COBrien

The reason I keep asking about the DPMS mag is this: If the rifle isn't running right with the DPMS mag and 168+ grain ammunition, the techs at DPMS won't have any excuse to get away from warranty work.

Did you try the DPMS mag?

I bought a new-in-box LR308T (same rifle as the Oracle, AFAIK, except the T has a free float handguard from the factory). I broke it in with some Federal XM80 and lubed the BCG up with Mobil 1 15W-50 (dipped all parts in oil, gently slung off the "excess excess," and put it together). She runs like a champ. With Federal Gold Medal Match 168 grainers and a RRA 2-stage trigger, quarter-size 5-shot groups at 100 yards were easy. I ended up with a Fulton Armory rifle-length (12" or 12.5", can't remember now...) FF tube (because I like the smooth look) and a Fulton Armory low profile gas block. Gratuitous pic: As stated above, run it first to check function. Break it in and decide what you want to do with it before you go changing things.

Looks to me like it's a DIY mid-length setup (not factory built), and the DPMS mid-length tube (11-3/4") appeared to be too short. The ArmaLite .308 carbine tube (12-1/16") was "just right," being 5/16" longer. Turns out the rifle runs just fine with the DPMS Mid, but he ordered the ArmaLite Carbine tube for peace of mind. Not sure where the confusion lies...

I've always run PMags (Gen III) in my LR308. Since I don't (yet) reload or handload, they've run fine for me with any off-the-shelf ammo. I am intrigued by Lancers, and will probably end up picking up a couple of them, once I "buy and try" this scope I brought up last week that no one's worked with... I also just looked up ASC Co., and their mags are interesting. http://www.ammosc.com/308-sr-25/

The .308 AR was my first step into AR-pattern rifles. I stumbled upon a deal I couldn't pass up and found myself "bit bad" by the EBR bug.

I'm willing to bet you DON'T have a magazine compatibility issue. FWIW, my G1 LR308 has functioned flawlessly with PMags -- I've never even loaded the DPMS mag. The techs you speak with on the phone are not the guys who work on the rifles. They don't build them, they don't service them, they just answer the phones. They have a script. Essentially, their position is "anything other than DPMS parts and equipment can and will, eventually, cause your rifle not to function properly." I understand their position, because so many coffee table "gunsmiths" foul up their own weapons on a daily basis when adding or changing parts, then blame the manufacturer. Let's see how she runs with the DPMS mag, and we'll go from there. EDIT: Where are you located? On the off chance that you're in Oklahoma, I'd be more than willing to meet up, go shoot, and see if we can figure this thing out.

Sorry, disregard my last post... I just went back and re-read, and it seems you did test the OEM mag. DON'T BUY ANY PARTS YET. Take your rifle to the outdoor range and run the DPMS mag with the ammo you have and some 168s or 175s. If it's still not running right, call DPMS and insist on sending it in for work. If the rifle runs right with the DPMS mag, then you have a mag compatibility issue which we can either help you with or someone here will buy your PMags to help you purchase some Lancers.

Did your rifle come with a metal DPMS magazine?

...haven't been around long enough to know if that's serious or sarcasm... Lol!

Your rifle did come with a DPMS metal mag, didn't it? Try it with PMC and Federal and see how she runs. I agree with shepp and washguy -- try some 168 gr ammo in both the DPMS mag and your PMags. If nothing else, you can tell the next DPMS "tech" that you already did that. To take a quick detour... As far as DPMS's customer service is concerned, I've had a bad experience myself. I called and asked them if it was safe to run .308 Win through my rifle (barrel is marked 7.62, lower is marked .308). One tech said "run what the barrel is marked," another said "run what the lower is marked," but when asked about chambers, their response was complete silence. They also gave me the spiel about 168+ grain bullets. I later called looking for a rifle-length handguard, and was advised they no longer produce, stock, or supply OEM parts for the G1 rifles because the G2s are out now. So those of us who have G1 rifles are SOL if we want G1-specific DPMS parts. No idea what they will do if a G1 comes in for warranty work...

