Hooz's 308 AR Build Thread

[Hooz]

I've started down the path of .308 AR enlightenment and as is typical of my builds on the various gun forums that I frequent, I thought I'd document it all here. I've built quite a few ARs in various calibers, but this is my first "large frame" build. I'm not quite done collecting the parts yet... But I'm getting close.  ;)

I'm kind of building this as a no-holds-barred, long range gun to see if it can/will replace my .308 bolt guns.

What I have so far:

• CMMG Mk3Mod11 Lower
  
• DPMS 308 A3 Upper Receiver w/Charging Handle
  
• DPMS LR-308 Lower Parts Kit
  
• Troy Industries Ambi Mag Release
  
• Spike's Tactical Billet Mag Release Button
  
• DPMS Mil-spec 6-position Receiver Extension w/End Plate and Castle Nut
  
• Magpul ACS Stock (Multicam Dipped)
  
• Magpul MOE Grip (Multicam Dipped)
  
• Rainier Arms 20" Select Barrel
  
• SLR Rifleworks Adjustable Gas Block
  
• Rifle-length Gas Tube
  
• JP Enterprises Low Mass Carrier w/Enhanced Bolt
  
• JP Enterprises Silent Captured Spring
  
• Troy Industries 13.8" TRX Extreme (Multicam Dipped)
  
• Magpul 20LR PMAGs (Some Multicam Dipped, Some Black)
  
• Bushnell Elite Tactical ERS 6-24x50 (Mil/Mil, FFP, G2DMR Reticle)
  
• Spike's Tactical MRS-2 Suppressor (w/Alignment Collar, DynaComp HVS, Thread Protector, etc)
  
• Blue Force Gear Padded VCAS (Multicam)
  
• Phase 5 Tactical EBRv2/308
  
• BAD-ASS
  
• KNS Gen 2 Mod 2 Pins
  
• Jard 3# Adjustable Trigger w/Weighted Hammer
  
• AADLAND Engineering AADMOUNT ADM RECON 30mm, 20MOA Mount
  
  • Nada! It's all here!
    I think that's about everything except for lots of Cerakote.  ;D
    
    Here's a picture I snapped with my phone the other day that shows what the Multicam stuff looks like.
    
    
    
    Except for the suppressor (only 3 months in on the wait for the stamp) I'm thinking I should have the rest of the parts in the next week or so, then I'll have to cart the whole mess over to my Cerakote guy. He is usually pretty quick, so it should only be a couple more weeks before I'll be ready for assembly. I can't wait!

[edgecrusher]

Welcome to the forum

Nice build sheet but I do have question, I am quoting you as saying this is a no holds barred build, correct, but I see you bought a Rainier Select barrel. Why skimp on the single most important part concerning accuracy?? Why not buy the Ultramatch? ??

[Hooz]

I did a bunch of research before I settled on a barrel. Originally I was looking for an 18" barrel with rifle-length gas system and a medium weight profile, but there aren't many options for that configuration. I wanted a 1:11" twist (for 155-168gr bullets). That limited my choices. I also wanted something that was "in stock" so I wouldn't be waiting 4-12 weeks for a barrel. That REALLY limited my choices.

My searching pointed me towards... A company that shall not be named here, I guess... I found that people reported excellent accuracy with this company's "3R" polygonal rifled barrels (and I'm a HUGE fan of the 5R polygonal rifled barrels that I have), and this same company is who builds the "Select" barrels for Rainier. The price is lower than some of the other barrels out there, but the quality and accuracy seems to hang with anyone. Rainier even offers a 1 MOA or better accuracy guarantee (people are reporting much better than that), so I figured I couldn't go wrong. Since the 18" Select barrel has a mid-length gas system, I decided on the 20".

The "Ultra Match" barrels from Rainier are built on Shilen blanks. While Shilen makes nice barrels (I own a few), I haven't been impressed enough with them compared to other barrels I own (from various other manufacturers) to justify the $200 price premium over the "Select" barrels.

I'm going to have to send the barrel to ADCO to get it reprofiled a bit for my suppressor mount. Since I'm sending it out anyway, I'm thinking about having it shortened to 18", since that's the length I wanted from the start.

[unforgiven]

Welcome from Indiana brother Hooz,good luck with your build. <thumbsup>

[NoFail]

Hi Hooz, welcome to the forum  <thumbsup>

I read you are going long range and was wondering how long is long? Will 175+ gr bullets work well in 1/11" twist? I assume they would. I like shooting 168's but I have some heavier choices I want to experiment with for long range, if only long range was easy to get too where

I'm at. My .308 barrel is 16", those heavier ones harder to get over 2500 fps with them safely, but I can with a certain powder. 20" would be doing better, of coarse.

[98Z5V]

This is going to turn into one VERY nice stick!  Looks great so far.  <thumbsup>

[SDDuc996]

I seriously need to jump on the ball with a 308AR build. What color will your Cerakote the receivers?

