Dhyde79's "Black Hunting Rifle" build thread

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
dhyde79's "Evil Black (Hunting) Rifle" build thread

Well, if everyone else is doing one, I figure I might as well do one on mine too...

Here goes...

My rifle started off as a DPMS Oracle
images


first things first, that crappy buttstock had to go, it got replaced with a magpul CTR
images


since I was going magpul, and I didn't like the stock forend/handguard, a carbine length MOE handguard was in order.
images


the stock pistol grip simply wouldn't do, so, I went a bit more "ergonomic" and comfy
519QNv373vL._SL1000_.jpg


now, we're getting somewhere, but, no sights, and no optics, which means, it's time to "reach out and touch someone" shall we say?
41EojVKCzPL.jpg

NC Star Mark 3 scope was added, the goofy red dot on top was HORRIBLE, so, it went in the trash right away, (kept the mount, I might have to put a decent red dot up there at some point, but, not anytime soon)

now I've got a rifle that's comfy, and can reach out and touch someone, with a 3-9x scope, but, I prefer a bit of extra stability, so, then it was time to add a bipod...
31idzYx2wVL.jpg


I found that I wanted the cheek weld to be a bit higher, so that I was lined up on the scope a bit better...so, I added the Magpul CTR Stock Riser
images


which, left me with this lovely rifle...
IMG_0634.JPG


which, I certainly loved...it was grouping shots at 2.5" at 650m, which, was certainly nothing to complain about

I needed to be able to spot exactly what I was aiming at, so, I grabbed a spotting scope to go along with it...
61OBV8sPr%2BL._SL1200_.jpg

Barska 25-125x should work well enough....

now, I've got a great rifle, that's shooting better than I could have possibly hoped for, but, I wanted to roll to a freefloat rig, from what I hear it's great for barrel harmonics, might even get me more accuracy (I'm just hoping to KEEP the accuracy I had)

so, I added this free float handguard
41fYX5MFDFL.jpg


fit nicely, want on pretty painlessly, and, has adjustable rails, for up to 8 different angles. I put a short one at the front edge of the grip on both left and right sides, and mounted a long one in a way that it's partially forward of the handgrip that way I can put the bipod mount on it, taking all contact off of the barrel.

here's the rifle at my buddy's shop where he helped me install the new barrel nut after fighting to get the old one off.
IMG_1100.JPG


and one at home, sitting up in its case.
IMG_1107.JPG


to finish it up, I needed a set of backup sights, so, I ordered a set of these.
41vBkHV1DPL.jpg


they should be in by wednesday, then, I'll post a "completed rifle" pic for you all...

then I'll be done tweaking until I win some more amazon gift cards, then the CTR and adjustable stock will go away, and I'll be replacing it with a Magpul PRS fixed stock.
 
Last edited:

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Good looking rifle. Are you running a brake/comp? What twist is your barrel? Also, what ammo do you usually shoot? 55gr stuff or some heavier rounds? I know my 1:7 twist LOVES 75gr BTHP rounds.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Sorry, forgot to add em...

As soon as I got my rifle, it got upgraded to a TTI Eliminator muzzle brake.

Barrel is a stock 1:9 twist
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Good looking rifle. Are you running a brake/comp? What twist is your barrel? Also, what ammo do you usually shoot? 55gr stuff or some heavier rounds? I know my 1:7 twist LOVES 75gr BTHP rounds.

Ammo pref is "whatever I find cheap" but, I'm going to start getting the stuff together to do some hand loads...they'll be 62gr copper slug hand loads...
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Good looking rifle. Are you running a brake/comp? What twist is your barrel? Also, what ammo do you usually shoot? 55gr stuff or some heavier rounds? I know my 1:7 twist LOVES 75gr BTHP rounds.

If I go in and find a different upper to build it'll be a 24" 1:8 twist and I'll be doing hand loaded 88gr match ammo.

Also forgot to add, I have an "accuwedge" installed too. For all of ya'll with AR's, go grab one from amazon.com. They're dirt cheap and take every ounce of play out of your upper/lower mesh.

Also, my armorer buddy here pointed out that I have a "keyhole" upper and lower...he says they're probably why it's running as smoothly as possible...
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
I believe the "keyhole" forge marks are for the anchor harvery forge and companies (including colt) use them for their forgings. so I would say great quality. an updates on the rifle? I know how hard it is to stop modding, even guns!
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Got the sights in, they were terrible, replaced em with some of the plastic magpul popup types. Here's a pic of it after the free-float added (in case I didn't add it before)



image-3584116024.jpg

Only major mod my "black hunting rifle" has gotten is the "bigger brother mod", in which I got a Howa M1500 .308 with a 20" heavy barrel.

image-920081224.jpg

It's an obscenely accurate little beast. Next pic is a 750m cold bore shot


image-2821018515.jpg

And this is a 1000m cold bore the next day.

image-3798056578.jpg
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
The one on the middle target was my shot.

The top and bottom target sheets were other shooters trying to hit at 750m

I was out teaching a long range marksmanship class.

