rmart

Update: After a couple of financial setbacks I replaced my upper with a RedX Arms upper. Looks good, fits good EXCEPT the front takedown pin is very snug and I need a tool to push it out. I'll either need to work it for a while until it loosens up or perhaps have a smith take a look at it and make sure it's fitted and the holes line up properly. Next step is the optic sight. I'm looking at the Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50 FFP scope. I like the way it looks in the store, glass is clear, reticle (MOA) is visible and readable, and focus appears good through all magnification levels (in the store...) Anyone have a scope they recommend over that one? Also, I'm looking for a good one-piece quick detach scope mount for such a scope. I know nothing, teach me.

That's what he said. Fulton Armory was OOS on their uppers and could give me no assurances that when their new supply came in some time around April (maybe) that they would be of the gen 1 configuration or the gen 2, low profile configuration. Pete at Brownells checked and assured me the Red X upper was of the gen 1 configuration. I should get it in a couple days, I'll measure it out and see. Worst comes to worse I'll return it if it's not right and keep looking. Damn this OCD...

Saw it first on GB, sent him an email, said he sold it on ar15.com seven minutes after posting it there. I just ordered a Red X upper from Brownells, we'll see how it looks when it gets here.

At a glance that RedX item looks like it might just fill the bill. Fulton Armory is out of stock on their stripped uppers and won't have any until April at the earliest. They could not assure me that the new ones would be of the old dimensions. I've also read elsewhere that FA doesn't even sell stripped uppers anymore, only completely assembled units. @blue, I hear what you're saying. I see that the RedX upper receiver runs about $150 and my gunsmith says he'll swap them out for $100. That's $250. A new high-quality freefloat forend with rail will run at least that plus the money for installation. At this point, replacing the receiver seems to be the most cost effective way.

All right, I can accept that. What I need then is the DPMS A3 upper that has the slightly higher rail height. I've looked all over for a part number to search for. DPMS claims they only offer the low-profile upper or the slick-side upper. I'm looking for the part number for the pre-2009 A3 upper. Any idea where I can locate that part or number? DPMS is less than helpful.

Was just advised by POF that their uppers are not compatible with DPMS lowers. Any suggestions on a 100% compatible 308 upper that would have the correct rail height?

Not seeing a stripped upper on their website. I'll have to give them a call.

OK, my OCD is preventing me from doing anything other than doing this right... That means I need to replace my upper. The upper in your lower picture is a POF upper? It's compatible with a DPMS lower receiver? It appears that the rail lines up perfectly. Do you know if the BCM Gunfighter charging handle is compatible with the POF upper? Finally, is the POF upper a high quality piece, and where is the best place to obtain one? Thanks, R

How is the set screw gas block secured, and would there be any problems with attaching it to the fluted portion of a fluted barrel?

According to JP, and from what I can see they're right, the top of the tube is so close to the gas tube that it can't be made any more low profile. To do so would require a channel to be cut out of the top of the handguard for the rail to be brazed into, and a groove to be cut into the bottom of the rail to allow clearance between the bottom of the rail and the gas tube. They have no plans at this time to make a DPMS compatible system. Dave's argument is that they've only had this issue come up twice with customers so they feel the market isn't demanding the option. My argument that with DPMS, Remington, and Bushmaster all using the DPMS low profile upper the market has to be there as my completely undeducated guess is that DPMS probably supplies uppers to more than half the .308 AR market already. The rail in question is probably about as low profile as it can get as well. I looked at the possibility of reducing its profile on the bottom end but to do so would remove the shoulders of the screw slots making it impossible for the screws to hold the rail down. DPMS of course wants to sell me a different rail system...

All right, here's an option... I was speaking with Dave at JP and he suggested something interesting. I don't know where to find one, nor do I even know what you would call it but, an option to address my problem might be this: I'm envisioning something like a gas block with a rail on top, maybe 1 to 1.5" long. This would clamp over the barrel just forward of the handguard and just behind the flash hider. Not a gas block as I have one already, tucked inside the handguard but something like it. I wonder if a gas block could be employed in this manner... The barrel O.D. mics out at around .740 which would be around the fluted area. Just forward of the fluted area and just behind the flash hider is a slightly smaller area approximately 5/8" long. Does anyone have any ideas that might fill this need? Thanks, R Edit: I'm thinking adding a gas block forward of the handguard might be my only real option. I'll then have to get a gas block height front sight. I'm partial to Midwest Industries sights. Anyone have a suggested part number for the appropriate gas block for the low profile upper?

Oh, I don't expect to be getting into any combat situations... I'm just too old and slow for all that. I just like having a rifle sight option for all my rifles in the event that something goes wrong with the optic sights. I hate having limited options right off the bat.

OK, so a R25 and/or Bushmaster would be the same low profile upper as the DPMS. At this point my only option is to return the rail to Rainier and try to prevail upon JP to come up with a DPMS compatible rail. (lol, good luck with that, eh?) I guess my rifle is going to have to be optics only which I hate.

I thought the R25 WAS the DPMS. My understanding was that Freedom Group owned both DPMS and Remington and used the DPMS LR series rifles to make the R25. Am I incorrect in my understanding?

I paid $99 plus shipping for the rail, also from Rainier Arms. I hope they'll take it back.