AR in .308 (7.62 NATO)

[StewieGriffin]

Hey everyone! I'm fairly new to the AR scene, and I read the sticky on "So you want to buy an AR-15 - FAQs". I got really good information on there regarding ARs in .223 (5.56 NATO), so I'm going to make my purchase for that pretty soon.

But I can't seem to find any good information for AR's in .308 or the 7.62 NATO caliber.

Basically I want to know if anyone has any recommendations. I'm just a backyard shooter, so nothing fancy shmancy. I just want something that will go "bang" every time I pull the trigger.

Thanks in advance to your replies!

SG

[EricCartmann]

Armalite owns the AR-10 name so they only get to use it. DPMS has a .308 AR that they call a LR308. RRA also has a .308 called a LAR10, and Knights Armament has the SR-25. Noveske also has their own .308's that uses Armalite lowers and uppers.

The mags are not interchangeable. RRA uses FAL mags, AR-10 mags are basically modified M14 mags, DPMS has their own mags, and SR25's uses DPMS mags. The parts between all these guns are not really interchangeable.

SR25's are the most expensive with Armalite coming in 2nd, and DPMS are the cheapest.

Armalites are pretty much the standard and norm for 308 AR's, their recievers are forged and they come standard with chrome lined barrels. DPMS are also quality rifles even though they run a lot cheaper than Armalites. I have heard nothing but good things about DPMS .308 rifles. I myself chose Armalite for my SuperSASS and 16" CQB rifles. My SuperSass is still waiting on a scope that is backordered.

[Terry]

If it is 7.62 NATO (308 win) it will be an AR10 uppers are not interchangeable with the AR15.
But you can get a few other uppers that do fit in some good calibers.
I own an AR10 and have made an upper in 338 Federal.
I have never been sorry that i bought it. Cause you can use it for hunting stuff like deer, moose, black bears, elk. Just to name a few.

[StewieGriffin]

So mags, uppers and lowers aren't interchangeable?

Let's say I bought a DPMS Panther LR-308A4...

Would I be able to change the stock to a Magpul CTR? And from the sounds of the replies above, I'm pretty much stuck with buying DPMS mags for this rifle correct?

[billbrasky]

CMMG has some options on DPMS .308s

Welcome to CMMG - CONVERSIONS

there is also fulton armory which i cant say i know much about

my fav is the LWRC .308s

[spoolup]

DPMS mags only yes, until Cpriducts comes out with them, rumors are out. As for the AP4 with CTR yes, it will be the commerical size buffer tube. Here are my 2 DPMS 308. the big one is a 24" "LR308", the smaller one is the 308B 18" with CTR stock. Note about he 308B with the MIAD grip. The grip does NOT support the rear takedown pin spring. You will have to decide which one you want to use and mock up a even ledge on the insdie of the grip with some... I used JB weld.

[Tally XD]

Its very pricey but Eagle Arms (I think that is right) makes a lower with interchangeable magwell that will accept the full range of ammo sizes without having to buy seperate lowers. Its about $700 for the lower though but it beats buying several guns . . . unless you just like owning more than one


If you arent stuck on going .308 only, you could just buy a seperate upper assembly for 7.62x39mm and get a few mags for that ammo. Standard lowers will allow using 7.62x39mm but not .308

[Bidah]

Originally Posted by StewieGriffin

So mags, uppers and lowers aren't interchangeable?

Let's say I bought a DPMS Panther LR-308A4...

Would I be able to change the stock to a Magpul CTR? And from the sounds of the replies above, I'm pretty much stuck with buying DPMS mags for this rifle correct?

Sticking with DPMS/Armalite, no, mags and uppers are not interchangeable since the profile is different. DPMS uses SR-25 magazines, and Armalite uses modified M14 magazines. The feed geometry is different, and the mag well on the Armalite is slightly canted back to get it to straight/level feed. Some parts are, but not all. The Armalite, and I believe the DPMS as well use regular AR-15 lower FCG parts. There are differences for the buffers and tubes, but generally can take regular AR-15 stocks (standard or position).

There are others getting into the market now, and to my knowledge they all use SR-25 magazines with the exception of the RRA/Bushmaster one that uses FAL magazines.

FWIW, I have an AR-10 20" A2 configuration. Love the rifle.

[Bidah]

Originally Posted by Tally XD

Its very pricey but Eagle Arms (I think that is right) makes a lower with interchangeable magwell that will accept the full range of ammo sizes without having to buy seperate lowers. Its about $700 for the lower though but it beats buying several guns . . . unless you just like owning more than one

Eagle Arms is a division of Armalite. You can get stripped lowers and other parts from Eagle so you can build a rifle. You cannot buy a stripped Armalite lower as they only sell whole rifles, which carries the lifetime warranty. The Eagle are 1 year.

What I believe that you are referring to is MGI, at mgimilitary.com, where the mag well can be swapped on the lower to accommodate different mag wells for the different uppers that they sell.