The low and left shot was my 5.56mm shot. I honestly didn't expect to be on paper at 750m with the amount of wind that I was compensating for.
 
Last edited:

NismoFire

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Smyrna, TN
So since you're doing a precision build, why a 1:9 instead of 1:7, and a carbine length gas system vs a rifle length?
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
So since you're doing a precision build, why a 1:9 instead of 1:7, and a carbine length gas system vs a rifle length?

Never changed my barrel. It's a stock 16" 1:9, I **was** going to replace with a 20" 1:8 but, honestly, if I'm pulling this level of accuracy out of stock barrel, no need to upgrade if stock is consistent out far enough to be useless when it hits something other than a sheet of paper.

Also, 1:7 is too much twist for 55gr ammo, almost too much for 62gr ammo. Great for heavier, but too much for light rounds.
 
Last edited:

NismoFire

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Smyrna, TN
Just wondering. Once I finish getting my truck ready for nXm, I'm starting a precision build. Not sure if I'll do 5.56 or not at this point. Go big or go home, right?
 

Pro-2X

Suspension Lift
Location
Rockmart, GA
On my 10.5" I have a 1:12 barrel and shoot 45 to 55 gr bullets. On my Grendel, I have a 24" Alexander Arms Stainless Barrel with Nickel Boron Barrel extension and Nickel Boron Carrier group. I shoot 123-130 gr 6.5s. I tried 95 gr bullets, but they won't stabilize. If you are going to do a precision build on a standard AR platform, there is no choice besides the Grendel. You could go big like me and get Stillers to make you a .408 action and build from there.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
On my 10.5" I have a 1:12 barrel and shoot 45 to 55 gr bullets. On my Grendel, I have a 24" Alexander Arms Stainless Barrel with Nickel Boron Barrel extension and Nickel Boron Carrier group. I shoot 123-130 gr 6.5s. I tried 95 gr bullets, but they won't stabilize. If you are going to do a precision build on a standard AR platform, there is no choice besides the Grendel. You could go big like me and get Stillers to make you a .408 action and build from there.

That's not true, larue makes .5moa .308's and .223's ;)
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
That's not true, larue makes .5moa .308's and .223's ;)

The Grendel is a 1000+ yard ar-15 platform. The 5.56 is not. And the .308 is not in the ar-15 platform. I've debated a 6.5 Grendel but will probably build a .308 bolt gun instead. The Grendel, however, is the best long range option out there from the standard ar-platform. Unless you wanted to drop $1k on just an upper built for 25 WSSM.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
The Grendel is a 1000+ yard ar-15 platform. The 5.56 is not. And the .308 is not in the ar-15 platform. I've debated a 6.5 Grendel but will probably build a .308 bolt gun instead. The Grendel, however, is the best long range option out there from the standard ar-platform. Unless you wanted to drop $1k on just an upper built for 25 WSSM.

Ar10 is still an AR platform ;)
 

Pro-2X

Suspension Lift
Location
Rockmart, GA
Actually, the AR-10 is not considered the AR platform because there is no standard. There is no "milspec" AR10. With that being the case, from OEM to OEM, the differences are staggering and the list of incompatibilities is too great to list. Not to mention, heavier, bigger, and not as many options.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Actually, the AR-10 is not considered the AR platform because there is no standard. There is no "milspec" AR10. With that being the case, from OEM to OEM, the differences are staggering and the list of incompatibilities is too great to list. Not to mention, heavier, bigger, and not as many options.

Um, there **is** a milspec ar10, and the only thing that I've found that differs from armalite's ar10 base and dpms's LR-308 base is the magazine, one is cut out in a way that the other's mags won't fit it. They work the other direction just fine if memory serves.

The list of incompatibilities: if you're referring to ar15 to ar10, obviously most things won't fit, and that's not a big deal. Most things from a 1 ton pickup aren't bolt on for a 1/2 ton pickup either, that doesn't make them "not a pickup". If you're referring to the incompatibilities within the ar/LR platform, there are far less than you'd think now. Years ago, yes, 3rd party companies picked sides, now, they've realized there's a way you can make parts that fit both companies systems, and make it more unified like the Ar15 platform is.

Bigger: duh, you're shooting a round that can kill a large game animal at much more distance, and is firing a slug that's in the range of 147-215gr (on the .308) instead of a slug that's in the range of 47-90gr (on the .223/5.56)
Heavier: see bigger
Not as many options: like what? What wold you like on an AR10/LR-308 that you haven't found? And we're not talking about going to alternate calibers, because then you're simply arguing that people aren't trying to make new calibers that're trying to perform on par with an even larger caliber without having to move to a bigger casing. Cause that's been done a LOT with the AR-15 trying to get .308 or better performance.
 

Pro-2X

Suspension Lift
Location
Rockmart, GA
The military has never spec'd an ar10 because there is no need to. The .308 is an antique. Much like 30-06. The closest any group comes to using an ar-10 is some spec ops teams use their own, non mil spec, Knights Armament SR-25. By and large there is no need for the .308 anymore. The .300 win mag has replaced it as a sniper weapon and rounds like the grendel and .300 blackout have surpassed it for short-mid range.
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Also, armalites AR10 receivers are not compatible with the LR receivers. I think the main thing for people about LR rifles is they are cost prohibitive. You'll spend at least 2x as much building one compared to building from an AR15 platform.

