Aloha from So. Cal

[Pretext]

Hey all,

 

New member from So Cal here. I'm thrilled to see that there's a lot more support for 308 ARs out there than I expected to find.

 

Anyway, here's my predicament - probably common for a lot of Cali folks. Despite repeatedly petitioning my state representatives to the contrary, those of us in California are probably going to have what's left of our 2nd amendment rights sacked really heavily. Even the humble 10/22 may end up being classified as an "Assault Weapon" as defined by California law. I figure that unless the Federal Supreme Court gets involved, if I'm ever going to own a 308AR in my lifetime in this state, I'm probably going to need to do something about it as soon as possible.

 

My goal is to eventually put together a 308 that drives tacks at long range while having lots of visual presence. It must not be an impractical diva  (it should be able to cycle cheap factory ammo just fine) and it must not  end up with a price tag only a CEO could love.

 

I'm pretty sure I want to start with a forged 7075 lower. Other than that baseline, I'm not at all clear on my options and could use some advice on brand reputations and places to learn more about the different AR308 variants out there.

Edited May 14, 2013 by Pretext

[planeflyer21]

Welcome from Arizona, Pretext!

 

Jon

[unforgiven]

Welcome from Indiana brother Pretext.Good luck finding something you like. <thumbsup>

[DNP]

Welcome aboard. Glad to have another Ca member on here.

[Robocop1051]

Welcome.

If you're from SoCal, you should be checking out JD Machine Tech. They are a San Diego based manufacturer. They make nice stuff for decent prices.

[EasyEJL]

welcome!

 

 

My goal is to eventually put together a 308 that drives tacks at long range while having lots of visual presence. It must not be an impractical diva  (it should be able to cycle cheap factory ammo just fine) and it must not  end up with a price tag only a CEO could love.

 

ok, you have to define "drives tacks at long range" because any decently built 308 should be pretty close to that. if long range to you is 600 yards, you are definitely in luck just about no matter what you do :) And price tag wise, that is always relative but figure the $1500-2500 range without optics is average

[Pretext]

welcome!

 

 

 

ok, you have to define "drives tacks at long range" because any decently built 308 should be pretty close to that. if long range to you is 600 yards, you are definitely in luck just about no matter what you do :) And price tag wise, that is always relative but figure the $1500-2500 range without optics is average

 

That's a perfectly good question.  I don't have enough experience with rifles to be able to quantify my requirement in hard numbers, so I have to be a little "squishy". Let me try it another way. I'm looking for the completed rifle minus optics to come in below $3500 and get as much accuracy as possible from that budget while still being able to cycle factory loads.

 

However, since I don't have the money to actually build such a thing right now, I need to get a 308 lower or two that fits that goal so that I'm not locked out after California passes the next bunch of laws. Complicating matters is that apparently 308 lowers are split into several different families, and I'm not really clear on the pros and cons of each.

Edited May 14, 2013 by Pretext

[Pretext]

Thanks for the welcome gents. <thumbsup>

[98Z5V]

JD Machine, like Robo stated.  Give them a call, and go that route - you don't have many choices in Cali, as far as manufacturers go.  That "list" pretty much has you screwed.

 

That will put you on a DMPS-patterned build, and that's not a bad thing.  To make a 1,000 yard-capable .308 AR rifle, You can run the Fulton Arrmory stainless 18.5" Criterion barrel, and that will get you there, as far as barrel capability goes.  If you want longer, they have a 20". 

 

Start there - matched upper and lower set from JD, and barrel from Fulton.  After that, be on the lookout for a Fulton Armory BCG setup.  Those are the guts for an accurate rifle, and most everything else is cosmetics.  We'll get you into the trigger later.  <thumbsup>

Edited May 14, 2013 by 98Z5V

[DNP]

JD was doing Armalite patterned pieces as well. Not sure if they still are, but I know they did some if that is your preference. I have a matched set of theirs...looks and works great.

[Rsquared]

JD was doing Armalite patterned pieces as well. Not sure if they still are, but I know they did some if that is your preference. I have a matched set of theirs...looks and works great.

 

I think that you mean the Armalite "A" pattern right? Cause it was my thought that only Noveske made thier 308 (N6) that matched up to the prevalent (all-seeing and all-knowing) Armalite "B" pattern. I could be wrong. Don't take my word as gospel. I also think that AeroPrecision made a short run of "B" pattern lowers.

