GRA

I've got one of Ares' AR15 and AR308 80% lowers and jigs, etc., but I don't trust my drill press skills. I'm going to have to try everything when I have lots of time. As I understand, you're supposed to gut those out with a mill but I don't have access to one of those. YouTube has a couple of videos on completing these with a drill press but it appears it takes more time than I have right now.

Who is AIM? I keep seeing this more and more and I will need a BCG also. I'd really like to get the BCG and the barrel in a matched set. I'm leaning towards the same barrel. Seems lighter and is also cheaper. I'm not fully committed yet as I have noticed that is has become more common for some of the custom arms builders to use SS. I don't know if there is an advantage to SS or maybe just helps them sell better. I plan on using the A2 front sight gas block but I need to check some measurements first. Please keep the updates and photos coming. Thanks !!!

Outstanding! Looks very well done. <thumbsup> I'm glad you posted this because it reminds me to check out that site you posted with the cheaper vice blocks. My receiver set should arrive at the FFL tomorrow and I'll go pick it up. I really don't have any additional parts at this time to start the build with but again I plan on taking my time. Obviously I also need to learn how to post photos on here ... <dontknow> Keep us informed about the progress of your build and what barrel you decide upon. I sent an e-mail off to FAXON this evening inquiring about their barrels. I'll post their reply on here when I get it. As for a stock I'm kind of leaning toward nostalgic. I might just go ahead and install the military A2 stock. Don't have many of those around here where I can check them out before ordering. We might want to start looking at, and asking for opinions on, some adequate optics also. Again ... thanks for sharing the cool photos.

Just sent Nathan @ Faxon an e-mail. Seems they are still currently out of the 18" SS fluted barrel but they have the 4150 steel salt bath nitrided in stock although it's not a fluted barrel. Still a bit lighter than the SS fluted barrel. All my AR15 barrels are chrome-lined steel. I've never owned a SS barrel and don't really know what the pro(s) and con(s) are of each. Any advice will be appreciated. THANKS !!!

:threadjack:

Good information. I was looking at that last night, at least the weight comparisons. I left Ranier out of the picture for now because they are indeed expensive. I didn't even check Fulton out. I basically compared Faxon, Mega, and the 18" barrel offered by Ares Armor. Faxon is currently out of their best SS fluted 18" barrel but they have the salt bath nitrided 18" barrel which is the lightest of all the barrels I compared, excluding the Ares barrel for which they don't give a weight amount. The Ares barrel is only about $218.00 and the 18" Faxon barrel (not SS) is about $250.00. I really don't know what the pro(s) and cons are regarding SS over non-SS because I've never used any SS barrels for my AR15(s) and all those barrels are chrome lined. I really need to do more research.

Thank you for your input. I am currently inclined to the 18" barrel.

I am having a hard time deciding to use an 18" or 20" barrel. I've been told the 16" - 18" are good in this caliber to at least 600 yards ... (???) and long range is primarily what I am building this for. I'm leaning toward the 18" thinking it won't be too much compromise from the 20" - 24" barrels yet may save a little weight. As for hunting purposes I don't see myself shooting at hogs that are further than 600 yards out. I don't think I can even see that far anymore with these 53 year old eyes. Thanks for the info. on the vice block. I was in grief over how much the total cost of my first .308 build will be once I factor in all the .308-specific tools.

COOL ... Can't wait to see it. :))

So ... can you give us a list of what all you have left? Thanks !!!

Thank you for the information. Most helpful indeed. I have a NiB caliber-specific BCG that I got from Midwest. Functions just fine and a tear-down shows no issues. I'm sure it's the ASC mags. When the new C-Products 2nd. generation mags get in I'm heading to the range ASAP. If they work I'll go back and try to modify the ASC mags I have to see if I can get them to run. I got an e-mail this morning stating the mags were shipped today. When C-products finally releases their new J-Mags I'm sure I'll get 1 or 2 and see what happens. I think if I mod the ASC mags as you've stated they may work better. I'll post all results on here as soon as something develops.

