I put together the perfect .308 AR. I've posted photos of if before, but I haven't yet explained the build. I also got help with it during the build on the .308 knowledge thread, so to all who chimed in... thanks.

Now keep in mind, when I say that it's the "perfect .308 AR", I mean it's the perfect one... for me.

I was looking to get into a .308 because I wanted the better terminal ballistics of the heavier round.

What I didn't really need, was the increased range.

This was to be a defensive combat carbine. It was to be "defensive" in nature, it's not one I would need to reach out long distances, at least not in my area, (Indiana woods, and farmland) I just wanted something with a bit more oomph than the 5.56, or should things go real bad, have the ability to punch through cover better.

I did still want to keep it in as small, and light a package as I could. I like a patrol carbine, not a full on sniper rifle.

On the other hand, I've seen guys go way too far with the "smaller is better" theory when building 10" .308 pistols and the like, that though probably fun to play with, would pretty much cut the .308 off at the knees.

I tried to make a decent compromise, and I'm pretty happy with the result.

Receivers... Aero Precision with their LPK
Barrel... BA Hanson 14" with pin-and-welded Warcomp
Rail system... Midwest Industries
Scope... Primary Arms 1-8 with the ACSS reticle
BUIS... Troy with tritium
BCG... Lantac enhanced
Recoil system... JP Captured
Trigger... Geissele SSA-E
Furniture... Magpul CTR stock, MOE grip, MVG M-LOK
Weaponlight... Surefire M300 Scout Light
Leftover ambidextrous safety that I can't remember where I got...
Leftover scope mount... same deal... just happened to work out well.

Anyway, the end result is the rifle is a bit heavier that the typical AR (as expected being a .308) but still very easily carried as a patrol carbine. In fact, the 14" barrel matches up with the larger .308 receiver so well, it's not really any longer than a 16" 5.56 AR.

I lose some velocity, and power going down to 14", but not so much as going crazy, and doing the full on SBR 10" thing. It still packs a lot more punch than a 5.56. It's very controllable too. Not sure if that's because I'm a big dude (6'1" 280) with 28 years of Army experience, or the very effective Warcomp (probably both) but I like it. I like it a lot. I really like the ACSS reticle too.

I've only managed to take it out a few times since it's completion, but it's been 100% reliable in those times so far. Hoping it will stay that way. The BA Hanson barrel is supposed to be a 1" guarantee of accuracy. Well, I've seen close to that, but I haven't seen that. At least not yet. Not gonna say I got a dud though because it's probably me, but it's close enough that I'm not gonna complain. Besides, we all have this "every single gun must shoot 1" groups" mentality these days, and for a patrol carbine just being close to that is great in my book. Especially in the hands of a mid 50s retired half cripple.

Also of note is the barrel twist. It's a 1/10. Everyone makes barrels in 1/10 these days for the heavier rounds. I got my hands on a stash of the 130 gr Federal T762TNB1 made for the Army's short barrel SCAR project as I figured a short barrel round would do well in my little 14"gun. but turns out it's quite expensive to find an AR barrel in 1/12 twist... It shoots the heavier rounds better. However, at close ranges, it's still plenty accurate.