Teach me about .308 ARs

[RavenVT100]

I was tossing around the idea of building my own AR, but lamenting the fact that I don't yet own a bolt action .308 for longer ranged target shooting. Then I realized that I might potentially combine the best of both worlds.

What is involved with building an AR in .308 vs. the customary .223? Are there any companies that would be a better choice for a .308 upper? Does the lower have to be different at all? What kind of accuracy can I expect from an AR in .308 vs. something like a stock Remington 700?

 

[waterhouse]

The lowers are completely different and not interchangeable. Unlike stripped ar-15 lowers, I'm not aware of anyone that offers cheap AR-10 lowers. I looked into building one and ended up getting a pre assembled armalite ar-10(t) (it's the target model). There are tons of parts out there which make it fairly easy to build up your ar-15; I found the same isn't true for the ar-10.

As far as accuracy, my Remmy LTR in .308 groups just about the same as my ar-10 when using match ammo at 200 yards.

As far as brands, mine is the only one I've shot and I like it a lot. The mags are pricey though. I think the bushmaster ones use FAL mags (I'm not positive about this) which are a lot cheaper.

Anyhow, here she is:

 

[RavenVT100]

So in essence, there are no interchangable lowers and only AR-10 lowers are useable? One would imagine that they could be built more or less the same.

Perhaps I'll just stick with the .223 platform. I don't hunt, and there's still quite a bit of fun to be had with the smaller ammunition.

 

[jem375]

DPMS also makes a 308 AR and according to people that have them, they are very accurate and dependable.

 

[RavenVT100]

Customizability would be a priority for me. I have tons of fun with my existing stock XM15E2S and I have no reason to simply duplcate that as I have one already. What I am looking for is the added benefit of customizability and scopeability, since my existing one is an A2. If the .308s aren't as customizable as their .223 bretheren, I may reconsider.

 

[NMshooter]

Since Bushmaster seems to have discontinued the BAR-10, and Knight's SR-25 is very difficult to get a hold of, you are looking at either an Armalite AR-10 or the DPMS rifle.

If Armalite comes out with their new magazine by the end of the year like they have said they would the AR-10 would be the rifle to get.

If this is a range only rifle the DPMS is at least as good.

Someday I may have a Noveske barrel for my AR-10, and then it will likely outshoot my Savage 10-FP.

 

[MachIVshooter]

There are some accessories for the AR-10's, but not near as many as for the 15 and they cost more. But I have found no need to change anythin on my AR-10A2C. I just added and ARMS rail to the carry handle and topped it with a 1x red dot. G-3 magazines can be modified to fit the AR-10, but the stock HK follower will not lock the AR bolt open. You must swap the followers.
Armalite has quad M1913 picatinny foregrips for the AR-10, as well as 6 position stocks (the standard A2/A4, CQT and (T) model have regular fixed stocks). Honestly, I can't think of what else you'd really need. They're a very satisfactory unit right out of the box.

 

[Beethoven]

I was tossing around the idea of building my own AR, but lamenting the fact that I don't yet own a bolt action .308 for longer ranged target shooting. Then I realized that I might potentially combine the best of both worlds.

What is involved with building an AR in .308 vs. the customary .223? Are there any companies that would be a better choice for a .308 upper? Does the lower have to be different at all? What kind of accuracy can I expect from an AR in .308 vs. something like a stock Remington 700?

How about an M1A for a .308 rifle?

You can definitely accurize that for long range shooting!

Then you could also build a standard (.223) AR and have that too!

 

[RavenVT100]

Beeothoven: Don't tempt me. Seriously though, doesn't the M1A need to be periodically tuned in order to remain accurate at range? I'm looking for an accurate .308 rifle that I can scope for 300 yard shooting and above.

OR

I'll stick with .223 and build an AR with a match grade barrel on it for precision shooting within 300 yds. Doesn't matter to me either way. But I don't have a boltie yet.

 

[Beethoven]

Beeothoven: Don't tempt me. Seriously though, doesn't the M1A need to be periodically tuned in order to remain accurate at range? I'm looking for an accurate .308 rifle that I can scope for 300 yard shooting and above.

OR

I'll stick with .223 and build an AR with a match grade barrel on it for precision shooting within 300 yds. Doesn't matter to me either way. But I don't have a boltie yet.

I don't know.

I don't THINK so, but I'm no expert. The experts at www.m-14forum.com will know.

If you don't have a bolt-gun, you simply must get one!

 

[DMK]

OR I'll stick with .223 and build an AR with a match grade barrel on it for precision shooting within 300 yds. Doesn't matter to me either way. But I don't have a boltie yet.