Sounds like it's going to be a nice one. Can you PM me with that barrel mfg for the 3R barrel?

[Hooz]

I am hoping this barrel likes bullets in the 155-168gr weight. My 1:10" twist bolt guns like the heavier stuff, but my 1:11" guns seem to like the lighter bullets. I won't know for sure until it's done and I get a chance to shoot it, though.

As for the "how long is long" question: A couple ranges that I go to regularly have 300-400 yard rafle ranges (not very "long"), but there is a place a little further out where you can shoot out to 1200 yards. A few of my buddies have been making the 2 hour roundtrip recently to watch (and eventually participate in) some informal long range matches. We're getting a group together to try to make that a regular thing.

For the Cerakote... I took all my stuff out to the painter's last week and went through the entire Cerakote sample ring, trying to pick out a color that matched one of the colors in the Multicam. The two closest were Desert Sage (light green) and McMillan Tan (medium brown). I think the light green would stand out more in my AO, so I opted for the McMillan Tan.

He didn't have the color in stock, so it'll probably arrive this week and he'll spray my upper, lower, receiver extension (buffer tube) and barrel as soon as he gets it.

[washguy]

Hi Hooz    Ive built 5 308's using Rainier select barrels... 4 were 18" and one is 16"...its my favorite! I own 3 of em and 2 were built for friends....so we shoot steel at 500 and under....using fgmm 168grain they all shoot moa and under <thumbsup>

the "poly woddle doodle all the day barrels" are sweet and never seem to foul <thumbsup>  just this saturday me,Char,and my friend that i built one for were taking turns keeping the steel swinger(2inchsquare) spinning at 200 at a rapid pace ..it was giggles all up and down the line... :)  Wash

[dagamore]

welcome Hooz,

You would not also be on 2cpu by any chance would you?  i used to know a gunnut over there.

[Hooz]

welcome Hooz,

You would not also be on 2cpu by any chance would you?  i used to know a gunnut over there.

Yep. Same Hooz.  ;)

[Hooz]

Yeah. So... I got all my parts out to my Cerakote guy a few weeks ago and he ordered the color I decided on. Then he proceeded to get sick to the point that he was admitted to the hospital.  :o

I've got boxes full of parts waiting to be painted and assembled. Still in a holding pattern.

In the meantime I got in on the preorder for the Rainier Arms AXTS 7.62 Raptor charging handle. I have a few of them on 5.56 guns, so it was a no-brainer for me when they announced the 7.62 version.

[Robocop1051]

That inconsiderate bastard! Tell him to get sick on his own time. You have a deadline to keep. Maybe you can arrange to get the paint stuff to his room. It's not like he'll be doing much else, besides laying in bed. Get his lazy ass yo work.

[unforgiven]

<lmao> <laughs> ::)

[Hooz]

The nurses busted me for trying to smuggle in the blast cabinet disguised as a food cart.  <dontknow>

[unforgiven]

poop... :o

[Robocop1051]

You should've swiped a new born and stuck him in there. There say it was an incubator.

[Hooz]

Well. It turns out that the health issues are worse than I knew. I got the full scoop today from the guy's wife... as she was returning my unpainted parts. Turns out he is going to be laid-up for a while.  :(

Anybody know any decent Cerakote guys? Mid-Ohio area would be nice.

[edgecrusher]

If you were interested in a diy kit, the shake and spray duracoat kit from Lauer weaponry worked awesome for me. Btw, I'd say that cerakote and duracoat probably wear the same as my friend has a cerakoted sign that shows holster wear after a year and a half.

[unforgiven]

Here bro you're set up was air dry right no heat? <dontknow>

[edgecrusher]

Yup, solvent degreaser prep, premix color and hardener, spray, let dry to touch, 8hrs, fully cure in two weeks to one month. I already have my second magpul fde kit waiting ....  ;D

[unforgiven]

<thumbsup> 8)

[Hooz]

My quest for a reputable Cerakote outfit somewhere in Ohio has led me to Mark Gordon over at Short Action Customs. I contacted him via email to discuss options and pricing, and things kind of snowballed out of control. Now I'm looking at "a few" modifications in addition to the Cerakote... This is going to cost me, but I figured I might as well do it the way I want to out of the gate.  :)

[NoFail]

My quest for a reputable Cerakote outfit somewhere in Ohio has led me to Mark Gordon over at Short Action Customs. I contacted him via email to discuss options and pricing, and things kind of snowballed out of control.  Now I'm looking at "a few" modifications in addition to the Cerakote... This is going to cost me, but I figured I might as well do it the way I want to out of the gate.  :)

Surprises, I don't like surprises. More parts or making current ones better? Like lapping front end of receiver?

[Hooz]

Heh. Yeah. He is going to lap the receiver, shorten (from 20" to 18") and rethread the barrel, reprofile the barrel for my suppressor mount, Cerakote and assemble the whole upper.