Mike Schwartz

Matt.Cross- Thanks. I came here after finding out that the sum knowledge of local experts was less than desired. For example, putting an Oracle lower together with other brand uppers seemed to create a firestorm of local discussion. I like DPMS. Have a couple or more in 223/556 and like working on them. Had a bad experience with one DPMS in 308 a few years back but at least the info provided here was worthy of the authors. I was about to embark on a whirlwind of changes to the 16 inch Oracle 308 last year when I had a couple of serious health issues crop up. The changes were what I needed to see in order to put the rifle in a config that I could depend upon. I thank everyone for their patience. As previously stated, my expertise has been with other-than-AR-platform rifles. Now I'm trying to build knowledge and expertise in that area. And everyone- Have a Happy Day.

Distant Early Warning System? Deactivated Extra Water Supplier? Disgruntled Expert With Something?<GRIN>

Thanks for the upcheck. Haven't been banned under the other two logins and hope this is the last login change. And your formal training indicates that as well sir. See, don't you feel better already? You're opening up a little and letting us see your true self.

I don't know what you know or don't know. I do know you enjoy needling people. I do know you offered advice before but maybe you need to socialize a little more and learn how to speak to folks. All of us are professionals in something. You appear to be a professional in irritating folks. So far you haven't irritated me, but then again you do keep trying. Windows 10 and the various Chrome browsers have an irritating habit of storing passwords and equating them to site cookies in many different areas. Unless you get rid of all or just wipe the PC and start again, you run into site authentication problems. Especially with Invision-powered websites. It doesn't matter if I post under one name or 60, they are still questions asking for help. Either offer the help in a polite manner or don't offer. You have issues, and I don't have the time for them. For the others who helped, thanks. I'm not in a position to follow up on the previous recommendations. I'll let most of you know what happens. Presuming of course, 98Z5V doesn't get a wasp up his kazoo and have me banned.

RA140 from Aimsurplus is on the way as of yesterday. They were out of the anti walk pins so I'll use squirrel daddy, thanks. The recoil reducer/flash suppressor I have now seems to work fine- no more recoil than 223 even with 175's (no I know the barrel isn't long enough.) But that one from ebay intrigues me. I'll get it. Gas tubes and roll pins I have, of various lengths. I like that gas block from KAK better than the one I was ordering from Midway. Thanks again. After it all arrives and is setup, I'll send better pictures and a 200yds target.

washguy- thank you. Currently have the 7inch DPMS FF tube. There is room for the 15inch with a low profile gas block. That will take it almost up to the locknut of the flash hider. Now to find the gas block.

Carbine gas system- yes. FF Tube Handguard is 7inch DPMS and required a strap wrench to put it on, plus loctite between the guard and nut. Gas block keeps coming loose, so am looking at sadlak that can be pinned. If, and only if, I change to an 18inch barrel, I'll change it all out. Waiting on the arrival of the Tubbs buffer spring. I use Tubb springs in the M1A and never have had a problem. Green is camera view- even the cotton sling is tan. Have Canon's and Nikons at work- will bring one home and get better pics. Pea soup green was never my fav color. Haze grey- yes.

Not taken as snarkey. The crappy hand guard is one of DPMS' "free float" tubes.You should have seen the "A2-like" handguard that came with it. I'm looking for a replacement. The gas block is DPMS also. I'm not happy with it from the standpoint it is set crews without dimpling, So I'll look for another. Looking at a Timney drop in trigger but don't know much about them. As I've said, AR15 platforms (other than M16 variants in military) are new to me as a civilian shooter. Thought the Leupold was decent? Grip and butt stock are actually sand colored but came out green in iPhone photo. I reload for the M1A and use FGMM 168 store bought for this rifle. With the M1A, it likes 168 and 175 Sierra Match Kings. With this? It actually shot tighter groups with Australian milsurp 140's. All the Milsurp I have though are Berdan primed and I don't reload them. Open rail that covers gas block and new gas block_ recommendations? Looking for a free float rail but its hard to tell in Firearm news and local dealers want to sell ones that cost as much as I paid for the rifle. Probably will go to Brownells or Midway for it. And thanks.