 

Now....with all that being said. Welcome to the forum Pretext. If all of us haven't gotten the point across to you yet. It's pretty much Armalite with thier pattern, and everybody else on the DPMS/Knights SR25 pattern. Both are mighty fine platforms to build almost anything you want, off of them.

 

And.......you can tell from the tag line above my user name, that I'm on the Armalite side.

 

Good luck deciding my man.

[Pretext]

JD Machine, like Robo stated.  Give them a call, and go that route - you don't have many choices in Cali, as far as manufacturers go.  That "list" pretty much has you screwed.

 

That will put you on a DMPS-patterned build, and that's not a bad thing.  To make a 1,000 yard-capable .308 AR rifle, You can run the Fulton Arrmory stainless 18.5" Criterion barrel, and that will get you there, as far as barrel capability goes.  If you want longer, they have a 20". 

 

Start there - matched upper and lower set from JD, and barrel from Fulton.  After that, be on the lookout for a Fulton Armory BCG setup.  Those are the guts for an accurate rifle, and most everything else is cosmetics.  We'll get you into the trigger later.  <thumbsup>

 

Looks like JD Machine only does milled receivers. Given that forged 7075 parts are a little stronger, what would be my options on the forged path?

 

Thanks for the recommendation for Fulton. Question though - if I'm willing to live with the weight/bulk/price, is there any reason not to go with their 26" bull barrel?

[Pretext]

I think that you mean the Armalite "A" pattern right? Cause it was my thought that only Noveske made thier 308 (N6) that matched up to the prevalent (all-seeing and all-knowing) Armalite "B" pattern. I could be wrong. Don't take my word as gospel. I also think that AeroPrecision made a short run of "B" pattern lowers.

 

Now....with all that being said. Welcome to the forum Pretext. If all of us haven't gotten the point across to you yet. It's pretty much Armalite with thier pattern, and everybody else on the DPMS/Knights SR25 pattern. Both are mighty fine platforms to build almost anything you want, off of them.

 

And.......you can tell from the tag line above my user name, that I'm on the Armalite side.

 

Good luck deciding my man.

 

Fantastic haha. I'll have to start finding threads reading about the holy wars and see how that works out. :)

[98Z5V]

Looks like JD Machine only does milled receivers. Given that forged 7075 parts are a little stronger, what would be my options on the forged path?

 

 

You'll be amazed to find out that all - ALL - .308 AR lower receivers are milled.  None - I mean, NONE - are forged, unless you're building your own from an 80% lower forging.

 

Everything you find that's complete is milled.  They just don't forge .308 ARs.  This isn't AR-15-land.

[Pretext]

You'll be amazed to find out that all - ALL - .308 AR lower receivers are milled.  None - I mean, NONE - are forged, unless you're building your own from an 80% lower forging.

 

Everything you find that's complete is milled.  They just don't forge .308 ARs.  This isn't AR-15-land.

 

Interesting. Sounds like JD Machine will most likely be my huckleberry then. Thanks for the pointers.

[Goofball310]

Welcome from Texas, North Carolina, & the Southbay (I'm a travelling gypsy)

[Pretext]

Question - I want to get in my order to JD before the backlog runs up too close to the end of the year, where some of the bills may take effect. I want to get at least two receivers, but financially the budget isn't looking good for buying uppers and lowers at the same time.

 

Is there something about the tolerances on AR308s where having the upper and lower from JD matched at the shop may result in a better fit? In other words, functionally / mechanically speaking, do I lose anything by buying lowers now and putting off my upper purchases for later?

 

Thanks.

[EasyEJL]

virtually no difference other than potentially a slight visual difference. They hand match the pairs to get the most even visual lines, but all of their uppers + lowers fit a fine tolerance either way functionally speaking. The one thing i'd check into though in cali is whether you are going to need to register the rifles, and whether you actually can register a lower alone vs a complete rifle. One of my friends there was trying to complete a few builds in time because from what he understood, the lower alone doesn't "count" as a firearm in the new california law, and you have to literally show the sherriff or whatever the law enforcement official is the complete gun. He chose to leave cali instead for texas :D

[DNP]

Go see them if you have a chance. They will walk you around the shop and sell you whatever you need. As of this year, there is no registration of long guns I believe. That all changes January 1st. Long guns and shotguns WILL be registered.