Just wondering what you guys would grab for a factory built, precision AR-10 platform given the listed choices. Some of my parameters are 18" barrel, DI, 9 lbs or less, aftermarket trigger and muzzle brake/comp preferred. Precision/repeatability would be most important attributes. Let me know what you think. If you know of something that just blows all of these away but has a 16" or 20" barrel, please list that. If you select “something else” in the poll please list your preferred rifle in comments. Thanks!
Judging by the options you’ve listed, you’re not looking to spend KAC money. I’d up my weight limit and go with LMT. Empty weight is under 10lbs. The cl barrels have the potential to be MOA performers.
In that case, would you consider the KAC (something like a 16" SR-25 E2) worth at least a grand more than the other options? Is it that much better?
When I was in the market for a 308 gas gun I shot a couple SR-25’s and a few LMT’s before making my decision. Money wasn’t the deciding factor and I ended up with a MWS. If you are going to shoot the rifle suppressed a lot, spring for the KAC.
18" is the worst compromise with regard to 7.62/.308 barrels. Makes the gun feel and move like a 20", but with ballistics closer to 16" performance than 20".
Big reason that pretty much every military uses either 20" or 16" barrels for 7.62 precision/sniper support.
9lbs is a bit on the light side, forces either a very thin barrel profile that won’t hold up as heat grows for multiple shots, poor suppressor integration, and more movement under recoil. Given the enablers that are needed for effective use in that application (mid to high power optic, mount, offset sights, bipod, laser, rangefinder, level, cosine indicator, tripod mount, filled magazine, precision stock, etc, the final system is going to weight over 15 lbs, and the difference in a 15lb system and a 17lb system is way less noticeable than the difference between a 9lb gun and an 11lb gun. And that’s before taking into account suppressors and clip-on inline nightvision.
In my experience, the optimal weight for a 7.62 gun is right around 9.5-10.5lbs base weight.
Your needed performance attributes should be part of your requirements list, definitely more important than arbitrary barrel lengths, minimal weight differences, or factory of manufacture.
Good to know. Thank you.
KAC SR-25 E2
Save up a couple extra bucks and get yourself an SR25 CC or PC. 2nd choice would be the LMT MWS.
Awesome information. I have two LMT’s, wish one was a KAC.
KAC APC/thread.
Sorry I would build what I want rather than buy. When you buy you either get cheap stuff or over priced mediocre stuff. Spend extra money on a Krieger, Broughton or Bartlein barrel and have someone you trust build it.
Based on all the great info provided and some more research, I abandoned the 18" models and narrowed the options to the following:
KAC SR-25 E2 PC M-LOK
LMT L129A1 Reference Rifle
Noveske 16" Gen III N6 Heavy Recon Rifle
Barrett Rec10
That’s a fairly broad and shortsighted statement don’t you think?
honestly there are a lot good choices that would suite you needs. what is your budget?
off the top of my head,
Daniel Defense
Armalite
Colt
POF
KAC
all offer a sub 9lb rifles that are good to go. I personally like LMT, although a little heavy they are incredibly reliable,built like tanks, and allows me to change my rifle from a 8.5lb, 13.5 inch 308 thats a solid performer out to 800 to a 20 inch 6.5CM that can offer keep a 147ELD-M supersonic till 1500 in about minute
I also Love the Knights lineup, always on the fence about picking one up. I think POF has a very cool concept with the revolution DI
Building is always a good option, but as much as i love me some Krieger and Bartlein barrels, there is zero chance of a 18 inch build coming close to 9lbs. I think my last build with a krieger was around 14lbs before optics. Nothing wrong with that if thats what you are going for.
practical difference in accuracy between my Kieger barreled AR10 and 20inch SS LMT barrel was probably .5 vs .75 MOA. But the LMT set up was at least a few pounds lighter(and is still considered heavy). both are capable of banging a Man size steel target at 1000 fairly easily as long as the shooter does his job since the target is 1.8MOA
hell, at 800 an 18 inch man size plate is almost a 2.5MOA target, which is part of the reason that i have started shooting a 13.5 inch barrel.
But if one is interested in shooting targets for group size, absolutely, grab a good cut rifled barrel
I would recommend any of the above. Each has individual strengths and negatives, figure out what you want to do, and how much you realistically plan to shoot in 1-5 years, and one answer will rise to the top.
I can’t recommend AGAINST trying to build a .308 AR enough. You are basically guaranteeing yourself high frustration, high tool cost, lots of time, lots of talking to individual manufacturers that won’t talk about other manufacturer’s parts, and lots of people that just don’t know what they don’t know. About the closest that you can do as far as building your own is picking up a stripped lower from LMT or ADM, building it up with a good lower kit appropriate for a .308 AR (being cognizant that the receiver extension is not the same as a standard 5.56 AR), and then finding the upper you want and dropping it on. Given the reality of integrating these, a factory warranty is a really good idea.
Jack ain’t bullshitting. SR25 is the defacto standard for 7.62 guns.
^ This.
Building up a lower is pretty much retard-proof, while building up an upper (AR15 or AR10) is the one thing people dick up the most in a home-brewed build, with more to consider besides just slapping parts together.
Everyone has an opinion, mine is based on being a smith since 1981 and being in the AR industry full time for the last 12 years. There are many more lt weight parts now than 5-6 years ago. If you understand how an AR works building one that works is easy, port the barrel to run correctly with the chosen parts.
People in the long range game thinks EVERYONE is only interested in long range.
People that only build duty/shtf rifles think EVERYONE is only interested in combat rifles. ETC, ETC.
Even big manufacturers with mil contracts over-gas barrels to the point the carrier is moving to the rear while the bullet is still in the bore and flames are shooting out of the ejection port. Seems like Lowlight on the hide talked about some 308 sniper rifles that were severely over-gassed. Semi auto 308s don’t have to feel like you are shooting a 1 cylinder John Deere tractor.
I am very interested in data that supports this claim.