Sorry about the quality. Best I can do with an iPhone. The scope is a Leupold VX2 3x9. Sling is standard GI cotton. Stock is extendable. One of the reasons I didn't like AR platforms was the short length of reach on the stocks- I have relatively long arms. Now with an extendable, I can sort of choose length of pull for different firing positions. On a reduced 600yd NRA target at 200yds, this rifle keeps all the rounds inside the 9 ring. The rifle now has 220 rounds through it. Comments, critiques and questions will assist me in learning more.

Yessir, signed up in 2012. Lots of problems signing back in, turns out were MY PC problems. No, I really don't know how the board works, but I'm learning. When I signed up, I had just gotten an LR308 Classic with a 20 inch barrel, had numerous issues and finally traded it off for another M1A. I'll post pics today of my current LR308 Oracle with 16inch barrel, something I kinda like as it doesn't feel like I am waving a flag pole at the target.

I did as you asked and you are correct- many times over. Interesting reading. Seems any lower(DPMS) will go with any DPMS upper. I guess my concern came from the AR15 community where only certain lowers would actually fit certain uppers; and my own fumbling around with a large hole Colt AR15 upper and an Anderson(?) lower carbine.- nothing worked (yes, put the adapter in the large hole so at least the upper and lower hinged together.) And yup, It does appear as though I don't do thorough searches, but again in the AR platform I'm a relative newcomer.

And I thank all. I am not an AR15 platform aficionado. I have had one in 556 as a sort of truck gun, then traded for the Colt LE series. Previously to me at least there was precision shooting with a "space gun" match rifle setup, or the M1A. Now, as the sport evolves, optics have weighed in. Since I like and know the ballistics of 7.62x51, I ventured into the AR15 platform world of 308. And found things like- "well if you change your barrel length from x to Y, you have to change your gas tube, and don't forget that certain platforms don't mate well." I know what works and doesn't for M1A, FAL, CETME, M1 Garand, HK G3 and so on. Searching various forums including this one of course turns up a lot of interesting info, but my impatience didn't allow me to digest the good, the bad and the ugly about AR10/AR15 308 platforms and their peculiarities. Now I can abase myself before the founts of knowledge.

Yessir, you are entirely correct. Nope not the expert just the student. Didn't have a way to take much less send readable pictures then and only recently have acquired that. It was frustrating to say the least. The Oracle is shooting. The earlier LR308 I had that had the original problems, still has those problems, but it is now DPMS' problem. The earlier LR308 was one of those fancy grade with Carry handle and A2 gas block. It had a 20inch barrel on it. This Oracle has a 16inch barrel. Makes my problems smaller?<GRIN?> In all seriousness though, the simple answers I was looking for could be given without providing you all more info. My fault.

And I just want to take the opportunity to thank you for the tremendous help, advice and assistance you've provided in this matter. Your expertise and ability to zero in on the problem with a succinct solution is most appreciated.

Edgecrusher- I shoot NRA High Power Rifle, normally with an iron sight M1A in 308. Last time I looked I think I was ranked Expert but anywho my groups are generally x ring or x ring to 10 ring to 9 ring. With the Oracle, it has a 16 inch barrel and collapsing stock, and I believe it is considered a carbine just like my Colt Ar-15 with a 16inch barrel and collapsing stock. Tight groups. - So fundamentals- check. What I want to know has to do with my unfamiliarity with DPMS uppers and lowers. I know I can't mix 556 and 762 uppers and lowers. Can I indeed take an 18inch barrel upper and slap it on an Oracle lower?(762x51). As I said, I don't want to buy a new rifle. mrmackc- Yeah, frustrated myself for awhile trying to figure out what was more screwed up- me not realizing the gas block rail was lower, or DPMS for putting out a rifle with no sights and a lower gas block ral. I won. Scope is on now and yup need the Timney drop in. BTW, talk about feeling particularly stupid when it dawned on me- duh, yeah lower rail, iron sights not going to work- duh.

