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Post by KerryB on Mar 10, 2009 13:03:03 GMT -5
I am in the process of waiting for a DPMS Panther .308 which a local dealer has ordered for me. Don't know how long it might take, but i have wanted a .308 AR for a long time (long range varmints & targets). I have heard some bad things about the Rock River Arms (RRA) AR's in the .308 and sometimes in the .223. I am all ears, if anyone would like to pass on information (firsthand or hearsay). The .308 is by far my favorite round of all times and i have multiple other sniper/LE and varmint rifles in this caliber along with thousands of pieces of brass, so the .308 AR is my next firearm purchase. I just want to hear/read all that i can about them while i wait. TIA for any input, KerryB
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Post by tcmech on Mar 10, 2009 18:17:22 GMT -5
Kerry, I don't know about the DPMS 308, but I have a DPMS in 223 and it has never let me down. I am sure that it will shoot every bit as well as their smaller brothers.
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Post by robhinze on Mar 10, 2009 18:27:16 GMT -5
Waiting on my remington sr-25 fairly cheap and they shoot ok. I shoot left hand so I need the shell deflector otherwise I too would have went with the DPMS with a 24" tube. Which ever one you get look into the aftermarket triggers such as JARD or etc. I have place 3 of them and wow do they turn "ok" rifles into precision tools. I have shot the AR-10T quite abit and they are just fine just need a real good trigger. The service match rifles will not allow these light triggers and we have to conform to the trigger pull weight restrictions. Other fun and cheap but supprisingly accurate rifles are the old rack'em smack'em FNAL with the dust cap scope mounts and an aftermarket trigger again from JARD. For about $90 bucks for the scope mount and $190(or so), they will turn an old battle rifle into a yote busting machine!
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Post by Al on Mar 15, 2009 3:47:58 GMT -5
your gonna love that gun, I have the same in 300 short RUM, and she's very accurate.
As Rob mentioned, I'd upgrade the trigger right from the start.
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Post by KerryB on Mar 19, 2009 20:12:20 GMT -5
I think the aftermarket trigger will be my first improvement. I am also already thinking of a match quality aftermarket barrel. Anybody know who does that sort of work? ?
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Post by ozark on Mar 19, 2009 20:57:44 GMT -5
KerryB, I can't speak for what the .308 would do in the setup you mention but it is a great cartridge. If fact, it broke every record set by the 30-06 in competition in a short time after being adopted. If there is better in the 30 caliber group I am not aware of it. But I am aware you are more knowledgable here than I. Enjoy it. ozark
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Post by KerryB on Mar 19, 2009 21:24:47 GMT -5
My gun dealer told me today that he has a DPMS Panther .308 coming in tomorrow or Monday. Unfortunately the model he has enroute is an 18" chrome moly barrel instead of the 24" stainless i ordered.
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Post by Al on Mar 20, 2009 1:30:31 GMT -5
I think the aftermarket trigger will be my first improvement. I am also already thinking of a match quality aftermarket barrel. Anybody know who does that sort of work? ? Kerry, Kreiger would be my pick, no doubt there are other good ones too. and if you ever decide to go that route, I'll take that factory barrel off your hands. I have a upper and lower stashed, figured I'd piece it togther as parts came along. later.
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Post by KerryB on Mar 31, 2009 9:02:09 GMT -5
YES! My dealer called me and said he is having a DPMS Panther .308 with 24" stainless, fluted barrel delivered today! I should have it in my hot little hands on Thursday! Yippeeeeeee! ;D ;D
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Post by whyohe on Mar 31, 2009 16:30:43 GMT -5
i am SOOOOO JEALOUS!!!! id love to get one but job security keeps me from spending on some thing like that. id like to see some pics when you get it in hand!!
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Post by KerryB on Apr 3, 2009 7:38:59 GMT -5
i am SOOOOO JEALOUS!!!! id love to get one but job security keeps me from spending on some thing like that. id like to see some pics when you get it in hand!! Alright! I picked it up yesterday and she is a beauty! Looks fantastic with the 24" stainless fluted bull barrel. I wanted a couple of spare 19 round mags (4 total), but they are going for $60-$80 each thanks to Obama, so my dealer agreed to give me a couple of spares in trade for an old 40X gun stock i had laying in the basement. I will take some photos asap and post them here...........
