biggcary

98Z5V - Yes, I was starting to get that feeling...Newbie mistake....and thanks for the sound advice... FaRKLe! - Exactly the type of insight and perspective I was hoping to get...Many thanks for taking the time to do this post...

Sounds good FaRKle!...I will look forward to seeing your recommendations and please remember to indicate why you are recommending any given component...

Many thanks for the responses to my post. I am familiar with some of the components that have been recommended by the forum members but what I would also like to know is WHY you have recommended any given component. For example, is it based upon personal experience and demonstrated performance when compared to other options and what were those other experience based options? Is it a product quality vs. cost value proposition thing? Is it a product support/customer service preference? Is it a product compatibility/non-proprietary preference? Is it some other product bias for whatever reason you are willing to share? Also, I neglected to ask about tools needed to support my build. Although I have quite a few tools that I have traditionally used to maintain/modify my AR-15, what would you recommend I need in the way of any specialized tools for a .308AR build where my AR-15 tools would not be usable? Thanks again for your willingness to share your insights and experience with me in support of my build!

I apologize in advance for the lengthy post but I do not do this type of stuff very often so be kind and gentle with me please...;-)... I am a new member to this forum. I have been a hunter (deer, upland game birds, hogs, etc.) and range shooter for many years now. I have an above average amount of experience and knowledge with traditional bolt action, lever action, muzzleloader, and shotgun type firearms both in the field and on the range. A few years ago, I was looking to get into something new and different so I decided to purchase a "modern sporting rifle". After doing a considerable amount of research, my first purchase was a Daniel Defense AR-15 M4V4 rifle. I immediately fell in love with this rifle because it was not only fun to shoot but also fun to modify and configure to my personal preferences - all of which I was able to do myself. I spent the next few years learning as much as I could about the AR-15 platform with my DDM4V4 being the guinea pig for a variety of different modifications I made. Having had this experience, I would like to take on a ground up build for a new rifle but I would like it to be in .308WIN (DPMS pattern). I have spent a considerable amount of time researching various products from various manufacturers to do this build but instead of telling the forum what I would like to use for this build, I thought I would ask the forum for their recommended components AND WHY THEY ARE RECOMMENDING THEM for this build given the following constraints, preferences, and intended usage: Budget - approx. $1,600 excluding any costs associated with optics or mounts Usage - hunting and range shooting typically at 200 yards or less with a max. range of 400 yards (for the shooter, not the gun) Weight - I am not a young man anymore so I do not want to be humping a 15lb+ gun (fully loaded) through the woods so weight is important to me but I will trade this off vs. cost where it makes sense Ammo - good quality factory or hand loaded ammo with 125gr-165gr bullets with the typical bullet weight being 150gr Accuracy - MOA at a minimum with sub-MOA being preferred with a willingness to trade some of this off vs. cost where it makes sense Gas System - DI is preferred over piston unless someone has a compelling reason for me to go down that road Barrels, BCG's, and gas system lengths - I have probably spent more time looking at this dimension of my build than anything else given its importance so I would be very interested hear what the forum would recommend for barrel lengths (18"? 20"?), barrel manufacturers, barrel material, fluted or not, CHF or other barrel manufacturing methods, gas blocks, gas system lengths and why, muzzle brakes, properly head spaced BCG's and barrels, BCG manufacturer's and materials, etc.. Rail - low profile, free float rail system with round being preferred as opposed to a four sided rail Upper, lower, buffer, stock, trigger group and associated parts kits - recommend anything you like here that is in the DPMS pattern universe but I would be interested in getting some perspectives on "matched" billet upper/lower receivers from specific manufacturers vs. a "mix and match" type configuration from other manufacturers if any of you have an opinion on this vs. the cost for these solutions. Thanks in advance for your willingness to respond to this post and I will look forward to seeing your responses...