They are standardizing the larger platform, though. As basically every manufacturer (DPMS, KAC, Larue, etc) besides armalite have adopted the LR specs and not armalites. The aftermarket is no where near as large for the LR as it is the AR15, but it is growing steadily. My brother has an LR-308B and wants a quality FF without dropping a load on it and Troy seems to be the best/only option.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21372783536.506699.jpg

You can see the difference in the upper in this picture.
 

Pro-2X

Suspension Lift
Location
Rockmart, GA
Also, I wasn't going to go here just to keep it civil, but I do not believe you made a 1000yd shot with that rifle, much less cold bore. First thing I noticed is the factory scope base. You would run out of adjustment on that scope. Number 2 is the standard rings. Next you get down to the pencil barrel that will move probably 5-10 moa every shot. That is a $300 rifle with a $100 scope not a precision rifle. I have shot at a grand with a .408 Cheytac and it was still incredibly difficult.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Also, I wasn't going to go here just to keep it civil, but I do not believe you made a 1000yd shot with that rifle, much less cold bore. First thing I noticed is the factory scope base. You would run out of adjustment on that scope. Number 2 is the standard rings. Next you get down to the pencil barrel that will move probably 5-10 moa every shot. That is a $300 rifle with a $100 scope not a precision rifle. I have shot at a grand with a .408 Cheytac and it was still incredibly difficult.

ok, lets start addressing things

there's $1200 in that .308 out the door with the discounts and deals that I got. The rifle's $700, and, when I compared to the Model 700 that was the equivalent, this had all of the same specs, and, was about $150 cheaper. Pencil barrel? yeah, look up a Howa M1500 Heavy Varminter, with the 20" heavy barrel, and hogue stock and tell me that it's a pencil barrel again for me, please. I went on a gamble. The scope, I'm not sure where you're finding Zeiss optics for $100 but, hell, hook me up, I wanna shop there. Zeiss Conquest MC 3-9x40 with Rapid Z 600 ranging reticle is a $600+ scope. You're right, I didn't opt for a 20MOA gain scope mount, because I'm using it for everything from deer hunting to paper punching as far as I can reach with it. Am I delusional enough to think that a .308 would do much more than piss someone off at 1000m? nope, I know it's not gonna do much, but, being able to accurately throw it there is nice.

As far as you not believing me, look dude, I don't care, I don't know you, you don't know me, I don't know your history, and you sure as hell don't know my service record. After 8 years of being in the army, and having had plenty of long range training (to the point that I was training others), I don't really care about whether or not you think I can do it. I didn't post it to show off, nor to beg anyone's approval, I posted it because I damned well felt like it.

If you had a hard time hitting a 1000m shot with a .408 cheytac, you need to spend a LOT of time behind the trigger and get more practice and self control. a 1000m shot with that rifle is like shooting a 200m shot with a 5.56, if you can't hit something that's easily within the range of the rifle (given that it's still supersonic at twice that distance), you're in no position to criticize anyone else's shooting abilities unless you're playing with crappy optics, not doing any of the range math, not checking for wind or anything else, and many of the other things that make a 1000m shot as difficult as it is. Don't try to talk down to me, or anyone else about their shooting abilities, especially if you need to work on your own skills.

Is the military NOW moving away from the .308? sure, in 2009 they asked to have the M24SWS moved from a .308 to the .300WM there are still PLENTY of the old model in service, and plenty of people want to keep the old ones around, because, in a pinch, guess what, they can find 7.62x51mm ammo on vehicles, whereas they can't find .300WM on anyone else, so, if they run out, they're screwed.

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest with you, because, well, lets face it, arguing on the internet is utterly pointless, because in the end, you're both convinced you're right, and neither will back down.

If you feel the need to be able to verify my shooting, come on out and we'll go GPS off the range, get wind measurements, temps, pressures, and then I'll lay in, crunch the numbers, and take the shot....it only takes me about 20-30 minutes to make sure I've got all of the data correct and everything to make a one shot hit, if I have a decent spotter that can do the math and makes sure the dope he's giving me is accurate, I can send the round quite easily.

so, if you'd like to discuss my RIFLES, feel free but stop making assumptions about what the hardware is without asking.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Alright guys, this should have been handled better. Hyde, I'll be editing your post and removing any digs at TNG as well as all cursing. TNG, respond appropriately or not at all but this goes as a verbal warning to anyone that regardless of if you get your feelings hurt or someone insults you we don't attack other members.


Keep things civil.
 

Pro-2X

Suspension Lift
Location
Rockmart, GA
First off, let me apologize...no just to Mac or Dhyde, but to anyone that was distracted by reading this. Mac you are right, I could have handled this better. I take all responsibility for things getting out of hand and I will not do it again.
 
Top