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Thread: DMR/Battle Rifle Musings
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29 November 2021, 17:57 #1
DMR/Battle Rifle Musings
I’ve been kicking around the idea of setting up something of a DMR or Battle Rifle. Figuring something for 0-800’ish and am eyeballing both .308 and 6.5CM.
I’ve never ventured out of 5.56 for AR’s save for one .300BLK, and am thinking about spreading my wings (and my range).
I’m looking at the Scar 17, LMT, V7 Harbinger, SR-25, and even the Desert Tech MDR. Not opposed to other modern suggestions. I’m not looking for a CETME.
This would be for suppressed usage.
I vaguely remember handling an MDR a few years ago and feeling underwhelmed, but the thought of a 20” barreled .308 or 6.5 with a shorter OAL than my 12.5” SBR definitely has appeal.
This was all brought on over time just observing my environment. There’s a lot of opportunity for a 5.56 to run out of steam. I live in the suburbs of north Texas and even if for whatever reason I needed to take a shot down the street, even that’s roughly a quarter mile. Looking around, shots both closer, and more to the point of a DMR/Battle Rifle, further, wouldn’t be hard to imagine. It’s pretty flat around here but there is a lot of both cover an concealment.
What do you all have? What do you like and what considerations should I be taking?-One Nation, Under God
-"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." ~ Michael Althsuler
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29 November 2021, 18:53 #2
I recently built a 6mm ARC. It fits in a small regular size AR but the range is extended well beyond 1k. While I don't have a shorter barrel on mine, 18ish inch barrels could get you to 1,000 yards without a problem.
The idea to have cross compatibly with a bunch of rifles is very attractive. The only parts that are different are the bolt face, barrel, and the mags. Everything else is standard.
Specifically for the role you are talking about it is everything I thought it would be before I built it. I really do like it a whole lot.
If you want to go with a bigger platform there are a ton of options.
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29 November 2021, 21:07 #3
I'd only consider the V7 if you wanted to use it for hunting.
I put my money on the LMT MARS-H. They have perhaps the best ambi controls on the market (plus you can get a little brother MARS-L so you have a consistent manual of arms across both), monolithic rails, outstanding barrels, and easy caliber conversions. So, you can easily switch from 16" 7.62 battle rifle to a 20" Creedmoor if that suits your fancy or you change your mind. Also, LMT is releasing a piston 308 (a few of them have already hit the street) if that interests you and you can move back and forth from DI to piston with the swap of a barrel and bolt carrier. I also like that LMT has the builders and civilian community in mind so they selling components/parts, including stripped lowers, in addition to complete rifles. They are even livestreaming Q&A once a month for the past several months (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf99Dkkm8co ). They make all their money on military contracts (https://lmtdefense.com/contract-wins/ ) with current production largely being consumed by the Estonian contract (who is taking the .308 pistons) so the backorders are stacked a year or so deep, but it looks like inventory is starting to get a little better. V1 has a few complete lowers available: https://v1tactical.com/product/mars-h/. I managed to pick up a 16" Chrome Lined barrel of Gunbroker at a reasonable price and have an 18" Stainless on backorder.
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1 December 2021, 05:06 #4
There’s plenty of options in the Ar15 platform that will work for 800 and in, shit even 77’s would work
And 6.5 or 6mm offerings will work and only need a few parts , different from a std 556
But if you want to buy a new rifle.. lots of options.
What optics are u thinking?
Caliber
As ammo and availability is dumb for bigger cartridges.. stdv308 is double what it was 2 years ago, match stuff...ooof,..not so bad if u reload
That H is about 500 too much, u can slowly piece together the same and save $$..lol..just too much to casually shoot and collect dust..that’s me though.
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1 December 2021, 20:30 #5
I guess I should add that I also have an Aero Precision M5 (fairly well documented here on WEVO!) with both 18" .308 and 20" .260 Remington uppers, and a 2A Xanthos lightweight build in 7mm-08. Great rifles and the Aero M5 is a great value, but they aren't "battle rifles" if you mean military grade.
And while I stand behind my "voted with my wallet" decision on the LMT, I will say that the Tavor 7 looks pretty darn cool if you really wanted a fighting rifle in .308.
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2 December 2021, 07:31 #6NRA Benefactor Member
NRA Certified Instructor
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."
John Wayne - "The Shootist"
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2 December 2021, 09:28 #7
Ok. V7 is ruled out. Upon reflection I’m not sure I want another AR style rifle. Not ruled out but would be nice to have something different. Though it seems everything is likely to be pretty long, save for the bull pups.
