Guys.....I have a fair aptitude with AR's....A Soldier....Put together in pitch black by feel and all...so should be ok at it still!? Thinking of buying a GAP, Larue, JP....obviously a maximum accuracy 308 AR.....But given this....is it more cost effective to buy 'best' components from various manufacturers to get the desired result??? Noticed some dont seem to sell their uppers, Lowers etc. Any thoughts!!!
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Buy vs. Build AR 308
- Thread starter InternalWarrior
- Start date
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
How much do you want to spend & what do you want it to do?
edit: FWIW I "built" mine as in bought an upper and threw a lower together, and I didn't really save a lot doing so.
I honestly think that unless you want something really specific (match X length barrel, certain manufacture handguards, certain gas block) that buying a complete rifle is the way to go. Just shop around and find a deal.
How much do you want to spend & what do you want it to do?
edit: FWIW I "built" mine as in bought an upper and threw a lower together, and I didn't really save a lot doing so.
I honestly think that unless you want something really specific (match X length barrel, certain manufacture handguards, certain gas block) that buying a complete rifle is the way to go. Just shop around and find a deal.
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
My two cents,
I have built two ARs and have been extremely pleased with the results. However, building ARs is easy and very well documented with a plethora of quality parts. Now, move up toe 308 platforms and I think you are in a whole different boat. Reliability problems, over-gassing, other problems. There is a huge difference between an AR-15 and the 308-based platforms. Personally, I'd trust an experienced, reliable company to build me one. GA Precision would be a good choice.
My two cents,
I have built two ARs and have been extremely pleased with the results. However, building ARs is easy and very well documented with a plethora of quality parts. Now, move up toe 308 platforms and I think you are in a whole different boat. Reliability problems, over-gassing, other problems. There is a huge difference between an AR-15 and the 308-based platforms. Personally, I'd trust an experienced, reliable company to build me one. GA Precision would be a good choice.
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
Well I've been building 556 ar's for a long time and have been considering building an ar10 platform and have a couple requests for builds from some friends. I've pretty much decided to buy a complete rifle for some of these reasons.
Not all components are interchangeable between manufactures.
Some are propriatary to that make and model. ie: their barrel only fits their action/hand guard combo.
I have decided to go with a Lewis Machine & Tool rifle, we'll see.
Well I've been building 556 ar's for a long time and have been considering building an ar10 platform and have a couple requests for builds from some friends. I've pretty much decided to buy a complete rifle for some of these reasons.
Not all components are interchangeable between manufactures.
Some are propriatary to that make and model. ie: their barrel only fits their action/hand guard combo.
I have decided to go with a Lewis Machine & Tool rifle, we'll see.
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
Cool....thanx to all! Any other thoughts please reply! Have been leaning towards an outright purchase....and have i covered most of the manufacturers that have had that fairly reliable 1000yd accuracy potential....Along with LMT that 'Trigger' mentioned? Have i missed anyone to consider???
Cool....thanx to all! Any other thoughts please reply! Have been leaning towards an outright purchase....and have i covered most of the manufacturers that have had that fairly reliable 1000yd accuracy potential....Along with LMT that 'Trigger' mentioned? Have i missed anyone to consider???
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
Cool....thanx to all! Any other thoughts please reply! Have been leaning towards an outright purchase....and have i covered most of the manufacturers that have had that fairly reliable 1000yd accuracy potential....Along with LMT that 'Trigger' mentioned? Have i missed anyone to consider???
Cool....thanx to all! Any other thoughts please reply! Have been leaning towards an outright purchase....and have i covered most of the manufacturers that have had that fairly reliable 1000yd accuracy potential....Along with LMT that 'Trigger' mentioned? Have i missed anyone to consider???
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
I've built a few AR 10's. Still have a 20" AR10T and a 16" SASS, both I built from scratch. I enjoy the building as much as the shooting (probably even more) so for me, it's not a question. If you like building things, the AR platform is fantastic. It's about as simple as it gets. It's challenging enough to require some patience and skill if you want above average results, yet doesn't require more than simple hand tools and basic skills to put together a really nice shooting, super reliable, accurate and effective weapon. I personally stick with Armalite.
If you want to shoot 1K yds, find yourself a 24" AR10T, or build one around an upper. A 20" will work, you're just giving up a little velocity. You can also go the aftermarket barrel route like Kreiger, Noveske, or others. There are accurizing tips for AR's, but nothing complicated.
I've built a few AR 10's. Still have a 20" AR10T and a 16" SASS, both I built from scratch. I enjoy the building as much as the shooting (probably even more) so for me, it's not a question. If you like building things, the AR platform is fantastic. It's about as simple as it gets. It's challenging enough to require some patience and skill if you want above average results, yet doesn't require more than simple hand tools and basic skills to put together a really nice shooting, super reliable, accurate and effective weapon. I personally stick with Armalite.