First of all, welcome to the forum! Secondly, and more importantly, call DPMS. A brand new rifle shouldn't be having the issues you describe. Since yours is a G2, they should be willing to work on it and get it right.

I'm rolling my pennies... With a baby girl due Christmas Eve and a wife who is in full-on nesting mode, money is a bit tight right now. She doesn't know about the HG/GB/MB I put on the rifle a couple weeks ago, but she will definitely know the difference in scopes.

Turns out the VX-HOG scopes are not included in the $50 rebate deal. I don't see why not, as it's just a 1-4x20 VX-1 with 'HOG' engraved on it and a different reticle. But I don't make the rules...

Link to Leupold's website: https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/hog-riflescopes/vx-hog-1-4x20mm/ Better look at the 'Pig Plex' reticle: https://www.leupold.com/reticles/pig-plex/ Primary Arms: http://www.primaryarms.com/114933/p/114933/ Leupold Rebates: https://www.leupold.com/rewards/ Looks like a pretty good piece of glass. Of course, the "best" scope I've ever bought is a BSA "Tactical" 4-14x44 FFP Mil-Dot scope. Pretty much everything else in my safe wears a Simmons or a BSA of some sort. They've always been "good enough" for me, and at decent price points.

Oh no... 16 views in 24 hours, and no response. I feel "the rule" being invoked...

Well, here I thought I'd pretty well settled on the PA 1-6x24 ACSS scope for my LR308T... Then I ran across a review on the Leupold VX-HOG (1.4-4x20) with the "Pig Plex" reticle. Seems like a relatively uncluttered reticle which, according to Strelok Pro, would give me holdovers at 300, 350, 450, and 550 with a 75 yard zero. I don't really expect to be taking hogs at anything more than 200 yards as an absolute maximum... PA is selling them for $192.99 right now, and Leupold is offering a $50 mail-in rebate on all VX-1 and Mark AR MOD 1 scopes. I could have this thing for $142.99 after all is said and done! All I'd need is another pair of Warne medium QD rings, and I'd be in business. Switch back and forth between the Weaver Kaspa 3-12x (for shooting groups...) and the Leupold (for everything else) as needed. Anybody running one of these 'HOG' scopes?

@spamking Whereabouts are you located?

Here ya go, fellas: http://schwinncruisers.com/bikes/krates/

The airport (most of it, anyway...damned 'naders) is still there, but I don't know for how much longer. Lots of city politics around that place.

Welcome from Chickasha, OK!

Done! Clamped the upper in, tried the strap wrench, no dice. Borrowed a heat gun and spent maybe 2 minutes going around the barrel nut and tried the strap wrench again it just slipped. Wrapped a rag around the HG and it came loose by hand with a slight amount of torque. Everything else went smoothly. New barrel nut took a final torque of 70 ft-lbs. to line up the gas tube hole. Hardest part ended up being timing/clocking/indexing the new HG and SEI Good Iron brake. Looks like a totally different rifle!

My focus has now shifted to the other side of this situation -- removing the OEM DPMS handguard and barrel nut. I've obviously got the FH and gas block removed. That part was easy. Based on threads around here, it seems DPMS uses LocTite (probably red...) to keep these HGs in place on the barrel nut. I've used my little butane torch (with "hot air blower" attachment) and have had little luck getting anything hotter than about 150 F (checked with IR thermometer). It takes somewhere around 300 F to do any good. Gonna have to invest in a heat gun... Going to a friend's house to use his vise, vise block, and expertise on Wednesday. I was hoping to at least have the HG off the barrel nut before I get there. I did get it mocked up, though... Exactly the look I'm after. Clean and simple, rifle HG on 16.5" barrel. Oh, and a Good Iron brake instead of the useless (for my purposes) flash hider.

Double tap...

Welcome from Oklahoma!