Thinking of building a 308AR

[JKN]

Hello everyone,

Joined here because I am considering building myself a 308AR and this seems like the place for info. I am a High Power competitor and have experience building, feeding and shooting the AR-15 but have always wanted a "big gun". My goal is a low end build that functions and groups well and is configured so that I can use it for HP (20", Free-Float HG, A1 stock) when I want to. My main concerns are to make sure all the parts are compatible and hopefully avoid any of the parts with well known issues. I agree with the buy once cry once philosophy (it's going to have a $200 trigger in it for sure) but I also have to be careful or I will overspec it to the point where I can't afford it. Any advice on the best way to get feedback from the forum on a complete build would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

[98Z5V]

Do you want to build it piece by piece, of your own configuration?  Or, would you rather buy a complete rifle and change some things along the way?

[JKN]

My preference would be piece by piece unless I can save money by starting from a complete rifle. I have a start on a prospective parts list with a few parts missing or questionable.

[jtallen83]

Welcome from Iowa!

I was very impressed with Fulton Armory parts, did a build with strictly parts from their site and had no issues, 18 inch rifle gas Criterion barrel, Fulton's Nib high pressure BCG, PRS stock. Ended up with a very accurate rifle. They are having a sale right now;

http://www.fulton-armory.com/FAR-308-Titan.aspx

[98Z5V]

1 hour ago, JKN said:

My preference would be piece by piece unless I can save money by starting from a complete rifle. I have a start on a prospective parts list with a few parts missing or questionable.

List those parts, if you will, please.  We can collectively go over it.

Right now, with the A1 stock requirement - no manufacturer can fulfill your need. Nobody puts anything out anymore with an A1.

Ah, I forgot one.  Fulton Armory.  They make almost exactly what you're looking for, and it's already got a good 2-stage trigger, non-adjustable, set to 4.5 lbs. 

Pick the M110 model if you want a full quad rail, or pick the Guardian model if you only want a continuous top pic rail.  Match barrel with hybrid chamber in both, and that's a damn, damn fine barrel from Fulton Armory.  You cannot piece something together like this for the $1500-ish they're asking for it.

Check 'em:

http://www.fulton-armory.com/fariflecal556mmupruniversalprecisionrifle-3-4-2-1-1-2-1-2-2-1-4-2-5-5.aspx

http://www.fulton-armory.com/fariflecal556mmupruniversalprecisionrifle-3-4-2-1-1-2-1-2-2-1-4-2-5-2-1.aspx

 

***  That $1500-ish price I stated is because they're both on sale right now, for the exact same price... 

Lesson 65b - you snooze, you lose.  

Edited August 4, 2018 by 98Z5V

[shepp]

Welcome from Wisconsin 

[JKN]

Yes the M110 would be my ideal choice but to get it with a Giessele trigger bumps the sale price to $1825 which is way over my limit. Here is my initial rough guess. Please feel free to comment. Keep in mind this gun will not see much use so I am not going to wear anything out but I do expect it to work. 

Thanks,

John

[98Z5V]

I think you're underestimating it, but that's your call.  What rail are you getting for $100?  What Geissele trigger are you getting for $200?  The upper, lower, BCG and barrel will be good. 

That DPMS parts kit won't work in the Aero M5 upper and lower, because the M5 uses longer takedown/pivot pins.  Better get that from Aero, and it's just under $50. Lump it in with your Aero rifle buffer kit, and save the shipping.

Gas tube requirements are gonna be based on how Brownell's has that barrel built.  It'll either be AR15 rifle gas tube, or Armalite AR-10 rifle gas tube.  There's a difference in the two.

[JKN]

I agree the trigger and the handguard are still wild cards. For the trigger I was hoping to find a deal on one of the adjustable ones. I think I paid $175 for the HS-NM trigger in my AR-15 but if I don't find a deal that will go up or down $50-100 depending on whether I splurge or settle. Rail I haven't figured out yet. That may also end up +$100 once it's done. Only need a strong tube with a sling mount so maybe I will get lucky. Thanks for the catch on the LPK. Other than that are there any other gotchas? Can't find any info on the Brownells BCG but they have taken good care of me in the past so I was considering taking a chance. Since it is has a Rifle length gas system am I OK with just about any gas block and Rifle Buffer system?

Thanks,

John 

[jtallen83]

57 minutes ago, JKN said:

Since it is has a Rifle length gas system am I OK with just about any gas block and Rifle Buffer system?

Shouldn't, just be sure to find out what rifle size gas tube they set the barrel up with or you could end up short.

Think about an Aero handguard, sure to fit well with your Aero receiver then. Look at their builders sets when they have sales, wishing I had went that route on my latest build as I am ending up with all Aero anyway due to fitment issues.

[98Z5V]

1 hour ago, JKN said:

 I think I paid $175 for the HS-NM trigger in my AR-15

That doesn't happen anymore.  Last HS-NM I got around that price was about 189, and that was in 2010 or 2011.  These days, it's all three spring packages (there's only one National Match to order, and all three spring kits come with it - National Match, DMR, and Service Rifle), and the best you'll ever see is $250 and higher.  Geissele had a sale last Christmas, and I pulled one direct from them for $240.  

Your $200 Geisseles now are the SSAs and SSA-Es.  On sale.  The SSA-E is a different animal, usually around $230, with a combined pull of 3.5lbs.  You go SSA for $200, and it's a combined pull of 4.5lbs. You can get into the Geissele G2S for about $160 - that's the SSA without individual testing and no laser engraving.  All in all, it's the SSA, with many less QC steps. 4.5lbs combined pull weight.

For that pull weight, and for a GREAT trigger, you might as well get a LaRue MBT2S, at 4.5lbs combined.  What a trigger.  I think I have 4 or 5 of them now, and I won't buy anything else unless it's on "experimentation" terms, or I really need a G HS-NM trigger. 

The LaRue is $87, from now until this Christmas.

Edited August 5, 2018 by 98Z5V

[JKN]

Thanks for the tip. That trigger actually looks like just what I want for this build. 

[jtallen83]

Installed my fifth MBT just tonight, have one on back order and plan on ordering at least two more while the sale lasts. They are great triggers for the money, I actually prefer them over the SSA I have. You will not be disappointed.

[suzukiray]

My 2 Larue triggers arrived yesterday.