Heavy barrel for .308 AR-15?

[kemassey]

Am looking to purchase an DPMS LR-AP4 or LR-308T. Trying to decide if a heavy barrel would work good. This will be used for target practice. Seems the heavy barrel is cheaper price wise. Looking at both guns and weight difference is around 4oz heavier with the heavy barrel. Just wanted some input from other folks on this forum. Looking for pros and cons. I'm pretty new to the AR world. Thanks.

[Jimro]

Well, an AR-15 won't handle a 308 Win, maybe you are thinking of an AR-10?

Jimro

[sailskidrive]

>>Well, an AR-15 won't handle a 308 Win, maybe you are thinking of an AR-10?

Huh? What about the M110?


DPMS makes a reasonably priced AR15 in .308. The near bull barrel version is very accurate for the price but also very heavy. It seems likes every major AR manufacturer now has a .308 based on the same lower receiver as DPMS. If 4 oz is the only difference between the two barrels I personally wouldn't let that hold me back.

Or you could always buy an AR-10.

~Sail

[lmccrock]

If there is just 4 oz difference between barrels, then it is not very heavy. Often, barrel blanks are made in a heavy profile, then turned down to make them thinner, so the extra process costs more. Thinner is lighter, but heats up faster.

The AR-15 magwell is not big enough for 308, so generally we do not refer to the 308-ish versions as "AR-15". They may be AR10, M110, LR308, OBR, whatever. May as well mention that "AR-10" is a trademark of Armalite and they get uppity when another "AR in 308" is called AR-10.

Lee

[kemassey]

Sorry new to the AR line and don't always use the correct names. Just wanting some input on the .308 . Are all rifles in .308 considered an AR-10?
Just learning the proper names. Thanks for the info.

[hodaka]

I bought a LR-308 with a long fluted barrel when they first came out and kept it for about 4 years. Outstanding accuracy, especially after I added a Jewel trigger. As long as you don't need to carry it far, you will love it. Accurate, reasonable recoil, simply cool. Sold it because I got bored shooting groups and did not need it. I think I'm about to buy the same rifle in 260 or 243.

[4V50 Gary]

Kemassy: different manufacturers have different names. The generic AR-15 is generally identified with the smaller 5.56 mm Nato bullet and other short bullets that can be adapted for 5.56 mm magazine including the 6.8 mm, .450 and .50 Beowulf (sp). When you get to longer cartridges like the 7.62 mm Nato, then it's up for grabs on the name depending on the manufacturer (and copyrights for name).

[Brenten]

They are AR-10 style rifles, however, they all have different names. There are heavier barrel versions for target etc. Armalight, DPMS, LWRC, KA, POF are just some of the manufacturers. Options are endless.

[G-Dub870]

I have both the DPMS LR-308 and LR-308B (shorter bbl) both have outstanding accuracy i would highly recommend either.

[jon7400]

One quick one, to clear up some misconceptions, the large platform AR style rifle by DPMS is not an AR10, in fact most of the parts on the AR10 and the DPMS LR308 (technical name for the large platform AR style DPMS) are not interchangeable.

They are proprietary systems to their respective manufacturers (Armalite and DPMS). They are similar, but so are Benelli and Remington shotguns, but nobody has a Benelli 870.

[Jimro]

AR-10 = Armalite, LR series = DPMS, R25 = Remington, SR25 = Knights Armament....

Then again, "Coke" only means "Coke-Cola" but some places you order a Coke and they ask "What kind?" and "Dr. Pepper" is an acceptable answer.

If you are talking about an "AR-10" most folks will understand you are talking about rifle designed (or based on the designs) of Eugene Stoner and firing a 308 Win (or one of the 308 win family)....

Then again, if I'm in Georgia I always have to order "UNsweet tea" because if I order "Iced Tea" they always bring "sweet tea"....

Guess it is all about to whom you are talking.

Jimro

[BillCoe]

You might consider a few other rifles in .308 if that is your intent. The AR-10 that Armilite makes is great (they invented this in AR-16's for 5.56 and sold/licensed the design to Colt and even earlier the AR-10s for .308) Specifically, you might also look at the HK91 and PTR91 which are some kick ass rifles and you can pick up the extra mags for like $3.00 each. For just target, you also might consider a bolt action like an FN and some others.

Check out this site: http://www.hkpro.com/forum/index.php If you buy a PTR-91, they are great rifles, but some of them have had jamming issues, so if you want to buy it used, buy local and test fire it first. Otherwise, get a new one with a warranty. http://www.ptr91.com/

http://pof-usa.com/images/PTR-91-9s.jpg

Good luck!