New AR308!

[Smith]

So many if you know I'm dedicated to the AK and have little care for AR's, but I was wanting a 308 platform and nothing in the AK world got me too excited.
Came across an Aero M5 receiver set and so started assembling an AR in 308. Since its not really an AR, I could justify it. [emoji6] Anyway here it is. Ambush Tactical fluted barrel 16", Larue grip, knock off brake, Ergo F93 stock, PSA BCG.
Still waiting on a proper length gas tube and the UTG rail is quite impressive. I know the UTG name doesn't instill confidence, but options are slim on the 308 and this thing is fantastic. Especially for the price.

[KahrMan]

Very nice.  I have been wanting another ever since I sold one years ago.  I ended up getting the one Rightwinger had for sale.

[Smith]

Very nice. I have been wanting another ever since I sold one years ago. I ended up getting the one Rightwinger had for sale.

I've played with that one and the RRA are nice. One thing I did find out about the 308 AR platform, is that there are a lot of proprietary parts that aren't cross compatible. I believe, RRA are all propriety parts, even the barrel nut is unique to the RRA. Edited November 26, 2014 by Smith

[hipower]

Congrats!! That looks really good. Tad keeps telling me I need to get into a 308, but you know how little I shoot rifles, so that is low on the list for me.

[Grand Torino]

Very nice....congratulations :up:  Oh and by the way.......it sure looks like an AR to me. :D

[Smith]

Very nice....congratulations :up: Oh and by the way.......it sure looks like an AR to me. :D

Haha, but looks are only skin deep. Like AK's, this has soul!

[DaveTN]

308’s are just bass azz. Prices are high on parts because there is no spec.
But the look on people’s faces when you let them shoot it is priceless.

[rugerla1]

Very nice, congrats!!

[musicman]

You taunt me, Smith! I'm saving right now for a DPMS G2 24" Bull 308. I thought about building, but that gun is pretty much what I want, and it would cost way more to make it myself at this point. Can't wait!

And yea, yours looks awesome! I know you'll be stoked to finish it up!

[TrickyNicky]

Very nice. A good 308 is on the list for sure and I can't see any reason to stray from the AR platform with the prices being so low these days. I'd like an FAL, but it seems like the glory days for getting good ones cheap is over.

On a side note I have a utg pro rail on my 300 build and can't fault the quality in any way. The handguard mounting isn't as robust as some other designs maybe, but I think others are sometimes a bit redundant.

[Dustbuster]

UTG makes some nice stuff at a fair price. Their new hand guards are light and easy to handle

[Mark A]

Smith, what was your M5 building experience like? I bought one of the first ones out and it was by far the hardest AR pattern I've had to put together. After it was done it looked pretty nice but I had to fiddle and finagle a lot to get things to go in the right spot.

 

I'm curious if they've fined tuned their receivers or not.

 

Can't beat the value though...

 

Thanks, Mark

[Smith]

Smith, what was your M5 building experience like? I bought one of the first ones out and it was by far the hardest AR pattern I've had to put together. After it was done it looked pretty nice but I had to fiddle and finagle a lot to get things to go in the right spot.

 

I'm curious if they've fined tuned their receivers or not.

 

Can't beat the value though...

 

Thanks, Mark

It was pretty easy, AR15 easy for the most part and I've put a few of those together. Only issues I had were that the takedown pins were incredibly tight. I had to basically polish the finish off the front pin and hammer it in a few time before it was useable. Works fine now that it's worn a bit.  The barrel was also pretty tight setting it in the receiver but I'd rather it be tighter than looser like some of the AR's I've seen. A little CLP on the extension and it went in with some effort. BCG is a PSA so I'm still a bit uneasy about how that will work, but dry firing and working the action it seems to be GTG. Still waiting on the right gas tube and adjustable gas block before I can shoot it.

The Larue APEG grip had to be fit a bit since it was made to fill the gap most receivers leave. Aero accommodated for that gap. I got the 308 version without taking into account Aero's forethought. A standard APEG grip would have been fine.. LOVE the  

 

Biggest issues I've had were getting the right buffer spring/buffer combo and the right gas tube, but that has more to do with learning and info than the receiver. 

 

What issues did you have?

Edited November 19, 2014 by Smith

[Mark A]

It just seemed like all the tolerances were just a bit off. Like you I had to polish take down pins. I don't like how the mag release fits. I pulled the trigger group out 3 times before I could get the selector to fit. Once it was all in I couldn't figure out why it didn't fit the first time.

