Lefty223

Yes, a true lefty, although I teach myself to shoot from both hands/sides - rifles, pistols, and flint muzzleloaders. But on mil-surp arms, I force myself to use righty safety and controls, so that wherever I am ... I can pick it up and use it INSTANTLY without thinking ... you just never know, haha!

Here's the DPMS 308 based on their Oracle model. It was upgraded to be Mass compliant with the addition of the fixed stock and J Miculek brake welded in place. Again, I would probably not have ordered one myself with such a beast of a brake, but it was there on the shelf ready to go home ... so I grabbed it. It also wears an 18.5" HBAR profile barrel, which doesn't seem to be in DPMS's inventory and when I contacted the company about this s/n they said it left the factory as a stock Oracle build (which would have been a 16" barrel w/ A2 birdcage affixed). I think the disconnect is that a large Mass firearms dealer must have placed an order for a few of these ARs expressly built for Mass and thus the individual specifics don't show on their OEM records. This was from the 1st shooting session, where I only intended to break in the barrel, where I use a 1-shot & clean regimen for 10-shots, then 2-shots & clean for 6 more, then lastly 3-shot groups and clean for the next several sessions. I know that topic is highly controversial ... but it works for me! This is that 10-shot group my friend fired. The scope was low for him (this flattop needs EXTRA-high rings) and I believe that shoulder pressure and cheekweld led to the 2 distinct groups he fired. The low shot was called low (not shown in picture, so those are 9-shots as attached) as soon as the trigger broke, which is how we shoot ... "call 'em as you squeeze 'em ... " Just for sizing illustration (so you can see how MASSIVE the 308 receiver is) the LR308 is shown below your typical M4gery AR in 223. We both loved the ACE skeleton stocks. If total weight wasn't a barrier, I'd probably opt for a Vltor or serious MagPul model, but these are comfortable, cheek really well (my prime goal) and are quite handy. We're gearing up for a more serious AND longer (distance) range session, plus to try some other loads, and I'll update this post with any further info or address any questions if you have any. Cheers!

REPORT from 05Sep12: Am in Mass, once the "cradle of liberty", but now home to "limousine liberals", so ARs have to have fixed stocks, are limited to 10-round mags UNLESS you can buy a no-dated pre-ban one, and a break or compensator, if equipped, must be welded in place. That said, I didn't have the luxury of choosing brands AND waiting 6-months or more for delivery, so when a Mass-compliant 308 AR showed up at my local gun store and the guy who ordered it didn't want it ... yes, I jumped on it! We took it out long-range to northern NH last weekend, but access to the 200 to 500-yard ranges was locked (????) so we were limited to 100-Gyards. Using that same Fed 150-gr softpoint $16/box loads from Wally World, my buddy (deer hunter, never a target shooter) shot a 10-shot 1-1/2" group, less 1 'called' flyer (flinch) at 100-yards on his 1st group attempt! IMPRESSIONS: This DPMS appears VERY well made! Fit and finish is flawless for an AR (sorry, still prefer my muzzleloaders and military arms with nice wood (AAA tiger maple or walnut) and bluing (or flintlocks in the white, haha!). The trigger is stock mil-surp, but I plan to case harden the bearing surfaces w/ Kasenit and the do a trigger job, as I do like military 2-stage triggers, but this one needs some creep removed. PICTURES: I took some and will post them later.

From 24Aug12: FYI, just broke in a new DPMS 'Oracle' model and must say I am totally IMPRESSED w/ the AR in a real caliber platform! Upgrades to the stock model included 18.5" HBAR barrel w/ welded-on Miculek brake (State regs :( ) and Ace skeleton stock. She weighs in at a hefty 10-pounds even w/ Burris 3-9x scope and loaded w/ 4-rounds for hunting. The trigger was typical combat arm, but I got it to a crisp 2-stage letoff, 4.5#. Best SURPRISE was shooting cheap WallyWorld Federal blue box 150-gr SOFTpoints ... as all groups were sub-MOA, 3 into 5/8" to 3/4", 5-shots 1 MOA. Damn she's a beast!