98Z5V

You're killing me... <lmao> I saw that thing a couple years ago and almost bought one. FDE won't phase me, because I can Aluma-Hide that big bastard! <thumbsup> <laughs> I've almost "pulled the trigger" on that thing several times in the past - one day, I'll do it. And you'll wish you were here drinking a frosty beverage with me... ;D <munch> (I'll even set your rear sight to 800... :o)

I can take a measurement of an old-height upper. all that's left from that measurement is the math of the difference between old and new.

I know Madhouse, me too. <dontknow> Locking the bolt to the rear without removing the firing hand from firing position was revolutionary. The BAD lever did that. Some can argue that the Phase 5 was first to market, but it never would have gotten to market had MagPul not released videos of the BAD, then waiting almost a year to get it into the hands of consumers - Phase 5 filled that gap, and that immediate want. It's the same function, but in a different way of execution of the product. It seems now that more and more manufacturers are looking for complicated ways to incorporate what the levers do, directly into the lower. The more complicated it gets, the more complicated it is to run, and the more training it takes to maintain proficiency on the platform. I've been using the BAD lever since it was first available to the public - like the first day it went on sale. I love it. I haven't tried a Phase 5, because I don't have a need to, with BAD levers on all my ARs already - except for the .308 AR. The Phase 5 will fill that role, but I haven't gotten around to picking one up yet. Eventually. Now, my new lower - the ARFCOM billet lower - it incorporates a bolt release lever directly above the mag release. So does my Spike's billet lower. I really didn't use it on my Spike's lower, because there's a BAD lever on it. On the new one, I use it. I like it. It works great for releasing the bolt after a normal mag change. The more I work this gun, the more I find myself using that same bolt release on the Spike's gun - and I like it. I think my own shooting weaknesses will show as soon as I have a malfunction, and I'm reaching for the BAD lever in order to help clear the malfunction. At that point, I'l figure out what I need to do, but it'll take more time to revert back "to the old way." This piece advertised here - this lower - isn't really revolutionary. It's incorporating something "different" that will need to be trained for. Personally, I can't see the benefit, considering all the other devices that are out there, which do more.

Absolutely. <thumbsup>

Complete and total disassembly would be just about mandatory for any multi-part component that you wanted to dip.

Review details in the new thread: http://308ar.com/forum/index.php/topic,1534.0.html

Well, back from the range, and the results are... WOW!!! ;D BIIIIIG difference in the .308 AR recoil - HUGE! I went straight to the heavy insert, and that was not a mistake at all. Felt recoil is radically different. In 100-yard shots before, the recoil was heavy enough that I couldn't even keep the scope on target to see impact or round placement - not now. I'm not saying it "eliminates" recoil, but it sure does cut it down. What an improvement. <thumbsup> Now, for the 16" 5.56 gun. This is a 16" midlength with a Spike's T2 buffer in it already. It's a soft shooter. I used the carrier and lighter steel weight in this one, and shot it. Immense difference. I was shooting 55gr UMC bulk ammo, so this stuff isn't super high powered or anything. I decided to try the heavy insert in there just to see if it would function - YES! With the heavy insert, it barely has felt recoil at all. I can actually fire, and the scope hardly even "wiggles" on the target. I was joking about thinking it would recoil like a .22LR, but that's exactly what it does. I'll try to get video tomorrow in the riverbed shoot-fest we've got happening. ;D This product is worth every single penny, even if it was double the price.

Yes, completely. I'm heading out in a few minutes to shoot two rifles with this in them - one is starting to get beat up around the edges of the buffer. Only long-term testing/shooting will confirm, but I have very slight "problems" with one particular rifle. A small amount of contact, one machining process "not quite right," and my buffer does contact the stop when the rifle if closed/pinned. This part will eliminate that problem. Function check on the rifle (both, actually, with the .308 AR) shows that I can still lock the bolt back manually, and with an empty mag in place, so the extra 0.080" that this piece adds to the length of the BCG doesn't affect rifle function in any negative way. <thumbsup>

Sounds kinda like woot.com, buddy, just for guns! Nice! <thumbsup>

You're instigating again... <laughs> I like the "Military Desert" set they've got. ;D

Damn... I think I just tripped and got stuck in a 6.8 SPC II... <dontknow> <laughs> Sorry, guys. :o

Awesome, guys. ;D Thanks, brother - I modified my original post after that news, so the link in that one now takes people directly to the correct page to send a card. <thumbsup>

Message from the VFW - I'm a member, and received this email a week ago. I signed my electronic card and sent it, and received this as a return - just passing the message, so hopefully some here can fill it in and send one on it's way to a hospitalized Vet this weekend. Thanks for the support; remember those who served, are serving, and especially the ones who are sidelined with an injury right now for doing their job and doing it well. <thumbsup> http://heroes.vfw.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=15941.0&dlv_id=22562

