Best .308 AR for med to long range?

Newbie question here, but what's so special about all these exotic .308 ARs when compared to say an Armalite AR10?

More Bells/whistles, name brand recognition and the mag system.

As this is a precision AR10 thread... We are talking target rifles. If you're talking best tactical precision then the AR10 DND, AR10 SASS, KAC, LMT, etc are what you would be looking at. Instead you should be looking at the heavy barrel options.

DPMS LR308 (New G2 model is out), AR10T, Les Bauer, GAP etc. Heavy contour 24" barrel. Target rifles.

The secret to an excellent AR10 target rifle are predominently the barrel and trigger. Not overgassed is also important. But really there is no magic to it. Triggers swap in generally the same as AR15 and the same with barrels. You can buy Krieger etc barrels and put one on.

A good AR target rifle should shoot sub .5 moa with the right ammo.

My older first gen Lr308 had me concerned at first and I couldn't recommend it. As it shot 168 federal very poorly. That being said it's a 1:10 twist and I didn't try heavier. Also I had to change out the garbage trigger (G2 model comes with a very good 2 stage trigger). Then I put some 167 Lapua down the pipe. Wow. Now I'm happy.

You really don't need to spend big money for a target AR10. It's the tactical target stuff ie DM or Sniper equipment that gets very expensive. My target AR15 is a Stag 6R .5 moa guarantee. My target AR10 is a DPMS LR308. Both are significantly cheaper than thetactical precision stuff and will shoot withtge best. Want better performance? Spin on a new barrel. Done. Also go for appropriate scopes etc. 8-32x or more isn't out of line for a target AR.
 
Thanks for all the feed back so far guys. Just wanted clear one thing up, I'm not looking for the most expensive rifle, just best. But I'm willing to up to $10K if needed, but that's including optics, accessories and upgrades. I'm sure I can find what I want for less, it's just that I'm not constrained by finances is all. I know there are good non-AR platforms, but AR is what I'd like this times around. Are for distances, ranges are limited to 100/200 yards at best around. If I drive awhile, there's a 300 yard. However, next year I will be taking my guns to 2 places that I know of so far (there will be more), one is 700yd/640m, and the other is 1100yd/1000m. This is why I mention both medium and long range.

Thanks again
 
Epoxy7,

What is your opinion of the Sig 716 DMR?

Been looking into them and not much about them. Seems modified HK308 or at least based off it as SIG stole the HK416 design team. Good options and value. But it is a piston system. With the same barrel on a DI you should be able to eel out a bit more accuracy. Good for tactical precision rifle. I would estimate .75moa. I have a LMT with 20" SS barrel and an AR10 SASS so for me I decided to pass unless a smoking deal comes along. The SIG non DM one isn't really suitable for a precision rifle. It's more battle rifle stuff than target precision.

Fireball just recently got his HK308 so I'll be interested how it does. He has the 20" on it. That against the SIG DM would be a good comparison.
 
. Seems modified HK308 or at least based off it as SIG stole the HK416 design team.

Sig had a pretty smart lad of their own--I had the good fortune to spend three days at The Sig Academy taking Armorer's classes from the guy. All three of the Sig ARs will pass the 'Nato over the beach' test', which is an impressive feat.
 
Sig had a pretty smart lad of their own--I had the good fortune to spend three days at The Sig Academy taking Armorer's classes from the guy. All three of the Sig ARs will pass the 'Nato over the beach' test', which is an impressive feat.

They make some good stuff. I shot a buddy's ERT issue Sig pistol a few months ago. Pretty good. Still waiting for my SSG3000. I will be taking out my PE90 again!!!
 
Sig had a pretty smart lad of their own--I had the good fortune to spend three days at The Sig Academy taking Armorer's classes from the guy. All three of the Sig ARs will pass the 'Nato over the beach' test', which is an impressive feat.