If you want to shoot 1K yds, find yourself a 24" AR10T, or build one around an upper. A 20" will work, you're just giving up a little velocity. You can also go the aftermarket barrel route like Kreiger, Noveske, or others. There are accurizing tips for AR's, but nothing complicated.
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
i am in the same boat. its the matter of money. even buying the parts from DPMS to assemble a lower that you see in a catalog is cheaper than the lower assembled by them. i got a lower for $200, LPK for $65 and a pardus stock for $60. $325 for a lower that DPMS lists for $680 i think? so on paper it saves money. but uppers is where accuracy amd money comes in. DPMS uppers catalog for $600-$800 and up to $1300-$1400 for a SASS. other 308 uppers start at $1200ish for regular stuff. for me, building is like a payment or installment plan. i can buy and assemble all the stuff easier than coming up with the big chunk o change for a complete upper. plus its exactly how you want it, you did it yourself and you learned how all the stuff works together. thats why i chose to build
i am in the same boat. its the matter of money. even buying the parts from DPMS to assemble a lower that you see in a catalog is cheaper than the lower assembled by them. i got a lower for $200, LPK for $65 and a pardus stock for $60. $325 for a lower that DPMS lists for $680 i think? so on paper it saves money. but uppers is where accuracy amd money comes in. DPMS uppers catalog for $600-$800 and up to $1300-$1400 for a SASS. other 308 uppers start at $1200ish for regular stuff. for me, building is like a payment or installment plan. i can buy and assemble all the stuff easier than coming up with the big chunk o change for a complete upper. plus its exactly how you want it, you did it yourself and you learned how all the stuff works together. thats why i chose to build
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
Well I got on there web page and I see Noveske is now listing the AR-10's again. They quit offering them while they got caught back up from the Nov 08 surge.
I have one of there 21" uppers and I could not be happier. The price they list for a complete gun IMO is a little steep. For some reason they are very proud of there lowers. What I did was bought a stripped Armalite lower and LPK, put on a MagPul PRS and pinned the complete upper on. It shoots lights out and right now is the last rifle I would ever get rid of. You may consider this as an option.
Like others have stated the AR-10 is not Mil Spec like an AR-15 so Armalite mags will not interchange with DPMS. The lowers will be slightly different ect. So keep that in mind if you bulid.
Well I got on there web page and I see Noveske is now listing the AR-10's again. They quit offering them while they got caught back up from the Nov 08 surge.
I have one of there 21" uppers and I could not be happier. The price they list for a complete gun IMO is a little steep. For some reason they are very proud of there lowers. What I did was bought a stripped Armalite lower and LPK, put on a MagPul PRS and pinned the complete upper on. It shoots lights out and right now is the last rifle I would ever get rid of. You may consider this as an option.
Like others have stated the AR-10 is not Mil Spec like an AR-15 so Armalite mags will not interchange with DPMS. The lowers will be slightly different ect. So keep that in mind if you bulid.
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
i just found that i could get a kreiger drop in barrel for 320-345 depending on length and countour. so all told my dpms upper, badger guard, BCG, kreiger barrel and gas block will cost $870. add to that 325 for my lower and $1195 total for a dpms based 18" with a kreiger. i just cant afford to buy a GAP, really i have no idea what a GAP made or assembled rifle would cost, but im still sure i cant afford it. its just a rifle for me, not a work tool or something to save my life or others. id like it to be as accurate as possible, but really cant justify the costs involved for my usage... or non usage, lol. if i need that level of precision, i have a bolt gun
i just found that i could get a kreiger drop in barrel for 320-345 depending on length and countour. so all told my dpms upper, badger guard, BCG, kreiger barrel and gas block will cost $870. add to that 325 for my lower and $1195 total for a dpms based 18" with a kreiger. i just cant afford to buy a GAP, really i have no idea what a GAP made or assembled rifle would cost, but im still sure i cant afford it. its just a rifle for me, not a work tool or something to save my life or others. id like it to be as accurate as possible, but really cant justify the costs involved for my usage... or non usage, lol. if i need that level of precision, i have a bolt gun
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Barney88PDC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well I got on there web page and I see Noveske is now listing the AR-10's again. They quit offering them while they got caught back up from the Nov 08 surge.
I have one of there 21" uppers and I could not be happier. The price they list for a complete gun IMO is a little steep. For some reason they are very proud of there lowers. What I did was bought a stripped Armalite lower and LPK, put on a MagPul PRS and pinned the complete upper on. It shoots lights out and right now is the last rifle I would ever get rid of. You may consider this as an option.
Like others have stated the AR-10 is not Mil Spec like an AR-15 so Armalite mags will not interchange with DPMS. The lowers will be slightly different ect. So keep that in mind if you bulid. </div></div>
Noveske still lists everything 308 as out of stock.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Barney88PDC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well I got on there web page and I see Noveske is now listing the AR-10's again. They quit offering them while they got caught back up from the Nov 08 surge.
