Finally... a .308 AR, PA-10.

[wyntrout]

Well, money has been kind of tight, but I did it. I went ahead and ordered a completed lower from Palmetto State Armory on May 30th, and picked it up at the FFL on June 4th. This was going to take a few months, I figured, because of other expenses... a lot of dental work for us both.

I finally ordered a completed upper on July 25. The upper came in today, August 2. I had requested a manual or whatever could be downloaded, so they sent me a .pdf file of a kind of scanned faded copy of the PA-10. It could definitely be a little better for the pictures, but I did manage to look through it before the upper arrived.

Wow! I've BUILT my first AR... as some guys love to say. :D With free shipping and $20 to my FFL dealer, it cost me $620! I remember going to the big local dealer prepared to spend $1,200 4 or 5 years ago... and prices starting at twice that for a cheapie! :eek: It has been a while!

I took the Bushnell TR-25 with half inch or so quick-on/off riser mount and put it on the assembled rifle. With a quick cheek weld, I was looking down the sight and it seemed a good position.

I had bought an Osprey Global bore sighter for .308($20) at the gun show this weekend, as well as MagPul magazines... one each in 10, 20, and 25-round capacity, with the last being windowed(Total $63 OTD). I also bought 4 20-rd boxes of Aguila 150 grain FMJBT for the range. So I have enough stuff to at least shoot the rifle.

I took the rifle with the bore sighter installed or loaded to the back porch, which is screened, and tried to put the red dot over the bore sighter dot at maybe 20 yards... not sure... daylight and seeing the dot through the screen, in addition to the dot on the screen.
I think I can hit a sheet of paper at 25 yards, which is probably what I'll be doing when I get to the range... 25 yards max.

I've looked a lot and read a lot of reviews on PSA and their AR's. I felt pretty safe in going with them for my .308.

The rifle is pretty barrel heavy and weighs about 9.5 pounds with the red dot sight. I loaded and weighed the mags, too.

10-rds: .532 lbs
20-rds: 1.014 lbs
25-rds: 1.694 lbs

So the rifle and a 25-rd mag loaded brings the weight to 11.2 pounds or so before any other accessories are added!

Now I really have to sell this MechTech/Glock21SF Carbine... still unfired... to pay for the new rifle and some accessories... at least 10 mags and a case of ammo, plus some other accessories! There's a gun show August 18/19 that we need to get a table and see what I can liberate!

Well, a few pictures:

Closer to my lower:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x370/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/5/1/516446483.jpg

Wynn :)

[Bawanna]

That 25 yard range indoors? They let you shoot 308 in there.

Most of the ranges around here (there aren't many) allow 223 but not much bigger. Some allow members that take a class or something to shoot bigger.

That looks like a sweet AR. Got a detective/sniper/swat guy at work building one. I'm sure it's gonna be over 3500 before he's done. First cabin all the way. Hope it shoots or he's gonna be one unhappy camper.

[wyntrout]

Yes, but no steel or armor-piercing ammo. I need to look up the ballistics and see if I can figure something out to set it up for 100 yards at a 25-yard range.

There's a big range on the other side of town and I know really know anything about it... how easy it is to shoot there... rules and such... plus 25+ miles away.

I have my 10/22 and this rifle now, so I really need to get over there and sight them in for at least 100 yards.

I can't believe how heavy this thing is... hard to hold it up for more than a very short time! I have a cheap, light-weight rifle rest... all plastic, but I'll take that to the range.

I need to look into some kind of scope, though. I would like something like 1-4 or 5, or 6x... variable... and NOT expensive. :)

The Bushnell will do for a while, but it's short range.

I was looking for ballistics and checked my ammo. It's 150 grain FMJ Boat Tail.

I just noticed that the lower ad is a little different from mine... the stock, anyhow. I grabbed the wrong one. It was the same price, though, shipped free.
https://palmettostatearmory.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x370/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/5/1/516446483.jpg
PSA Gen2 PA-10 MOE EPT Lower With Overmolded Grip - 516446483

[yqtszhj]

You’re gonna like that. The weight helps soak up the recoil too. One word of advise, watch that collapsible stock if you shoot from a rest and make sure it’s locked in good before you pull the trigger or it gets ugly. Don’t ask me how I know but I have a scar where it collapsed on recoil. Yours may be ok because it looks a bit nicer than what I had.