Now the hunt begins. I don't want to spend the equivalent of another rifle, but want to look at options here . First option- different upper in complete 18-20 inch barrel vs buying barrel, extended rifle gas tube? Second option- Scopes. Love the Leupold as the clarity is amazing. Like the UTG Leapers for the turrets. Suggestions? Third option- man- releasing the bolt stop is a bear since I shoot right handed. I saw one extended bolt release but it looked like a strange contraption that merely extended the release to a lever system under the trigger housing. Any others out there?

OK, lets resurrect this. 98Z5V- I probably owe you an apology as you were trying to methodically walk me thru it and I was rushing. Forward railed gas block is low profile so any iron front sight would sit low. A2 carry handle didn't help as it sits high. Putting "iron" rear sights on A3 rail still too high. Found a spacer for the forward gas block rail which evens it out with A3 rail. Then decided, the heck with it, and put scope on. That was a learning experience. No front "iron" sight, no rear "iron sight, just the scope. Had to set it forward quite a bit. Leupold VX2 3-9. And I also tried a UTG Bug Buster in 1-4x. Liked the bug buster and it held up well. Leupold did well but it doesn't have the easily adjust turret knobs the UTG Leapers has. I'm using medium Leupold forward leaning mounts for the Leupold. The Leapers UTG comes with mounts and is so short it doesn't need extension or forward leaning mounts.

For whatever reason, the Leupold VX2 3-9 sees them at all magnifications although only as a very faint shadowing at 9x. I have experience significant POI shifts at higher magnifications at 600yds, no wind, same loads. When I put on the ultra high extreme rings, it places the bottom of the bell even with the top of the "wings" and all goes well. This is with an A2 tower only. With fold aways, obviously no problem. Maybe as I get older my eyes are seeing stuff.

There is a rail along top of receiver, but not on handguard. FFT is the Rock River CMP tube. Now DPMS makes a set of sights that look like they are made for the Oracle ( eyes rolling) .Between Brownells and Midway I can see a lot of combos. No, not going to try the A2 Tower front sight. Had an earlier DPMS 308 Classic. It had an A2 tower and the A3 detachable handle with sights. Looked good but really had some issues. Have tried a scope mounted in the A3 rail area but with an A2 tower the tower was in the way of the scope. Super high mounts moved it up, but I may as well just mounted the scope on top of an A3 detachable handle. But thanks for idea. Now that I have the method of laser leveling and equalizing, I may try the A2 Tower and make sure it is aligned with everything

OK, railed gas block was off by an RCH. Still delivering enough gas but not TDC. After uninstalling and reinstalling FFT and barrel, I thought about iron sights and mounted a scope instead. Now, we're cooking. Thanks to survivalshop for laser leveling idea. Now looking into iron sights that can be used on this rifle successfully. Open to ideas.

New Colt M4 Carbine- yep have one of those, had the problem until I unscrewed the barrel which was loose at the time. Rifle had never been fired before me. And it was shooting waaaay right. Disassembled, re-assembled, torqued according to specs, mechanically zero'd sights, used in the bore laser boresight, shifted sights elevation and windage by 2 clicks each left and up. At 25yds, shot cloverleaf, 100yds, cloverleaf, 200yds cloverleaf, 300yds all in the x ring. Yup, barrel loose and A2 sight tower cocked. I like the idea of the lasers to true things up. I used the Magpul Pro's but also have this mistrust of railed blocks. I moved the sight to the HG and voila what a change. Still out there but at least its now the 6 ring at 11. The experience with the Colt M4 has made me leery of assembly by factory. And no this ain't my first rodeo<grin>. I'll use the lasers to measure angles and parallels, then get back to y'all. Oh yeah, had to re-register since it kept asking me to reset my password.