.308 Lower Choices?

[Armati]

I know the AR-10 type lowers are all over the map with everyone seeming have their own tweak on the upper/lower interface.

I am going to take the .308 AR plunge and intend to build it from the lower up. Here are the lowers I am currently looking at:

DPMS LR-308
Tactical Machining TM-10 (DPMS pattern)
POF P-308 (I understand it is not quite DPMS fit and requires a POF upper)
Black Rain Ordnance AR-308 matched set.

I am sure there are others but I get a good .mil discount from Brownells on these. Is there anything else I should be looking at?

[Cincinnatus]

I'm not sure if Brownells has them, but the Mega MATEN is what I'd go for. Rainier sells them and gives discounts that you might qualify for.

[Kokopelli]

I like the Mega Maten set as well, but couldn't find one in stock.. Went with the CMMG.. Cheers.. Ron

[Armati]

Thanks! Rainier Arms does have a .mil discount and I do like the Mega.

[caelumatra]

I have a MaTen. Went together well. I'd like to say its "standard" but there is no standard. But the MaTen gives you options as far as barrel selection goes.

ETA I snagged mine a few years back for $500 on sale from AimSurplus. But this is where I see several different models. OOS of course but something to keep an eye on

http://midwestpx.com/index.php?cPath=92&sort=3a&page=2

Also keep an eye out for a barrel. I had notification from every retailer who would do notifications for an 18" Noveske and Rainier was the first one to get it in stock when I was looking. Also watch the Noveske site as they update their barrel store stock pretty often and they go quick, if you want Noveske that is.

I also looked at getting a barrel made for me from a blank and contacted GAP about the cost of a Rock Creek blank being cut to 18" and having the barrel extension installed. The quote I have is from 2.5 years ago and was for ~$800 for the barrel so if that's something you're interested in, they do do it but you'd need to contact them to get an up to date quote. The wait time is pretty large as you could imagine
I ordered a 6.5 blank from here and I think it's the only place that sells Rock Creek barrels ATM
http://bugholes.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=88_89
These blanks would most likely need to be turned down also which would be another cost added to the barrel making it even MORE expensive lol

With the above in mind, keep an eye out for finished ar308 barrels lol

[mic2377]

Other possibilities are:

Fulton Armory Titan 308 (basically a rebadged DPMS) - I have one, not assembled though.
SI Defense Billet - can get lower, or matched upper/lower, I also have one of these, and built one for my brother too. His rifle shoots great. I have review posted here on M4C.

Whatever you get, I would recommend staying with a KAC SR-25/DPMS platform, it seems that parts are more available, as are 308 PMAGs. JP also makes a very nice bolt for the DPMS pattern as well.

For barrels, I would recommend a Criterion (basically a button-rifled Krieger), or pick some other premium maker. Lilja makes a good DPMS 308 compatible barrel for a little under $500. It also comes in a good medium profile, either 18" or 20".

Good luck! Big AR's are really cool, and wow can some of them shoot!

FYI, if you go DPMS pattern vs AR-10 (Armalite), Noveske barrels are designed to be used with the AR-10 pattern. NOT DPMS.

[Rockhopper]

fyi rainier currently has all thier .308 ultra match barrels in stock

[Armati]

Is anyone building these up as 7.62 battle rifles? I see a lot of uber-precision builds but how about solid service rifles? Inch thick 20" bbls sort of suck to carry around. I was thinking more along the lines of a 16" medium contour.

[Tootsies]

I am building a 16" maybe 14.5" right now. I got a good deal on an si defense set.

[Dr69er]

Other possibilities are:

Fulton Armory Titan 308 (basically a rebadged DPMS) - I have one, not assembled though.
SI Defense Billet - can get lower, or matched upper/lower, I also have one of these, and built one for my brother too. His rifle shoots great. I have review posted here on M4C.

Whatever you get, I would recommend staying with a KAC SR-25/DPMS platform, it seems that parts are more available, as are 308 PMAGs. JP also makes a very nice bolt for the DPMS pattern as well.

For barrels, I would recommend a Criterion (basically a button-rifled Krieger), or pick some other premium maker. Lilja makes a good DPMS 308 compatible barrel for a little under $500. It also comes in a good medium profile, either 18" or 20".

Good luck! Big AR's are really cool, and wow can some of them shoot!

FYI, if you go DPMS pattern vs AR-10 (Armalite), Noveske barrels are designed to be used with the AR-10 pattern. NOT DPMS.



+ 1 a on the above, the DPMS pattern generally has better parts availably and is more common overall...Although I would consider
a MA-TEN upper/lower set as a very close second. Good Luck.

[BrigandTwoFour]

I have a Tactical Machining .308 lower. Its been built up with real nice, but is still awaiting an upper. TM does make runs of matching .308 uppers that look nice, but they're a small shop and have been overwhelmed with the 80% market. I've asked repeatedly about when they will make more, but they don't know. They are DPMS compatible, and I've been tempted to just pick up a JD Machine upper, but concerns about tolerances and different manufacturers has stopped me from doing so.

I bought it late last year before the elections, having a sense of what was coming. I also knew I was moving to California and would likely not have another opportunity for a while.

If I could do it again, availability dependent (they weren't at the time), I would have bought a MA-TEN matched set and avoided the whole compatibility issue. Mega makes very nice stuff.

[kalieracer]

MaTen is one of the best setups.

[kalieracer]

I am going to build mine up with Keymod with 14.5 in barrel.


Is anyone building these up as 7.62 battle rifles? I see a lot of uber-precision builds but how about solid service rifles? Inch thick 20" bbls sort of suck to carry around. I was thinking more along the lines of a 16" medium contour.