Photos are nice but I will probably never be able to pull that amazing feat off !!!

I've never owned one but have been told the Ruger mini in 223 had severe issues, namely because of the barrel being too thin which hurt accuracy once it heated up. Once it cooled the accuracy was superb but it did not take too many rounds to produce a semi-shotgun pattern on the target. The tactical model is impressive but I took the above advice and built a 7.62x39 AR which is great as all get-out until I hit round #11 using ASC mags and then it was fail-to-feed for the rest of the mag. This appears isolated to the ASC mags alone as the bolt could not even strip the next round off the top of the mag. Examination of the nickel-boron new bolt showed no issues. When rounds did chamber the function was flawless in the YHM carbine barrel with A2 front sight post. No fail-to-eject or fail-to-fire at all. I've ordered some C-Products 2nd. generation 30 rounders yesterday and I'm anxious to see how they turn out. I will say that for the first 10 rounds that is one sweet caliber in an AR. Just a little more recoil than the 223/556 but I could tell at 100 yards it had some punch.

Thank You. <thumbsup>

PasoGunner you're right. Faxon's barrels are impressive; both the stainless, and the 4150. Problem is the 18" stainless barrel is out of stock at this time. The fluting they use is impressive indeed. Since I'm not in a hurry I registered and requested to be notified when this barrel was back in stock. Thanks for the great information. <thumbsup> Please feel free to advise on anything else as this is my first .308 build.

You got a point. I'm sure before they offer the billet set they will test the market on how well their forged sets sell. That's the way I would do it if I was already established yet offering a new product. When I get all the parts together I will go to the build section and start a new thread there.

Sent payment off today for the Spikes .308 upper and lower receiver set. We'll see what these are all about. Seems nobody has done one of these yet (that I know of) so I figured ... WHY NOT ? <dontknow> Will update the thread when the shipment arrives and will advise on the vendor, etc,.

How about the Ares Armor 18" .308 barrel ... anyone ever use one of these? Recommendations ... ??? THANKS !!! :))

Finally got in touch with the GunBroker vendor. Ver nice and knowledgeable. He confirmed the take-down/pivot pins, bolt and magazine catch is pre-assembled on the lower. He also confirmed the rest of the configuration of the receiver set is DPMS. Stated an AR15 lower parts kit should work for the rest of the parts. In our conversation he suggested Mega barrels. Does anyone have any in-depth experience with these? Anyone have any experience with Ares Armor barrels?

AWESOME !!! I sure hope mine turns out half as good. <thumbsup>

Thanks for the Aero Precision suggestion. Reasonable prices and appears to be forged from the same materials. It is not so much that I am looking for a "budget" build but rather I don't really know what to look for with regards to the 308 AR build. Very different from the AR15 build. I don't want to buy cheap products in building a rifle but I need to make sure what I do spend goes as far as possible. I will strongly consider Aero Precision. Thanks Again <thumbsup>

Now that I think about it I might just give this vendor a call. I'll post the outcome of the discussion on here afterwards.

Thanks for the warning Gents. I did a search on PSA complaints and I am glad I paid attention to the posts on this forum. I am now skeptical of the Spike's set, even though the vendor claims the pins and other proprietary parts are already installed. Might pay to be patient and do a little research more research first. Thanks again. <thumbsup>

Checked out Palmetto last night and was very impressed with their pricing. What bothers me now is I can't determine why some of these .308 rifles in the AR platform (in the "basic" class of these rifles) often cost hundreds more than others. I don't know enough yet about the .308 AR platform rifles to be able to determine where I'm paying more for name brands, etc. ? You gentlemen that are more experienced than I am with the .308 AR rifles will be appreciated if Y'all could find the time to advise me accordingly.

Spoke with a vendor on GunBroker today. I'm told the pivot pins, bolt catch and mag catch come pre-installed on the lower. The remaining small parts are DPMS or otherwise AR15. Sounds like a Mega MATEN concept to me. This is getting a little more interesting as we progress. Thanks for posting the information and links about Palmetto. I'll check them out too.