In the world of .308-caliber firearms, there are a lot of terms thrown around that you wouldn’t come across when building a standard Mil-Spec AR-15. After all, they’re distinct platforms with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Fortunately, at 3CR Tactical, we have decades of experience with .308 lowers and uppers.
In this article, our weapons experts empower you to identify some of the characteristics of your .308 upper receiver. That way, you’ll have a better idea of which .308 Accessories are compatible with your platform and which aren’t.
Do You Have a High- or Low-Profile .308 Upper Receiver?
High profile uppers had a short run when they were in vogue, and now most manufacturers churn out uppers that are low profile by default with a few high profiles here and there.
You’ll need a set of calipers, or a ruler, but if you have an existing .308 rifle or upper then the following measurements enable you to differentiate between DPMS high vs low. uppers.
- If the upper is installed on a rifle, remove the pivot and takedown pins and separate it from the lower receiver.
- Remove the charging handle and BCG.
- At the tang end of the upper, measure the height of the part that extends from the top rail and sits over the charging handle.
- In this case you are measuring from the top of the rain extension to the bottom edge that sits on top of the charging handle.
- For Low Profile Uppers this piece should measure 1/8 of an inch (0.150″)
- For High Profile Uppers this piece should measure 3/16 of an inch (0.210″)
Do You Have a DPMS or Armalite Patterned .308 Upper Receiver?
DPMS compatible .308 uppers are the most popular pattern of .308 upper receivers on the market today. However, you’ll often run across the occasional Armalite upper as well, requiring you to identify the differences.
We normally don’t carry parts for the Armalites and have found out that even the standard takedown pins on some models don’t fit. In cases like those, we’ve advised those customers to check their rifle/upper manufacturer for compatible parts and accessories.
Identifying what pattern your upper receiver is pretty straightforward with this one and doesn’t require any special tools or instruments.
- DPMS .308 patterned upper receivers have a rear rounded bottom edge.
- Armalite AR-10 patterned uppers have an angled, rear bottom edge.
Learn to Identify Your .308 Upper Receiver at 3CR Tactical
At 3CR Tactical, our .308 experts are collaborative, passionate, and knowledgeable.
From AR-compatible accessories to .308 pistol uppers, we can empower you to find the best products for upgrading and maintaining your weapons.
To learn more about the various .308 upper receivers and their benefits, reach out to our team today.