Post up your AR-10 type rifles

[m14brian]

Anybody have one here they want to show off?
m14brian

[Bulletguide]

I hope to see some responses from Brian's post, I've been considering an AR-10 for some time and am dragging my feet a bit. I am really tempted to buy one but wonder if I'll use it
much. Being so deep into the M1/M1A world I wonder if I can make the transition and learn to enjoy the AR platform. I know a lot of folks have, I'm just reluctant to spend the money
to find out. I was close to buying a Windham SRC the other day but hesitated. Price seemed a bit high (selling at list for 1400.00, seemed steep to me). I suppose building one would work.
Any thoughts out there, and I'd like to see some photos as well.
A friend gave me his new Daniels Defense to break in the barrel for him, it's chambered in 300AAC. Nice shooter, fairly light, but no .308. I'm on the fence. Need to decide. Maybe I should just
build another Garand, a process I really do enjoy and could probably do that for about the AR-10 price range. Somebody push me off the fence, one way or the other....

[RCS]

I remember the early AR-10 kits that were available both the Sudanese and Portuguese models. There were a few firms that manufactured the lower in semi auto (some in steel)

The very early Sudanese AR-10 even had a wood butt stock and there was a Portuguese AR-10 with an aluminum butt stock for grenade launching. The internal parts were all original AR-10 parts and not like the new AR-10 weapons that use M16 internal parts. Original magazines were the waffle design. You can still find a Portuguese AR-10 around with a new semi lower but they are very expensive now, many times the price of a new AR-10

[Bulletguide]

I've seen photos of those Sudanese AR's and they always appealed to me. I settled for building a wood stock CETME, not at all the same thing and far too punishing on brass but interesting.
Yesterday I checked out one of the local stores and found a Colt large bore AR with under 100 rounds (the store took it back as it would not feed and eject metal cases-Wolf- and the guy only wanted to shoot Wolf)... so it's nearly new, free-floated 18 inch barrel with 5R rifling, 1300.00 I'm considering it, it looks untouched. As an aside, just when I think I understand California's
crazy gun laws I find I don't... this one has a legal bird-cage flash hider. The shop owner, smart guy with a good knowledge base, says that given certain other things the gun has- a bullet
button mainly- flash suppressors are legal. I was not aware of that. So, we'll see. It may make sense. And I smell another Clinton-based "assault rifle" ban around the corner. This store says
AR purchases are really lagging and I think that may be the story most places. Probably a saturated market. From the little I have been able to pick up about AR10's, Colt seems to be
near the top of the less expensive tier of AR based rifles. They were about to give up on two DPMS AR's in stock, they have been sitting there for months. Selling for 1000 out the door, the Colt just seemed like a higher quality AR. Any input would be appreciated.

[Airedale]

I have a DPMS 3G1 and use it for 3 gun heavy metal division. It has been accurate and reliable out of the box. I installed a Hyperfire 24 trigger in it and put a Samson free float fore end on it. Neither where necessary-personal preference. I believe it was about $1100 new. I use PMAGs primarily. It currently has a Vortex dot on it and has had a Leupold VX 1-6 mounted. It is probably the best bang for the buck in the .308 AR platform currently. DPMS has come out with the 3G2 but I have no need to "upgrade". I can't recall ever having a malfunction with it.

Shooting heavy metal at a local 3 gun this weekend. It may get used but I have the "shoot the Garand " bug and may 3 gun with a Garand.

[Bulletguide]

I found a Smith and Wesson M&P 10 locally, the shop wants 1300.00 for it. I like the 18 inch barrel. Whether or not it's really the case, I've always thought that a 308 needs an 18 inch
barrel to really do what it wants to do. So this one appeals to me. I would probably install a Troy free float handguard with low profile gas block but that's about all I'd want to do with it.
May go back over to the store today and see if it's still there. Pretty tempted. Anybody have any experience with these Smith's?