Most piston operated rifles should be able to pass the over the beach but that only seems to mean that they won't catastrophically fail and that a certain accuracy is maintained after the test. It's a really bad thing to do to any barrel regardless of if the rifle will blow up in your hands or not. When they test them for that they don't state the long term effects it has on barrel life or accuracy from the damage done to the barrel, only that it maintains a certain accuracy after x number of shots full of water. They don't care since when the military boys use a rifle like that and it needs a new barrel after 3000 rounds instead of 20000 rounds they just go to the armorer and have a new barrel installed.
Not bashing the Sig or any other piston rifle as I would love to own one, just don't see the point in the over the beach test when we are talking about precision civilian AR's.
I have a DPMS LR-308 (gen 1) on it's way to me right now and can't wait to get it out for some testing on my next days off work.
 
What about the Colt 901, it's a 1 MOA rifle. Price is reasonable. It also has an ambi lower, and the ability to run a 5.56 upper. I'm running a Leupold Mark 6 1 X 6 which will get me out to 800 no problem, others to consider are Mark 6 3 X 18 or the Bushnell ERS 3 X 21.
 
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Armalite AR-10T with S&B 5X25 PMll... Sub MOA all day long with factory 155 gr Lapua Scenar...
FNAR Competition with S&B 3X20 PMll.... Sub MOA all day with factory Hornady 155 gr Amax Match
GAP-10 with March scope 3X24X52 FFP.... 3/8 MOA certified with Match factory ammo, when it leave the factory... But if the proof is in the pouding, before it get shot, it is speculation... JP.
 
I am surprised no one has mentioned larue. For accuracy they are hard to beat

I agree, I shot the OBR, and it was "soft" shooting & accurate for sure, however the "red herring" remains availability, even in the US market there is a long wait, maybe that's why it doesn't come up in these types of discussions, since it's not available, it's a moot point with respect to its performance.
 
Now that I'm not just posting using an iphone anymore. I figure I would add some information.

As I mentioned before you just need a good barrel and a good trigger along with the right ammo. I happen to like the Armalite AR10. I find it's currently an excellent deal on a well build AR10. Previously when I bought my target rifle I went with the DPMS LR308 as the AR10 target was $3000. But... prices changed a number of years ago and they were now $2000. In fact right now you can get the newest A model which uses Pmags for $1800. That's pretty hard to beat. The fit and finish on these are good. They are 7175 forged upper/lowers so up a bit from the 7075 standard that many are using. They like the KAC and LMT have been used in combat. Canadian troops used the Armalite AR10T in Afghanistan with the sniper's spotters.

Here's a thread with two of the AR10T DND versions. These have Walther Lothar 24" SS triple lapped ceramic coated barrels in 1:11.25 twist rate.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/533010-Thursday-with-the-twins-at-the-Mission-range?highlight=AR10

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Here's a group Fireball shot using some reloads I made up for a RFB that didn't work out for the RFB. The AR10 sure liked them. 5 rounds at 100 metres. Yes he pulled one. Also shot using a harris bipod, along with Burris Fullfield II 3-9X on 9X. There are some other targets from that day as well posted on that thread.

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DPMS LR308 with match trigger installed. Shooting in 20-30 km/h gusts. I'd wait until the gust stopped and then shoot. The wind was going directly downrange. I broke a shot and the gust hit. The fourth shot was a bit high because of this. 5 rounds at 100 yards. Front and back bag. The front bag I had was a range one that someone custom made out of swede leather. It was awesome. Then someone stole it. The Caldwell one I have sucks. Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x Rapid Z 1000 reticle. Lapua 167 match ammo. This rifle has the 1:10 twist target barrel. Owning a DPMS G2 Recon I would say get the G2 version if going this way. It's a much nicer built rifle then the G1. But because of this there are some smoking deals on the G1 models that may be worth a serious look if trying to get in for the lowest price. Wolverine had one that had the fluted barrel which was an excellent deal. Although the SASS "clone" was the real gem they had for sale.

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Here is the DPMS LR308 and AR10T DND side by side.

