SWshooter

On the DPMS, trigger would be my definite first upgrade. I can second the Bill Springfield trigger job, thats what I'm using right now. I'm looking at some type of adjustable stock right now as my next upgrade.

Handloader is a good one too. American Handgunner if you are into pistols at all.

I've only had my LR-308 a couple months and the weather hasn't been very cooperative. I've been shooting a Hornady 190 gr BTSP in Win commercial brass with 44 grs of Varget. IT was about a 1 1/2" shooter before I had the barrel recontoured but doesn't seem to like it now. It is a max load, and I'm sure would be over pressure in mil brass. I'm also shooting a Rem 150 gr Corlokt in Lake City '83 brass and I think the same 44 gr varget load. My rifle shoots this pretty good and I use it as my general purpose load, about 1 1/2-1 3/4" groups. I'm playing with a hornady 165 gr plastic tip bullet in Win Comm brass and Varget also. It shoots about like the 150 gr Corlokt loads. Next on my agenda is to try the same bullets with H-4895. I would also like to try some 110-130 gr varmint bullets for chucks and 'yotes.

For cheap practice, I'd buy one of the new AR-15 look-a-likes in 22 long rifle. Cheap practice with the ergonomics of an AR to keep muscle memory fresh, and a handy small game and plinking rifle too.

One thing to consider in a hunting rifle is muzzle blast, unless your planning to wear some kind of ear protection while hunting. I would much rather have 20" barrel just for the blast reduction. I have a 24" barrel on my LR-308, I haven't done any hunting with it yet, but it's not too unhandy at the range. I figure it's a lot easier to shorten a barrel than lengthen one. Most people with 16" barrels put some kind of muzzle brake on it and end up with close to 18" anyway. Don't get any kind of bull barrel if your planning on carrying it any distance at all. Find out what the weight is before you buy it, the AR-10 style rifle is considerably heavier than an AR-15 with the same profile barrel. My DPMS so far has been flawless.

What does sbr stand for? Guess I'm not up to speed on all these AR specific acronyms.

Shot my LR-308 with the recontoured barrel today. After tightening the gas block I fired a 5 round group with the Hornady 165 gr that went into 2 1/8" and a seven round group with the Rem 150 gr Corlokt that went into 1 3/4". The Corlokts look promising for general purpose use in military brass. I'm going to work up some loads using H-4895 instead of the Varget I'm using now. I just wanted to make sure the rifle was still functioning after the trouble with the gas block.

I just had one done and I'm pleased with it. The stock LR-308 trigger was the worst ar trigger I've ever shot. I was amazed at what he was able to do with it. It has a very slight take up and then breaks clean, a good hunting or tactical trigger.

I noticed that the gas block set screws had come loose. I tightened them up but I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. I may pick up some blue lock tight and use it on the block and the screws. I don't know if that would cause inaccuracy or not. Doesn't seem like much but the new weight of 10.5 includes the scope , mount, Burris FastFire back-up sight and cleaning kit in the buttstock. It feels a lot lighter on the forend and is much easier to mount and track targets. If I can find one good accurate heavy bullet long range load and one cheap practice load I 'll be happy.

Thanks. Just for general info, I took my recontoured barrel out to the range tuesday for the first time. I was disappointed that the best load I had tested was now the worst. I had been shooting a 190 gr Horn. BTSP over 44 grs of Varget in WW cases. It was doing 1 1/2" groups and now it is shooting 6" groups. The 165's were doing 2" and now 2 1/2". I'm loading 150 gr Rem SP in '83 Lake City brass and these are shooting 2 1/2" just about the same as before. I'm going to try H4895 instead of Varget with the same bullets and hope for better results. This is very disappointing as I was expecting around 1 moa with this rifle based on others results.

Thanks, don't mind if I do.

I'm thinking a Sportical upper would make a nice tactical shorty. They seem to be available used fairly regularly.

I wish I had weighed my LR-308 before recontouring it. I think it had to go about 14 lbs. If anyone would weigh theirs I would appreciate it. I had mine turned down to .750 full length and a low profile VLTOR gas block installed. With a P.E.P.R. mount, leupold vx-3 2.5-8 scope, and a Burris FastFire back-up, it weighs 10.5 lbs. Still a little heavy for hunting. I may cut 4" off the barrel and replace the butt stock with an ACE skeleton stock.

ADCO says that recontouring a barrel should have no effect on accuracy. You want your bullet to stay supersonic at the longest range you shoot at. So you will have to do a little research in the loading manuals to see what weight bullets, launched at what velocity will remain supersonic at what range. The biggest advantage to a heavy barrel is that it is less effected by heat. Long strings of rapid fire can cause a barrel to warp. Personally I would rather shoot a medium weight 24" barrel rather than a 16" bull barrel. More velocity, less muzzle blast.

Howdy, I have an LR-308 I am slowly making into a hunting rifle. I'll give you MY opinion on your questions. 1. Free float tube will be more accurate, especially if you use a bipod, shoot off a rest, or shoot with a sling. 2. The 16" barrel should be entirely adequate out to 300 yds., it may be LOUD. 308 AR's tend to be heavy, most of the weight being in the barrel, most hunters use short barrels. 3. If your not going to mount iron sights, you won't need the front sight. You may notice some fuzziness where the sight is at 3x but at 9x you won't see a thing. 4. You don't need them, but I like the dust cover, but you can't get one without the other. I hunt in some bad snow country and I have had actions freeze tight from snow melting and running into the receiver and then freezing. If your a lefty you will want the shell deflector, otherwise the HOT cases have a tendency to go down your collar. 5. I received two mags with my rifle, and ordered 3 more DPMS mags from Midway, they have all been 100% so far. My rifle is about 3 months old. If you can get the high rise rail you will be able to use regular Weaver rings, if you get a standard flat top you will need some type of Picatinny scope mount to get the scope high enough to see through. I have a Burris P.E.P.R. mount on mine and it works fine, but it cost close to $100.

Maybe you ought to start a trigger category, since they all use the same triggers. It seems to be the one thing everyone agrees on, factory triggers suck!!!

In my opinion the LR-308 is too heavy to be used for anything but a pure bench rifle. I sent mine to ADCO and had it cut down to .750 all the way to the muzzle, left it 24" long. It is much handier now.

I like to clean it well before shooting, then fire 3-5 rounds and spray some foam cleaner that turns blue if there's copper in it. If it shows copper fouling I clean it alot, if not than every 10-20 rds for the first 200 or so.

I'll vote for the Springfield trigger job too. At $35 the best trigger buy in the AR world. A good clean reliable field trigger.

I'm in the Southern Tier, Jamestown, where you located?

I've had ar-15's on and off for 35 years, and a fair amount of experience with them in the Army. But I have wanted an ar-10 since I first learned they made them. I had to wait until Dec 2009 when I bought a DPMS LR-308. So far I've had ADCO re-contour the barrel and Bill Springfield do the trigger. The cold and snow have me pretty well house bound however, so the test firing and load developement will have to wait. I think this site is a great idea, and I thank you for setting it up and taking your time to moderate.