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Post by KerryB on Apr 15, 2009 21:01:03 GMT -5
Here is a photo of my new baby! It is a massive and heavy, long range .308 and is definitely not intended for carrying very far. I installed a target grip with a palm rest, bipod, 8-40x56 long range scope, Bob Sled single shot magazine adapter, and a CMMG two stage trigger that i tuned down to 6oz 1st stage and 2.5lb 2nd stage. The original trigger was terrible as expected! I also bought a picatinny mount handle/rear sight, front sight and spare rear sight without handle. I think i have all the bases covered for sighting devices that i will use. I spent the last couple of days preparing the bore for the first break-in shots. It was heavily carbon/copper fouled as shown by my borescope and it was obvious that they function fired a magazine full of ammo through it at the factory and never cleaned it. Now for a proper break-in procedure and ultimately accuracy testing. Let the fun begin................... ;D
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Post by Al on Apr 16, 2009 2:37:02 GMT -5
Kerry, nice rig. How does the factory trigger feel?
What scope and mounts did you use?
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Post by KerryB on Apr 16, 2009 7:27:16 GMT -5
The factory trigger was terrible and was very gritty feeling with an inconsistent pull weight in the 9-10lb range and a very long take-up and over-travel. Just about as bad as you can get, but exactly what i have heard about most factory AR triggers. It was what i had expected, so i had a CMMG trigger enroute from the beginning. I could have done some tuning with the factory trigger, but there is only so much you can do without take-up and over-travel adjustment screws. Lightening the original springs would have helped pull weight some, but the design of the original trigger is a lot of the problem. The scope is a discontinued Hakko tactical 8-40x56mm scope that is an incredibly good Japanese scope. They sold several years ago for around $750 or so and are pretty tough to find these days. I buy every one that i find. The rings are some Leupold extra high, tactical rings that i already had on hand, but since i took this photo i have replaced those with a pair that are about 1/2" lower which puts the scope in a lot more comfortable cheek position. The Picatinny rail comes on these flat-top rifles and are perfect for mounting aftermarket sights or scopes. I will probably start the barrel break-in procedure today! ;D
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Post by screwbolts on Apr 16, 2009 7:40:54 GMT -5
KerryB: looks very nice, both of my 50bmg rifles have the same DPMS heavy upper as your rifle. One of my rifles is also 24" but you think yours is heavy!!! ;D ;D ;D . My 24"Thunder tips the scales at 26 lbs. and My 36" Montana is a nice 35 lbs rifle ;D And By the way my RRA lower has experienced over 3000 rounds of 50BMG fodder and I wouldn't hesitate to have several more. Ken
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Post by whyohe on Apr 16, 2009 8:41:48 GMT -5
nice looking. cant wait to see how it shoots. im sure you cant either.
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Post by KerryB on Apr 16, 2009 20:59:04 GMT -5
Well, i took her out today for the first break-in shot. I clamped the scope on the Picatinny rail and bore sighted it on a target 100yds away using the bipod instead of my usual benchrests. The scope and bore appeared to be pretty well aligned, so i closed her up and fired off a shot to see how close it would hit. It was just luck, but the bullet hit exactly dead center, just where the cross hairs rested when the trigger broke. That made me smile! ;D I also had intentionally loaded two bullets in the magazine to test the autoloading function of the rifle as well as test my trigger against doubling. I am pleased to report that functioning and trigger pull were absolutely perfect. The empty case ejected and the next round loaded without incident. The primer of the second bullet displayed just a hint of firing pin bounce and the disconnector worked perfectly as i was still holding the trigger down when the bolt closed on the second round. I couldn't be happier. I did only fire the one shot since i need to clean thoroughly after each of the first 20-25 shots as part of the recommended DPMS break-in procedure. I bore scoped the barrel after the shot and it did indeed have plenty of copper from that single shot! I will break it in properly and expect the procedure to take quite some time. I know some of you might question this break-in procedure, but i already perform the same procedure with all new rifles, so it is nothing out of the ordinary for me. I expect good things from this rifle.....................
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