dsdmmat

So I realized I failed to update this thread with a range report. My matrix is topped with a Bushnell Halo sight (Circa 1990s), zero magnification. I mainly shoot milsurp out of it as I have it set up for 100 yards and closer. This group is typical of the rifle, when I take my time and shoot it. The Halo adjustments are a course 1/2 moa. I adjusted to correct the shot placement on target. Overall I must say I am very impressed with this rifle and happy to say it shoots the milsurp better than I had hoped.

Sorry, I don't post pics of my guns on the internet. Just a personal policy. As long as I don't prove I own guns, I can still be considered a liar about everything I post. hope you can understand. This is the description of my '06 it weighs 17 pounds and it is pleasant to shoot. My gunsmith that machined the barrel for my bolt action 17 Remington AR did the install and chambering of the barrel. The load it likes best is 168 gr SMK, 59.5 grains H4831, Winchester cases and Winchester Large Rifle Primers. 30 inch Barrel 30 cal 1-10 twist Barrel Tapers | Hart Rifle Barrels 1000 BR Taper 1.250 X 6″ X .940 @ 30″ Remington 700 long action (blue printed) Bedded B&C Stock (top one) Red Hawk Rifles | High-performance Remington model 700 rifles, optics, stocks, accessories and gunsmithing services. 20MOA EGW Rail HD Remington 700 Long Action F-Class Scope Mount 20 MOA: EGW Gun Parts Nikon 8-32x50 Monarch Nikon Monarch 8-32x50ED SF Matte Rifle-Scope Highly Rated Timney Trigger Remington Replacement Triggers from Timney Triggers Burris Extreme scope rings Burris 1 Xtreme Tactical Weaver Style Rings Matte

Yea I checked the 80% lower with one of my current DPMS uppers and it fit nicely.

Howdy folks, Long time no post. Since my last Matrix Aerospace build, I have gone and done another Go Ballistic lower receiver and DPMS 24 inch BB upper combo. I really like the Go Ballistic lowers they work quite well and are nicely finished. So on to my next project. I also adopted a cat who showed up on my doorstep starving this past September. Someone dumped her and I figured she would not survive the winter without someone taking her in. I haven't had a pet in over 17 years and I told the wife, "I am going to take this one in." She purrs at the drop of a hat and is my constant companion when I am in the house. I guess I am just a big ol softy. Anyway back to the topic at hand. I am looking at an 80% lower just to be able to say "I did that" and doing a 6.5 CM this time. I sent one of my M14 type rifle off to get rebarreled in 6.5 CM (should have that back in December) and already have two 6.5 CM Savage Bolt guns I use fro the local Bench Rest league. So I am vested in the cartridge already and I figure the more the merrier. Right? I am liking the caliber a lot, although my 30-06 Bench rest gun seems to outshoot it (not by much). I am gathering the parts I need slowly. It is the only project I have on the books for now. I just finished my 1911 build project this weekend (I have been procrastinating on that for a couple of years) and am very happy with the results. Anyone ever play with an 80% receiver? What are the pitfalls you found along the way? One of these days when I am fully retired I will have time for all the work that is in my head.

I got the AR-15 version for my .17 Remington build then they had to come out with this. I should get my EO tech refund in a month so I may have to blow it on this receiver set.

I wish you many happy days of shooting with your new rifle.

This is the first one that I have built that I had issues with the 308 not cycling (and that is not the fault of the Matrix receiver set). Most of the cycling issues I have had in the past were from being over gassed (which is why I started using adjustable gas blocks in the first place). This forum is the go to place for all things in 308 ARs, lots of great people with more knowledge than one could accumulate in a lifetime on their own. I do like the looks of the Matrix rifle, if this was my first build I would probably build more on their receiver sets. As it sits right now it is the Cinderella with three ugly step sisters. I cannot really complain about the quality of the Matrix receivers and hand guard they are well built and beautiful to boot. Realistically, I doubt I will build any more 308 ARs, if I do I will have to buy a bigger safe. All the others I have built are completely interchangeable. The Matrix is the only one I cannot do that to, it is not really a problem but, I do like to keep some spare parts on hand for things that will make a rifle go down hard. I will just have to get a set of pins and another bolt catch specific to this rifle to have sitting in the drawer. The plus side is that it takes the same magazines as my other 308 ARs and I got a cool looking barrel nut wrench out of the build. The only thing left to do now is get a load worked up that will make the thing shoot less than MOA.

Thanks for the heads up. This will probably be the last matrix I build, I prefer to have everything interchangeable. It is not a bad rifle but, not having the ability to just stock replacement parts that fit everything is a drawback.

duplicate post.

Well the larger gas port did the trick. I was even able to screw in the gas block adjustment another 3/4 turn.

I have a DPMS pattern rifle length gas tube, the barrel is a DPMS rifle gas length system.