When you get ready to do some addons here’s what I added to mine that is a real return on the investment:
1. Miculek muzzle brake - https://www.midwayusa.com/product/100334778/dpms-muzzle-brake-miculek-5-8-24-thread-lr-308-steel-parkerized. . This tames the recoil to less than a .223 AR but be advised it blows the hat off anyone standing beside you. The one above is priced high as I think I only paid about $30 for mine shipped.

2. A Limbsaver slip on recoil pad. May not be needed but makes it more pleasant when bench shooting and for me gives a little more length of pull because I’m too darn tall.

I also changed my stock to a AR15 A2 style just because I like them better for bench shooting.

Between those 3 items I can shoot mine and spot my impacts on the backstop through the rifle scope at 100 yards it shoots so soft.

Enjoy that new rifle. The .308 is nice in my opinion.

[wyntrout]

Thanks, yqtszhj. I'll watch for a deal on a muzzle brake. I can imagine that would help. That's a MagPul stock and grip, so I just need to make sure it's locked. I've read that the recoil is a bunch more than a .223. I got it for defense and won't be shooting it much, especially indoors! :eek:

[wyntrout]

Bawanna, the 25-yard range is a rifle range. They have another 15-ft range for pistols and .22LR.

When they were upgrading the pistol range, we had to use the rifle range for pistols and it's really noisy with AR's and large bore rifles indoors! :eek:

[kramm]

You might want to think about quick detach BI-pod set up. They work well when shooting from a bench, or pron position. I have one on my AR10. It's the berries in my op.

[CPTKILLER]

Have fun with it.

[gb6491]

Nice rifle Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Thanks! I do seem to have one problem. The bolt catch worked the first few times, but now it won't hold the bolt back. Only an empty mag holds the bolt back and pushing the mag release button and the tiniest movement of the mag lets the bolt slam into battery. I'm not sure that a new bolt catch assembly will fix the problem. The "lugs" on the bolt catch don't have a chance to catch the rotating bolt's face. The bolt lacks about 3/16ths moving rearward enough, if I'm guessing how the process should work.

The lady who took my call in customer service wasn't knowledgeable about the mechanism and we got cut off while she was checking for someone to give me an immediate answer. I just don't think another bolt catch assembly will be any better. I don't think the rotating bolt is moving rearward enough.

It's Friday and I doubt I'll get a real person this late. :(

I just sent them this picture of the bolt and bolt catch with the charging handle pulled all the way to the rear.

[Barth]

I've got Precision Armament’s M4-72 Severe-Duty Compensator (https://goo.gl/5LuPX8) on my .308.
Gun has almost no recoil at all :D
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/02/jeremy-s/308-muzzle-brake-test/
https://i.imgur.com/wqbPBTr.jpg

[jeepster09]

I have the Burris Scope 1-4 on mine sighted in at 100 and like it a lot.

[wyntrout]

Thanks, guys and gals, for the kind words and advice. I'm going to need all kinds of goodies, but have to go slowly with the money.

We're going to vend at the next gun show here, the smaller venue, and I hope to liberate a little cash from all of the stuff I bought at higher prices. I got confused over the buy high, sell low, or something like that.

I want to get the bolt catch not holding the bolt back taken care of before shooting the rifle. It has been a long time since I fired a large bore rifle, though some will say that not large bore... just .308. :D The last rifle I shot was my 1022 and that has been a few years. I had a Mini-30SS when we first got here, but sold it. i wouldn't mind have a new one. CDNN had the black Tactical version for $699. I saw one at the last show for $950 or $900 cash. I like stainless, though.

We've been in this house 21 years on the 14th this month and it was only a year old when we bought it. Taking care of it interferes with my hobbies... mostly sitting here and chatting on Facebook with my friends and defending freedom and our way of life! :D

Well, I need to get moving here. got to get on the treadmill this morning and then an MRI across town mid afternoon. My PSA went up from 3.9 to 6.8 and I need a "special" prostate MRI that's only available in a few places... the one I'm going to or there's one in St Augustine. I've already had the "roto-rooter" and had a benign growth removed, so I thought this episode was over.

This getting old sucks! I don't feel old, but I keep needing repairs... and my short time memory drives me nuts sometimes. At least I generally remember my wife's name! :) I thought that I was in pretty good shape and have been proactive the last few years with supplements and this year with the treadmill and some exercise.

