Fletch

Yes I just donated as well... we definitely need more like him running for public office IMO. His book, The Heart and the Fist is a really good read too, I highly recommend it. https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Fist-Education-Humanitarian-Making/dp/B0098RLDT8

Even though I don't live in Missouri I hope this guy wins!!! http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/07/01/isis-hunting-permits-sold-missouri-gov-candidate

I have an Aero M5 set that (while not quite as nice as some of those billet sets) is really very nice, and pretty cost effective too. I haven't had any issues with it, it looks and performs great. I will say that if I buy another set for a build in the future it will most likely be a Mega. My boss just ordered a few that he wants me to build for him and I really like that they come with a charging handle, dust cover door, and the takedown pins, all that is needed to finish the receivers is a regular AR15 LPK. I also like that they have no forward assist either...it's not really necessary for 308's IMO. The best price I've found on the Mega's was $510 (for the non-ambi set) at JSE Surplus.

Thanks Wash! And thanks also to the others who have answered...very much appreciated. Since I already have a bunch of the ammo I will run it through and see how things go. If nothing else I'll be a good test subject and will report back any findings as time progresses.

Sorry, forgot to ask this question in my previous reply to you... Is there a common factor that seems to result in a particular 308AR/AR-10 not shooting soft points?

So basically I shouldn't be overly concerned about this? If my gun will run them fine then I should be good to go? Any concern about build-up of lead and/or little chucks falling off and getting anywhere in the receiver, chamber, and/or bore? Initially I bought some Hornady 165 BTSP to test out as being my "primary" round and was planning to use Prvi 165's as my practice/plinking round, but before I really did my "homework" I came across a great price on the Prvi so I bought a bunch of it. Thanks for your reply...I'm looking forward to hearing more from you about this if you don't mind. Seeing the first few responses I got a bit discouraged and was already deciding to try and sell all the SP's and move on. Thanks Wash!

Thanks very much for the replies...what I gather is that it's OK to use, but not something I should be be using as my regular practice ammo or something I really need to rely on functioning 100% and that there are better options. Unfortunately (for me...LOL) I picked up a bunch of SP rounds a few weeks ago...I guess I forgot the old saying "look before you leap"...plus that Orlando shooting kinda put me in a "buy now" mode...oh well, lesson learned. If anyone wants to buy some factory new 308 SP ammo let me know... I've got the following: Hornady 165 grain InterLock BTSP Prvi Partisan 165 grain PSP BT Federal Fusion MSR 150 grain

I have never shot any soft point ammo through an AR-platform rifle...only FMJ's, OTM's, and ballistic/polymer tipped ammo. I was considering trying out some SP for hunting/defense/SHTF/etc. I was doing a little research and seem to come across two types of reviews regarding the functioning of SP ammo in 308 AR's...one that always (or at least mostly) seem to have issues with SP functioning properly, and others that never (or rarely) have function problems. And even more puzzling...I've run across this a few times...two people will have the exact same gun and both are reviewing the exact same ammo...and one guy has it run perfectly and another can't get it to function at all? What I am looking for is feedback/advice/suggestions from anyone who has experience with SP ammo in a 308 AR (DPMS pattern or Armalite)? My primary interest is regarding the reliability and functioning of the rifle with SP ammo...NOT terminal ballistics, fragmentation, etc. Also, one of the rounds I am planning to try is the .308 Hornady 165 grain InterLock BTSP, if anyone uses that specific round please comment as well. Thanks in advance...your input is very much appreciated!!!

+1 for Vortex...I have several and am very pleased with them. As far as max yardage for the 3-12x44 I would imagine the biggest variable would be what you're trying to hit...I don't feel there is a "max yardage" for any given magnification...depends on your shooting ability, your gun, and of course your target and what you're looking to do. You mentioned target shooting 100-150 yards...that scope is plenty for that. I was at a range where they had torso-sized steel at 1,000 yards and with a 10x scope we had no problem hitting it consistently. Would I have tried those same shots on a deer or elk? No.

You're welcome, glad to be of help. JP lists their Low Mass carrier as weighing 10.82 oz and the Full Mass carrier at 15.31 oz (those weights are for the carrier only without a bolt) Don't forget to give us a report once you have the gun built and running! Best of luck to you!

