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Hello, I am currently in the market for a .308 caliber semi auto assault type rifle. I want to spend below $1,200 on the weapon, and am looking for someone who knows of a reliable weapon. I am wanting to use it at my deer lease for an all purpose weapon out to 300-400 yards (if im feeling lucky on a hog), but more dead accurate around the 150-250 range. My local gunshop has the DPMS Panther LR 308, but I do not know if it is a reliable weapon.

Thanks for any input,

Wyatt

S&W MP10 perhaps on gunbroker close to your price range. I went for a Ruger SR762 at a higher price range at local gun store and did have to ship it back to the factory for repairs but they did fix it and it does work well. Ruger always fixes things. I really can not speak about other brands but my Ruger fires everything including steel cased ammo and uses Magpul mags. I consider this to be an ideal hog rifle. I probably would have gone with the S&W if a local dealer would have had one but none were in stock and I figure that if they don't come with sights for $1200, no great deal. I have a scope on the Ruger but like backup sights.

I researched a little for you at GunTests.com and in August 2005 they did a head to head comparison of the DPMS Panther Arms LR-308B, ArmaLite AR-10A4, and Bushmaster .308 20IZ and the DPMS was their first choice for match and field shooting. Of course this does not include the more recent .308 models and before spending a lot of money you may want to consider a subscription to this magazine which in general I consider a reliable source of firearm data (most of the time). http://www.gun-tests.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Hope this helps.

Personally, I don't place the price of a semi-auto .308 in the same range of a basic .223. My utility, go-to-for-everything rifle is a POF .308 purchased a few years ago. This is a lifetime rifle; I'll never let it go: viewtopic.php?f=87&t=14417&p=334792&hil ... ce#p334792" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Out of your described price range, but I think a .308 semi-auto purchase deserves more funding than a basic AR-15. Just sayin'.

One more thing. Assault rifles, by definition, are select-fire. There are no assault-type rifles. There are only sporting rifles or military rifles.

WyattP wrote:... a .308 caliber semi auto assault type rifle. ...

Skiprr wrote:One more thing. Assault rifles, by definition, are select-fire. There are no assault-type rifles. There are only sporting rifles or military rifles.

Skiprr addressed the same point that immediately jumped up when I read your post too.

Don't adopt the anti-gun crowd's incorrect language to describe these rifles, which indirectly supports their anti-gun political agenda. Personally, I like the National Shooting Sports Foundation choice of language "modern sporting rifle", but also find the term "AR-type" descriptive.

If you use the term "assault" rifle here it means you will use it in casual conversation with people, including people who know little about guns. If they know you as "a gun guy" and that is how you describe it, then they will figure that how they should be described.

Maybe some trivia will help with the whole "Asualt Rifle" discussion:
Real quick, what is the origin/meaning of the "AR" in "AR-15" and "AR-10"? Hint, it is not "Asualt Rifle".

Another one:
What word is meant to be represented by the "M" in "M-16"?

SRO1911 wrote:If reloading is not a priority, the ptr 91 is hard to beat. It will eat anything you can force into the chamber.

AND it will render the fired cases unsuitable for reloading..... Great rifle from a reliability standpoint, but not so much from a reloading point.

jmra wrote:Maybe some trivia will help with the whole "Asualt Rifle" discussion:
Real quick, what is the origin/meaning of the "AR" in "AR-15" and "AR-10"? Hint, it is not "Asualt Rifle".

Another one:
What word is meant to be represented by the "M" in "M-16"?

AR was to stand for ArmaliteRifle if I'm not mistaken, and M for "model" if I'm not mistaken. That is what I understand anyway.

WyattP wrote:Hello, I am currently in the market for a .308 caliber semi auto assault type rifle. I want to spend below $1,200 on the weapon, and am looking for someone who knows of a reliable weapon. I am wanting to use it at my deer lease for an all purpose weapon out to 300-400 yards (if im feeling lucky on a hog), but more dead accurate around the 150-250 range. My local gunshop has the DPMS Panther LR 308, but I do not know if it is a reliable weapon.

Thanks for any input,

Wyatt

If that is your budget, then I suggest getting a decent AR-15. If you want a good quality AR-10, you will need to dish out a lot more than that. Simply put, AR-10's are a much more expensive platform, and cannot be compared in price to an AR-15. It can almost be said, that for the same platform in .308, that you will have to pay almost $1k more for it than it's .223 counterpart. Sorry, I've never played with an AR-10 under $2k to assist you on a cheap one. I doubt I helped much, but I thought I ought to put out my 2cents worth... Never mind, the government just revoked that 2cents for the hot air coming out of my mouth destroying the ozone, darn!

I've owned both an expensive custom built AR10, and a very nicely modified M1A. Still have the AR10, but would gladly trade it back for the M1A.

Charles.Contingency is right in that you're not going to find a quality .308 battle rifle for that price range, but if you're willing to add a few hundred more, you can get an M1A and be happy for life.

If you are good with your hands, parts are readily available to build one yourself.

I just completed a build recently on a Palmetto State .308 upper/lower and it landed on the $1200 mark not including the scope.

I'll be the first to tell on myself and state that I did not build it the inexpensive route and can see where several hundred could be shaved off that number if you could restrain yourself on the parts that you purchase...

Either way you go, good luck, you will be very happy with your new .308.

The Annoyed Man wrote:I've owned both an expensive custom built AR10, and a very nicely modified M1A. Still have the AR10, but would gladly trade it back for the M1A.

Charles.Contingency is right in that you're not going to find a quality .308 battle rifle for that price range, but if you're willing to add a few hundred more, you can get an M1A and be happy for life.

TAM, I do love my M1A, it is right next to the M1 Garand, which I plan to be buried with. (I think my son-in-law is planning to dig me up for the M1...)

The Annoyed Man wrote:I've owned both an expensive custom built AR10, and a very nicely modified M1A. Still have the AR10, but would gladly trade it back for the M1A.

Charles.Contingency is right in that you're not going to find a quality .308 battle rifle for that price range, but if you're willing to add a few hundred more, you can get an M1A and be happy for life.

Agreed, though I never cared much for the M1A, "TAM" couldn't be more right IMO. A real rifle is a .308, I actually don't have a single .223 in my inventory right now, and it may very well stay that way. You give up too much IMO, when you choose a .223/5.56mm, but we'll avoid the caliber war... for now...

Building it yourself would be a huge plus if you have the expertise. I go spring piston all the way, so it's my preferred route of acquisition when it comes to AR-10's and similar platforms.

PBratton wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:I've owned both an expensive custom built AR10, and a very nicely modified M1A. Still have the AR10, but would gladly trade it back for the M1A.

Charles.Contingency is right in that you're not going to find a quality .308 battle rifle for that price range, but if you're willing to add a few hundred more, you can get an M1A and be happy for life.

TAM, I do love my M1A, it is right next to the M1 Garand, which I plan to be buried with. (I think my son-in-law is planning to dig me up for the M1...)

We have the right to bear arms, even in death. Who knows when you might need to defend yourself from the thieving hands of... well, you know who. Like I've heard said many of times, if they want to take em' away, they'll have to pry em'... you know the rest.