Wynn, still a young 72. :)

[Barth]

This getting old sucks! I don't feel old, but I keep needing repairs... and my short time memory drives me nuts sometimes. At least I generally remember my wife's name! :)

Baby always works friend :cool:

[wyntrout]

Terms of endearment do work... Honey, Darling, Sweetheart, Dear, and Baby, though I don't use Baby, really. I do use her name abbreviated to Des' for Desiree. :)

PSA is going to send me a shipping label to return my PA-10, but I don't know if they want both the upper and the lower or one part. I got a message from customer service yesterday and replied with that question, but I haven't had an answer on what to return, yet.

I would rather they check it out before I fire it.

I need to get a table reservation for the next gun show here. Maybe I can get enough money to buy some more accessories for the PA-10. :)

[yqtszhj]

I've got Precision Armament’s M4-72 Severe-Duty Compensator (https://goo.gl/5LuPX8) on my .308.
Gun has almost no recoil at all :D
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/02/jeremy-s/308-muzzle-brake-test/
https://i.imgur.com/wqbPBTr.jpg

Ive been thinking about an AK platform lately and I think this would fit.

[jeepster09]

AK style....

[jeepster09]

Now my 308 AR "fixed"....:2eek:

[Barth]

Ive been thinking about an AK platform lately and I think this would fit.

I totally love it.
It's a blast to shoot.
Surprisingly light, well balanced and handy.
Very easy to shoot well with.
Piston driven with a factory adjustable gas system.
100% reliable right out of the box with a variety of ammo (Hornady TAP, Barnes TTSX & Lake City XM80)
Csspecs makes quality US 922r 20 round mags for it.
CNC Warrior make a quality US 922r bolt on folding stock for it.
You can convert the Sporting Rifle to 922r without touching the fire control parts...

Down side is a limited number were imported for only a few years.
Got mine NIB @ $649.
Good luck finding one these days.
They seem to go on Gunjoker used, converted and ridiculously priced.

This is my 100 yard, iron sight bush gun (and I like it) :cool:
https://i.imgur.com/DdZlQqg.jpg

[wyntrout]

I talked to PSA today and the PA/AR-10 was fixed and tested with 20 rounds and labeled for shipment to me yesterday, so I guess I'll get it soon. I can't wait to try it myself! :D

I just dropped $525 on a prostate biopsy and nitrous oxide yesterday. This kind of stuff eats into my fun stuff... not to mention being literally a PITA! The NO was a $125 "comfort" option! It didn't help with the pain, though! :eek:

[wyntrout]

I did get my rifle back... a few cosmetics dings in an unnoticeable area... the underside of the rear of the fore end. I filed and stoned the sharp edges and touched it up with a flat black touch-up pen made for that... no biggy, but it would have been nice if they had left the rifle assembled as I shipped it to them, or at least taken a little care to separate the two assemblies.

PSA: "Replaced AR-15 buffer with .308 carbine buffer. Test fired 20 rounds bolt lock to rear on last round." That's about what I figured. On someone else's recommendation I had tried clipping some coils off the buffer spring, but stopped after two whole coils because there was no change on the bolt being withdrawn far enough for the catch's "claw" to grab the bolt face. ​

I took it to the range and put about 50 rounds through it. It worked fine... just need some better sights than the TRS-25 I switched to it. With the sight about 2 inches above the bore, I figured about .7" for the POI below the POA at 25 yards for a loose 100-yard "zero". :D

With no bench and a shaky plastic gun rest, I was kind of wobbly, but quit when the shots hit around 1" below POA.

I tried 3 shots offhand and gave that up... too front heavy! Yanking the trigger as the sight passes center doesn't accomplish much. :D

I'll try to get an inexpensive 1-5 or 6 power variable scope for something larger than .223... and maybe a better red-dot-type sight, as funds seem available.

I have 5 MagPul mags... 1x10, 2x20, and 2x25-windowed mags and I bought 80 rounds of 150-gr Aguila FMJBT and the best deal... 200 rounds of Remington 150-gr FMJ from Target Sports for just over $121 shipped, with insurance. I'm sticking to the 150-grain FMJ for target practice and have to use non-magnetic ammo at the range.

I definitely need a sling and a front mount for that... not sure I have something on that unused MechTech/Glock21 SF carbine that I can move.

It was definitely different shooting a large bore rifle instead of pistols. I did have a little tenderness in my shoulder, but no lasting bruises. It doesn't kick that much, but I will eventually look for a flash hider/muzzle brake. This rifle is strictly for defense and I won't be shooting it much, but at least I have a little firepower if I need it, at home.

