MaineMan2

Have you found one you do like yet?

Hi Mike - yes Windham Weaponry puts together fine firearms. I have the same rifle you do including the 16.5" barrel. It is relatively light for a 308 AR, but I'm fairly sure I can put together just as good a hunting rifle that weighs less. You make an excellent point about saving weight on the optic and we'll have to keep that in mind. I'm a big fan of traditional Leupold optics as well. Thanks! In addition to all of the other considerations, I simply enjoy the process of selecting parts, testing, and getting it right (eventually?). DNP - I've spent a fair amount of time lurking here and reading up on gas systems, buffers, and related issues. I learned a lot. My comment on "over gassed" Faxon barrels related to AR-15s, and anyone silly enough to cut weight by getting a lighter buffer shouldn't be assembling Lincoln logs, let alone rifles.

A friend wants a lightweight AR for hunting. I recently built a What Would Stoner Do AR-15 (InRangeTV). It is really light and handles beautifully. So we want to head in the same direction but in 308. (Yes I’ve read the necro threads on this topic) The barrel seems like the biggest potential weight savings. He wants 18” and no shorter. While the Faxon 5.56 pencil barrel is kind of amazing, I’m leaning toward their “Gunner” profile for 308… it’s only a few ounces more. Ballistic Advantage has a “Hanson” profile and looks like high quality, but it does weigh almost 3/4 pound more than the Faxon. Same with Rainier Arms “Match” barrel. He’s looking for quality but carbon fiber wrapped barrel - no. Several concerns about Faxon: I keep reading that their barrels are “deliberately over-gassed” although my sample of one doesn’t seem to have a problem (5.56 pencil, mid-length gas). I did have a problem with a crooked gas key on the Faxon BCG and had an issue with a slight rough machining mark on the bolt face. I’ve recently done a build with the Aero Precision M5E1 enhanced receiver set and handguard. I really like their enhanced handguard attachment. Rock solid with fewer parts to have tolerance stacking. However, it is not especially light. I’m leaning toward a normal AP 308 receiver set with a lighter weight handguard. Any input appreciated. If I can talk him into a fixed rifle stock, I’ve got just the thing for light weight. Any thoughts, insights, etc. appreciated! Chip

I have the 5.56 version of that. It’s light, it works fine, but the contact areas are kinda sharp. Sprlurged on a Badger Ordinance charging handle and I really like it. It’s thick top to bottom and the upper forward edge is rounded so nice and comfy. Build quality seems very solid.

This is my first 308 AR build. Been lurking here a while and posted a couple questions ahead of time. I’m posting to share a few things that have come up. My goal is an accurate 308 rifle, but I live in Maine so anything farther than 500 yards isn’t relevant to me. I didn’t worry about cost as much as quality and compatible parts. I bought an 18.5” medium weight stainless “match quality” barrel from Fulton Armory. My Aero Precision bolt would not close on a Clymer GO headspace gauge, so I called FA. The guy there told me that Clymer gauges ran a bit long in their experience and they use Forster headspace gauges. I bought a Forster GO gauge and nope - bolt wouldn’t close. As instructed, I sent the bolt and barrel back to Fulton Armory. The man I spoke to said that my bolt would close on his Forster GO gauge, but they still reamed about a thousandth more out of the chamber and re-polished it. Now the bolt closes on both of my GO gauges. I did have to pay shipping both ways, but I thought Fulton Armory’s service was very good. Oh - I left out that their turn around was only a few days. if you buy a Fulton Armory barrel, make sure that you buy your gas tube from them as well. I was smart (lucky?) enough to do that and it turns out their gas tube is 1/4-3/8” longer than you might expect. End of the gas tube is just a touch to the rear of center of the cam pin cutout in the upper receiver. On to the build: M5E1 “enhanced” receivers from Aero Precision 15” enhanced handguard, BCG, lower parts kit, and rifle length buffer tube assembly also from Aero Precision. Make sure you buy their lower parts kit if using an AP lower. Geiselle SSA trigger. SLR adjustable gas block. Lancer carbon fiber fixed stock (sweet!). Ambi charging handle from Daniel’s Defense - I really like it! Moving tabs are almost twice as thick vertically as others giving you much more gripping surface. Not cheap though. Likewise with the LWRC buis set that I also like a lot because of the very solid lockup. I really like the Aero Precision enhanced receiver set, with 1 qualifier. You are locked into their proprietary handguard; however, instead of attaching to a separate barrel nut or other part the handguard attaches directly to the upper receiver. Fit and finish are excellent. There’s a screw-in pin instead of a roll pin for the bolt catch. The qualifier has to do with the takedown pin detent. Instead of the spring coming from the back and being held in place by the end plate, the hole comes from below, where the pistol grip will be. You are supposed to put the detent in position, drop in the detent and spring, then compress the spring and lock it in place with a tiny set screw. This process is NOT fun. There’s a lot of tension on that spring. Both the spring and the detent got airborne at different times. Then I remembered to do it inside a gallon ziplock bag to avoid losing small parts. I finally got the set screw in place but there was so much tension that it was impossible to push the takedown pin out. The only solution I could figure out was to cut a couple of coils off the spring. This was the last set of parts for the lower so it was the correct spring and the pivot pin detent was working fine (springs were identical as far as I could see and I did check before assembly). Here’s a better way to get that takedown pin detent secured with much less risk of small parts flying off into your workshop debris. Chad from SOTAR posted a video about how to replace a takedown pin without removing the castle nut and end-plate. It would be perfect for initial install on the AP enhanced lower as well: note: if posting a YouScrewed link is verboten please let me know and I’ll delete it. By now I can hear the screams of “photos! We need photos!” Forgive me. I stopped putting pics of anything firearm related on the internet a long time ago. And yes I realize how silly that is having just typed this really long post.