If cost isn't an issue I would say absolutely go the JP route, but factoring in cost I would say go with the RCA. I have on occasion dealt with JP Rifles for a few things...each of those times I was completely impressed with their fantastic customer service and attention to every detail. They make great stuff and stand behind it 100%. But yes, a premium cost for sure. For myself, the primary advantage of the JP would have been the weight savings (I would have gotten their Low Mass BCG), but you mentioned looking at the Full Mass BCG, in which case the benefit of the JP might not be as big to you. The RCA headspaced perfectly (using Clymer gauges)...just barely closed on the GO Gauge, but I've always heard that Mega is known for having tight chambers. The finish seems to be holding up quite well. Not much else to say about the RCA BCG...I haven't had one problem with it (knock on wood) which is most certainly a good thing!

I'm not 100% sure but I have a build that is along the lines of what you're talking about/hoping for (although mine is set-up more for a DMR/CSASS type of role). I'm not going to get into your choice of receiver(s) as I think blue109 pretty much hit that perfectly. Regarding the gas/recoil "system" itself all you really need is an adjustable gas block and a good muzzle device IMO. I see no point in getting a heavier-than-normal bolt carrier (JP FMOS for example)...or heavier than normal anything for that matter...UNLESS you weren't going to use an adjustable gas block or were getting a really heavy barrel and wanted to balance the weight of the build a bit better. I run a 16" Mega Arms barrel with a Syrac Gen 2 click-adjust gas block (highly recommended...easy as heck to change and no set-screw to play with), a VG6 Gamma 762 muzzle break (also works great), and I do have one of Slash's Heavy Buffers (which does make a difference in smoothness IMO...although that is not why I bought it). The BCG is a Rubber City Armory with one of their high pressure bolts. Rifle itself (empty) weights a tad over 8 pounds. I can consistently get 3/4 inch groups with Fed GMM 168's and have gotten a handful of 1/2 inch groups as well. I tried 175's also but this barrel seems to prefer the 168's (at least with the factory ammo...I do not reload). The rifle is 100% reliable and cycles very smoothly...recoil and muzzle rise are very tame. I will say that I don't really do a lot of rapid-fire with this build but on the few occasions that I did it ran perfectly. I got the Slash Buffer (and spring) because when I first built the rifle I used the standard DPMS-style 308 carbine buffer...but the cycling force kept compressing the stopper on the DPMS buffer to the point that it would allow the bolt carrier to impact the area of the lower receiver where the buffer tube is screwed in causing a little denting/dinging (even with an adjustable block). The Slash Buffer is constructed more solidly and seems to fit the buffer tube better (less jiggly?), the stopper is thinner and appears more solid and seems much less prone to the compression that I was experiencing with the DPMS buffer. After I made the switch there seemed to be a noticeable difference in the smoothness and cycling.

Here is another option: http://aeroprecisionusa.com/m5-308-carbine-buffer-kit.html

Thanks! Glad you liked it. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get out again (yet) with this rifle. I will of course report back again once I do. Yes, the winds can be tricky where I shoot also...it's in a valley that is narrow (and surrounded by trees) near the firing line...then widens out through about 250 yards then tapers back in around 400-450 yards, and some of the area is wide-open and others are blocked by lines of trees. I guess from a practice perspective it's nice and challenging, but every so often I'm left with too many unknown variables that I feel like I'm playing whack-a-mole with the windage turret. My favorite target there is the 4" steel at 400 yards, but there's not a lot of margin for error with that one.

Try this: https://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=430

Have you checked to make sure the gas rings on the bolt are staggered properly?

SLR Rifleworks makes some 16" rails for 308 http://slrrifleworks.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=66_107_147_112_110&product_id=430 http://slrrifleworks.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=66_107_147_112_110&product_id=429 (they also make other 16" versions as well if you browse through their site...also, if you order from SLR make sure you order the correct type of rail...they offer rails for DPMS G2, DPMS High/SR25, and DPMS Low. Fortis Mfg makes a 308 Switch 15 which is actually 15.75" http://fortismfg.com/ar10-fortis-switch-308-rail-system-15

