Firearm & Gun Forum - FireArmsTalk.com > Long Guns > Auto & Semi-Auto Discussion > AR-15 Discussion > Considering an AR build

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old07-28-2010, 08:53 AM #1
Working and still poor...
 
Angry_bald_guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lancaster, Kentucky
Posts: 1,220
DefaultConsidering an AR build

Ok, I'm fairly new here and the only gun I have owned so far is the 1911 that I currently have. I've been looking at building an AR-15 for a SHTF situation and was wondering about the .308 chamber for it. I have a few questions about it and would like to use your experience here.

First of all, will a standard AR-15 lower work with a .308 upper?

Second, will a standard AR-15 mag work with .308 win rounds?

Third, what is a gas piston assembly for an AR-15 and what does it do?

Last, what is the difference between an AR-15 and an AR-10?

Thanks for your time and help.
__________________
Darrel

No, you can't take my gun. I'm gonna need it when you try to take my truck...

Μολὼν λαβέ
Angry_bald_guy is offline  
 
Reply With Quote

Join FirearmsTalk.com Today - It's Free!

Are you a firearms enthusiast? Then we hope you will join the community. You will gain access to post, create threads, private message, upload images, join groups and more.

Firearms Talk is owned and operated by fellow firearms enthusiasts. We strive to offer a non-commercial community to learn and share information.

Join FirearmsTalk.com Today! - Click Here


Old07-28-2010, 11:28 AM #2
mmmmm......
 
spittinfire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Maiden, NC
Posts: 9,583
Default

The 308 will not work on an AR upper nor can it use standard AR mags. The 308 is an AR10. It's the same basic platform but due to the longer cartiridge you need a longer bolt cycle. There are commericial loads such as the Remington 30 AR that are .30 and designed to work on an AR15 platform and mimic 308 balistics but a tat pricey.

The AR is gas operated which means it uses the hot, pressurized gas from the discharged round to cycle the action. Most use a tube which direct the gases back to the bolt and push it to the rear. I personally can see no reason to go with a piston system unless you just want it.

Does that help? There are people here who know a lot more about ARs who will be along shortly if you need more info.
__________________
If the pain is lacking so is the discipline...

"the only 911 call I need is chambering a round" - Mr. Muller, MO car dealer
spittinfire is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old07-28-2010, 01:54 PM #3
Senior Member
 
mjkeat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Posts: 4,027
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by spittinfire View Post
The 308 will not work on an AR upper nor can it use standard AR mags. The 308 is an AR10. It's the same basic platform but due to the longer cartiridge you need a longer bolt cycle. There are commericial loads such as the Remington 30 AR that are .30 and designed to work on an AR15 platform and mimic 308 balistics but a tat pricey.

The AR is gas operated which means it uses the hot, pressurized gas from the discharged round to cycle the action. Most use a tube which direct the gases back to the bolt and push it to the rear. I personally can see no reason to go with a piston system unless you just want it.

Does that help? There are people here who know a lot more about ARs who will be along shortly if you need more info.

THis is it in a nut shell ^^
mjkeat is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old07-28-2010, 02:10 PM #4
Call Me Doug
 
Dillinger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: It's because I actually HAVE those skills!
Posts: 21,258
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Angry_bald_guy View Post

First of all, will a standard AR-15 lower work with a .308 upper?

Second, will a standard AR-15 mag work with .308 win rounds?

Third, what is a gas piston assembly for an AR-15 and what does it do?

Last, what is the difference between an AR-15 and an AR-10?

Thanks for your time and help.
1) As indicated above, that would be a negative.

2) Again, as indicated by Spitty, negative.

3) The gas piston system is an "improvement" to a problem that doesn't really exist if you take care of your weapon. The gas piston system takes the place of the gas tube system and makes your AR run more like an AK. The gas pressure is harnessed at the muzzle end of the weapon and forces a piston backwards to cycle the action. In the current design, the gas itself creates the expanding pressure to cycle the action. The piston system is more reliable, if you are prone to dragging your weapon through 60 yards of mud and wet concrete before shooting it, but it is not as accurate as the standard gas system. It's a trade of, a little more reliable for those that abuse their weapon and a little less accurate. So what you have effectively done is created a really expensive AK ( in my opinion and that of others I know )

4) As indicated above - the AR-10 is the classification for a larger sized, big brother version of the AR-15. There are tens of cartridges that can be custom made for either model, but it comes to case size. For the larger rifle calibers like .308, you need AR-10 parts. For smaller applications like the 5.56/.223, you need the AR-15 parts.

