Fletch

Do yourself a favor and do NOT buy a 16" barrel with a carbine length gas system. 16" is a great 308AR barrel length, but gas port should be mid-length at the shortest IMO and get an adjustable gas block.

SLR Rifleworks makes handguards for DPMS low-profile receivers. You probably won't find one for $200 as they are a bit pricier, but they are excellent quality and well worth the extra money IMO. I have one of their handguards, (15" ION Lite MLOK) on a build of mine, although it is the high-profile version. They are running a spring sale right now also.

This one doesn't have machined windows in it, but it appears to be even lighter than the F1 set. http://2a-arms.com/collections/receivers/products/xanthos-lite-large-frame-receiver-set

Is this it? http://f-1firearms.com/bdr-10-3g-matched-receiver-set/

LOL...yep, got mine last week!

Yes, me too! I hadn't done that before so I called Mega and they told me to put the upper in the oven at about 200-220 degrees until it heats up then slip in the barrel (with the extension lubed/greased) and then let it cool before putting the barrel nut on. It worked perfectly. I also did the same thing with another Maten set that I built for myself using a Mega barrel. I'm not sure if they make their receivers undersized on purpose or if I just got "lucky" with those two but needless to say I was pleased to have been able to assemble it that way. I will say that tolerances for the Maten receivers (upper/lower fit as well as barrel fit) are the tightest I have ever seen. The set comes with port door installed, no forward assist (thankfully), a billet charging handle, takedown/pivot pins installed, and you can use any standard AR-15 lower parts kit to finish the rest. It may be a bit pricey but worth every cent IMO.

Nice pics! I think they're going to fly the one here on Sunday...I'm going to try and make it back if possible.

Wow...that's one hell of a nice restoration job..."Doc" looks almost brand new.

I was at the airport today and noticed a B-29 sitting out there so decided to take a closer look and it turned out they had an Air Power History Tour. They said it was the only remaining flyable B-29. It really was a treat to see. They even offer rides in it on the last day but the prices are very high...like $600 for a gunner seat (in the rear) and $1,500 for a cockpit seat...way too high for me. Figured I'd post a few of the pics...enjoy!

Recently finished this build for a buddy of mine. He is very pleased with it. He wanted a mid to longer range set-up for targets 200 to 800 yards and something he could take elk hunting out to about 400 max. During initial testing/zeroing I was getting 1/2" groups using Federal GMM 175's...it runs very smooth and has been trouble-free thus far. Also, due to super-tight tolerances I was able to thermally fit the barrel to the upper receiver. Specs: Mega Maten receiver set, Faxon 18" heavy-profile fluted barrel, RCA bolt carrier group, Slash's CAR-10 buffer & spring, SLR adjustable gas block, Fortis Switch 14 handrail, VG6 Gamma 762 muzzle brake, Geissele SSA-E trigger, LaRue/Harris QD bipod, Vortex PST 6-24 SFP scope, ADM Recon mount. Personally I think the rifle is "over-scoped" with the 6-24 but he had an extra one laying around and decided he wanted to use it so on it went.

Yes, looking for an all-in-one accuracy report for 308AR barrels will likely be impossible...your best bet is what you're doing...asking and hoping for a variety of responses. I think what you're going to find is that there are a handful of companies that offer what you seek...is Lothar-Walther better than Criterion? is Criterion better than JP? Is JP better than (whoever)? Etc. If you're looking for sub-MOA all of those (and some others) are good to go...if you're looking for "most accurate" I think you're going to have to take a chance and pick one...if you're happy with it, keep it, if not sell it and try another. I don't see that question as definitively answerable beforehand by anyone. For me, my choice ended up being between Mega, JP, and Criterion...all of which I felt would be very accurate based on what I read...the price steered me away from JP, and the Criterion was out of stock, so I went with the Mega. But my criteria was probably different from yours...I just wanted 16", mid-gas, black, and MOA or better...and for me the Mega has exceeded my expectations. If I had to guess I would say the Mega is not likely to be as accurate (on average) than some of those other choices and by no means am I trying to push the Mega barrel...just trying to illustrate one way of looking at the choices out there.

Are you against getting a Mega 16" barrel? I have one and it is easily capable of 3/4" groups with Federal GMM 168 grain factory ammo...probably even better if you took me out of the equation. I did shoot a sub 1/2" group with it but I'm thinking that was a bit of luck on my part. Also, have you considered JP Rifles? They have a 16" (mid-length gas) that comes with one of their High Pressure Enhanced Bolts which is matched/headspaced to the barrel. I almost bought one but the price was a bit steep for me. I think it's like $600 (+$50 if you want it coated black).

Totally not related to guns, politics, shootings, etc. but I came across this article last week (even though it's from last year)...in addition to making me laugh I also found it to be quite interesting and rather sensible IMO. Thought I'd share it with you all for a goof...hopefully someone else enjoys it too...if not...I don't give a fu.... ;) https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fornicate

LOL..I thought about that but decided against it. I have no desire to follow through on any legal threats so I figured I'd better not make any (threats) to start with. I chose to leave it entirely up to them...they'd either do right and I'd be happy or they wouldn't and I'd sell the rifle (and never ever buy anything Armalite again). I'm actually pleased it turned out this way...I get to build another rifle and now both of my 308AR's will be the same platform instead of having one DPMS-pattern and one Armalite. Lesson learned!

