picking a platform

[Roswell Bob]

My son-in-law has decided that he wants to build a 308.  We are going to start with the lower.  I understand there are DPMS platform as well as Armalite.  We would like to get input before choosing.  I own a recent Armalite, but I'm not sure how that should impact decision.  We're interested in availability of parts , cost, availability/interchangeability of magazines and so forth.  He has been very helpful with building my house and I will finance this build over the next year.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Roswell Bob

[Sisco]

As an Armalite owner, I can testify Armalites are outstanding rifles. That being said, if you are doing a build rather than a complete rifle purchase, right now there are more options with a DPMS pattern. You can get aftermarket parts for Armalite, it just takes a little more hunting, and it is often complicated by a vendor calling them "AR10" parts, which is an Armalite trademark, when in fact they are DPMS LR308 parts.

[edgecrusher]

I would like to suggest a compromise: Mega MaTen receiver set. After that you decide. I currently have a MaTen mkm rifle set that I'm sbr'ing with Noveske/ Armalite direction, but that set can go either way as long as you bcg and barrel are the same pattern. And the bonus is it uses pmags(lr 308 pattern) magazines which are pretty nice to use.

[survivalshop]

   If you are going to build a 308AR , my advice is use the same manufacturer's Receiver's, both upper & lower . In my experience I have seen , what we call Tolerance stacking & it can cause fitment issues  , why take the chance . 

 

   As far as which platform , its a personal choice , I can say the DPMS platform probably has the most parts compatibility ,with magazines being the big one , but if you get the new Armilite that can use Magpul's ,LR308 PMags , that puts it on par with the DPMS platforms magazine compatibility . 

 

   There is a difference in Barrel Nut threading between the two & thats not a big deal or game changer .

[pokey]

  I'm probably wrong as normal but, doesn't Armalite make a AR10 A model that takes the same mags as DPMS.  The Armalite AR10 B models took the M1A style mags.   I'm not real impressed with DPMS rifles. Just my 2 cents.

[survivalshop]

Yes they do have a newer model A lower that will accept Pmags . Just not sure they sell the lower separately . Now where's our AR 10 guy's .

 

but if you get the new Armilite that can use Magpul's ,LR308 PMags , that puts it on par with the DPMS platforms magazine compatibility . 

 

 

[Sisco]

The only lower recievers I have ever seen for sale by Armalite are B models that use their Gen 2 proprietary magazines, not the A models that use PMags and DPMS type mags. The A models I believe are only sold in complete rifles. I don't know about other possible aftermarket manufacturers, maybe someone with that knowledge can weigh in on this thread.

[98Z5V]

Buying the complete rifle up front wouldn't be a bad thing, either.  Shoot right away, on a factory platform that WILL work, and change what you want as you go along (and determine what you want different). 

 

Get the Armalite, buy a bunch of Pmags, and have fun.  <thumbsup>

[survivalshop]

But he wants to build , just like us . <thumbsup> I think my sickness has become terminal , I have four builds in various stages & only one in a 308 platform.  <dontknow>

[washguy]

Go with the Mega matched upper/lower.....first rate quality there....and they come with some parts already installed....it will make your build easy :) Wash

[Rsquared]

Now where's our AR 10 guy's .

 

I'm over here (old Dice Clay joke)!

I've never personally handled (read as fondled) any of the A model rifles. All of mine are the traditional B models. So I can't honestly say how they run.......but they're still Armalites. That being said. I don't think that I've ever seen any of the lowers available separately. Hell, the B lowers were hard enough to find up until about 8 months ago (or so). I'm with Tom on this one. Go for a complete rifle, and modify accordingly. There are some pretty good deals out there (the 12 to 13 range) that I see on these rifles periodically.

[Roswell Bob]

Thanks for all the input.  This is a pay as you build op - Just like my house. 

 

I'm thinking the DPMS 308LR05K to start.  I see them at Brownells for about $370.  That's about as big a nut as I can crack for today.

 

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-amp-action-parts/receivers/lower-receivers/lr-308-stripped-lower-receiver-sku231000245-24596-53499.aspx

 

Is that price ok?

[unforgiven]

Brownells is great to deal with. <thumbsup>  and a sponsor.