This is the last target. More fiddling with the adjustments probably wouldn't do anything better. I need to get to a longer range. Maybe I can hit a poster at 100 yards now. :D

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/42215389_2020558964678409_1496095365856755712_n.jp g?_nc_cat=0&oh=f5295506a924f66616a6a9354e187976&oe=5C2EF565

Wynn :)

[wyntrout]

Somewhat of an update. I didn't have time to post before our annual Christmas trip to SW Colorado, but I decided to get the "M4-type" PA-10 upper for lighter front end and shorter barrel. I hadn't even tested the new 1-6x TruGlo Scope with Bullet Drop Compensating turrets... one for .223 and one for .308. I installed the .308 one and then thread-sealed the screws to the mount and turret... hear all can come loose!
The turret is calibrated for 168-grain bullets and PSA had a sale with free shipping on Federal match ammo in that size, so I ordered 12 boxes at $16.99 each, shipped.

I don't know when I'll get to the range to test this, or what I'll wind up keeping... with two uppers and several possible configurations. I sure can't carry all of it and have no real "need" for LONG-range shooting... that I know of... yet! :)

With the scope at 1x, it can act as a red-dot sight with red, green, or no illumination. I definitely like that the M4-type is almost 1.2 pounds lighter... off the front end... and shorter for swinging tactically. The scope weighs 28 ounces with the mount, though, and am unsure about using it on the shorter barrel. Since our almost 4,800-mile Christmas/New Year and Casino trip to SW CO via I-40, by-passing the Dallas-Fort Worth Mix Master Nightmare, and I came out ahead on the casinos, I'm actually thinking of keeping the longer upper and setting it up with the scope, but that's kind of tying up money that could be used elsewhere, so decisions... decisions!

A few pix taken before our mad dash and casino tour. :)

I still need a rear popup sight for the M4-type upper... probably a MagPul one, but don't know whether to get the steel one at twice the cost of the plastic one. Lots of decisions!

My wife an I had a really great time at the casinos starting with the Golden Nugget in Biloxi... great comps going and coming home... play money, food money, and availed ourselves of one of the 3 free nights offered both ways... had private balcony overlooking the marina and warming sun both mornings!

After leaving MS, we took the most direct route North to hit I-40 and then hit almost every casino that we saw in Oklahoma... which is a LOT! I had good luck at most, but not all, and did have a taxable event at the second casino in Oklahoma! After winning $125 with their free starter money, I put $20 in a machine and hit $1,722.20... my largest ever, and first taxable one... starts at $1,200. I had 4 of the 5 symbols needed for the $2,500 prize.

The casino might have been one of the smallest that we stopped at... after the Apache Nugget on US 550 about 84 miles north of the Santa Ana Star Casino just north of Albuquerque, NM. My wife and I were kind of in shock, but we managed to end our travels still up over a grand in gambling, including taxes to come and the lotteries... not much luck there. It was really nice to end our annual trip on a positive note and in the black for a change.

We might have to use this route next Christmas season. :)

We left SW CO the way we went there US 550 to I-40 at Albuquerque, hitting the casinos again along the way. We turned North after the Grand Casino just East of OK City to go visit my son and his wife in their new home in Springfield, MO, and bring in the New Year with them, then on over to Marion, IL, to visit the daughter and her family for a few nights, then back via MS to the Golden Nugget for a night and home again... quite a trip... 3 weeks and almost another day on the road with just short of 4,800 miles. It's so nice to be home again!

Wynn :)

[yqtszhj]

I previously lived in Mobile (prior to Katrina) and we had a company meeting in Biloxi annually. I know that marina you are talking about.

The SW Colorado casino you are mentioning, is that near Cortez? If so I traveled that road about 18 months ago on vacation. Hot as blazes when I was there in the 4 corners area in July. The wife bought a bunch of Native American jewelry at a pawn shop in Cortez when we were there. They had a bunch of old west guns but wouldn’t sell them. They were part of the shop owners collection and weren’t for sale.

They had made a lot of improvements to Cortez since the last time we passed through in 2009.