Initial Range Report.... I ended up with a little free time so I was able to get the rifle out and put some rounds through it. My intentions on this first trip were to 1) adjust the gas system, 2) confirm the functioning/reliability of the rifle, and 3) zero the scope that will ultimately reside on the rifle and confirm bullet-drop at various distances. The scope on the rifle is a Vortex Viper PST 1-4x24 (MRAD). My preferred zero for this type of "battle rifle" set-up is the 50/200 zero...however, since I mostly use the heavier bullets (168 grain) and this barrel is 16" I expected around 2450-2475 fps velocity...which would leave me a bit low at 200 yards. I wasn't able to chrono the rounds but based on my shooting that day and the adjustments needed at various ranges I would say I was getting no slower than 2450 fps and no faster than 2500 fps using Federal GMM 168's. Anyhow...once I got dialed in at 200 (which leaves me 1/2" high at 50 and 2" high at 100) my holdover for yardages out to 400 becomes simple...1/2 mil for 250, 1 mil for 300, 1.5 mil for 350, and 2 mil for 400 (which is about as far as I will regularly shoot this rifle). I also shot some American Eagle 7.62 168 grain OTM and Hornady .308 168 grain A-Max. The rifle functioned flawlessly without one single failure to feed/fire/eject. Adjusting the gas system was simple...I followed the instructions (for once...LOL) and with the gas about 1/2 open it cycles smoothly and ejects around 4:00-4:30. Overall I shot 100 rounds...60 Federal GMM and 20 each of the American Eagle & Hornady. I wasn't shooting for groups or to really see what kind of accuracy the gun is actually capable of, partly because I didn't have a lot of time (and felt a little rushed) and also because I prefer to use a higher power scope for such shooting. I did try a few groups for kicks though (and to see which ammo the gun seemed to shoot best) and was getting about 1.5" at 100 yards with the Federal GMM 168's. (Of the three types of ammo I had that day the Federal seemed to perform the best, the American Eagle second best, and the Hornady A-Max came in last). Next time to the range I will mount a higher magnification scope on the rifle to give it a more thorough accuracy test. As I stated before as long as the gun is capable of no worse than 2 MOA accuracy I'd be pleased...and considering I was able to get 1.5" with the lower power scope I am indeed quite pleased. I would certainly expect 1" (or better) groups next time out with the higher mag. scope. And even though I'll mostly be shooting steel I still want to know what this gun is (or isn't) actually capable of as far as accuracy goes. The range set-up was paper targets at 50/100/200 and 9" steel gongs at 200/300/400. Once dialed-in I was 100% on the 200 & 300 steel, but only about 50% at 400 yards. At first I was a bit baffled and thought perhaps my drop was off a bit but after some dicking around (and ruling out scope cant or rifle cant as a potential cause) I realized the wind was my problem...where I was shooting from the wind was still but as I walked out to check the targets the wind was much more evident as I got downrange. Fortunately the steel targets were freshly painted so I could see where all my shots were hitting and at the 400-yard target the shots that did hit were all on the left edge of the target...and the 300's were also a bit left of center. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to go back and try again so that too will have to wait until next trip, but if nothing else I re-learned a good lesson about wind (and making assumptions...LOL). I will report back after my next trip in which my intentions will be to 1) give it a more appropriate accuracy test with a higher power scope, 2) reconfirm the 1-4 scope at all distances (especially 400 yards), and 3) practice some off-hand/unsupported shooting. I'll also grab some pics of the groupings as well and post them too. Thanks for all the compliments on the rifle. Armalite has really put out a nice rifle with their new Tactical series, I'm still very impressed and really glad I decided to purchase this gun. I definitely recommend giving it a look for anyone who is in the market for this type of set-up.

You may want to give these a look: http://www.jtactical.com/JT-10-Complete-Rifle_p_48.html https://armalite.com/shop/ar-10-tactical-20/ I haven't come across a whole bunch in the $2,000-$2,500 range...it seems you can get an excellent gun for $1,600-$2,000, but beyond that the price seems to jump to $3,000+ with the Wilson, LaRue, LWRC, etc. That Daniel Defense looks like a nice gun but as you stated too bad they don't offer a 20".