What are you trying to hit at 300 yards? If it's just paper, then the .223 will do just fine and be cheaper to build and operate.

 

[NMshooter]

Why not get a .223 AR first and shoot it a bunch?

After a couple thousand rounds through that you will have a better idea of what to get next.

 

[lycanthrope]

I agree. Get a .223 and then a 6.5 Grendel or .300 WSM upper for later if you really want punch out deep.

 

[MarshallDodge]

What lycanthrope and NMshooter said. At 300 yards you can get very good accuracy out of the .223 . There are a ton of options for the AR including rifling twist rates. You may want to choose the right twist for the bullets you choose to shoot.

 

[Darth Muffin]

I'm looking for an accurate .308 rifle that I can scope for 300 yard shooting and above.

Have you looked at the PTR-91? http://www.jldenter.com

I have the base model PTR-91. 100% reliable over 1500 rounds so far. I don't have any optics for it (yet), but it shoots about 2-3 MOA with iron sights and mil-surp ammo. I hear people get 1MOA with match ammo and I believe it.

I can reliably hit a 12" steel plate at 300 yards with the iron sights.

The base gun is around $700. Magazines are nearly free ($2 or less). Scope mounts are kind of spendy which is why I haven't put any optics on mine yet. You'll also want a trigger job ($35), the stock pull is pretty hard for precision target work. Furniture, parts, and accessories are all straight-up G3 or HK91 stuff for the most part.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Waterhouse, what is that scope mount? How well does it hold zero when you remove/remount it?

 

[modifiedbrowning]

There are AR-10 lowers available from Eagle Arms, part of Armalite.
http://www.quanticoarms.com/asp/ite...=Eagle Arms&CMNum=22&CMSNum=68&CMSN=Receivers
As well as uppers.
http://quanticoarms.com/armalite/armaliteTopEnds.htm
I've never researched the .308 AR so I don't if this any cheaper than buying a complete rifle but it's a start.

 

[Kodiak AK]

Skip the Bushy . They killed it for a reason .

 

[DunedinDragon]

I was tossing around the idea of building my own AR, but lamenting the fact that I don't yet own a bolt action .308 for longer ranged target shooting. Then I realized that I might potentially combine the best of both worlds.

I'm in the same boat as you. I REALLY want to get a .308 and it seems like an AR-10 would be a good choice given I already own and have built several AR's.

On the other hand, I'd like to get something different than an AR. Given the price for either an Armalite or a DPMS is not much different from a Tikka T3 Tactical, I'm really drawn to the Tikka.
Like THIS one

On the other hand, I was in a local gun store the other day and saw the FN Herstal .308. SHEESH...this is gonna be a hard decision.

 

[TIMC]

Skip the Bushy . They killed it for a reason .

The only reason I could see is it was more expensive than the Armalite AR-10. This what killed it's sales. I have the Bushmaster AR-10, very nice and very accurate rifle. I have no plans on getting rid of mine.

 

[-C4-]

The only reason I could see is it was more expensive than the Armalite AR-10. This what killed it's sales. I have the Bushmaster AR-10, very nice and very accurate rifle. I have no plans on getting rid of mine.

They killed it because there wasn't a large enough market for it, NOT because it wasn't a great gun. My friend just got one and he said it is rock solid. Personally I have two eagle arms/armalite mixes (eagle lower + armalite upper). And they are both amazing guns. You can't really go wrong with either of them.

-C4-

 

[sigstroker]

Unless you're the type that buys 4 magazines for his military type rifle, the Bushy would end up cheaper than the Armalite. I've seen FAL mags as cheap as $6 and the Armalites are $40+.

If you only need it to shoot 300 yads, that's a piece of cake for a .223.

 

[Higgy]

Unless you're the type that buys 4 magazines for his military type rifle, the Bushy would end up cheaper than the Armalite. I've seen FAL mags as cheap as $6 and the Armalites are $40+.

If you only need it to shoot 300 yads, that's a piece of cake for a .223.

I agree. Good heavy-barreled AR15s will easily punch-out targets at 400yds all day long. Also as far as expense is concerned, a Savage FP10 LE1 with a nice tactical scope and badger rings would cost about as much as an AR10 before you added the scope. All this, PLUS you would get all the range to boot.

 

[asknight]

Word on the street is that Rock River is shipping their LAR-308s now, albeit a bit delayed due to demand.

Of course, I find this out the moment I put a DPMS LR-308T on layaway!

 

[MachIVshooter]

Holy dead thread!