Forgot to mention, almost got run off the road on the way to Alamosa from Cortez. Some dude was in a hurry to get to the Marijuana shop, no kidding....:mad:

[wyntrout]

I don't know about Cortez. We go to the one in Ignacio... Sky Ute, and have gone to the one on the other side of Farmington... Northern Edge. We like the Sky Ute. :)

[wyntrout]

When I fired up the GPS to see about routing to see my son in Missouri, it indicated the Highway 160 East route via Alamosa, but I didn't want to go through the mountains and Wolf Creek Pass in Winter again... and we liked the I-40 Casino Run through Oklahoma, also going back by the ones north of Albuquerque.

Years ago, we used to go West I-10 to I-12 via US 98 to I-20 through DFW, then 287 and so on NW until we hit I-40 at Amarillo, then at Clines Corner north through Santa Fe to Pagosa Springs and then west to Bayfield/Durango area. It's a much nicer drive taking I-40 to Albuquerque, I-25 to US 550 to Durango area. We turn east at US 160. Wife's folks live about 11 miles east of Durango and 6 miles west of Bayfield.

I bought 5 acres on HWY 150 1/2 mile north of HWY 160 on the way to the Great Sand Dunes Monument Park(?) about 40 years ago, hoping it would appreciate and make me some money. The tax collector's appraised value hasn't really ventured above what I paid for it by much and I keep getting ridiculously low offers, so I still have it, but we're not interested in homesteading in that area... too cold and windy at about 7,700 feet or so! Every few years we drive by there, though, just to see what's happening in the area... even took the Sand Dunes Tour once back in 2005. The guide used a large 4WD pickup with a platform and added seating for a dozen or more people. I'm glad that we took that tour instead of venturing onto that rutted trail with my brand new AWD Savana Van. It didn't begin to have enough clearance. :D

[yqtszhj]

I’ve driven that 160 route several times. Been to Great Sand Dune Park twice (2009 and 2017) all during the summer. I’m sure I drove right passed your land on 150 more than once. I took the 4WD road through the park and over the mountain in ‘09 in my Toyota. I posted pictures of it somewhere on here but that was probably via that photo sharing service that no longer works. Hiked that tallest dune during each visit.

Durango really boomed between 2009 and 2017. I went over that pass going east into Pagosa Springs in 2009 and when I got to the other side it had snowed IN JULY!!!

Living in Alamosa, hmmmm... not sure what I’d think about that now but it’s interesting to ponder. Now that all the CA folks are in CO and they’ve gone to 10 round restrictions it may have started ruining the “fun” prospects.

[wyntrout]

Here's a picture of the GSD Tour vehicle. The guy drove like a maniac at times... might have been an ex-helicopter pilot in 'Nam! :D It looks like seating for 4 by 4 , 16 people in the rear!

My wife is sitting just behind the cab and I sat to her left with a good view over the cab... quite an exciting ride! There was a roof-mounted speaker for the guide's commentary during the ride. We had the best seats.

I took video during the wild ride. The ruts were pretty bad and when the information suggested a high clearance of 18", I knew I had no business trying it with my new van... maybe 8.7" unloaded!

I think we paid $14 or $18 each for the tour. It sure beat repairs to my van. :)

It has been a few years since we drove by the land, but it never had any utilities or services near the area. The lot is a corner one on the SW corner of "Second Street" and US 150. It's a little too exposed to the public for me now. I would want to be out of sight from the road.

[Barth]

Had not owned a center fire rifle most of my life.
Few years ago during the ammo shortages and threat of an AWB I bought a AK pistol in 5.56 and a case of green tip penetrators.
It's an OK gun for what it is, but not particularly fun to shoot.

Later, finally, I got the itch for a full powered rifle and got a Zastava M77 308.
Was concerned about the weight and recoil of such a rifle.
I was wrong.
The rifle is remarkably well balanced and handy.
With a high tech brake it kicks like a varmint gun.
But the real surprise was the satisfaction of seeing 308 power down range on target.
Holly Molly it's fun to shoot :w00t:

Now I own three 7.62x51 guns - go figure...

As for ammo? Hornady TAP

[wyntrout]

I've had a 6mm Remington, Mini-14, and a Mini-30... never shot anything but targets... did go hunting... walking in the woods... with the 6mm.

I've been wanting a serious rifle for defense... a .308 Win. for a long time... just wanted more than a ".22" to punch through stuff, as needed. The 7.62x51 is perfect for what I want. I wanted to be able to use cheap military ammo and have more punch than the popular .223.

The drawback is the weight, but I don't really see myself bugging out into the boonies... along with 10's of millions of other yahoos.