The rifle arrived late last week and as promised I will do a review of it. For now the review will be first-impression kind of stuff (and a few pics) as I have yet to have the time to get out and shoot it and dial it in to my liking. Once I do shoot it and get some rounds through it I will report further on it's performance. Before purchasing this rifle I looked at several others from various manufacturers. My criteria during that search was not terribly stringent but there were a few things that I was particular about. I wanted a complete factory-built 308AR/AR-10 rifle. I have built several AR15's without issue, but the sole 308AR I built was a pain in my ass...between returning parts (2 "match grade" barrels and 1 bolt, all of which ended up being out of spec), wasting way too much ammo troubleshooting the build, and wasting a whole lot of time, I simply do not have the time or desire to do that again at this point...as such I wanted something fully factory-built to my liking (or close to it) that required minimal (if any) tinkering with. NOTE: For those of you thinking of building your own please do not be swayed by my experience...after finally getting that original build together with in-spec parts it is easily my favorite rifle and I am very glad I built it. It is accurate as heck, runs flawlessly, and fills the role for which I built it perfectly. This rifle will be much different, and will essentially be a "battle rifle" (so to speak) for short to mid-range shooting. I also wanted a 16" barrel...as short as legally possible in my state (without going the pinned muzzle route). I would be very happy if the rifle shoots MOA or better (with good match ammo of course) but in this case it was not a strict requirement of mine as most of the shooting with this rifle will be within 400 yards and mostly at steel...as long as it shoots no worse than 2 MOA I will be pleased. I wasn't looking for the cheapest rifle by any means, but I also wasn't looking for a LaRue, Knights Armament, etc. either. I wanted something solid, reliable, and built by a manufacturer with a long-established reputation for good quality products and excellent customer service. I felt (before purchasing this rifle) that it was ideally suited for what I was looking for. For the price it seemed to offer exceptional value also. It's retail price is about $2,000, but I managed to pick it up online for about $1,600 (brand new). In addition to Armalite quality/service/guarantee it had pretty much everything I would put on this type of build if I did it myself...adjustable gas block, muzzle brake, free-floated handguard, Magpul grip & STR stock, back-up sights, and an upgraded trigger. I was not able to find a (similarly built) complete rifle from another manufacturer that matched up with the Armalite when factoring for price, options, quality, etc. See the following link for the exact specs of the rifle if you're interested: https://armalite.com/shop/ar-10-tactical-16/ Upon bringing the gun home from my local FFL dealer I inspected it a bit further and found that I was even more impressed, and more pleased with the gun than I expected I would be. It feels and looks very durable, yet without seeming overly bulky (especially for a 308AR). The fit of the receivers is near flawless, and everything that moves (BCG, trigger, takedown/pivot pins, mag release, bolt catch, etc.) seems to do so very well and smoothly. The finish on the gun (receivers, barrel, handguard, etc.) is more matte than it is shiny, which in this case and for this rifle is ideal. For my preferences, and for the purposes for which this gun will be used, this rifle is damn near exactly what I had in mind. The one thing I did change was the muzzle device that came with the rifle (OSS Bannar Bravo 4)...at first I planned to just keep it on and see how well it performed, but after seeing how large/bulky it was (almost 3.2 inches long and almost 1 inch in diameter) I decided I wanted to change it. The new device I installed is a POF Triple-Port Muzzle Brake. I should be able to get out and start shooting it within the next week or so (although hopefully sooner if my schedule somehow lightens up a bit). I will update this with more info (hopefully all good) when that time comes.

LOL...yes, I think most of us are afflicted with that disease. For whatever reason they didn't test the VG6 Gamma or the POF brake in that test, but the same guy did two other tests with 5.56 compensators/brakes and the VG6 & POF were tested in those, both of which did very well with 5.56. I am very pleased with both, and really cannot notice any difference between the two when shooting. Best of luck to you! And welcome to the forum!

There are other aftermarket companies that make handguards for the AR-10...but I'm not sure exactly who does and doesn't...I'm pretty sure Midwest Industries and SLR Rifleworks do but I'm sure there are others of course. I think the barrel nut is specific for the AR10 (vs DPMS) so you'd need to make sure you're buying the right one as not any 308AR handguard will work (as far as I know). Armalite also makes some free float handguards as well. As far as muzzle devices I think that will be a personal preference of yours...I use a VG6 Gamma 762, and a Patriot Ordnance 3-port muzzle brake, both of which work very well. Read this review...they tested a bunch of .30 cal brakes to see which ones diminished recoil the best: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/02/jeremy-s/308-muzzle-brake-test/

If you want to attach a bipod, light, etc my suggestion would be to first change out the handguard...Armalite makes a quad-rail for your gun that would be very easy to swap with your existing handguard: https://armalite.com/shop/alostyr-2-piece-mil-std-1913-mid-length-handguard-assembly/ As far as the other stuff goes there are tons of options in all price ranges. If your set-up is meant for personal defense as you mentioned I would probably go with a red dot scope or a low power variable optic, like 1-4 or 1-6. I have little to offer on lights other than my preference being the Scout light by Surefire...and you really can't go wrong with a Harris bipod. Not sure what your willing to spend on this stuff but my last suggestion would be to stay away from cheap crap, but also don't feel the need to buy overly expensive stuff either...just good, solid, well-priced products from companies that have a good reputation and stand by whatever they make. Best of luck to you!

Give this video a look if you haven't seen it already... You can save some time by jumping to the 8:00 minute mark.