking at it again, that sucks that Port voids the warranty.



BTW, not to hijack the thread, but how would they ever know if you used a certain kind of ammo anyway? I can see maybe them checking around for laquer residue, but brass???

 

[Titan6]

I doubt most people go though this extent of breaking in the barrel.

I did. About half way through I almost quit with all the strange looks I was getting shotgunning and rodding my weapon every few rounds but I did it anyway. Don't know if it helped any but can't say I am disappointed with the way it shoots either.

 

[tkcomer]

OK, another question. What kind of triggers are you running in these guns? Standard, upgrade or aftermarket? I use a Chip McCormick in one AR-15 and a RRA in another. I actually like the RRA better. The fact that I want an A-3 style upper with no other mods other than the trigger means I'll probably have to order this gun. I'm a plain Jane kinda guy other than I like free float tubes. One problem is where to get the gun if I go this route. There are no DPMS dealers around me. They seem to like Armalite.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

I found a steal on a NIB 2.5-3lb timney drop in and it rocks...But if I had to pay full price for it, I probably would have spent the extra $$$ and got a Jewell.

The 308B comes with a free float tube and not much else anyway.

Talk to fellow THR'r aloharover. I ordered mine from him...Great price and even better communication throughout the process.

 

[Geno]

tkcomer:

Mine is a free-floated barrel. I have the stock trigger. On this rifle, as with all of my firearms, I use light oil and "Moly" on the trigger. It is what Bushmaster recommends. It helps the trigger break very nicely. Re: where to buy one, have it ordered. Or find one here on-line. I have seen several sell here.

Doc2005

 

[kcmarine]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Indian surplus 7.62 NATO incredibly poor ammo if you get the stuff from a certain time period?

 

[tkcomer]

Once again, another question. Is the DPMS ammo sensitive? I load 40.6grs of Ramshots Tac behind the 168 Sierra Matchking for my Remington 700 stainless varmint special. Very accurate load but it is on the light side. The sniper dude on the local police force is amazed at this load at 100 yards. Does the DPMS need a "stout" load to cycle? Sorry for all these questions but I'd like to know what to expect from the gun. And yes, the Indian ammo doesn't group worth a crap.

 

[Geno]

I haven't had any issues with mine. Zero failures. But remember, I am still at 20 rounds. For all intents, it's still new. The ammo I have been using is "American Eagle, 150 Gr. FMJ Boat-tail".

I also have Winchester FMJs, Remington FMJs, etc. Finally, I have about 600 rounds of Chilean, but haven't fired any yet. Yet. I asked DPMS about handloads and they told me I could. They said their concern is people reloading who don't know how and destroying it.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Doc, when it comes down to it, verbal authorization doesn't leave you a leg to stand on if something happens. I would be more apt to follow the written recommendations.
TKC, DPMS operators manual states:

To achieve the best results for acuuracy you should clean the chamber and bore after every round for the first 25 rounds and then every 10 rounds up to 100 rounds. It usually takes about 200 rounds per barrel for optimum accuracy. Please keep in mind that our barrels are production barrels and not custom barrels. Accuracy is dependent upon many factors such as bullet weight, powder load, rifling twist, rifling lands, operator technique, etc. Our production barrels have achieved anywhere from 1/8" to 1 1/2" M.O.A. Obviously, we would hope that every production barrel would shoot 1/8" M.O.A., but with all the above factors, we cannot guarantee a specific group size.

 

[tkcomer]

I'm not going to argue barrel break-in. 1/8 MOA? I can't shoot that good. I spent today trying to get a Winchester 94 to print under 3" at 50 yards with my low power loads. I did break in my AR-15 with a Model 1 Sales 16" varmint upper with a similar procedure. It will shoot consistent 1" groups at 100 yards. That's with Sierra Matchkings. With bulk FMJ, it's more like 3". Thanks for all these answers. Now I need to find a dealer who can order this gun. Or at least to see what it will cost.

 

[ramey84]

i shot just over an inch@100 yards with winchester whitebox ammo out of my 308b last weekend

 

[Geno]

Yeah, it shoots well. One of the best-ever rifles I have had was my Remington M700V chambered in 6mm Remington. The 95 Gr handloads consistently grouped 3/8" at 300 yards. That was a shooter. That, of course, was back when I practiced several times per week. The folks at DPMS told me that many people report consistent .5" groups at 100 yards with their DPMS rifles.

I paid around $1,100ish for this DPMS. When I sent it back to DPMS because the upper receiver was too tight, they upgraded the receiver to steel for $125.00, and corrected the over-tight aluminum one. The steel upper usually cost $300.00. The 19-round magazines cost $44.00 each, but I paid $33.00ish each.

Any FFL can order one.

 

[Titan6]

What kind of triggers are you running in these guns?

I kept the clunky factory trigger. Only because it shoots just like my carry M4.

The folks at DPMS told me that many people report consistent .5" groups at 100 yards with their DPMS rifles.

With the right ammo at a rest, nearly all groups are touching. Off hand no bigger than 4" till I get tired. Can't complain about the accuaracy and I am not that good of a shot either.

 

[Urbana John]

I've got the DPMS AP4 and it shoots my reloads without any problems, but I'm still "breaking it in". I put a McCormick trigger in it,but haven't shot it yet and I've got a muzzle brake to put on it too.
I was talking to a Columbus police officer about his, but his is a different model, anyway he was "out shooting" Columbus SWAT officers with his!!! He said he changed the "buffer" and with the muzzle brake, his "felt recoil" was like a 22LR!!!
So now, I'm trying to contact him again to find out what "buffer" he's got!!
UJ

 

[Titan6]

Putting in a heavier buffer might reduce recoil it will also certainly lower your cyclic rate of fire. You might not want that.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Sounds like a hydraulic piston buffer. Just a guess on my part.