I've bought a bunch of options and now I have to decide what I'm going to settle with. I ordered a bunch of spare parts at CDNN today. They didn't have an ambidextrous charging handle, though. I did get some add-on sights for the PA-10 and maybe my MechTech .45.

I'm not happy with the stock charging handle... kind of awkward with a scope. I would like to be able to charge from either side, and more easily.

I did buy a few cheapie recoil-reducing muzzle add-ons to try. For the $6.99 flat fee, I looked at everything CDNN had and did order a bunch of stuff... some for resale... the MagLuLa SR-25-type magazine loaders... $9.99 each! I've bought several for $25 or so and they are great for loading and unloading mags, especially my MagPuls.

I didn't have a problem with the recoil on my 20" barrel with the M-Lock fore end. The flash hider is an A2 with recoil reduction instead of just the birdcage. The 18" is about 1.2 pounds less, but has the same A-2 flash hider. I did get at least two cheapies to try($9.99 and $14.99), though but I don't know when I'll get to the range again.

There's a gun show next weekend and I may walk around with the 20" upper and see if I can sell it.

I should have the time to try putting together what I have in some workable assembly.

I like that TruGlo 1-6x scope, but don't know how it will work on the 18" M4-type upper... will see. :)

[gb6491]

Excellent posts Wynn! That's a nice looking rifle (with either upper). It's a shame PSA's technicians were so sloppy in their work.
Regards,
Greg

[wyntrout]

Thanks, Greg. I did mention the damage in an email to PSA, but heard nothing back... no biggy, since it was in an unnoticeable area that I could touch up. It was just luck that the damage was limited to that area.

I took the IMI stock and add-on rubber pad off my still unused MechTech .45 carbine and put it on the PA-10 lower. Then I sold the MagPul one that came with the lower at the last show we vended at. I'm pretty sure that I swapped out the recoil parts for the .308. :D The AR15 buffer is too long... the problem with the bolt not locking back when I received the upper and tried on the lower. I have spares for those coming in with my CDNN order.

I still have the wire stock for the carbine and ordered add-on aluminum pop-up sights for the carbine's long top rail. Maybe somebody will buy it like that next chance I get to vend at a show. There's no place to attach a sling at the end of the receiver or on the wire stock, though.

The Morocco Temple where our favorite, though smaller venue, show was held has been sold, so I don't know where the next show will go.

We really lucked out on the weather this trip. One of these days we're going to run out of that luck, though. I don't want to travel in blizzard or blizzard-like conditions! My vehicle can handle a lot, but it can still be stuck in one of those jams of traffic stuck in deep snow. Or, we could be hit by people traveling too fast for conditions!

We were watching the weather and could have cancelled our northern routing and visits on the way back, and stayed further south. Last year we had to stay further north to avoid the flooding in Texas and Louisiana by keeping on I-20 until we were east enough to step down to I-10. We have to make allowances for Mother Nature!

[wyntrout]

I got a Radian Raptor Ambidextrous Charging Handle and after installing that, my AR-10/PA-10, M4 style is complete. The charging handle is much easier to access and use than the smaller left-side-only stock version. I took some more pictures and weighed everything.

The M4-style PA-10 upper has an 18" barrel and weighs 8.5 pounds when assembled to the lower with the IMI stock. Adding the Bushnell TRS-25 brings the weight up to 8.93 pounds. A loaded 10-round MagPul magazine weighs .764 pounds and a 20-rounder 1.41 pounds, so the total with the 20-rounder is 10.23 pounds. The flip-up rear sight works with the Bushnell red dot.

The rifle with the Tru-Glo 1-6x Scope weighs 10.23 pounds and adding a loaded 20-round magazine brings the total up to 11.64 pounds... still over 1.1 pounds lighter than the 20" M-Lock upper. The scope weighs 28 ounces and the flip up sight doesn't work with it. The scope would have to be all the way forward and then it looks at the bottom of the scope's eyepiece, not through it. On 1x the scope can act as a red dot with or without illumination, and with a red or green reticule. I like the scope and the BDC turret for the .308 at 168 grains is installed. The elevation and windage can be adjusted without tools or removing any caps. The turret body is pulled away from the scope about 1/8" or so and then you just turn the turret as required. The direction is marked on the top of the turrets. Just push the turret body back down to lock it in place.

I prefer the red dot sight since I can use it out to 100 yards around here... and, it's much smaller and lighter. :)

I needed some pictures for insurance purposes, so I put everything out with the rifle.

