First AR-10 build, looking for pointers

[CandG]

I've ordered a Salt Works cerakoted upper and lower combo with a matching free-float rail (https://www.saltworksrifles.com/SWR-...it-p/50101.htm). At this point, that's all I have ordered, I plan to piece together this rifle over the course of the next 2 or 3 months. It will be chambered in .308 and used primarily for 400yd paper shooting, and I want a good balance between looks and performance. Aside from the stripped receivers and the rail, and an optic, my budget is about $1000 for the remaining components. I'm not new to AR-15 builds, but this is my first .308 build. Been doing a fair amount of research, but would love to hear what everyone else's thoughts and experiences are with various BCG's, triggers, barrels, muzzle devices, LPK's, stocks, etc.

Also, some pointers for a good AR-10 optic for 400yd shooting would be awesome, probably something with at least 12x magnification, in the $400-$600 range. Thanks!

[CandG]

I should also note that I'm not particularly concerned about weight. 75% of the shooting with be from a bench.

[Varg Vikernes]

I would get one of those Aim Surplus BCGs, and put $300 into your barrel. Get some sort of Geissele trigger.

[dwtt]

Decide if you want to use Armalite or DPMS parts. What's the thread on the upper receiver for the barrel nut?

[wpage]

Take your time and research your elements befor buying for compatibilty...,

[Chapped Hide]

Too bad toddh is banned, he would have been a wealth of information

Im in the process of building a similar rifle but I'm not restrained by a budget. You might check this guy out for a BCG. Told me he had hundreds of Toolcraft .308 bcg's, $150 for Nib x. http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...&highlight=Bcg. Ordered my barrel from Criterion, based on my research they were the best compromise between cost and quality and the had exactly what I was looking for. Paid $370 for an 18", 1:10, medium contour, rifle length gas, SS with nitride coating.

[swell1957]

You'd be surprised how little magnification you need to shoot at 400 yards. I'm a big fan of Primary Arms optics.

[penguin0123]

Make sure everything is DPMS / KAC or Armalite pattern. They don't interchange. Majority of stuff out there is DPMS pattern.

For barrel, look into Black Hole Weaponry. They have sales now and then (bought mine 20% off), so keep an eye out. They are very accurate barrels. Lilja, Douglas, Criterion are others that come to mind.

Get an adjustable gas block. Use as little gas as possible will help with recoil and parts longevity.

For 400yds, you don't need glass. Heck, Palma shooter user irons to 1k. You don't need 12x; too much magnification is sometime bad as you are just watching your own body twitch.

Glass is not the place you cheap out on. Shoot irons until you can buy good glass. Good scopes start at about $1500 and goes nowhere but up. If you have the discipline to save the money, go with a Hensoldt or Schmidt and Bender.

• For <$1k, look at SWFA 3-15x42; heavy, lack zero stop, glass isn't as good as stuff I'm used to at high magnification, but not a bad option at $700. The 3-9x42 trades some high end magnification for cost. The fixed power scopes are also good performers for dirt cheap.
• Burris XTR2 2-10x42 is a $1k item you can look at. Feature packed and 10mil per rev turrets. I didn't like the glass as I saw CA and fringing at 10x, but I'm picky.
• If you are willing to drop zero stop for better glass, look at NightForce SHV 4-14x50 F1. They retail about $1200.

[CandG]

Decide if you want to use Armalite or DPMS parts. What's the thread on the upper receiver for the barrel nut?

I'm 99% sure it's a DPMS style thread

[CandG]

You'd be surprised how little magnification you need to shoot at 400 yards. I'm a big fan of Primary Arms optics.

Agreed, I have a 4x ACOG on my 5.56 AR, and it goes out to 200yds no problem. Another ACOG for the .308 would be great, but I'm leaning towards a regular scope. Something with fixed magnification probably, since I've learned that I never actually adjust the magnification on any of my adjustable scopes, I always just leave it zoomed all the way in. I'll check out some Primary Arms optics, thanks!

[CandG]

Make sure everything is DPMS / KAC or Armalite pattern. They don't interchange. Majority of stuff out there is DPMS pattern.