I've been watching this since RA announced it over on ARFCOM a little while ago. The main advantage to this (and what will save steps in the Manual of Arms) is that it activates the bolt catch everytime you hit the mag release button. This will only help you clear malfunctions that would require you to drop the magazine first - that's the only place it saves steps in the process (double feed, bolt over, etc.). *Hold the mag release in with your right index finger while you charge the weapon with your left hand. That accomplishes: dropping the magazine, charging the weapon, locking the bolt to the rear; all finished in that motion. IMHO, if you're looking at reducing steps in the Manual of Arms, the BAD Lever or Phase 5 EBR V2 will give you more for less. <dontknow>

Bump, for the sale this weekend. This single posts just keeps getting edited every time I get something from them... <thumbsup>

I am strangely fascinated by that... :o <laughs>

Used some heavy posterboard, a long-bladed razor utility knife, and plenty of patience. ;D Laid out two pieces of the posterboard and taped them together. Put the rifle on the posterboard and traced around it. Cut it out. Laid the rifle on the cutout, determined that it was about 1/4" too large in every direction/measurement/trace. Lined the cutout again, inward 1/4", and cut it out again. Laid the rifle on that, determined the cutout was slightly smaller than the rifle (this is what I was looking for, and a tight fit). Before I cut a single thing, I laid everything out in the case, and positioned all the components where I wanted them. I did further tracings/cutouts for 2 Pmags, 4 Pmags, the bipod, and the sling. Once I had a bunch of cutouts, I laid them out on the foam together, just to check spacing. Laid those things out on the foam and got busy with the razor knife. <thumbsup>

Update - I received two of these today, and both are already installed. One in the 16" 5.56 billet gun, and the other in the .308 AR. I didn't piss around with the weight for the .308, either, and went straight to the insert shell and the heavy weight. I'll shoot it this Sunday and report back when I get back from the range. <thumbsup> I used the shell insert and the lighter weight in the 16" 5.56 billet beauty, and it'll get shot the same day. It's already running a Spike's T2 powdered tungsten buffer in it, so we'll see what happens. If I take a few shots and it cycles fine, the heavy weight will go right in there for testing. If that combo works, it'll probably recoil like a .22LR conversion... <laughs>

.308 AR-Specific parts: * Upper and lower * Barrel of choice * Handguard setup of choice * Buffer and buffer spring (carbine or rifle, but NOT AR-15 parts here) * Complete BCG * Ejection Port Door (if you're not running a slickside upper) * Muzzle device, threaded 5/8" x 24, for a .30 caliber * Takedown and Pivot pins for the upper/lower * Mag catch/release Everything else, which consists of AR-15 parts: * Pistol grip * Lower Parts Kit (but you'll need the takedown and pivot pins, as well as the bolt catch/release, for a .308 AR) * Receiver Extension (rifle or carbine) * Sighting systems, backups/flips, mounts, optics, red dots, etc. * Gas system (gas tubes, gas blocks, etc.). If you're running an Armalite platform, you'll need their gas tubes - lengths are not the same as AR-15 parts. I forgot something, I'm positive, but someone will chime in with it in due time. There are specific LPKs and triggers for .308 ARs, but basic Fire Control Group parts from the AR-15 will work. MagPul PRS stocks are different between the .308 AR and the AR-15, but you can make the AR-15 PRS work.

Your barrel is probably .936" all the way out to the end, or slightly smaller (if it makes a small step down after the gas block area). The Bennie Cooley large comp should fit right on there and look good to boot. Fulton Armory carries it, but others do as well: http://fulton-armory.com/compensatorjpbenniecooleytitanlargestainless.aspx

He is definitely the man when it comes to the big bores. Fantastic response back to you on that. <thumbsup>

A1 receiver extension (buffer tube) for the AR-15, .308 AR Rifle Length buffer, .308 AR Rifle Length spring. <thumbsup> All the A2 stock is - is the A1 Rifle Length receiver extension with a 5/8" spacer on the end of it, the A2 stock itself, and a longer (by 5/8") hollow buttstock screw. Just look for the stuff above, and it'll work. <thumbsup>

I'm only up by one on ya. <thumbsup> I finally got motivated to cut some gun case foam last weekend.

You can load 7.62x39 in a standard AR mag, but you can't get very many rounds in there. The taper of the x39 cartridge case is what screws you. I don't own a rifle in this config, but the research beforehand is the reason I don't. I didn't want to stockpile a bunch of AR mags that have a curve like an AK mag - starting over on building up, basically. Just wasn't for me. <dontknow> For some reason, I'm okay with building up .308 PMags, though... ;D

A1 buffer tube, with spacer. That's what the A2 is. The guy will play hell trying to find a single buffer tube that's A2 length, because it doesn't exist. I'm just sayin'... As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that all the Ace stocks only use the AR-15 A1 buffer tube (receiver extension) without the A2 spacer installed. Just tossin' that out there... <dontknow>