Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

[Mike_in_FL]

It seems like everybody either patterns from Armalite or DPMS. Could some of the more learned folks on here tell us which brand X lower is compatible with brand Y upper? It would be nice to own a particular lower, as I do, and be able to know which assembled uppers would be available to use. Particularly if you decide to go piston rather than DGI.

I'm pretty certain that Noveske = Armalite.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

Thanks for all the help folks. Here's some info for you, hope the search engine works so this won't have to be asked again.

CMMG - Make 3 lower receivers. 1 uses Armalite uppers and magazines. 1 is directly compatible with DPMS uppers and mags. The other takes DPMS mags or G3 mags. Since the G3 mag is wider the upper must be modified.

AeroPrecision - build a lower compatible with Armalite uppers.

Tactical Maching - builds a lower compatible with DPMS and SR-25 mags. Also available in an 80% version.

Noveske - uppers and lowers interchangeable with Armalite

Fulton Armory - FAR 308 Titan lower is compatible w/ DPMS, Remington R-25, and Knight uppers. Uses DPMS or SR-25 mags

POF - compatible with DPMS

SI Defense or Sonju - builds 2 lowers. 1 compatible with DPMS uppers. Build matched sets of an HK G3 mag using upper and lower. DPMS uppers would have to be modified to use this lower.

Magpul PMAG LR20 magazines - work w/ Mk11/M110, KAC SR-25, DPMS LR-308, LMT 7.62 MRP, Larue Tactical OBR, LWRC REPR, and POF P-308

Editing: More info sent to me by Axeman, so thank you to him.

MEGA arms makes a set for the armalite upper/lower pattern. but they will fit all dpms stuff. the cut in radius in the back of the upper is straight like an AR, not curved like a DPMS. very nice.

http://megamachineshop.com/armscatalog.php

and JD Machine. they make a DPMS everything set of upper/lowers.

http://www.jdmachinetech.com/

 

[J-Ham]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

Hey Mike, nice post. If/when I get in the market for a .308 AR, this will be real handy. Thanks man.

 

[ORD]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

Mike,

No need to reinvent the wheel or otherwise try to compile what has already, to a great extent, been compiled. See here for a couple extensive threads on the AR-10/LR-308/308 Semi-auto platform rifles, compatibility/interchangeability of parts/accessories among platforms, including what can be used from an AR-15, etc. The second is a newer "technical data" listing on the AR-10, but it contains a ton of useful info on that platform:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=121&t=413443

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=62&t=509302

Hope you find this info helpful!

Also, just for clarification of some mis-information in your post above...the POF lower is not a direct bolt on for DPMS uppers. They use different size pins. You'll need sleeves to adapt the POF .250 pins to the .272 (I think that is the measurement) holes in the DPMS uppers.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

ORD,

I understand what you're saying and I thank you for the links for this thread. It was just my opinion that since we now have a semi forum we should try and compile that info here. I would prefer not to have to use another site for it, putting it nicely, other sites can be unreliable in the info they're spouting. I know this is factual data and therefore shouldn't be opinionated, but I'd rather have it here so when I'm being senile I can find it, LOL. I also believe it's being rather assinine when you have 2 .308 platform forums and God forbid somebody refers to a non-Armalite as an AR-10.

Case in point is this. I researched what lowers I wanted to buy for a .308 semi. After speaking to several people who were rather knowledgeable on the subject, I went with Armalite. The most compelling argument I heard at the time was that since the AWB sunset'ed Armalite was producing the Gen 2 mags so you wouldn't have to worry about modding M14s.

That was probably over 3 years ago. Now DPMS and variants of DPMS are the larger players.

Some other useful info I'd love to see develop into this thread is regarding the DPMS based G3 mag lowers. I'll research into "what" modifications would have to be made to a DPMS-type upper. Since I want to run a suppressor someday and opinion here seems to be that piston works better I'd love to have a lower using $2.50 used mags and a Rock Creek barreled POF piston upper.

 

[MKSMN]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

Nice compilation of information. Let's add Iron Ridge Arms, with both a DPMS style upper/lower and an Armalite style upper/lower. and Kaiser Defense with the DPMS style lower.

 

[MK14 SEI]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fngmike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
... I went with Armalite. The most compelling argument I heard at the time was that since the AWB sunset'ed Armalite was producing the Gen 2 mags so you wouldn't have to worry about modding M14s.
</div></div>

I did the same thing for the same reason and my research indicated that C.M.I. makes the Armalite Gen-II mags.
C.M.I. also makes today's reliable USGI M14 mags for use in modernized M14 EBRs.
Both are available in 20 and 25 round capacities.

 

[koz]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fngmike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Fulton Armory - FAR 308 Titan lower is compatible w/ DPMS, Remington R-25, and <span style="font-weight: bold">Knight uppers</span>.
</div></div>


KAC uppers are not compatible with Fulton lowers.

KAC SR25, LMT MWS 308 and Larue OBR are compatible with each other.

The guy who answers e-mails at LMT says their receiver (MWS) or DPMS's lower receiver can be modified to fit each other but he didn't have an answer of what you have to do for the modification. I have never seen or heard of someone doing this.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

I'll stand corrected but this is from their website:

Upper Receiver, Fulton Armory .308 Titan Slick Side, Stripped —Machined from 6061-T6 Extruded Aluminum Alloy
—Thick Walled for Strength, Rigidity and Accuracy
—No Ejection Port Cover
—No Forward Assist
—No Case Defl ector
—Clean No Snag Design
—Hard Coat Black Anodized per Mil Spec & Tefl on Coated.
—Compatible with .308 DPMS, JP, Knight & Remington R-25 Lower Receivers

 

[koz]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

I found that too, but I just had this conversation (LMT compatibility with POF). LINK I e-mailed LMT and got a response they would work. Even when I challenged the LMT customer sales rep, he said their product (LMT MWS upper) would work with the DPMS lower. I think these "front deskers" and web admins sometimes don't know what they're talking about. If you download the Fulton manual it says they're DPMS compatible but no mention of the KAC, JP, Rem R-25.

Take a close look at the back of the DPMS/Fulton/POF/JP/etc.. receiver - it's rounded.

The LMT, KAC, Larue are angled like the AR10.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

to make that a little more confusing, look at the mega set of upper/lowers. it has the armalite cut on the back, takes DPMS pattern hand guards and mags.

best to buy your stuff as a set too. i had a dpms upper and lower bought at different times and they were not 100% matched. pin holes lined up fine, just a slight gap where they met

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

I was hoping somebody who owns multiple flavors would jump in and inform about swapping uppers/lowers around. I remember when S&W came out with their M&P 15, rumor said it wouldn't fit other uppers/lowers. My dealer and I popped his LWRC apart and each fit fine on the other.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Sticker worthy? .308 upper/lower compatibility

It's threads like this, that 'searching for them' is actually viable and beneficial. This is exactly the information required, and a new thread wasn't necessary. Thanks to the OP.

Now, considering the age of this thread, and also the age of the last post, does anyone have any up-to-date amendments and/or additions to this list? I'm sure there is new stuff out there. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know everything, so who has the information or experience to bring this up to date? And with all the new innovations out there....

Thanks,