They do sell their OBR barrels, but according to their website the barrels will only work with their OBR rifles, which makes sense as I think their PredatOBR rifle is designed for quick break-down and barrel swap. http://www.larue.com/762-predatobr-barrel-cartridge

My serial number was A11-001xx

I am not 100% sure but I believe those PredatOBR barrels that LaRue offers in 7.62 can only be used with their PredatOBR rifles.

Yes, I have absolutely no "sellers remorse"...I'm glad to be rid of it and move on...although a bit of a shame because I really did like the gun, it was a perfect set-up for what I was looking for. The M5 build I have now has been perfect (as far as the receivers go) and I really like it...it should do well in it's new role (replacing the Armalite). And for the Mega...wow, I have been 100% impressed so far with the one I just built out for my buddy. He actually bought 3 sets (one to build now and the other 2 to keep on hand for future use) but is willing to sell me one of them. I just ordered all the parts I need to get both of my builds reconfigured/completed...hopefully everything arrives by the weekend so I can get started.

I too would choose the Vortex hands-down (I have that exact Vortex scope as well and I am very happy with it). The reasons are as follows: The Leupold in question is actually one of their lower end scopes targeted toward AR platform rifles...it typically is a $300 scope...the only reason the one you are looking at is $450 is because of the FireDot reticle. Also, the Leupold you are looking at has a 1" tube vs. 30mm tube on the Vortex. The Vortex is normally a $600 scope, but Midway has been running sales on the MRAD version recently for $450, which is a fantastic price. They are still $600 for the MOA version. If you're looking for a Leupold that is more comparable to the Vortex PST it would be this (Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9): http://www.midwayusa.com/product/325418/leupold-vx-r-patrol-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-3-9x-40mm-1-10-mil-adjustments-illuminated-firedot-tmr-reticle-matte Although that scope is not on sale and is $600 just like the Vortex MOA version. I will say that I have very little experience with the Leupold's but I do have several Vortex's and have yet to be disappointed with one. Yes, there are certainly better scopes out there but for the price they are VERY hard to beat. $450 for the Vortex 2.5-10x44 MRAD is dollar-for-dollar one of the best values out there right now IMO. And taking into account both of those Leupold's...the one you listed and the one I listed...you are either paying the same money for a lesser scope (with the Mark AR) or you are paying more money for an equal scope (the VX-R Patrol).

Very nice rifle!

Yes, I spoke with Mario several times. From what I understand he didn't do any of the troubleshooting though...his gunsmiths handled it.

UPDATE... Well I got the rifle back from Armalite today. They inspected the rifle and found "no defect". Verbally I was told that everything seemed normal wear and tear and that the rifle was just "settling in" and that was the "nature of the AR-10". I don't know if there was a miscommunication somehow but they seemed completely focused only on the upper receiver...which IMO was not the primary issue...the primary issue (at least as it appeared to me) was the fact that the lower receiver (near the buffer tube) was beginning to bend backwards away from the upper receiver (as seen in the before/after shooting pics I posted...and they too saw the same "before shooting" pic). There was very minimal slop in between the receivers, and what slop there was was not front-to-back at all. They said they tried fitting several other upper receivers and they all fit the same...which to me wasn't surprising because I didn't think the upper receiver was the primary issue. How they didn't take the time to at least measure the lower, compare the lower to other lowers, or even try fitting my upper on another lower is beyond me. I did talk to my gunsmith last week...he used to work at Armalite until a few years ago and he told me that (under the new ownership) the gunsmiths "hands are tied" in many instances...whether that was true in my case I have no clue. I don't want to make it seem like Armalite has bad customer service...my issue was probably not very cut & dry...I'm sure the rifle is fine and functional as they have stated. That being said...I expected better from Armalite (as a brand) and I expected a bit more detail to their service/troubleshooting...as such I very promptly drove over to my local gun shop and sold the rifle. The bad...I did take a hit by selling it to the gun shop. The good...I learned a few lessons, and I get to build a new one to replace it. I have an Aero M5-based DMR style set-up that I'm going to move over to a Mega Maten receiver set and then rebuild the Aero M5 set as more of a "battle rifle" set-up to replace the Armalite. I just finished building an 18" 308 rifle for a buddy this weekend using a Mega set...I was super impressed with the Mega receivers...the fit & finish are perfect, the best fit I have ever seen...and the tolerance was so tight between the upper and the barrel extension that I was able to thermally fit the barrel. I still haven't gotten to test it out yet but I have pretty high hopes for its accuracy potential at this point. Hopefully the Mega set I get will be tight enough to do the same with my barrel when I swap it out.

Most of the dimpled-barrels I have seen only have one dimple anyhow. I would not be in the least bit concerned...as long as one of the dimples squares up with where you need your gas block to be you're good to go.

Just came across this: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-07-13/too-many-laws-why-police-encounters-escalate An interesting read with some good points as well IMO.

Or they somehow magically seem to die in a car wreck, have a heart attack, or commit suicide.