About AR-10s

ABOUT AR-10s

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over AR-10s today. These types of firearms are iconic and employed by shooters of all types for recreational and practical needs. We are going to provide a brief overview of these types of firearms while delving into their various traits and features in an introductory manner. Without further ado, let’s talk about AR-10s.

What is an AR-10?

In today’s context, the term “AR-10” evokes thoughts of a large frame AR-15 style firearm. These firearms are found in a variety of configurations and are produced by many firearm manufacturers. Historically, the term refers to a specific rifle design introduced by Eugene Stoner, a notable firearms designer and engineer in the late 1950’s. In our modern context, rifles which are often called AR-10s are in fact more appropriately referred to as AR-10 style as they depart from the initial design. Deviations from the original Armalite design paired with the lack of canonical, standardized specifications have allowed for many variances in designs over time. Because of this, many of the AR-10 style rifles on the market today differ greatly from the initial design and even from each other in many cases. Purchase Ammo

Original AR-10 Design

As mentioned above, the original AR-10 was designed by Eugene Stoner in the 1950’s. Initial manufacturing of these rifles was carried out by ArmaLite, a division of the Fairchild Aircraft Corporation. This original rifle was chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO and featured a detachable box magazine that held 20 rounds of ammunition. The original AR-10 was notable for only weighing 6.85 lbs empty, a weight which was unheard of for battle rifles of the era. In an era of wood and steel, the AR-10 made use of composite and aluminum materials in its construction. The design was submitted for testing and evaluation during the U.S. Army’s search for a rifle to replace the M1 Garand. Testing of the rifle was conducted by Springfield Armory in 1957, with initial reports favoring the rifle but ultimately being rejected due to the aluminum/steel composite barrel bursting. Though the barrel was replaced with a conventional steel barrel and Eugene Stoner resisted the submission of the rifle with a composite barrel, the AR-10 was ultimately rejected in favor of the T44 rifle, better known as the M14. Though the rifle did not see adoption by the United States military, this original design garnered interest with foreign countries. Notably, the Dutch Arms manufacturer, Artillerie Inrichtingen purchased a five-year manufacturing license for the AR-10 in 1957. These rifles notably included Sudanese and Portuguese contract rifles. Other countries which purchased or expressed interest in original AR-10 style rifles included Germany, Austria, Italy, Finland, and Cuba to name a few. Additionally, the rifle saw a great deal of use throughout Africa by local authorities, forces, rebel groups, and even the French Foreign Legion.

No Standardized Specification

Unlike the AR-15, the AR-10 as we know it lacks standardized specifications as far as sizing and fitment. This means that there is a lack of parts compatibility at times due to variances in specifications. The two predominant specifications one will find with modern AR-10 rifles are going to be Armalite or DPMS specifications. Beyond these two specifications, some companies utilize proprietary components or specifications which make them stand apart from other conventions. Manufacturers such as Daniel Defense and Ruger are notable examples of producers of proprietary AR-10 style firearms. It is quite easy to tell DPMS spec receivers from Armalite spec AR-10 receivers. DPMS style AR-10 receivers feature a long curved "cut" where the upper meets the lower. Armalite spec receivers are denoted by their hard lines and the prominent slant-like cut at the rear of the receiver. This difference in geometry is what makes DPMS spec receivers incompatible with Armalite spec receivers. It is also worth noting that DPMS spec receivers come in both high and low profile configurations, another factor which must be consiered when searching for parts like handguards. These differing specifications are most important if one is trying to build an AR-10 style firearm of their own or if they are looking for components for an existing firearm. At this point in time, both DPMS spec and Armalite spec components are supported by the industry. This means that regardless of whether one’s AR-10 utilizes either Armalite or DPMS specs, they will be able to find parts and components. It is worth noting that DPMS spec parts and components are going to be more common than their Armalite counterparts.

What Are AR-10s Chambered In?

In this day and age, one will find that AR-10s are most commonly found chambered in .308 Winchester. This chambering is reminiscent of the original battle rifle concept and caliber utilized by the original design. As these firearms are commonly chambered in .308 Winchester, they can also utilize 7.62x51mm NATO ammo as it is lower pressure than modern commercial .308 ammo is. While most associate the AR-10 with .308 Winchester, these types of firearms have become increasingly more prevalent in 6.5 Creedmoor. This caliber allows end users to turn AR-10s into long range precision rifles which are optimized for accuracy at extended ranges. Other potential AR-10 calibers include 6mm Creedmoor, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, .22-250 Remington, and even .300 Winchester Magnum.

What Are AR-10s Used For?

AR-10s are employed in a variety of use cases. The two predominant use cases for AR-10s include hunting and precision shooting use cases. Where legal, hunters employ AR-10s due to their light weight, modularity, and capable chamberings. The variety of ways one can configure an AR-10 paired with the potential calibers one can utilize make the design well-suited to hunting a wide range of game. These variables also make the AR-10 well-suited to precision shooting. One can purchase or configure a rifle to be optimized for accuracy at extended ranges, ensuring proper optics, equipment, and accessories are utilized. Of course, AR-10s are completely viable as general-purpose firearms as they can be successfully employed in the two aforementioned use cases in addition to general plinking and recreation. While ammunition may be more expensive than .223 Remington or 5.56x45mm NATO ammo, these firearms are still a joy to shoot. Beyond recreation and general-purpose use, many shooters utilize AR-10s for defensive purposes or out of a desire to own a “battle rifle.” Simply put, an AR-10 is a welcome addition an any shooter’s arsenal and will serve users of all types well in a variety of use cases. Purchase Ammo

Who Makes AR-10s?

At this point in time, many companies produce AR-10 style rifles. These rifles are available at a variety of price levels and in many types of configurations. Models optimized for hunting, precision shooting, and general-purpose use are commonly found. Companies such as Daniel Defense, Lewis Machine & Tool, Aero Precision, Seekins Precision, and Sig Sauer produce AR-10 type rifles. Beyond rifles, these types of firearms can be had in pistol or short barrel rifle (SBR) form, providing customers with more options. Simply put, if one wants an AR-10, the market is full of options.

Can You Build an AR-10?

In addition to purchasing a factory AR-10, one can also build their own AR-10 from parts and components. These components can be had in their base forms or in the form of complete upper and lower receivers. By building an AR-10, one can ensure their firearm is configured specifically for their purposes. One can easily find AR-10 parts and components from companies such as Aero Precision, Palmetto State Armory, and Lewis Machine & Tool. As mentioned above, one should ensure that they keep different AR-10 specifications in mind when doing a build. By doing so, one can ensure that they only acquire parts which are compatible with their build.

Conclusion

All in all, AR-10s are popular firearms which are employed by shooters of all types. Hunters, competition shooters, precision shooters, and everyday recreational shooters alike can enjoy firearms of this type. The wide range of possible configurations and use cases paired with the ability for one to build their own makes AR-10s accessible and viable for the uses of many. Whether you are looking to feed an AR-10 in .308 Winchester, .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, or even .300 Winchester Magnum, we here at True Shot Ammo can help. If you are looking for individual boxes of ammo to find the right loading for your rifle or want to buy bulk ammo quantities of your favorite loading, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.