AZ Dean

Good info here. I was an MSF instructor for close to 10 years. Also got certified the teach the Total Control course you guys are talking about. Its a really good class, but honestly it's not for beginners like the MSF Basic Rider Course is. At the end of the Total Control course, I was dragging my knee it the parking lot. >:D

Guy in a ghillie suit riding a camo sportbike (photo by me).

I'm just about $1000 into this for everything, so maybe I'll keep rolling with the 'cheap ass bastard' theme and see how far that gets me.

Oooh, that Lancer is puuurty. Hey, I do not have an arfcom account; would you mind getting the guy's email address for me and I'll hit him up? $60 shipped is too good a deal to pass up.

I was thinking I'd probably end up with something like this, but need a place to mount a bipod and prehaps a sling swivel.

I love the Marlin lever guns. I'd really like to find an affordable one in .44 Mag...which would then give me a good excuse to go by that model 29 Smith I have wanted since I saw Dirty Harry the first time. I owned a Model 36S in .30-30 for a period of time, but my gun ADD got the better of me and I sold for something else. I think a .357 or .44 model would be a keeper for me.

Thanks guys. This one seems to run fine so far. I kinda like the slick-side aesthetic, too. I suppose if I could find a slick side upper with a lower rail height (brief searches didnt turn anything up) I'd consider it. Good point on the rings. Those are the Weaver high, so I guess I'd have to look at extra high. I'd really like to spend the next bit of funds on a lightweight free float handguard, low profile gas block, muzzle brake and bipod. Swapping to a different receiver woudn't gain me much function and would set me back at least a few hundred bucks. <thumbsup>

I have considered doing that, but: 1. This one seems to work fine and other than the high rail I don't have any issues with it. 2. I have rebuilt car and truck motors, maintained missile guidance and tracking radar systems for the Navy, but I have only just begun to learn about doing anything more than cleaning these AR pattern rifles. I don't really have the tools yet either. I know, I know, no excuse, I need to get going on that. If I were to swap out the upper receiver, what would you suggest? Thanks for the good info. I made the post title as a bit of a joke (ok, after a few beers), but you're right it would be better if it were on topic. Thank you - that looks like it would work, but 1.7 pounds? Ugh. I'm hoping I can find one lighter than that. Also, I don't need four full rails. I think the only thing I'll want to mount is a bipod and maybe a sling swivel.

Here she is.

So I searched all over this forum and couldn't find anything about muzzle brakes, so I thought I'd... Just kidding. >:D You know those friends that do the thing that really annoys just to get you riled up a little and then say just jokin' man!, fully expecting to get it right back? Yeah, that's me. I also briefly considered naming the topic, "Question about my DPMS AR-10" See? I am learing this place. Hoping you guys appreciate my slightly off-kilter sense of humor. But seriously, I have a question about my shiny new mongrel 308AR (DPMS Sportical upper, PA-10 lower). I bought the DPMS Sportical complete upper from Brownell's because it was actually in stock. It was the height of the panic a few years back when you couldn't find anything and I thought I might try assembling a .308 AR from what I could find. Anyhow, I bought the really, really, ridiculously high rail version, without knowing what I was getting myself into. Now I'm shopping for a free-float handguard for it, and I am wondering what dangers may befall me if I do not choose wisely. I know I am not going to find (nor am I looking for) a handguard that had a rail matching my receiver rail height, but I read in one thread where the mismatched rail height or a handguard that fit too snugly to the receiver could cause accuracy issues. From what I understand, I need a 308 specific handguard as the barrel nut is slightly different? At least that is what 'some guy' told me. I don't need matching rail heights, just want something lightweight and functional. I saw somewhere a carbon-fiber octagonal cross-section handguard with keymod slots in it, but not sure if it is available in a 308 version. TL;DR - With my very high rail receiver (what is it actually called?) what handguards do you recommend and what should I stay away from?

Actually, I need no help whatsoever in that department. You guys will just help ensure that I go bankrupt buying the right thing the first time, rather than the other way around. <thumbsup>

Welcome Rob, formerly known as Ron. Good, now I am no longer the FNG from AZ. :banana:

What's better than making new friends who are well armed, like-minded and have a good sense of humor? :banana: <thumbsup>

Thanks guys! Really impressed with the welcome from an Internet forum. It's not usual to find this these days. I have owned or run Internet forums and before that email lists and I always endeavored to foster a great sense of community. You guys seem to have a great thing going here. Hope I can become a part of it.

Count me in. I'm probably not nearly as skilled or as knowledgeable as most folks here, but I am mature, responsible and enjoy meeting new folks and learning from those with more experience.

They brought all that damn good food with them. Its was a total Trojan Horse move, I'm telling ya. I'm just a mile or so west of Deer Valley Airport.

I'm just about 5 miles or so from Ben Avery. Was there last Saturday sighting in my new girl.

Thanks for the warm welcome. :banana: Now to get to the range some more and get this baby dialed in. :sniper:

Thanks guys. I read a lot more than I post, but I've already got a bunch of questions. I'll do my best to find the answers if they are here, but hopefully you won't beat me up too bad for the occasional noob question.

Hey guys. Someone from my local shooting forum recommended this place, so I checked it out. You all seem pretty cool, so I signed up. I recently bought a PA-10 lower to go with my DPMS Sportical upper, resulting in the beastie you see here. I have only put about a hundred rounds through her so far, but plan for many, many more as I tweak her and learn how she runs best. I've added a Nikon P308 4-12x40 scope and a Geissele G2S trigger thus far. Soon I'll be adding a free float handguard and a bipod, hoping to improve long range accuracy for hunting predators, deer and possibly antelope. Mostly I need to tweak the nut behind the trigger. I'm sure you guys will have plenty of other suggestions for ways to spend money on her. :)