Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Reliable 308ARs

After many years of puttering around with 5.56 Ar's I'm thinking of getting into the 308's. There are a lot of posts and threads about reliability problems. I really don't want to play around with reliability problems if I can avoid it.
And, I'll be looking at an entry level rifle, not a Knight or Larue, etc.
Any advice from you all who are experienced in this area?

A local dealer who has a good many high and low dollar rifles recommended getting started with a Bushmaster MOE which he said has been more accurate and reliable than many others.

Thanks for any help.

Smith & Wesson M&P10

I'd go with the Ruger 762. Glenn Zediker is a High Power guru of note, he's opined that MANY have tried to use AR10's for that COF and they broke a lot. I think the piston may actually be accomplishing something with that rifle, unlike a 5.56 AR

Thanks. There are things-details about each that I like.

After the addition of an adjustable gas block my DPMS LR308 gen II has been completely reliable, accurate, and easy on the brass. I have a 24" heavy barreled LR308.

The geissele high speed NM trigger and syrac ord adjustable gas block where mandatory upgrades.

Was that Gen II overgassed like JimmyP's.

Reliable Accurate Affordable

Pick two.

I had an MP10, works 1.5 - 2 MOA gun call smith ask them what you should expect. DPMS Gen 2 Hunter, not even one box of shells thru it, sent it back they returned my money, could have just been that one gun, lots of people like em ask rickiD how his is working, Ruger 762, heavy, must replace the trigger, shoots 1MOA or better, works.

Thanks for the posts.

Build your own and you can make it reliable as you need.

I looked into that. Have built AR's as needed/wanted since the mid 1970's and there were specs on parts.

Looking at the 308 I could just see dropping cash on expensive parts that weren't compatible so put the idea of building on the back burner.

Do some research. The only thing different is the upper and lowers. You have the Armalite and DPMS designs. Lots of help at the fire.

I have been having really good luck with my CORE 30 LR TAC. Runs about 1/2 moa with hunting bullets and a touch better with match bullets. Comes ready to go with hard case and PMags. Plus CORE has a no BS life time warranty and is ran buy good people.

if you can stomach a gun that with 20 round magazine (full up), 24 ounces of scope/mount, plus sling with a full up weight of about 11 pounds plus the cost of a replacement trigger, your good to go with the Ruger. I am happy/surprised at how well it shoots, being a piston gun and all. Turns out I am also kind of keen on the piston design in the thing, its function is real positive, kind of AK'ish.

+1

Yes, if you understand what makes them work. They are not AR-15's and way too many people, manufacturers included, cannot grasp that.

This one runs like a Kenyan.

M00_3761 by wareagle700, on Flickr

What kind of brass life are y'all getting with the 308's?

Same brass life as my bolt guns. It really depends on how hot you are loading.

That's a very nice looking rifle you have there. Would you mind sharing some specs, particularly the barrel?

Thanks, part list below:

MEGA 308 receivers
17" Lilja barrel (rifle length gas) I had it cut back from 20".
SLR Sentry gas block
SLR handguard
JP LMOS (bolt carrier group)
JP Silent Captured Spring (recoil spring/buffer)
Geissele SSA-E trigger
SlencerCo Specwar brake
Nightforce scope and mount
KAC 45 degree irons

Thanks, I may be looking back at this thread when making a parts list..