DPMS LR-308
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Barrel
- 610 mm
- Weight, empty
- 5.11 kg
- Introduced
- 2003
About
What it is, and why it matters
The DPMS LR-308 is an AR-10-pattern semi-automatic rifle chambered in .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO, introduced by DPMS Panther Arms in the early 2000s. Built around a direct gas impingement system, a forged 7075 aluminum flat-top receiver set, and a heavy stainless bull barrel, it was one of the first affordable mass-market .308 AR rifles and helped popularize the large-frame AR for civilian long-range and hunting use. Its receiver footprint, distinct from Armalite's original AR-10, became a de facto industry standard often called the 'DPMS/SR-25 high pattern.'
The LR-308's receiver dimensions were so widely copied that the entire family of .308 AR rifles is split into 'DPMS-pattern' and 'Armalite-pattern' camps, a divide that still dictates magazine and parts compatibility today.
The LR-308 receiver/magazine geometry (the 'DPMS Gen 1' or 'high' pattern) became one of the two dominant .308 AR standards alongside the Armalite AR-10 pattern. Numerous barrel-length and stock configurations were offered.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- DPMS Panther Arms
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Country
- United States
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 2003
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 610 mm
- Overall length
- 1107 mm
- Weight, empty
- 5.11 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated direct impingement
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 19
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Hard coat anodized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 838 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 3344 J
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 1000 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
- Ar 10 pattern
Direct gas impingement
Free float handguard
Heavy bull barrel
Flat top picatinny rail
A2 pistol grip
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 86 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 5.11 kg | 4.30 kg | Heavier than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 85 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 1107 mm | 1025 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 87 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 610 mm | 458 mm | Among the longest tenth |
| Magazine capacityAmong 87 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 19 | 20 | Holds fewer rounds than about 90% |
Answers
Questions about the DPMS LR-308
How much does the DPMS LR-308 weigh?
The DPMS LR-308 weighs 5.11 kg (11.27 lb) empty.
What caliber is the DPMS LR-308?
The DPMS LR-308 is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the DPMS LR-308 hold?
The DPMS LR-308 holds 19 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the DPMS LR-308?
The DPMS LR-308 is 1107 mm (43.6 in) long overall, with a 610 mm (24.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the DPMS LR-308?
The DPMS LR-308 is made by DPMS Panther Arms (United States).
When was the DPMS LR-308 introduced?
The DPMS LR-308 was introduced in 2003.
How does the DPMS LR-308 operate?
The DPMS LR-308 uses a gas operated direct impingement action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Civilian sport and hunting market
- United States
Provenance
Confidence in this record
70%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/dpms-lr-308' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "dpms-lr-308", "name": "DPMS LR-308", "manufacturer": { "id": "dpms", "name": "DPMS Panther Arms", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1986, "website": "https://dpmsinc.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "b28bc616388013ac84fdb83076fdfd15fd4c0d0a21ab10ffa21ee0e4c9d8eb55" }, "category": { "id": "battle-rifle", "name": "Battle Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in full-power cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2003, "barrel_length_mm": 610, "weight_empty_g": 5110, "action_type": "gas_operated_direct_impingement"}