What AR rifle in .308 ...
- Thread starter bigarm
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wally
Member
In what price range?
ratt_finkel
Member
My next AR will be a .308 caliber. I'm personally looking at the DPMS Sportical because it's the lightest advertised I have seen. Obviously, it's on the lower end of the price scale.
I have a DPMS LR308 AP4 that has been a fantastic AR for hunting. I have taken game at ranges up to 300 yards which is about as far as I can see where I hunt. I have been really happy with the rifle and have had no issues. These rifles are not too expensive and well built.
I have been waiting on one of these for going on 15 months since I put down my deposit, hopefully the wait is almost over. These are fairly pricey.
F&D Defense FD308
I have been waiting on one of these for going on 15 months since I put down my deposit, hopefully the wait is almost over. These are fairly pricey.
F&D Defense FD308
dusty14u
Member
I picked up a S&W MP10 for hunting this year and couldn't be happier. I put a Nikon ProStaff on top and it is a very accurate and reliable rifle.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
You will find no shortage of threads on this subject. Try a few forum searches. You also do not mention budget or intended application. Knowing budget and intended application would help your replies quite a bit.
I built mine maybe 17 years ago and it was built with a match target rifle in mind. There were not as many choices back when I built mine and I went with an ArmaLite AR10(T) for a starter. The barrel was changed as well as the trigger and obviously the sights. Anyway, I was happy with it for the intended application and overall it has been a good rifle.
Again, if you better state your intended use and budget it will help getting good answers. Then just get whatever trips your trigger for your budget and application(s).
Just My Take....
Ron
I built mine maybe 17 years ago and it was built with a match target rifle in mind. There were not as many choices back when I built mine and I went with an ArmaLite AR10(T) for a starter. The barrel was changed as well as the trigger and obviously the sights. Anyway, I was happy with it for the intended application and overall it has been a good rifle.
Again, if you better state your intended use and budget it will help getting good answers. Then just get whatever trips your trigger for your budget and application(s).
Just My Take....
Ron
Welding Rod
Member
I got a MP10 and am now really happy with it. The trigger sucked but I replaced it with a TTU 2-stage.
I had some function problems out of the box with surplus 7.62... not powerful enough to operate reliably and short stroked. Some commercial .308 seemed to work fine, one other was too weak.
None of the ammo I tried (Rem Core-Lock, some Federal load) shot very accurately in my rifle. Not even Black Hills match (which incidentally had some pressure signs and blew a primer, tieing up the gun pretty bad). I recall the best groups were in the high 2 MOA range up to maybe 4 MOA. That is using a 14x Leupold. I figured the light barrel just wasn't going to be a shooter.
Then I tried a handload in it. WCC 05 brass, SMK 168 grains @ 2.800", CCI LR, and 42.0 grains of Varget. I couldn't believe it. I shot several consecutive 3 shot groups to zero with this load and they were all sub MOA, and that was with a red dot on it (Aimpoint M4S). Same load shot really well in my M1A on the same day too.
Function was perfect.
So I need to rescope and try shooting the ARFcom sub MOA all day challenge (5 consecutive 5-shot groups at 100 yards) and see how it does now.
I had some function problems out of the box with surplus 7.62... not powerful enough to operate reliably and short stroked. Some commercial .308 seemed to work fine, one other was too weak.
None of the ammo I tried (Rem Core-Lock, some Federal load) shot very accurately in my rifle. Not even Black Hills match (which incidentally had some pressure signs and blew a primer, tieing up the gun pretty bad). I recall the best groups were in the high 2 MOA range up to maybe 4 MOA. That is using a 14x Leupold. I figured the light barrel just wasn't going to be a shooter.
Then I tried a handload in it. WCC 05 brass, SMK 168 grains @ 2.800", CCI LR, and 42.0 grains of Varget. I couldn't believe it. I shot several consecutive 3 shot groups to zero with this load and they were all sub MOA, and that was with a red dot on it (Aimpoint M4S). Same load shot really well in my M1A on the same day too.
Function was perfect.
So I need to rescope and try shooting the ARFcom sub MOA all day challenge (5 consecutive 5-shot groups at 100 yards) and see how it does now.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
That being the case I would think long and hard about the S&W M&P 10 flavors available. The DPMS LR308 is another good option but based on the ones I have shot between those two I tend to lean towards the S&W M&P 10 rifles. If you can get the opportunity to handle both I would see which suits you better and feels right for you.
Ron
The actual weight of my M&P-10, empty, configured with Magpul furniture and a sling is 8 lbs, 10 oz. A loaded 20 round mag is about 1 lbs, 8 oz and brings total weight up to 10 lbs, 2 oz
View attachment 683332
With a Nightforce 2.5-10x32, it weighs 10 lbs, 5 oz empty, 11 lbs, 14 oz loaded
View attachment 683333
View attachment 683332
With a Nightforce 2.5-10x32, it weighs 10 lbs, 5 oz empty, 11 lbs, 14 oz loaded
View attachment 683333
waffentomas
Member
I bought an AP-4 about 6 years ago and have been very happy with it. DPMS builds their .308s much better than their 5.56 ARs, but they are far from a high end rifle. I have put mine through some pretty intense range sessions, rapid fire, and all that, and never had a problem. Accuracy has been MOA with handloads. I like the rifle, but I'll hit the .308 Galil before anything else, even the M1A.
Tom
Tom
Doc Savage
Member
Love my DPMS LR308 Classic. It's a tackdriver. Helped a buddy pick one up and he went with the MP-10, they didn't have any DPMSs at the time. Both are good. The only issue I know of with the MP is that more parts are proprietary to SW than the DPMS.
captain awesome
Member
I couldnt decide on one myself and eventually decided to go super high end and get an Lwrc repr. (I prefer the piston driven designs) So I started saving. Then a couple weeks ago I heard about the ruger sr762. I love my sr556 in 6.8 spc so much that to me it was a no brainer. It should arrive at my lgs in a few days.
It is good to here you guys are having good luck with the mp10's. I had concerns about the pencil barrel and accuracy because of It, but from the sound of it S&W did a good job.
It is good to here you guys are having good luck with the mp10's. I had concerns about the pencil barrel and accuracy because of It, but from the sound of it S&W did a good job.
LebbenB
Member
Glad you're happy, but I loves me my REPR.
Does well with 147-150 gr .308, but really shines with 168 and 175 BTHPs.
More .308 AR goodness:
Armalite AR10A4 Carbine with Magpul ACS stock, GG&G bi-pod, and Armalite FF sleeve.
To the OP - If you're looking for a solid .308 AR that won't break the bank, I'd look HARD at the SW MP10, Armalite AR-10B/10A, and the SR762 (for that piston flava!)
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captain awesome
Member
Yeah, I w8ll still probably end up with a repr down the line... it'll be a while though. They are pricy. But that side charging handle....and well everything else about it. Still want one bad.
I have a Remington R25 which is made by dpms which I paid 995 for and has 20 inch medium barrel (remingtons barrel not dpms) which I think is the best for weight accuracy etc. I have no desire to fire a .308 round in a skinny 16 inch barrel and recoil does not bother me. after sending it back 3 times for chamber clean up recrown I shot 3 into one hole and the other 2 shots 3/8 away.
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yzguy87
Member
I've had good experiences with 3 DPMS 308's and a great experience with a RRA predator in 308.
ALL 308 ARs are piston driven
The S&W barrel is larger in diameter under the handguards, larger than a FAL barrel. The S&W profile is similar to a standard "sporter" profile
View attachment 683381
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