I am looking for a 308 AR-10 style rifle. What are the best choices. LMT, Noveske, or an other brand.
Accuracy is important, reliable operation is second. I don’t plan to toss the gun in the mud. But I don’t want a gun plagued by failures.
What should I get and why? suggestions on barrel length, etc.
I will be scoping the rifle, thinking Leupold Mark 4. but no decisions here as well.
I own an LMT and it shoots great. I have never shot any real good ammo through it but it has done 1" groups at 100 yards with AE (M1A) stuff. I am sure it can do better with actual match loads. For a chrome lined 16" barrel, thats pretty good. However expect the sharpest recoil out of most other AR10s. The other I have shot is an EMC, but was not shooting for groups with it. I can tell you it was amazing, you still knew you were shooting .308, but it was much more manageable than the LMT. Other good rifle to consider is the new Predatar. Havent shot it yet, but it looks promising. No reason why that rifle shouldnt have similar acuracy as the regular OBR.
What about one of these? M1A Socom II
Not an AR-10 styled rifle? Also accuracy is the top requirement?
Spooky
Larue Tactical OBR…
I believe they are made with accuracy as a very high priority.
He also mentioned something about reliability
M14s when properly assembled from quality parts are accurate and reliable.
However, the Socom isn’t an AR type rifle which the OP
was asking about.
Before barrel lengths and other details are settled, the use of the rifle must be defined.
Personally, I don’t like the muzzle blast from 308s in barrels less than 18"
What’s an EMC? What’s a Predatar? (SIC?) I found the EMC, too many possibilities with he Predator, so give me a clue. Hyperlinks are a nice touch.
I think it’s actually the PredatAR, with the AR in caps. Forget who makes it
Larue makes the Predatar. I fondled one today. Very light, convenient piece of kit. According to the Larue rep he’s holding about .5MOA with his…take it for what it’s worth.
More information from you with regards to your intended use would help the forum members answer your question. What sort of shooting do you intend to do? What do you expect your max range to be? Is overall size or weight a concern?
LMT, Larue, KAC, Noveske, and Armalite all produce good candidates that may fit your needs depending on what it is you want.
SCAR-17S…just my opinion!! :dance3:
The first question is mag compatibility. I don’t think there is any debate anymore, the SR25/DPMS mags won out over the Armalite AR10 mags in this VHS vs beta war. KAC and LMT being adopted by military forces and cheap Magpul LR20 mags pretty much ended that debate.
KACs are a lot of money, LMT are junior KACs and the Larue’s are really nice. I think if you look past these brands, you are getting into ‘second tier’ equipment. Yes you can make a DPMS AR308 for a lot cheaper, and their are other brands out there, but my take on it is, at $1 or so for good ammo and assuming you are going to shoot the thing, why try to save $1000?
You want to prone out and ring steel at 800 yards, the LMT makes a great choice, the KAC may be a better choice for a few grand more. Want to do the same thing and have a prettier rifle to boot, get a Larue OBR. If you want something more portable the Larue Predator makes a great choice as well as some of the 308 carbines from KAC, for a few grand more.
And be sure to budget $1200-$3000 for a scope to really get the full potential. A NF2.5-10 with T-1 offset, one of the wonder 1-8s coming out, or a 3-15 from S&B, USO, Premier for true long range performance.
16 inches is enough barrel, 18 I think is optimal. More barrel is always ‘better’ but the gains past 18 are incremental. 18 inches also gets you longer gas systems. I don’t like carbine gas on ARs, just too rough. JP LRP-07 would be an interesting add to the list because of their adjustable gas and KILLER accurate barrels.
$5000-6000 grand before your stick is done. Now add ammo.
Price?
When do you want it also?
GAP-10 if you’re willing to wait at least a month
Thanks for all the comments.
Gun will be used for range time, hunting, training, possibly 3 gun. Would like to set it up for longer range not short range. (Thinking 300 Blackout for short range once ammo is available).
Right now, the EMC is more than I really want to spend. I have read about issues with these and for the money, that is a concern. So far, I have narrowed the list to the following (in order):
LMT
FN SCAR-17 (LB?)
Noveske
Larue
Not sure on barrel length but leaning towards 18 or 20 inches. I understand this gun will be heavier than the others I own. I am not looking for a pure target rifle but a accurate multipurpose platform. LMT is the leader, but the higher recoil is a small concern. The SCAR is reported to have the lowest recoil, but not as accurate. There are also concerns about stock breakage with the SCAR. I understand I can swap the trigger and bring the accuracy in to the competitive range.
I can buy now, but am not in a rush. Need to look at the GAP-10.
If you aren’t concerned about weight, big +1 for the LMT. I used to have one and it was definitely a shooter, just too heavy for my uses. As far as the KAC goes, it is expensive but it is incredible. IMHO the most accurate out of the whole bunch, I’ve had some crazy crazy groups out of it. As far as issues goes, I’ve never once had a problem with mine, although I do only shoot quality ammo through it, mainly black hills red box but primarily my own reloads.
The scar is also an excellent choice, and with the 155 scenars and 155 palma you can take it sub MOA, never really had an issue as far as accuracy goes and I will gladly pit my 17s against any other 16" carbine. As far as the stock, I think this concern is overstated. I have several scars and 3 that have seen particularly hard use, no issues.
OBR from what I have seen is also a shooter, I personally don’t care for it due to how it balances for me compared to the EMC or the 17S, but personally I’d go with the LMT over this for the price, but that’s just me and I think there will be plenty of people who disagree with me on this.
No experience with the Noveske although I would assume it is a quality product like his other guns, I just wish he didn’t use the armalite pattern mag.
Thanks I will reconsider the KAC.
LMT is the best bang for the buck.
Why? If magazine selection alone made an AR 308 the best choice, the hands down winner would be the LAR308 which uses FAL magazines, one of the best magazines in the business. Current cost of a like new FAL mag is about $20 and DSA is making 30 rounders for about $25.
An AR10A4 is around $1600 in this neck of the woods. The price for some of the other AR 308s are greater by $1k- or more. Even if the AR10 mags cost twice as much, a shooter could buy a good amount of ammo for the price difference.
Add to that, some of the other AR 308 receivers are billet and made from 6x series alloy, while the AR10 receivers are forged from 7175, an alloy even tougher than 7075.
Choosing a good AR in 308 takes more than just finding a lower that’s compatible with P-Mags
It is more, but it starts with SR25/DPMS mags. If you want to buy something else, and if you are going FAL mags, you are really getting far off the reservation.
Don’t believe me or think I’m wrong, its your money, enjoy your FAL mag’d AR.