I realize that this is both out of stock and expensive; however, it is by far the most comfortable charging handle I’ve come across. The levers you pull on are thicker vertically so you aren’t pulling on a thin edge. Haven’t used it long but appears to be built very well: https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/bolt-parts/charging-handle-parts/charging-handles/ar-308-grip-n-rip-ambidextrous-charging-handle-7-62mm-prod133235.aspx?avs|Make_3=AR%20xzzx308&avs|Manufacturer_1=daniel+defense

A little bit of powdered graphite wiped off with the dryer sheet may work even better.

For bottle neck rifle cartridges, I’ve only loaded 5.56 NATO, 270 Winchester, and 308 Winchester. Forster’s “bench rest seater” die is simply a better mousetrap IMHO. There’s a spring loaded, sliding sleeve inside the die that mimics a chamber. This is supposed to improve alignment/reduce runout. In my somewhat limited experience it works. I started with Hornady die sets. They work, no doubt. I just prefer the Forster and believe that consistent bullet seating is vitally important for accuracy. My hand loading mentor loved to say “If it’s not accurate, it’s not interesting.” Note: Redding’s competition seating die is virtually identical in the way it works. It’s my understanding that Redding waited until Forster’s patents ran out…

Sorry for necro post but this hit me where it hurts. SOooo many wealthy mother truckers from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York converted their stupidly expensive “summer homes” into permanent residences here in Maine since 2019. Now we have to fight CRT on the School Boards and listen to “affordable housing” pitches. Kennebunkport just sold a subsidized “affordable” house for $220,000 and that doesn’t include the land it sits on. Affordable used to be a 1 acre lot with a double wide. GD year roun’ summah people are going to ruin this state.

Expensive but far and away the best tool for installing/removing barrels and muzzle devices. The Midwest Industries version engages the barrel extension and the entire slot inside the upper receiver. So much better than putting a clamshell around the upper that may or may not fit right. This buffer tube clamp is useful as well, especially for any collapsible stock tube. I like being able to rotate the lower instead of being stuck with it upright. https://botach.com/kz-ar15-m4-receiver-extension-buffer-tube-block/

I hope that it’s OK to add to this really old thread. If not, please delete. Sierra, Hodgdon, Hornady and Vihtavuori all have “apps” now. Most if not all require a subscription, but it is nice to have everything in one device. Free load data online: https://www.hodgdonreloading.com https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/rifle-reloading/ https://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/accurate_load_data_3.5.pdf https://www.barnesbullets.com/load-data/ I’m a firm believer in having 2 data sources if at all possible, with one being the bullet manufacturer. YMMV

MY APOLOGIES 🥴 TL:DR fit is ok when barrel nut is torqued down guttentite. Measurements checked out in terms of barrel extension shoulder to back edge (feed ramps) being almost equal to distance from forward side of receiver shoulder to back side of opening inside receiver. Second measurement was difficult to get accurately. I can’t use torque wrench on my old barrel wrench. That’s why I didn’t just install the barrel before. German torque setting did the job just fine, although I obviously need the barrel wrench my torque wrench will fit into to finish the job. Barrel fit into receiver is pretty loose until the last 1/8” or so which is very tight. Like too tight to press barrel in by hand and a bit of a challenge to pull barrel out again after tightening barrel nut.