For barrel, look into Black Hole Weaponry. They have sales now and then (bought mine 20% off), so keep an eye out. They are very accurate barrels. Lilja, Douglas, Criterion are others that come to mind.

Get an adjustable gas block. Use as little gas as possible will help with recoil and parts longevity.

For 400yds, you don't need glass. Heck, Palma shooter user irons to 1k. You don't need 12x; too much magnification is sometime bad as you are just watching your own body twitch.

Glass is not the place you cheap out on. Shoot irons until you can buy good glass. Good scopes start at about $1500 and goes nowhere but up. If you have the discipline to save the money, go with a Hensoldt or Schmidt and Bender.

• For <$1k, look at SWFA 3-15x42; heavy, lack zero stop, glass isn't as good as stuff I'm used to at high magnification, but not a bad option at $700. The 3-9x42 trades some high end magnification for cost. The fixed power scopes are also good performers for dirt cheap.
• Burris XTR2 2-10x42 is a $1k item you can look at. Feature packed and 10mil per rev turrets. I didn't like the glass as I saw CA and fringing at 10x, but I'm picky.
• If you are willing to drop zero stop for better glass, look at NightForce SHV 4-14x50 F1. They retail about $1200.

Excellent tips, thanks! Agreed about the optic, I was hoping there was something really good in the < $600 range but you could definitely be correct about just waiting until I can spring $1500 or so. I've got no problem with that as long as it's a good value. I don't want to pay $1500 for an optic that's only 2% better than a $500 optic, but I'm happy to pay that much if the difference is that huge. I don't have any experience with expensive optics aside from ACOG's, so this is new territory for me. Thanks for the barrel suggestions as well, I'm thinking my budget for the barrel is probably about $400 or so, but if I can find one for $250 that's just as good, then I'm all for it

[CandG]

Too bad toddh is banned, he would have been a wealth of information

Im in the process of building a similar rifle but I'm not restrained by a budget. You might check this guy out for a BCG. Told me he had hundreds of Toolcraft .308 bcg's, $150 for Nib x. http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...&highlight=Bcg. Ordered my barrel from Criterion, based on my research they were the best compromise between cost and quality and the had exactly what I was looking for. Paid $370 for an 18", 1:10, medium contour, rifle length gas, SS with nitride coating.

Perfect, that barrel sounds like exactly what I'm looking for! I've heard good things about Criterion as well.

I suppose I'm not really restrained by budget either, but the more this project costs me the longer it'll take At the same time, I want to do it right the first time, trying to avoid buying anything twice if I can. I already have drawers full of unused/upgraded 5.56 AR parts, don't need to start another one for .308 parts if I can help it haha

[Chapped Hide]

Perfect, that barrel sounds like exactly what I'm looking for! I've heard good things about Criterion as well.

I suppose I'm not really restrained by budget either, but the more this project costs me the longer it'll take At the same time, I want to do it right the first time, trying to avoid buying anything twice if I can. I already have drawers full of unused/upgraded 5.56 AR parts, don't need to start another one for .308 parts if I can help it haha

Mine came out of a new run, just shipped on Thursday and should be here Monday. Had to wait 2 weeks but they should have some left from this current run. Same boat here with build, trying to do it right the first time. The rest of my build includes a PRS stock, JP silent capture spring, JP/Syrac rifle length adjustable gas, Cryptic bolt, ergo grip, bad cass selector, all going on a Mega upper/lower 16" MKM.

[varanidguy]

Get an adjustable gas block in case your barrel is over gassed (reports indicate they are notorious for it, even Bartlein and Krieger barrels have people reporting over gassing). Also, the JP Silent Captured Spring made a HUGE difference in my 308 AR. If you are going to run a low mass BCG, then get the standard JP SCS, if you are going to run a full weight BCG, get the Heavy JP SCS. They are worth it.

As for optics in that price range, I'd be looking at Vortex or Primary Arms to get you started. I have a Primary Arms 4-14x44 FFP scope, and it's nice, very usable, but I hope to upgrade to a Vortex 6-24x50 FFP (but they are $900+).

[C.G.]

It is not an AR-10 unless it is Armalite.