[Bulletguide]

So, I finally pulled the cord and bought the M&P10. It's still in jail but I will pick it up next week. Here in California we have 10 round mags, which don't really bother me, I'm usually shooting
from a bench so the extra 10 rounds or so don't really affect me. And the little tool made to attach to your magazine makes the bullet button pretty much a non-issue. Other than those two things it's exactly like any other AR. Flash hider, adjusting stock etc. We'll see, I think it will be a nice addition to the M1A for .308 shooting. Just have to figure out my reloading COL for that mag
and rifle. I think it will eat pretty much anything the M1A does so don't expect much variation. I'm going to try to find a common COL and just load to that so I'm able to switch rifles at the range and not have to switch rounds as well.
Photos next week.

[Jersey Devil]

Looking forward to the pics, BG!!

[1563621]

I am pulling the pin and getting an AR10, SIG 716 patrol. Any thoughts? Trading an WRA M1.

[m14brian]

Let's see some pics in this thread gentlemen, as God intended!
m14brian

[1563621]

Sig 716. http://imgur.com/a/mWUIW

[Jersey Devil]

Oh yeah.......very nice!!
I'm excited to hear a range report on this.

Has the Sig 716 had any reliability issues that you know of?

[1563621]

No Issues! Just heavy, Bipod will come in handy. Very well made Sig.!

[m14brian]

That's looking great!What do you have planned for an optic?
m14brian

[Bulletguide]

So the M&P 10 has morphed a bit, I found the adjustable stock to have so much play in it, even though it was helpful in providing a good shoulder position, I had to get rid of it. In fact,
it's one of the things that will probably keep my AR collection down to one. I've had Garands and M1A's for too long and enjoy the feeling of that solid wood stock against my shoulder. Even
the lack of adjustment does not bother me, they all seem about right. And very solid. But I thought on AR would be fun. And I'm glad I got it. My one range trip so far was good. Fed and functioned perfectly on my reloads. Can't complain. Had a lousy scope stuck on there just for a shake-down range trip so expected little. Passed the function test well.
Pros: Light, nice recoil even without a muzzle brake, eats up my M1A loads with no questions asked.
Cons: Cheap feeling collapsing but stock, rattles too much. A whole lot of plastic, front hand guard too short for my comfort, not easy to shoot off the bag on a bench- at least to me.

So, started changing things. Took off the front hand guard, removed and replaced the gas block to low profile type, installed a Midwest Industries 15 inch hand guard. Great fit and
no plastic. Much nicer feel, very little weight change. I am pleased to find it so easy to work on these rifles. I had the barrel out in 10 minutes and went ahead and cleaned it after my
range trip. Obviously won't be doing that every time but it was nice to be able to do that much work on a rifle so easily. That's a great hand guard and the supplied barrel nut worked great.
Even the wrench they provide is excellent. It is important to do the 3 or 4 torque sequence before going to final torque specs. Seems to help "seat" the nut and take a good torque.

Then found a decent scope, nothing great, a Vortex Diamondback.. For the price it's a pretty nice optic. May get a better mount later but used Vortex mounts which seemed to be fine.
Have it laser sighted but will get to the range before long to get is properly sighted. It's a second focal plane reticle, seems fine for my range trips. This will be a bench shooter only. So everything I'm doing is with that in mind.

The stock had to go. That floppy piece of plastic worked but gave the rifle a really sloppy feel to me. I got a Magpul PRS stock for it, it required changing to a standard A2 rifle length
buffer tube so had to swap that out. I made up a 1.9 inch spacer to try to get back to the factory buffer spring pressure. I will only know if I got it right when I see if it cycles properly.
I think it will but will see. I know without the spacer it might not have cycled at all.
Am now installing a CTK mono-pod on the PRS for a nice rear rest. Great for bench shooting and has some good adjustable features. Have a Harris bi-pod coming
for the front. Also found that the pistol grip was too small for my hand, Ergo makes a great grip for a good price and will install that later. I will leave the trigger alone for now. It's not bad
and I've reached my budget level on this rifle. I'm happy with it so far, will see how the scope and other additions work out. Better photos with the last of the parts installed.
That's the end of my foray into the AR world. I have no desire to go further, am a Garand shooter at heart and don't see that ever changing but this is a nice diversion.
Bruce