Good question. I think so; however, the Aero Precision enhanced upper is different so you can’t see directly. The barrel nut is threaded on the outside and it goes into a housing also used to mount the handguard later. The locator/alignment pin on the barrel extension seems to be as far back as possible but I can’t see it. Need to figure out a way to measure and confirm that. I expect that I’ll be spending time in the phone with Aero Precision tomorrow morning. I will start by asking dimensions from barrel flange to end of extension and where the alignment pin should be.

No - just dry fitting parts to check compatibility. Honestly, I’m waiting on the correct barrel wrench to arrive along with headspace gauges.

First time 308 AR builder so please bear with me. If this is in the wrong forum section I apologize. 5 Aero Precision M5E1 “enhanced” upper receiver. “Accepts standard DPMS 308 components.” Fulton Armory 308 AR 18.5” barrel made by Criterion for FA. “For use on DPMS/Remington/FA pattern rifles…” The “M4 feed ramps” do not match up flush with the barrel extension feed ramps. It looks like the barrel extension needs to go 1/16” or more further back into the receiver for the receiver feed ramps to flow into the barrel extension feed ramps. However, that is not physically possible. Yes, I am positive that the barrel extension alignment pin is all the way into the groove in the upper receiver. Obviously I’ve got a compatibility problem, but I don’t know which manufacturer to contact first in order to resolve the problem. I foolishly thought that if both parts are “DPMS” pattern, then they should fit together. The barrel is the first part I spec’d so I’m not keen on sending it back. Unfortunately, there are several things I really like about Aero Precision’s “enhanced” upper receiver and I already picked up their matching M5 lower. I do NOT want to return an FFL item… On a side note, just before I hit Checkout on the Fulton Armory site, I thought I’d look at their rifle length gas tubes. 15.5” long “for use on FA-308 AR barrels… will also work on “Armalite AR-10”. The barrel description simply says “rifle length gas system” with no mention of Armalite pattern. Based on discussions here, I ordered the FA “rifle length” gas tube. It lines up correctly with the cam pin cutout in the upper when I dry fit everything - adding to the feed ramp mystery. Thanks in advance for suggestions on how to approach this problem.

Amen! Honestly that’s the first public statement from a company opposing the mandates clear as a bell. SSA is such a good trigger anyway but this earns my loyalty.

Wow! Where on earth do you find cases? Cast your own boolits? Load data - just 70 grains of black powder? The stock isn't in good shape at all - think I'll stick with the baby brother cartridge in an 1895. That thing kicks hard enough!

Thanks! It's sort of a joke really - I get off I95 at exit 25 so barely into Maine at all.

Hiya! I moved back to southern Maine near the coast in 2014 after more than 30 years in Virginia. I don't own any firearms, but I'm interested in Colt revolvers (1960 and earlier), Smith & Wessons, Dan Wessons, anything designed by John Moses Browning, and M1As. The What Would Stoner Do series on InRangeTV got me back into the AR15 world. Given shortages of virtually everything, a 308 AR seemed like an interesting topic to research... That's not entirely true - I do own a Brown Bess with a Tower of London proof mark and a Model 1871 Remington Rolling Block chambered in 50-70. I've never fired either one.

I'm an older M1A guy moving to the dark side. Have built more than one AR-15. 18.5" barrel with rifle length gas system and .936" gas block journal. From everything I've read and heard, 308 ARs really benefit from an adjustable gas block even if I never intend to suppress this rifle. Adjustable gas blocks range in price from $60 to over $200. JP Enterprises and SLR both appear to make quality adjustable gas blocks, but I am open to any suggestions. Until this morning, I thought I'd be GTG with a 308 Carbine length buffer tube, buffer and spring. The CAR-10 system from HeavyBuffers seems to get good reviews. However, I just talked with 2 manufacturer techs and they both steered me toward a rifle length buffer tube and fixed stock. This isn't a close-quarters build by any stretch of the imagination so a fixed length of pull would be fine. Also, it would be nice to leave the door open for a second upper with a 22" 6.5 Creedmoor barrel for serious accuracy at longer ranges. So is a carbine length buffer system more problematic than a rifle length system? One thing I don't especially like about a fixed stock is more weight. I appreciate your help on this! Chip