I hadn’t even known there was a Tavor in that caliber. How well does it suppress?-One Nation, Under God
-"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." ~ Michael Althsuler
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2 December 2021, 09:46 #8
How do you plan on using this rifle? What mission do you see where a bolt action won't do the trick?
I have an SR-25 CC upper with a SureFire SOCOM762-RC (sits on an LMT MARS-H lower). With the can, it is fucking nose heavy, and makes off-hand shots fairly difficult. Add a WML, and possibly an MFAL, and it gets even more nose heavy, even though I'm using a UBR2 to try and balance it out. As a battle rifle, it'd be splendid without a can, but with a full-size can, running and gunning with it is truly a chore.
I personally see the DMR and the battle rifle fulfilling distinctly different roles, so I'm not sure how much crossover there would be, at least without having to swap equipment around (optics, cans, etc.). I would also hesitate on the small-frame boutique caliber options, simply due to lack of proper duty ammo and considerations on terminal ballistics. Being able to tag a target out at 1000 yards isn't the same as a bullet having the proper velocity to perform as designed out at 1000 yards.
I am annoyed that the Mega/Zev small-frame .308 Win/6.5 CM never really went anywhere. That was my first choice when announced, but it seemed to have disappeared. The MDR also had intrigued me, but from what I've heard, it remains troubled and still has issues to work out, even after all these years.
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2 December 2021, 11:06 #9NRA Benefactor Member
NRA Certified Instructor
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."
John Wayne - "The Shootist"
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2 December 2021, 16:53 #10
I think the British configuration of the MWS as the L129A1 was really intended to strike that balance. Compact enough with the 16" barrel to use as a fighting rifle, but accurate enough with a 6x optic for a sharpshooter to be effective 600+ meters out
There are plenty of stories of snipers going door kicking with their SR25 but that sure wouldn't be my first choice.
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2 December 2021, 18:39 #11
Well, I guess what I’m looking for is something versatile enough to grab when you’re not sure what to grab, that can make effective hits (if not tiny groupings) out to 800’ish while also not giving up ground inside 20 yards or across the room. Ideally something more or less handy, though I realize that a suppressed more substantial weapon is kind of at odds with that.
I get what was said about less common calibers, hence leaning towards .308 or 6.5CM.
The MWS looks good, though the MDR and Tavor 7 have really captured my imagination.-One Nation, Under God
-"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." ~ Michael Althsuler
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3 December 2021, 01:31 #12
Lol
That’s a lot to ask for out of one rifle
My 12.5 308 has been fully reliable, but wouldn’t grab it first, like said above, with can, light on top of a heavy platform, gets ya a heavier, bulky setup
Again, what do you want to truly have, can’t have it all.
Still don’t see why a 556 wouldn’t be the better option..
But hey, if you want to spend money for the hell of it..
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3 December 2021, 12:08 #13
Ah yes. My great pursuit.
I know the 5.56 CAN get to 800y, but I question its effectiveness once there. Plus you’re looking at a longer barreled version to get there and if I’m looking at going longer then I may as well step up caliber and not question effectiveness at that distance. At least that’s my logic on it. I totally get what everyone is saying about being nose heavy; I’ve noticed that with my SBR when I throw on its suppressor, and it’s a light suppressor. Especially in K config. Plus I just got a light and switch set up to throw on it on a Black Friday deal and so that issue is about to be magnified.
I just can’t help but chase performance though. I want it smoother, I want it lighter, I want it tougher, I want to be able to get to X yards with it, and to do this and to do that etc. etc… and I want it all in one gun for slaying ECP’s (evil cardboard people) and whatever end of the world scenario the internet is salivating over any particular week (read as: general preparedness for any unlikely event). Anyways, I digress.
Plus I can’t really justify another project unless it’s legit capable of doing something better than what I’ve already got, and my SBR has me covered to 400. The mention of the Tavor 7 has my interest. The idea of going bigger and further while being shorter OAL than my SBR has me perking up my ears. Plus I’ve also been interested in something like a SCAR 17 even though those two things couldn’t be much different. Right now I’m just trying to measure feasibility, whether or not I’d actually gain the performance I think I would, and if it’s actually worth the monetary investment.-One Nation, Under God
-"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." ~ Michael Althsuler
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3 December 2021, 19:23 #14
Get a FIX.
There's no "Team" in F**K YOU!
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4 December 2021, 12:23 #15