Hope that helps!

JD
__________________
"as for my Sword & Spear we will serve the throne, but NEVER that man who sits upon it" - Achilles - Warrior of Warriors

Quote:
Originally Posted by doctherock View Post
Dillinger didn't have to let me try Cammenga Mags before I bought them; but he is a man of great character & a man who's word to me now is a good as gold. If he recommends it I know its good stuff.


ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!
Dillinger is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old07-28-2010, 02:53 PM #5
Senior Member
 
TheDaggle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Solvang
Posts: 907
Default

If money is a factor, you may want to go the 5.56 route. Ar 10s are much more expensive. I don't know what .308 ammo costs, but I bet its more expensive, as well.
__________________
"Always carry a small flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite. Furthermore, always carry a small snake." W.C. Fields
TheDaggle is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old07-28-2010, 03:24 PM #6
I'm always 10-8
 
canebrake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: 150 miles NE of Sloppy Joe's Bar, in the "GunShine" State
Posts: 19,197
Liked 5 Times on 5 Posts
Likes Given: 4

Default

First build? Don't complicate it!

I would go with a RRA complete, direct impingement, 5.56 Nato upper and build the bottom end.

Rock River Arms: .223/5.56mm Upper Halves

I went with a quality, multi-cal, billet, stripped lower. When you start with this good of a foundation it opens all sorts of upper swap-outs.

Rainier Arms, LLC™ Mega Billet Lower - GTR-3S

I highly recommend Rock River Arms and Rainier Arms for your AR build parts.
__________________
.
.. Colt 11101110111..MEMBER: FAAM, NRA, GOA, DAV, USSV, SAE

Colt, everything else is stamp collecting! - cane

"Given ten days for a project, a good engineer spends nine days figuring out how to finish it in one day."

Resistance is not futile.
It's voltage divided by current (R=V/I).

"If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it on a large scale."
canebrake is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old07-28-2010, 05:06 PM #7
Working and still poor...
 
Angry_bald_guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lancaster, Kentucky
Posts: 1,220
Default

Thanks for clearing everything up everyone. I am already getting a .308 bolt action and was looking to keep similar ammo stocked instead of changing calibers, but I'll give the AR-15 some thought instead.
__________________
Darrel

No, you can't take my gun. I'm gonna need it when you try to take my truck...

Μολὼν λαβέ
Angry_bald_guy is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old07-28-2010, 08:41 PM #8
Winners!!!
 
dog2000tj's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Bennignton, VT
Posts: 4,446
Default

Why not get/build and AR15 and an AR10?
__________________
Member: NRA GOA

Est sularas oth mithas
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

"either way, you were guilty by association, so you were smited...." JD

My AR15 Build - Range Report
My AR458SOCOM Build
dog2000tj is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old07-28-2010, 09:50 PM #9
Working and still poor...
 
Angry_bald_guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lancaster, Kentucky
Posts: 1,220
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dog2000tj View Post
Why not get/build and AR15 and an AR10?
That's what I'm leaning towards... But I was hoping to do an AR10 first time out.
__________________
Darrel

No, you can't take my gun. I'm gonna need it when you try to take my truck...

Μολὼν λαβέ
Angry_bald_guy is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old07-28-2010, 11:12 PM #10
Winners!!!
 
dog2000tj's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Bennignton, VT
Posts: 4,446
Default

Well you will have loads of choices if an AR10 is indeed the way you go. All the big names make a lower and more and more are coming out with complete rifles.
__________________
Member: NRA GOA

Est sularas oth mithas
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

"either way, you were guilty by association, so you were smited...." JD

My AR15 Build - Range Report
My AR458SOCOM Build
dog2000tj is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Reply
Thread Tools
Display Modes


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Firearms Forum Replies Last Post
new ar build unknownhero82 AR-15 Discussion 9 02-13-2010 08:43 PM
For anyone looking to build an AR... slowryde45 AR-15 Discussion 7 01-22-2010 06:45 AM
I'm about to get/build my first AR dsmith84 AR-15 Discussion 10 12-26-2009 12:55 AM
9mm AK build kylie AK & SKS Discussion 3 05-21-2007 02:54 PM



FOLLOW US ON
PHOTO OF THE DAY
SA1911A1 & Ruger Mark II Target & my range box



Network: Kel Tec Forum - Airsoft Forum - Hipoint Firearms Forum - Glock Forum - Marlin Forum