battle rifle book 13

BATTLE RIFLE BOOK 13

The AR-10

It used to be okay to slightly hate on the AR-10.  Everywhere you cared to look there were field reports of jams, failures to feed, incompatible magazines and the like.  Here was the basic issue.  The AR-10 never had a military spec standard like the AR-15 did.  All your AR-10’s were manufacture specific and incompatible.  So, all those Olden Day reports reflected this.  Now, however, with the AR-15’s becoming more popular, as in Militia/Prepper Standard, the 10’s started gaining in popularity and better products were released.  There are still SOME issues, but nothing like before.

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You have, in general, two standards for the AR10.  They are the Armalite and the DPMS ( also known as the LR/SR-25 pattern rifle ).  If you buy magazines for one, it won’t work in the other.  As far as other parts go, I couldn’t comment on what differs.  Although the DPMS seems to share a lot of parts with mil-spec AR-15’s.  My recommendation would be to buy the brand name rifle from the company that supplies them with all the parts.  I’ve heard almost all great things about Palmetto State Armory.  Mid grade quality is good enough for me.

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Now, before you think this incompatibility issues disqualifies the rifle, be aware that minion reports state that the cheaper AR15’s share this issue.  As in, buy THAT companies spare parts, or none at all, as they are not always compatible.  So, really, I’m not seeing a huge issue here.  Any other gun you buy, you can usually count on not having generic parts, unless they are one of a handful of highly popular standards like the 1911 or the 10/22.  If you want complete parts compatibility in the AR15, it has to be all mil-spec, and that is pricier.

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Thus, it seems to me your biggest reliability issue is in the magazines ( all firearms in semi-auto have quirks with certain types of ammunition, so I’d hazard that the AR10 won’t be different in this regard ).  If you are not using an Armalite brand/type in a DPMS/SR-25 rifle, or visa versa, that SHOULD, in theory, do away with the old issues of jamming and failing to feed.  Obviously, test any brand of magazine before you stock up.  The good news is, they are far more affordable than they used to be.  What mag isn’t compared to 1995?

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From what I’ve read of reviews, the D&H brand magazine is the best mix of affordability and reliability ( the D&H Tactical SR-25 ).  At $25 each they are only $5 more than Magpul, and are NOT relying on a polymer feed lip.  A feature well worth an extra $5.  Why do you think you need to buy 100 magazines, that this price difference is so outrageous?  You are using a 308 round.  You can easily stay well out of range of an AK-47, and most AR-15’s ( practical shooters range ).  Why are you fighting close quarters?

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You always want more magazines than you think you’ll ever need, but you certainly are not field carrying twenty of the suckers like the ninja gay boy AR-15 users are ( fun filled fact on AR15 mags.  The guys at that famous machinegun rental place in Las Vegas say aluminum GI mags hold up so much better than any polymer types ).  308 rifles are supposed to be for marksmen, not urban warfare submachinegunners.  You need lots of 308 mags, but only logistically, not tactically.  Me personally, I would be maxed out at carrying five mags, and that would be overkill. 

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Now, hopefully that takes care of the old AR-10 guns reliability legend.  Obviously, don’t carry a gun you don’t feel comfortable with.  Most people think the Mauser is the bees-knees, but to me the added accuracy wasn’t worth their propensity to be harder to cycle the bolt, especially after getting dirty.  This really is a non-issue, because I should be having distance between me and my target.  It was just a personal fear/issue.  If the AR10 scares you from the old stories, don’t rely on it.  It is a confidence killer, and you need every combat advantage.

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But if you feel they have advanced enough in reliability, they have some advantages.  Like, price.  They can be as little as one third the price of a FN-FAL or M14, if you assemble one from a kit.  They will feel just like an AR-15, ergonomically ( other than having a larger magazine.  With a muzzle brake they will even get close in recoil ), and since a lot of us were in the military this is a really nice feature.  I can’t say how accurate they are, but then, AR-15’s vary a lot in that regard also.

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With a longer barrel, free floating and an upgraded trigger, plus obviously the ammo selection, you’ll get the lusted after sub-MOA.  Although you can throw money at the AR15 to do the same.  And it does seem from reports that an AR15 is easier and cheaper to get better accuracy on than the AR10.  But this is a combat arm, not a sniping rifle, so just temper your expectations.  I would think that an AR is going to be inherently MORE accurate than your other rifle designs, but obviously your manufacture must do his part or all bets are off.

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Personally, I don’t think an AR10 is all that great compared to an AR15.  It has a superior round, but no other attributes that the AR15 has that make it the standard.  But here is the thing.  There is ONLY a $100 difference between the two ( same manufacture, both from kits ).  For a mere $100, you get to go from a carbine round to a full thirty round.  No other Full Thirty comes close to that affordability.  It wouldn’t matter how cheap it is if it were total crap.  Look at the Spanish CTME compared to other G3’s.

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( hint: they were pretty awful, with misaligned iron sites ).  I don’t think they have the issues they used to, but, again, go with your gut.  Trust it.  Then verify by shooting the sucker.  If you are still getting mag and feeding problems, drop the AR10 as a contender.  I can’t speak from personal experience, only what I’m researching from users.  But we all know about confirmation bias.  I know a LOT of M14 buyers are going to minimize their problems and maximize the guns attributes, because few people will admit they had a major attack of dumb ass-ness at a cost of $1700.

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I would, personally, see the AR10 as a POTENTIALLY great choice, but I’d also say that you are talking about a $500 gamble.  If you cannot afford to wager that much, don’t do it.  Stick with the AR15.  That has a track record.  The AR10 is an improved product from old, but perhaps isn’t improved enough.  If you MUST have a 308, I think the potential is worth the risk, but it isn’t my money you are risking.  So, your mileage may vary.

( .Y. )

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note: got Amazon Prime?  Great new movie additions.  The Omega Man, Soylent Green and Deliverance.  For the Libertarian minded, all three parts of Atlas Shrugged.  Of marginal relevance but a great movie, The Man Who Would Be King.
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