AR 10 what to look for what to buy

[Gischileu]

Daniel Defense DD5

I picked up a Daniel Defense DD5 recently - and have been impressed with the entire package. It's not cheap, but it's the nicest AR308 package I own by a wide margin.

 

[carpriver]

I have recently entered the 308 win. rife shooting, I started with the Ruger 308 Scout rifle I like the the length, the action,it shoots to point of aim with iron sight.

Last month I sprung for a semi-auto 308 DPMS Oracle all I have done to it is put Iron sight on it and at 100 yards I can tear the center out of a man size target.

I buy guns I want to shoot, I wanted to try a 308 and found two rifles that looked like they would be fun to shoot and I was right.

 

[jdlii]

@ Mike,

When I asked what you wanted your AR10 type for, I was meaning what type of mission you want it to fulfill. In my instance, the primary mission for all of my rifles is: long range precision competition (i.e.: 1000 yard matches), secondary mission being hunting (where legal), and tertiary being a SHTF go to rifle. For my desire, I would require (at a minimum) a 24" barrel, preferably a 26". Different missions require different characteristics. For example: I have my Colt HBAR as a NRA Service Rifle, my 24" AR was built as an NRA Match Rifle for NMC matches, my 26" barrel AR is the basis for a 1000 yard rifle, and my 18" AR is for plinking, introducing my children to the AR, and for CQB home defense.

An M1MkII is a converted M1 Garand. In the late '50s and early '60s, while the USMC had adopted the M14, the Navy had mounds of M80 and M118, plus a burgeoning supply of M1 Garands. The Navy inserted an adapter disk into 30M1 barrels, allowing the Garands to fire the 7.62 NATO round. These Garands were designated M1MkII, and were inventoried aboard ships, mostly subs. The downside to the Navy modification is that the adapter disk would sometimes eject with a fired round, going back to 30M1. The Navy Marksmanship Unit capitalized on the conceptual idea, and built their National Match Service Rifles out of M1 Garands rebarreled with match grade barrels with true 308/7.62 NATO match chambers. (I have two Garands, an early Springfield still in 30M1, and a Korean War vintage Harrington and Richardson converted to 308. I find that the 308 Garand is easier to fire in rapid fire stages than the 30M1 Garand.)

The conversion to an M1MkII is actually easy and cost effective. For the first few years that I shot my M1MkII, I never had the mag well block, so all it took was the cost of a Kreiger M1 barrel, and having the chamber cut with a 308 reamer.

I didn't offer a suggestion either way between a Ruger or a S&W for two reasons. First, I am not familiar with either specific product, and second, neither offers a variant that comes close to meeting my personal mission parameters.

The conversion of the Navy rifles was done with a chamber insert not a "disk". The chamber insert was coated with Locktite, inserted into the chamber and several rounds were fired to seat the chamber insert. Over time, as pointed out, the chamber inserts and the adhesive, due to age, were subject to being extracted with a fired round and ejected.

The only reliable conversion for the Garand to 7.62/.308 was with a new barrel chambered in that caliber. I am fortunate to be the care giver for an M1 that was converted to 7.62/.308 via a new Gene Barnett barrel. The rifle was match conditioned by Ronnie Morris and shoots a good as my match grade M1a. The M1a also wears a Barnett barrel and was subject to Ronnie's nod as well.

I too, find M1's covered to 7.62/.308 more manageable to shoot across the course. They are just plain "FUN!"

 

[Zelicur]

If the recoil is bothersome, you might want to get a flash suppressor similar to what the M&P10 has with some muzzle brake qualities to it or go with a pure muzzle brake. I have one on my bolt rifle and it made a huge difference but the bolt gun doesn't use any of the gasses to work the action like a semi-auto does, so it has a bit more kick to it.

The Limbsaver on my MP10 is worth it's weight in gold.

 

[moralem]

Ok I will be the Colt advocate. I picked up the 901LE which can with a magazine conversion block allow you to switch between the .308 upper and a 5.56 upper. I know it sounds a bit gimmicky but I love the rifle. I have a Colt competition model CRE 18T that I took the upper from to make my modular set up and threw on a Larue trigger. The .308 is one of my favorite ARs......here is a picture of the set up. .308 upper at the top of the pic, colt competition upper below.

 

[sgtsandman]

The Limbsaver on my MP10 is worth it's weight in gold.

The bolt gun is good, though I am considering a limbsaver for my .45/70. Cowboy load are fine but anything with modern powder hurts after a shot or two. Plus the 3' flame out of the 18.5" barrel is a neat thing to see with modern powder loads.

 

[shep854]

Should I happen upon an AR-10 type rifle, I'd like to retro it as much as I could to the original--even if it's just the stock and handguard.

 

[BillyMagg]

That's funny right there. To deflect attention, I just went and cut the tags off my mattress . . .

you better be glad brother is out of the country

on the other hand, Trump may name you to a cabinet position!

 

[Zelicur]

This thread is a great read. I really like to see all this input come together with minimal bickering. Pretty rare online, these days.
Like a lot of you guys, I just wanted a 308. I was really into the M1A since I own and carry several XD pistols. My boss put me onto the M&P10 and I was pretty sold off the reviews. I called every gun store within 100 miles and nobody had one, until I got a call from the manager at my local Cabelas telling me that he found one hiding in his warehouse and was holding it for me. Haven't seen another in town since.
My idea was to have one rifle to fulfill all needs. One rifle I could pick up and go at anytime and survive with. Hunt, defend, ect. I held my baby for the first time and fell in love. After a little scope trial and error, I settled on the Nikon M-308 with a set of Magpul off sets, Magpul furniture and a hogue grip. I now feel comfortable in my ability to take food at longer range or turn 45 degrees and and CQB.
Another selling point was the price, availability and function of magazines. The Magpul 25 rounders are great.
I haven't yet been able to range out past 500 yards, but everything inside of that has been a piece of cake, and I am by no means the second coming of Chris Kyle. A 20 inch barrel would be great, but I'm not complaining.
Edit: I did lose the forward grip. Didn't need it.

 

[mbliss57]

I am still overseas...which means no shooting right now... but the other day I was watching a video of Hickock 45 with a SCAR 17 and a SOCOM 16. Now I started this about A10 platforms BUT... the SCAR 17 is a rifle I would really loved to try. Of course it is in the upper crust of pricing but that thing looked amazing.

 

[Rugbyreb]

OK I see this sub forum gets lots of viewers
I am seriously considering the Ruger SR762..
Someone talk me out of it.. why not?
And talk me into the S&W.. why?

As you can see I am a big SW fan.. but these $1500- $2000 rifles require scrutiny and a good reason to buy them before shelling out the Benjamin's.

Accuracy. These gun are very accurate and they are light. My 2 centz.