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Old December 6, 2012, 08:28 AM   #1
Whiskey18
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Building a .308

Hey all,

I was starting to look into building a .308/AR-10....I started doing some basic research on parts and what not and very quickly became overhwelmed. Any advice on uppers, lowers, triggers, where to start looking, finding out which upper is compatible with which lower etc. I am brand new to this but it has been something I've wanted to do for quite some time, so any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
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Old December 6, 2012, 09:04 AM   #2
Fishbed77
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My advice:

AR-10: Buy it.

AR-15: Build it.
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Old December 6, 2012, 09:29 AM   #3
Eppie
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Before I go any further you have to answer a question: I have assume that money is no object for this project and that it is strictly for personal enrichment, right?

You know the old story about the insurance company spending $250,000 by trying to rebuild a $20,000 car by buying individual parts.
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Old December 6, 2012, 10:01 AM   #4
Whiskey18
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Yes, it will be for hunting and target shooting only and of course the experience of buidling it, I was looking at some of the DPMS models and didn't really care for a particular model, more so bits and pieces from all of them....so thats when i decided to look into building my own. As far as money goes, I wouldn't say money is no object, but I do realize it wont be as cheap as buying a box one.
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Old December 6, 2012, 12:36 PM   #5
Robk
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I have also thought about building a AR 10, as opposed to just buying one. It really is just like building an AR 15, just with bigger parts and a higher cost. It in itself is a good idea, as you can pick and choose the parts you want on it. Only real advise I would give, is to buy an upper/lower matched set. Or at least from the same company. Less chance of mismatch there. Other than that, all the parts are basically the same, just make sure the parts are for .308. Unless, you want some ultra cool milled or anodized pieces, I would start off with an upper and lower from Armalite. Reasonable cost and once there, you may find a complete AR 10 that you do like. Good luck with whatever route you take.
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Old December 6, 2012, 01:02 PM   #6
Eppie
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Wiskey

I started down this path by buying a DPMS 308 Sportical. It was a good rifle and a bargain for $700 about 5 years ago. Then I put a JP triger and Leupold 4.5-14x50 illuminated scope on it. Paid more for the scope then the rifle.

After a while I realized that, for civilians, a 16" barrel (short range) in .308 (long range bullet) is an oxymoron. So I started looking to build my own and drew up a list of criteria. After I got my list together I looked around to see if anyone was making it off the shelf and I found two: POF and LWRC. The POF was a way better value.

Then when I got the rifle I realized that the scope was now not matching the capabilities of the POF so I went out and bought a Swarovski Z6 5-30x50mm. And that's where I ended up. And that doesn't even account for the ammo journey which is even more interesting.

Attached Images
File Type: jpg POF Redux 2 1.jpg (127.7 KB, 121 views)
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"Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)

Last edited by Eppie; December 9, 2012 at 05:10 PM.
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Old December 6, 2012, 01:38 PM   #7
Whiskey18
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so now as i have been looking at different complete uppers and lowers i noticed that the prices vary as much as $600.....is that something that should be taken into consideration as far as quality?
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Old December 6, 2012, 01:59 PM   #8
Eppie
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The heart of a rifle its the barrel. The quality of the barrel and the treament it receives after manifacturing will affect the price. Many people will argue about which barrel maker is best, but I'm not going there. Metallurgists have well established measures of the various criteria to consider when making a barrel. So understanding those is important.

The bottom line is this: When I get sick I don't apply to medical school, I go see a doctor. He/she has been there.

My advice is get your criteria list together and then buy the rifle assembled by proffessionals. You'll get a warranty with it.

Every week there are AR for sale assembled by shadetree armorers that I would't ever consider spending my hard earned money. They make outlandish claims of accuracy and then when you ask them to verify them at the range they loose all interest in making a sale.

Look herehttp://texasguntrader.com/index.php
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"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)
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Old December 8, 2012, 07:54 PM   #9
greentick
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I built a LR308 from parts.

Posts 99 and 101 in the EBR pic thread.
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Old December 9, 2012, 02:16 PM   #10
nyc71
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After a while I realized that a 16" barrel (short range) in .308 (long range bullet) is an oxymoron. So I started looking to build my own and drew up a list of criteria. After I got my list together I looked around to see if anyone was making it off the shelf and I found two: POF and LWRC. The POF was a way better value.


[/QUOTE]

I don't get your post, you mentioned oxymoron 16" barrel length combined with a long range .308 round but looking at your picks after your "research" you stayed with the same barrel length. My apologies if I'm assuming that you're contradicting yourself.
Are these manufacturers wasting their resources by combining a 16" barrel with a .308 round?

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/58346

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/55670

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/2-DSASA58TACP

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=sho...roduct_id=2028

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=sho...roduct_id=2881

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=sho...roduct_id=1842

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=sho...roduct_id=3171

Just name a few.
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Old December 9, 2012, 05:04 PM   #11
Eppie
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Hi nyc71,
my apologies. I should have used the qualifier "for civilians".

Quote:
Are these manufacturers wasting their resources by combining a 16" barrel with a .308 round?
No, they are not. They are selling them because people buy them. They are excellent combat type weapons that can deliver a bullet through walls and doors. However. most people here are not looking to shoot insurgents popping up from behind mud walls like our troops did in Iraq or A'stan.

The 308ARs make excellent pig rifles because of the penetration and the fact that you have more targets of opportunity. My rifle has a 20 inch barrel, that's were the extra 4 inches of barrel help.
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"Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)
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Old December 9, 2012, 07:17 PM   #12
nyc71
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I own several .308 semi-autos, 2 of them are 16". One is a SOCOM 16, a DPMS LR308, and almost forgot a .458 SOCOM. I know the .458 is not a 30cal round but they are great "cover" penetrators at short range.
Btw nice rig you got there.
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Old December 9, 2012, 07:28 PM   #13
Eghad
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You can buy a DPMS LR 308 for $1000 to $1100.
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Old December 9, 2012, 10:31 PM   #14
Eppie
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nyc71,
Thanks for the compliment.

For any civilian a piston AR with NP3, like my POF, is overkill. I did it simply because I'd rather have the rifle then the money. It's a favorite toy.

My son-in-law tells me that they used the .458 or .50 cal to stop cars that tried to run checkpoints and access gates. The .223 were totally ineffective and .458 was very effective.
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"Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)
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Old December 12, 2012, 12:01 PM   #15
Txhillbilly
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I was going to build my AR10,but after looking around at what it would end up costing,I just decided to get a DPMS LR-260H.
I didn't want another 308 caliber rifle,I have too many of them,and the 260 Remington has better ballistics anyway.
The factory trigger is junk,so I sent it off to Bill Springfield and had him do a 3lb trigger job on it.It's a great trigger now.I installed an ACE buttstock,and a Hogue grip on it,and put a spare Sightron SII 4-16x42 scope on it for now.
I'll be putting a Pulsar N550 digital nightvision scope on it,soon.

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