I'm sure my judgement was skewed by the fact that the previous 3 AR's that I put together including a 308 were from CMT. The CMT stuff fit together perfectly. My CMT 308 is as tight or tighter than the Aero but was easier to assemble.

But, I like my M5 and have suggested it to others. I certainly liked the price...

I now have an M&P 10 (who knew it was going to be a gateway drug to other 308 goodness), the CMT with a 20" barrel & the M5 which I built as a pistol. When it finally gets out of jail I think it will be the main host for my suppressor.

I meant to ask, what glass is yours wearing? I have a 3x9 on the CMT, a 1.5 x4 on the M&P and currently have a H1 on the M5. The M5 will mostly be a close in gun so unmagnified is probably ok but it isn't 100% settled in my mind yet.

Mark

[Smith]

The one in the picture is the primary arms 1-6 for the 7.62x39 I had laying around. It now has a Bushnell AR 4.5-18x40 BDC.

[Guest summertime27]

It just seemed like all the tolerances were just a bit off. Like you I had to polish take down pins. I don't like how the mag release fits. I pulled the trigger group out 3 times before I could get the selector to fit. Once it was all in I couldn't figure out why it didn't fit the first time.

I'm sure my judgement was skewed by the fact that the previous 3 AR's that I put together including a 308 were from CMT. The CMT stuff fit together perfectly. My CMT 308 is as tight or tighter than the Aero but was easier to assemble.

But, I like my M5 and have suggested it to others. I certainly liked the price...

I now have an M&P 10 (who knew it was going to be a gateway drug to other 308 goodness), the CMT with a 20" barrel & the M5 which I built as a pistol. When it finally gets out of jail I think it will be the main host for my suppressor.

I meant to ask, what glass is yours wearing? I have a 3x9 on the CMT, a 1.5 x4 on the M&P and currently have a H1 on the M5. The M5 will mostly be a close in gun so unmagnified is probably ok but it isn't 100% settled in my mind yet.

Mark

 

Our products are just plain better because they are in made in Tn, by Tennesseans!!

[I am Groot!]

Congrats! I like the look of the stock, I have not seen that before. Does it have storage?

[Smith]

Congrats! I like the look of the stock, I have not seen that before. Does it have storage?

It's an Ergo F93. It was Magpuls prototype of what would become the UBR. Magpul sold the design to Ergo.
No storage, but I've never stored anything in any stock if had.

[musicman]

Got my Smiff'n Western in Wednesday. I kinda like the look with the ridiculously huge sun shade on the scope, lol!


It's an MA compliant model, so that stock will be replaced soon, and probably a drop-in trigger eventually. The handguards will also go bye-bye in time. Hoping to try it out Sunday after church!

Edited December 6, 2014 by musicman

[RC3]

Looks really nice. I want to build one. Then I thought about building a .308 pistol. Does anyone make barrels short enough for one?

[TrickyNicky]

Got my Smiff'n Western in Wednesday. I kinda like the look with the ridiculously huge sun shade on the scope, lol!
It's an MA compliant model, so that stock will be replaced soon, and probably a drop-in trigger eventually. The handguards will also go bye-bye in time. Hoping to try it out Sunday after church!

Nice dude! I'd imagine a fixed position stock would be what you want, just not a pinned carbine am I right lol?

An AR10 would be so tempting if I could afford to feed it :lol:

[musicman]

I wouldn't care if it was fixed a little longer, unfortunately it's like right in the middle and it's dreadful! :P
I've got that scope shoved as far forward as I can get it... just doesn't feel right, either. I'll figure something else out after new year's.

[sigbrown1297]

Be sure to post some reviews on the micro slick BCG.  Thanks again.

[Smith]

Be sure to post some reviews on the micro slick BCG. Thanks again.

No doubt I will. Your work is excellent! I just want to let it fully cure before I run it. I think this coating will be very helpful as I'm told AR308's need to fun VERY wet to be reliable. I definitely think this will help.

[DaveTN]

as I'm told AR308's need to fun VERY wet to be reliable.

I shoot 50-100 rounds at a range session with my 308 Panther. I don’t spray it down or lube it excessively and I’ve never had a FTF or FTE; not one. But I also thoroughly clean it after each session.