I have one of there 21" uppers and I could not be happier. The price they list for a complete gun IMO is a little steep. For some reason they are very proud of there lowers. What I did was bought a stripped Armalite lower and LPK, put on a MagPul PRS and pinned the complete upper on. It shoots lights out and right now is the last rifle I would ever get rid of. You may consider this as an option.
Like others have stated the AR-10 is not Mil Spec like an AR-15 so Armalite mags will not interchange with DPMS. The lowers will be slightly different ect. So keep that in mind if you bulid. </div></div>
Noveske still lists everything 308 as out of stock.
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
Correct but atleast it appears you can order again. For a while they were not taking any orders for .308/7.62 and had removed them from their web page.
Correct but atleast it appears you can order again. For a while they were not taking any orders for .308/7.62 and had removed them from their web page.
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i just found that i could get a kreiger drop in barrel for 320-345 depending on length and countour. so all told my dpms upper, badger guard, BCG, kreiger barrel and gas block will cost $870. add to that 325 for my lower and $1195 total for a dpms based 18" with a kreiger. i just cant afford to buy a GAP, really i have no idea what a GAP made or assembled rifle would cost, but im still sure i cant afford it. its just a rifle for me, not a work tool or something to save my life or others. id like it to be as accurate as possible, but really cant justify the costs involved for my usage... or non usage, lol. if i need that level of precision, i have a bolt gun </div></div>
What lower is this for 325? Most dpms ones I've seen are like ~220 stripped, and then you have the parts kit (60), stock assembly (90), good trigger (90-180), and that's just figuring standard parts and not fancy extras, like say you want a different grip, magpul stock, etc etc.
Scope rings or mounts are another cost to figure on, and then if you want back up sights, bipod, thos cost money too.
I don't mean to rain on your parade, but when I "built" mine I figured it would cost about 1200 and it ended up costing lots more.
edit: Riflegear.com had noveske 762 uppers in stock last I checked for 1700 a pop...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i just found that i could get a kreiger drop in barrel for 320-345 depending on length and countour. so all told my dpms upper, badger guard, BCG, kreiger barrel and gas block will cost $870. add to that 325 for my lower and $1195 total for a dpms based 18" with a kreiger. i just cant afford to buy a GAP, really i have no idea what a GAP made or assembled rifle would cost, but im still sure i cant afford it. its just a rifle for me, not a work tool or something to save my life or others. id like it to be as accurate as possible, but really cant justify the costs involved for my usage... or non usage, lol. if i need that level of precision, i have a bolt gun </div></div>
What lower is this for 325? Most dpms ones I've seen are like ~220 stripped, and then you have the parts kit (60), stock assembly (90), good trigger (90-180), and that's just figuring standard parts and not fancy extras, like say you want a different grip, magpul stock, etc etc.
Scope rings or mounts are another cost to figure on, and then if you want back up sights, bipod, thos cost money too.
I don't mean to rain on your parade, but when I "built" mine I figured it would cost about 1200 and it ended up costing lots more.
edit: Riflegear.com had noveske 762 uppers in stock last I checked for 1700 a pop...
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
I've "built" a few AR's and I've found that it truly is much cheaper to just buy a complete rifle. Building seems to be the way if you have to have specific parts. Though there is a certin satification of saying "I made this", however it's nice to have someone else to blame if it's incorrect. I'm also looking at those Iron Ridge arms recievers a lot lately, and can hear my wallet screaming in pain because of it.
I've "built" a few AR's and I've found that it truly is much cheaper to just buy a complete rifle. Building seems to be the way if you have to have specific parts. Though there is a certin satification of saying "I made this", however it's nice to have someone else to blame if it's incorrect. I'm also looking at those Iron Ridge arms recievers a lot lately, and can hear my wallet screaming in pain because of it.
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
200 stripped lower
65 parts kit
60 pardus stock
325 total
bone stock. not gonna worry about a trigger. if anything, ill have the factory trigger worked by bill springfied, another $50 or drop in a timney. and i had the stock already from an ar15 so i just need a new buffer & spring for it.
optics and mounts are always extra, so its not really fair to include those in a build. the whole thing will still come in cheaper than most complete uppers i have seen from some places
200 stripped lower
65 parts kit
60 pardus stock
325 total
bone stock. not gonna worry about a trigger. if anything, ill have the factory trigger worked by bill springfied, another $50 or drop in a timney. and i had the stock already from an ar15 so i just need a new buffer & spring for it.
optics and mounts are always extra, so its not really fair to include those in a build. the whole thing will still come in cheaper than most complete uppers i have seen from some places
Re: Buy vs. Build AR 308
I would get a custom build from GAP just because a custom rifle from them and the accuracy is gauranteed comes to about the price of a Super SASS. You can't go wrong with GAP.
I would get a custom build from GAP just because a custom rifle from them and the accuracy is gauranteed comes to about the price of a Super SASS. You can't go wrong with GAP.
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