Backwoodsblacksmith

Thank you for your considerate answer. It is nice to communicate with an intelligent and knowledgeable person,

It was not barrel erosion. The locking lugs on the bolt and action would get beat up and the action would not cycle the same shot to shot. The recoil lugs on the action would wallow out the stock and allow movement. That is why accurized M1's and M1A's get reinforced recoil lugs and have to have the locking lugs repaired. There is a pretty good industry rebuilding both rifles at the end of the shooting season. The M1 gets two recoil lugs as it only came with one. Ask any match shooter that use them.

The 7.62x51 was developed to use the 150ish grain bullet. In the M1 and M14 repeated use of heavy bullets, 165 to 180 grain, will rapidly erode accuracy. Does this not apply to the AR platforms?

Check closer. I think the DSR is chambered in .223. That is the impression I got. Did not look further.

After talking to a few people at the local gun range and reading some reviews, I will [if I can find one] get an Armalite 1A. The 1A uses the pmag which is a big plus.

I grew up with an 03 and shot Garand M1 and M14's in the Corp. I shoot mostly bolt guns but also old single shots and muzzle-loaders. Reading some of the forums and the loading information I notice that a lot of shooter are using 168 gr and heavier bullets. Using these heavier bullets in the M1 and M14 result in their early loss of accuracy. Is this not the case with the AR type 308? I hate the AR 15 and the M1A SOCOM does not fill my accuracy requirement. I do, however like the Ar 308. I will get a DPMS with a 16 or 18 in bbl. I will probably stick with 150 gr bullets and a load that will break 2700 fps. But what is the deal with the heavier bullets?