New Guy with classic questions... please help!

[firestorm1284]

Hey everyone, I've been a member for a little while, and mostly trolled the site when I had a question. I'm looking at building a new rifle, and I have a number of questions I hope you guys can help me with. I know that many of these individual questions have been discussed at length elsewhere on this forum, but I'm looking for advice on the "whole picture". Any advice would be welcomed!

I'm looking at building a precision rifle in either an AR-15 or LR-308 platform. I am mainly considering the .223 and 6.5 grendel for the AR-15, and .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor for the LR-308. I will normally be shooting under 300 yards (limitations of my local range), but would like the CAPABILITY to shoot out to at least 600. I would LIKE to be able to hunt deer out to about 400-500 yards (which would knock out the .223 I'm sure), but that is not a necessary requirement. The trouble is, I have to keep this thing under about 1600 bucks total (minus optics). Keeping that price point in mind...

1.) Which platform and caliber would you go with? I like the idea of the AR-15 for lighter weight and more abundant parts and cheaper prices. I like the LR-308 for longer ranges.

2.) For the platform of your choice, which caliber would you choose? I know that ANY would be suitable, and that the shooter will determine the accuracy. Still have to pick one though, and I know there are some advantages/disadvantages. One concern would be reliability of some cartridges, particularly the 6.5 grendel in cycling. I do reload, so that is not a problem.

3.) What is a reasonable barrel keeping my price point in mind? I was considering a barrel from McGowen, or possibly a DPMS SASS barrel. I don't believe I could afford a more expensive Krieger or similar brand due to money constraints. Am I correct?

Sorry this is so long, and once again I'd really appreciate any advice!

 

[Redmanss]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

I'd say go for the .308 frame as you both want to be able to range out there while hunting, and you also want to keep to a budget. Where are you at? There's a big difference between SC and NE deer, so you might still be able to get away with the .223 if you want.

Your budget isn't bad for an LR-308/AR-10 build, so long as you don't go crazy on some of the parts and you research the hell out of it first. Do it right and you can easily afford the quality barrel.

Fixed or lower price collapsible stock, basic forged receivers, standard BCG and lower parts, and a lower cost FF tube. Anytime you start picking ambi parts, fancy BCGs, PRS or UBR stocks, or really anything else higher than stock the cost really adds up. Trust me, I have a spreadsheet sourcing parts for two different builds right now, and it isn't pretty when you want the ultimate rig. Every now and then I have to ask myself how much I actually "need" something, and common sense prevails. I recommend doing the same to keep to your budget.

Get a quality trigger and barrel as that is where the accuracy really comes from. They really aren't that much more in the bigger picture, but how long you wish to wait will play into your selection too.

Pick the caliber you're already set up to reload to further save on cost. If you don't have everything already, take your pick.

 

[KillShot]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

Check this out. It's within your price range and it can be customized over a period of time, according to your budget.

DPMS LR-308 24" rifle new
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=225999107

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

Well I have two guys recommending an LR-308, so I think that answers that question!

Redmanss - You had me nailed right on the head. I did have a PRS stock in my build, although nothing else fancy. I had a JP trigger picked out, and with a DPMS SASS barrel I was right at about 1550. If I switch to an A2 stock, then I could free up maybe 150 bucks, in which case I could afford maybe a 350 dollar barrel. Any suggestions?

Killshot - Thanks for your suggestion on the lr-308! I think that is definitely the way I will go. I sort of want to build one myself though, since I think that is part of the fun of the proejct.

Thanks for the input guys, it is very appreciated!

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

Any advice on a good barrel for the LR-308 that won't break the bank? Looking for one under $350.00. Thanks guys!

 

[parkze17]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

I'm interested in what options you have at 350 bones also. I am about to start a very similar build and was also looking at the sass barrel. If you do go with the sass barrel remember that you cant use the cheap normal gas blocks with it...it takes the sass specific gas block that is around 100 bucks on its own. I read that you can use some of the adjustable gas blocks with that barrel also, though I am not sure what prices they will be. Paladan adjustable blocks are only around 60 bucks if they will work. That is what I plan on doing anyway because I plan on using a can on it.

