Y85

shepp, Sorry - I don't understand the question. If it's about rifle weight, my DPMS + scope (Trijicon 2.5-10 x 50) + bipod runs north of 10lbs. Not something I would want to carry on a Dall Sheep hunt but fine for moderate terrain. If I missed the point, let me know. Like I said, in the bigger AR platform, I think the 338Fed rocks almost everything. My only reservation is that my DPMS is an honest 1.5 MOA rifle (whereas my son's Kimber is 0.5MOA - at least with his young steady hands, and young eyes). I wish the DPMS was better and I was at the limit of what I would use it for (bear @ 250 yds) on this hunt. I've got/built a couple of other AR's on the smaller AR-15 platform (Blackout, Beowulf - really just toys & a couple of Grendels, which I love for coyotes and deer (really want to try antelope sometime with the 6.5G). I just got a 6.5CM that Dave Branson (shout out to the MEGA MATEN group buy) @ BB Enterprises helped me pull together. I am hopeful it will be a 1K rifle (targets, not hunting). Good barrel (JP, 22"); MEGA MATEN upper/lower, Timney trigger, CAA Sniper stock, SCS-10 buffer,, Swarovski Z6 5-30 x 50scope, Larue mount, etc). Just got some of the 127g Barnes LRX today and will start playing around w loads. I've got a long range course with my daughter and a couple buddies in August. Maybe I can learn to shoot all these nice toys...... BR

Thanks, guys, it was a great hunt. PF21, Have had great luck with 338FED. My son (age 13) has a Kimber 84Montana in 338FED and I have the DPMS. Both have done good service. My son has taken animals up to eland and crocodile (in Africa) as well as assorted plains game. In North America, he's used it on black bear (obviously), whitetails, mule deer, pronghorn, and aoudad (and pigs). His rifle is much more accurate than mine (or, maybe, the shooter is more accurate?) and he has taken game out to 535 yds (aoudad) with it. We tend to use lead-free ammo (200g Trophy Copper Federal) although the deer and sheep were taken using 180g Accubond. I've read on some blogs about cycling issues with AR's in 338FED but I haven't had any using 200g Trophy Copper, 200g Trophy Bonded Tip, 180g Accubond, 185g TSX Federal Factory ammo or with 200g Federal Fusion ammo. For my son's rifle, we made some 210g TTSX handloads -- nice (on the eland, kudu, oryx, etc) but too long for the DPMS. I think the 338FED is one of the best all-around cartridges out there right now. My son has been shooting it since he was 10 (about 75 lbs) and my daughter (age 15) has used his rifle in Africa and in the Midwest on whitetails. Neither had trouble with recoil. For the AR platform, I like the 338FED for anything in North America, except the bigger bears (although, having said that, a 7'7" black bear is almost as big as an interior grizzly so, maybe I'm unduly cautious). I would not hesitate to use it on bison or moose. Anyway, hope that answers your question. Best, BR (Y85)

Hunted black bear on Vancouver Island last week with Sean Lingl's Canadian Guide Outfitters near Port Alberni. Took this 6'11" bear with my DPMS Panther in 338Fed. Two shots at 250 yds. Ran about 15 yds into the woods and passed. First shot took both lungs and off shoulder; second shot connected (Texas heart) as he ran away. Great place to hunt (four of us took bears -- mine was the smallest: my daughter's was 7'7"; my son's was 7'3"; my buddy's was 7'2"). We saw dozens of bears -- all spot and stalk, baiting is illegal in BC. Had no trouble taking the AR into Canada (mags limited to 4 rounds). Great place to hunt.

I am interested if a group buy happens

Calloway Co. We had a good season this year - surprised us after the dry summer. Hope hunting was good out west.

All, Excellent advice and greatly appreciated. So, at the risk of sounding like an idiot (but in the interest of avoiding expensive mistakes), I have another couple questions: 1. If I order a chambered barrel from Krieger, do they supply the barrel extension? What about the gas block? 2. Also, I have heard rumors of feeding problems w 6.5CM ARs -- any truth in that? 3. Is there a quality differential among DPMS-compatible lowers, if I go that route? 4. Any idea what the wait time is for the TM products? Thanks again. BR

Was planning to shoot out to 1K at targets and as far as is necessary (within ethical limits) at deer/antelope. That's why I was thinking about about 6.5 caliber -- good BCs for distance. I am still looking for advice on 260REM v 6.5CM. I do like the 338FED as a cartridge -- have taken deer/bear with it and my son has taken bear, pronghorn, aoudad (535 yds), deer (mulie and whitetail), elk and a bunch of African antelope (plus a croc). I am not real good with abbreviations -- what is a T.M.-10? Sorry... I got some confusing info on the Mega MaTen -- i read somewhere that their uppers/lowers were ONLY internally compatible. Not true? This stuff is cool but confusing as heck. I appreciate any advice and guidance.

New to the forum. Thought I tried to learn to post pics. MO deer season got better the second week -- temps dropped; no acorns in our area so food plots were active. Took my first buck with the DPMS 338FED (it's done good service on bear). Small, I realize, but I had taken a bigger buck with the bow earlier in October and wasn't planning to take another. This fellow came out with a broken left front leg and I thought it was better to take him than to let the coyotes pull him down. 188 yds, neck shot quartering to, dropped at the shot. Federal 180g Accupoint. Hope this works

Hello. New to the forum. Trying to build a large platform AR from scratch for fun with some buddies. Can't really figure out all the upper-lower variants. I have a 338Fed DPMS & I want to build something w some reach. I was planning 260Rem or 6.5CM w a Kreiger bbl (20-22") but I can't decide what platform to build on. Is it better to go Armalite or DPMS base? I thought about starting w a JP PSC12 receiver (DPMS compatible) but someone suggested Mega MaTen or Armalite 10A. QUERIES: does the Mega MaTen interface w Armalite Lowers? Would it be better to start w a Mega MaTen lower and upper? Or would folks suggest using the JP receiver and getting a DPMS-compatible lower? If so, what DPMS-compatible lowers would folks recommend? Thanks for the help. It is appreciated.