Ozz

Haha, thanks for the advice. I see I need a larger vat of lube.

UPDATE: New gas block and gas tube from Faxon arrived and were installed. Before installation, I measured the gas tubes and found my old one was 1/4" too long. New stuff worked a treat. Thanks Faxon! New Armalite bolt catch works great, thanks again for the advice. One new problem has arisen...failure to extract. The ejector is pushing the empty but the extractor isn't catching so the empty rattles around in the way. New extractor and spring are on order. Got about 60 rounds of various brands thru it (mostly 1 at a time due to extractor issues) and everything else is fine. Even just pointing at a 50 yard target with VERY casual aim yielded good groupings in what was basically a function test. Thank you all for the advice! One more problem to fix and I think I have a pretty good, fun gun. Will post some pics when I'm sure it's all done.

Man, I sure hope so. This has been quite a learning experience but a lot of fun as well. I didn't know when I started that 308 builds can be so challenging.

Okay, have a new low-profile gas block and gas tube on order from Faxon and a bolt release from armalite. I'll update when I have the rifle put back together. Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

Survivalshop, my gas tube measures ~12 1/16" so I seem to have a carbine length Armalite tube in a mid-length DPMS 308. It seems to be maybe 1/2 inch too long. That's 1 issue tentatively resolved, I'm still bothered by the fore end fitment issue and bolt catch not functioning. I have (what I'm told by my friend is) a DPMS upper and BCG on a Palmetto State Armory lower, I know they don't always use exactly the same standards but is it usual to be so far off that the bolt catch wouldn't work? This is my first black rifle build and I've picked up some lessons already (no more Frankenguns for me) and I appreciate all the responses to my (and others') questions.

Okay, I retrieved my upper and gas tube, unfortunately my gas block got ruined in the disassembly process (excess red lock-tite on the set screws required the application of heat and a hammer.) Below are some pics of the upper, barrel and gas tube.

Thanks for all the welcomes. I'm at work but will have some pics this evening I hope. Don't know how I forgot to mention this before but my bolt catch doesn't work either...starting to think the upper is the actual problem. Will post tonight with pics and as much info as I can.

DPMS Upper, BCG and gas block that I purchased from a friend so I have only his word to go by. The Upper is an older, high-top, slick side. Did they change any other dimensions when they lowered the top? Started with a standard delta-ring (from Brownells) and a Magpul MOE M-LOK mid-length fore-end is about 1/4" too long. Went to a low profile gas block and free-float tube, now I have a fore-end but the gas tube still prevents the bolt from seating and locking. Barrel measures 9 inches from gas vent to underside of barrel seating ring, 8.6 inches from shoulder of gas block seat to underside of barrel seating ring. Don't have the upper handy today, will try for some pics tomorrow. Thank you Nathan, I know you watch these forums, that's one of the reasons I ordered from Faxon.

Thanks from southern AL

Hi folks, been lurking for a while and gotten some really good info. Now that my rifle is assembled, I have a problem. I think my barrel may be faulty. Two things make me think this: 1) Standard sized forends are ~1/4 inch too long 2) Gas tube protrudes too far into the DPMS upper, preventing the BCG from locking into battery I have an 16" mid-length Faxon barrel, has anyone else got any ideas?