 

[SwatSgt]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

I have a LR-308 and it shoots less then 3/4 MOA on a daily basis with handloads. My question is why do you want to replace the barrel if it shoots good from the start?

If you look around and can find one in stock they go for around $1,000.00ish some up to $1,200 so that is still $400 under your budget, spend that on a good trigger and a set of bipods if you wish and the rest on reloading items so you can shoot the hell out of it.

I will add that I am going to replace the gas block on mine to an adjustable one becuase its beating my FGM brass all to pieces running the factory gas block.

 

[SwatSgt]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: firestorm1284</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any advice on a good barrel for the LR-308 that won't break the bank? Looking for one under $350.00. Thanks guys! </div></div>

Here is one that should have a pretty decent barrel on it from the factory

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=226003066

Granted I bought mine about 1-2 years ago so I had no QC issues but I have heard of some members on here having issues with their DPMS rifles. You may want to search on here and see what kind of trouble they were having. Personally I love mine and would buy another one just like it with out any major issues.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate the advice on buying a rifle, but I do not want to buy a factory built rifle. Part of the enjoyment of this will be building it myself to my specifications EXACTLY. For instance, I am going to use billet uppers/lowers instead of forged, upgrade a few parts, and have a free float quad rail. I priced all of that out, and if I build it myself, it comes out about even with a factory rifle including my upgrades.

SwatSgt, it is really great to hear you are getting sub moa accuracy out of yours! I am hoping for 3/4 to 1/2 moa on this build.

Parkze - why does the SASS barrel need a specific gas block? It is a .936 diameter at the gas block, which is standard. Is there something I am missing? I was planning on going with an adjustable, or possibly a clamp on.

Regardless of the gas block, I am still interested in hearing about quality barrels for around 350 or less. I'm not opposed to the SASS barrel, but I don't want to learn that if I had only spent 100 bucks more I could have had a much better barrel!

 

[parkze17]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

I am not 100% on this but i think it has to do with the positioning of the hole the gas tube runs into. It is higher up the block I believe but there may be more to it than that. I did quite a bit of reading on it and have seen people saying it has to have that speciffic block to work almost every time. I hope someone has used a different block on the sass barrel and can confirm that it works. I just have not read anything that does so. Heres the block

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=274547&cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Gunsmithing%20-%20AR-15%20Parts%20(Not%20Magazines)-_-PriceCompListing-_-274547

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

Parkze nailed it, that's exactly my situation. The only rifle that seems to come close to what I want is the SASS. At 2100 bucks... I can save about 500 dollars and build that exact rifle with a better quad rail, and a grip I like. Also, I can get real BUIS instead of the single aperture rear sight on that thing. So long as I am building the rifle from scratch, I just want to see what barrel alternatives are out there.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

Parkze, I saw that gas block on Midway when I was researching, but did not realize that it was supposed to be "proprietary" for that barrel. Lame.

EVEN more reason to get a different barrel!

 

[Redmanss]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

Try Black Hole Weaponry for your quality but budget barrel. Specialized Dynamics sure likes them. Rainier isn't too far off of your budget either. I've read many good things about both, but do not own one yet. One of mine builds will be taking a trip to GAP, and the other will be getting a barrel from above. Decisions for myself too....

As for the stock, you can run a lower mount and not have to run a PRS to get proper stock weld, provided you're not running a scope with a large objective. I run a 1.375" NF Unimount with a UBR on my other ARs just to have the adjustable LOP for both myself and my wife, but I want it solid like a fixed stock. Part of that "want/need" decision I mentioned above and sometimes having to pay the premium for it. If it wasn't for her I would run fixed only for my precision rigs. My long neck doesn't like the PRS.

Sounds like a nice build you're putting together. They sure are a lot more fun than just buying off the rack. Good luck to you.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: New Guy with classic questions... please help!

Redman - Thanks for the tips. I had not heard of Black Hole Weaponry before. I checked out their site, and it looks like they have very reasonable prices. I've never heard of a polygonal barrel in a rifle, only in handguns. I'm going to call them tomorrow and see what they can do for me.

I'm jealous of your trip to GAP at some point in the future. I would LOVE to get my hands on something they built, but right now funds are limited. I'm selling 4 guns to pay for this one!