Nice shooting. I hope yours was doing better than mine. Anytime Is a good time to get out and sling lead. It was 38 degrees with a 5MPH wind here today. I was sighting in my Matrix today as well. I just have iron sights on it and since it was short stroking I only fired it at 25 and 200 yards. It is about 2 1/2 inches low at 25 and about 3 inches high at 200 ( well that is where it was hitting as I put the front sight in the middle of the paper). I should have used black targets on white paper instead of orange but you use what you got right?

Took my matrix to the range today. It was short stroking big time. Only ejected 4 rounds out of 30 that I fired today. I have an adjustable gas block and had it wide open. I have an Anderson 20 inch barrel with a rifle length gas system. I figured it wasn't getting enough gas, since I didn't see any evidence of the bolt dragging on anything. When I got back home I measured the gas port .078, so I drilled it out to .093 I turned in my gas block one full turn so I will try it out again tomorrow. I have read that Armalite's 20 inch barrel has a .110 gas port and DPMS' port size is .0936. I figure I will try .093 then open it up more if It is still short stroking.

Just wanted to thank guruofhotrod for the FA pins he sent me in the mail.

I have used the FA several times. I won't build a gun (with one exception) without some way of manually ensuring the bolt is fully closed. I have built some straight pull bolt action ARs with White Oak side charging upper receivers that really didn't need the forward assist but since the upper receiver had a hole for one I put one in. The exception being the ARES Defense SCR, all of my uppers for the SCR have a FA installed but its function is cosmetic in nature. The SCR uses a bobbed BCG and the FA does not engage the modified carrier.

ChaseFan9 I got the old style nut and had Toolndie7 make a wrench for it. He does amazing work, the thing is a piece of art. I also have the newer style nut that is DPMS threaded so I may just have to pick up a hand guard later to go with it.

Thanks for the info. I saw that stuff in the for sale forum, not the route I am going with this build. I prefer longer barrels and adjustable gas blocks. I figure I will be spending about 700 bucks more in the coming months to complete it then a few hundred more to put a scope on it. On top of the 400 or so putting my 1911 together. I am trying to "be good" and stick to a couple hundred a month spent on gun parts.

Got my upper and lower parts kit in and installed. The roll pin on the FA falls right in not snug at all. The first barrel nut they sent me was for their DPMS threaded upper and I have the Armalite one, so They sent me out a new one. I received it today. Now I have the issue of finding a wrench to fit it. I only need need to pick up a BCG, Barrel, gas block and gas tube to complete the build. Got a 1911 frame on the way to build. I am hoping to finish both guns this summer as funds permit.

Thanks for the info. I will be getting a lower parts kit from Chris so I will just grab the upper completion kit as well.

so I was going to build a straight pull bolt AR308 but my barrel would not have a thick enough shank after all the work would have been done. Now I have a matrix set upper and lower with handguard on the way. Should be here Friday. I have some concerns about the forward assist as I have read people are having issues with them not allowing the bolt to come back. I will be using a DPMS barrel and bolt carrier group. Does anyone have a fix for the FA problems I have read about besides buying a plug?

Update: the bad news is my REM 700 donor barrel will not have enough meat in the shank after we shorten it up to the proper length to chamber it in 308 Winchester. The good news is my AR15 in 17 Remington is proceeding we cut the threads for the barrel extension today. I will just put the straight pull bolt action AR308 on hold and build a semi auto since all I need now is a barrel, gas block, muzzle brake and gas tube. If I can find a heavy barrel chambered in 308 for a donor I will proceed with a straight pull upper for one of my AR308s.

Well the good news is my vacation has been canceled and the bad news is I am still waiting. Not really bad news but the project is on hold until my barrel is finished. Which leads me to build other projects while I am waiting. I have built a 300 AAC blackout upper and have been playing around with it at the range. I have mounted a red dot sight on it and have been running 110 grain Vmax over IMR 4227 and pinging an 8x12 steel swinger plate at 200 yards with it. It is a fun little gun while I wait for my barrel to be finished.

Still waiting on the barrel to be done. I am going on an all expenses paid vacation to the armpit of the world so hopefully it will be done when I get back. I have all the parts except the barrel. I even went out and bought an Aero lower for the project last week. It was 190 bucks at the gunshow so I said, "what the hell?" I am thinking I will probably have a slot milled in the upper and thread a bolt into the bolt carrier for it to be a side charger. I have a couple of white oak uppers that are configured this way and it is really nice to have a side pull on a bolt action AR. Anyway the wait continues.

It is not the type of barrel need though. I need a barrel without a gas port drilled and that is considered a special order item. Either way I look at it I am going to be paying 250+ for a barrel. By having the extension put on my barrel I get the profile of the barrel I want without the gas port in the length I want. It shouldn't be too much longer on the machining. A friend of his just replaced an AR 308 barrel and only wanted the barrel extension, so my gunsmith has an example that he can reference when machining mine.

Well it should be about 60 days before the barrels are worked on. The good news is that both of my barrels have enough meat on them to accomplish the task.