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Here's an older picture of the LR308. I don't have the palmshelf grip on it anymore. I found it got in the way. I changed it to a Magpul Miad with AR10 Wedge. Much nicer.

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LMT MWS with 20" SS Mike Rock barrel 1:11.25 twist. The one on the right. Haven't shot it yet. Too many projects on the go. But it really is a very nice AR308. Will it outshoot the others? Unlikely. I expect it to be pretty close but I wouldn't expect it to outshoot these others. But.. the fit and finish is very nice as is the ambi mag release. It's really a nice firearm. Then again it should be for the price of them. This was one of those deals I couldn't say no to that came up. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to justify the price.

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Armalite AR10 SASS. This one was put together as for a very long time you couldn't get the SASS in Canada. Now this one is slightly different as it has the 20" version of the AR10 DND barrel. IE 1:11.25 twist as per what they used during the military trials. Adjustable gas block for regular and supressor. PRS stock etc. Very nice AR. But... the LMT is nicer. It should be though for the cost difference. The LMT comes with a CL barrel unless you get the 16" SS version which last I checked was $3500. To get the 20" version costs an extra $950 for the barrel, which you can change yourself with the LMT system. The SASS however is good to go from the box (or parts as mine was assembled at home). Still need a muzzle device along with scope etc. Yes I need a camera too, before that comment is made.

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This is the most recent configuration for my DPMS LR308. Although the scope is due to get taken off for another rifle. I'm thinking a Sightron SIII 8-32x for this rifle. This offers a better view with the Magpul Miad on it, which works perfectly.

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Best bang for the buck right now for a target rifle is probably the AR10A Target model. You get your Pmags (which I'm not a fan of), 10 round mags and heavy Armalite build.

Now there is also a new NR 308 precision rifle in the works with ATR. Frankly I can't recommend spending that kind of money when none are out yet. They are working on it. But... I would also wait to make sure what the new Common Sense firearms Act does. It would be a lot of money to spend on a franken AR308 to find the rules are all changed and you payed/played by the outdated rules. It's worth waiting to see. It may very well prove to be excellent. Right now I can say for sure what these AR10 and AR308 rifles can do. Frankly they are the top of the semi auto rifle. Check out the new G2 DPMS for a quick look at what's changing things up. Information is key to making good decisions. What the person does with that is up to them.
 
My first AR10 type rifle was a Knight's SR25. There is considerably more options now including H&K, Sigs and other less expensive options that have closed the accuracy gap. f I did it all over again....I'd stick with my original purchase.

You may want to consider another caliber too if you want to push 1000m...the LMT MWS might be a good bet for that.
 
My first AR10 type rifle was a Knight's SR25. There is considerably more options now including H&K, Sigs and other less expensive options that have closed the accuracy gap. f I did it all over again....I'd stick with my original purchase.

You may want to consider another caliber too if you want to push 1000m...the LMT MWS might be a good bet for that.

Nothing wrong with the SR25, except the price.
 
What about the JP Rifles, LRP07? Can't afford one but heard great things about them.

hXXp://www.jprifles.com/1.2.5_LRP07.php

Although I like my GAP's (I own a GAP Crusader in 6.5 creedmoor), JP is the route I would go for a precision AR. From what I've read, people are squeezing out better accuracy from the JP's than the GAP's. The GAP AR10's also seem to be more picky about what ammo you feed it.

White Oak Armory is also another great option for precision AR's
 
Excellent contribution to the thread Epoxy7.

I fully agree with you regarding the wait and see of the CSFA. We've talked about this before and I'm one in that group that'll be holding back for a couple months too see what happens and go from there. I REALLY want the SSG3000, but semi-auto AR10s is where my heart is, especially if they turn out NR w/ a 26''OAL rule.

Regarding the ATR rifle & RCMP classification - we shouldn't forget that they have 1 year to change their classification decision, per the new rules put forth in the amnesty (anyone pls correct me if I'm wrong).
 
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