One of these days, when we have warmer weather, I need to get to the other side of town and try sighting in this rifle and a few others at 100 yards or so. I really need more of a platform than I have at the usual range... hardly a "benchrest" condition.

At the rear of the receiver and ahead of the castle nut, I added a dual sling attachment allowing me to use my single-point sling or my "trickier" Ready Tactical Sling.

[wyntrout]

I added a Radian Raptor Ambidextrous Charging Handle and a Trijicon Tritium Front Sight Post, but I still haven't fired the shorter rifle. The popup sights, the Bushnell TRS-25, and the LASER bore sighter all seem to line up well. The red dot is coincident with the Trijicon dot and centered in the small rear peep sight, so it should work for close range.
I really like the Raptor for working the bolt... much easier... and from either side or both. :)

The AR-15 front sight tool I bought(upper left in photo) doesn't seem to fit, but Trijicon included a thin-walled sight tool with 4 and 5 prongs which works well with the 4-pronged end.

For home defense, I think I'm better off with the red dot sight. It's lighter and makes for a cleaner-looking weapon system. I haven't sold the 20" upper and still think about just mounting the scope on it, but would rather sell it. :)

[wyntrout]

Update! I wasn't successful in selling the 20" M-Lock upper by itself, so I decided to part with my lower and make it a whole rifle. I hated giving up the IMI Stock, but we were vending at a gun show locally and I finally found a buyer on Sunday, June 9th. I probably lost about $100 including the 20-round MagPul magazine and an UpLULA for the same, at my cost. I got $585 cash, so that took care of my new version. :)

We did well that gun show and took in enough to cover shortages in our budget from our May/June travel and casino visits!

Anyhow, I took some pictures for our insurance and left out a few items I forgot, like the Mag UpLULA and slings.

Yesterday, July 11, I finally got to the range... 25 yards indoor... to test and sight in the rifle.

The table isn't deep enough for a rear anchor point and I had to stoop or lean over to sight without the best cheek weld. :(

I fired 100 rounds... 80 Remington UMC 150-gr FMJ and lastly, 20 rounds of Federal Sierra Match King 168-gr BTHP that I got for use with the BDC scope, as that was the bullet weight, but I don't know that I would ever use the scope... 1-6x24 variable with a bullet drop compensator, as well as range-compensating reticules and red or green illumination. It weighs 28 ounces! The Bushnell TRS-25 works fine, though I forgot the instructions for it and became confused over whether the adjustments were to the POI or the reticule movement. I eventually got it sorted out and did well enough with the iron and the red dot sights... good enough that I think I can use it for defensive purposes out to 100 yards, at least!

I checked the User's Guide for the TRS-25. It makes NO mention of what the knobs direction of turn do! How helpful!

The rifle weighed 8.9 pounds as fired, not including a mag or ammo. The scope would be over 20 ounces more!

The iron sights... M4 front and popup rear peep:

I'm happy with that 6-shot group and a similar on with the red dot. It was like shooting offhand with a bad or no cheek weld, having to lean over.

I did have a self-induced malfunction... a jam with the fired case held halfway back by the bolt. We managed to get the pins out and unpair the upper and lower. The buffer detent was mashed alongside the hammer and the spring was gone. I managed to find the spring behind the sales counter and got a replacement detent from the pistol range and sales there... no springs, though, so it's good that I found mine. The detent only cost 69¢ plus tax. I put the stock back on with one more turn which goes right up to the pin and covers the rear of the detent and prevents the detent from ever popping out again. I didn't use enough turns when I put the dual-sling attachment forward of the castle nut... live and learn!

It was a nice outing and I was there at least 4 hours. I did shoot the P380 and P40 a little just to see where I'm slinging the bullets these days. I managed to get a small slide bit on my left thumb as I tried a different grip to try to get the +P Underwood Gold Dots closer to the center of the target... as WITHIN the rings! :)

[wyntrout]

Ideally, for my .308, POI would be about .9" below POA at 25 yards for a 100-yard zero, so I didn't mind just being in the area without a benchrest and 100-yard range. That bending over and trying to get a cheek weld was NOT an ideal situation! :p But, I'm ready for the limited range I might need for home defense.

I still don't have any .308-sized magazine pouches, though.

I need to get all of my accessories on and take a picture of myself suitably attired and equipped for a short stint at TEOTWAWKI. :eek:

Wynn

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