.308 Long Range Rifle

[Bottom Gun]

My AR-10 is a superb hunting rifle. It is just as accurate as my bolt action rifles are. Much more accurate than either one of the M1-A's I had.

These rifles are kinda picky about bullet shapes and cartridge OAL but, once you figure out what they prefer, you will have an excellent long range shooter.

I took an elk with this one three years ago and I plan to hunt deer with it this year simply because I want to be in the field with an evil black rifle.

 

[Metapotent]

If you are mainly going to be stationary when hunting, I guess an AR-10 will be alright for you. But personally, I've never experienced being stationary while deer, black bear, or elk hunting in my life. Yeah I have sat in stands for hours, but the process of walking to and from the hunting area would have been a major pain if I was carrying an AR-10 due to its relatively high weight, especially if you got a kill and had to carry both.

Hell, even my 7lb Savage - which is about 6 lbs lighter than my AR10 - felt like it weight 50lbs after walking through the woods for hours up and down hills. If I had my AR-10 or a similarly heavy rifle I would have been in a whole lot of pain.

But, if you by odd chance don't need to walk much to hunt, or if you have superhuman strength, go ahead abd buy an AR10, But I'm positive you're going to want to downgrade your AR10 to a target/tactical rifle after hunting with it.

But fortunately, the AR10 is a really good gun for target/tactical shooting and highpowered plinking. And other than that, they are just plain sexy looking. Mine especially:

 

[rbernie]

even my 7lb Savage - which is about 6 lbs lighter than my AR10

Holy cow - y'all must have gold bricks hidden the buttstocks of your rifles - my AR10 (while no lightweight) is 'only' 11.5lbs with sling and empty magazine.

I plan to hunt deer with it this year simply because I want to be in the field with an evil black rifle.

MY standard deer-n-hog gun for the last couple of years has been an AR15 in 7.62x39. I've got a couple of 150gr and 174gr loads that'll punch thru just about anything, and a 125gr load that's pretty flat out to 250 yards or so....

Sorry for the thread drift. To get back on track - where can you even BUY a Galil or Valmet 308 these days? I'm not sure that they're really even viable options...

 

[Metapotent]

Holy cow - y'all must have gold bricks hidden the buttstocks of your rifles - my AR10 (while no lightweight) is 'only' 11.5lbs with sling and empty magazine.

My scope, bi-pod, and rail system added quite a bit of weight.

 

[Metapotent]

Rbernie, that thing is in 7.62x39? What brand is it?

 

[EdLaver]

Do a little research on a DPMS LR .308. I love mine and getting 2" groups at 300-400 yards is no problem with my nightforce scope. I had a list of top .308's too before I made my decision on the DPMS but once I saw it and read a few reviews I knew it was the right choice for long range plinking.

 

[RJMacReady]

I could walk around with it, but I would prefer it to support the RPK and carry the Colt AR15 and Polytech AK47 as they are pretty light weight, but I wouldnt mind carrying the AR10 once and a while.
What kind of scope is that Metapotent?

 

[rbernie]

Rbernie, that thing is in 7.62x39? What brand is it?

DPMS offers a few 7.62x39 rifles for sale pre-assembled, and you'll occasionally find a Colt Sporter 7.62x39 for sale. I built mine:

• DPMS HiRise upper
• DPMS 7.62x39 BCG and low profile gas block
• ER Shaw 16" post-ban barrel
• LCW lower + CMMG lower parts kit + CmC single-stage trigger
• M1S float tube, drilled-n-tapped for JR front sling swivel
• Ergo grip (now wearing MagPul MAID added since the pic was snapped) and MagPul triggerguard
• Calvary Arms A1 buttstock with SPR adjustable buttplate
• MGW 10-round magazine
• Sightron SII 1.5x-6x/42 SII in Leupold Rifleman low rings

Total cost, with optics, was a wee bit under a grand.

 

[Metapotent]

What kind of scope is that Metapotent?

Its an original Nikon 3-12x, with an extension.

 

[RJMacReady]

What kind of scope mounts and scopes does Armalite manufacture that will securely mount to the non detachable carry handle on the Armalite AR10A2?

 

[Bottom Gun]

My experience with carry handle scope mounts is that they don't hold a zero as well as a flattop mount and that they put the scope up too high for accurate shooting.
You might be better off picking up a flattop upper for scope mounting.

If you have your heart set on a carry handle mount, one of the more solid mounts I have tried is made by BEC. The part no is ARM2010. I bought it from Sportsman's Guide for approx $10-15. The SG stock no is 56264 000000.
I had to add a lock washer and flat washer to keep it tight but it did hold a zero better than other mounts I have tried. It fits so tightly (I had to tap it into place), it will mar the finish in the channel of your carry handle.

 

[rbernie]

The other option would be to use a railed float forearm and place a scout-style optic out there, cowitnessed with the rear aperture.

I've never tried that with a magnified optic (only a red dot), but it is feasible (if not inexpensive).

 

[RJMacReady]

Anyone know what bayonet that the Armalite AR10A2 .308 uses?

 

[RJMacReady]

Apparently the AR10 uses the M7 and M9 U.S. standard issue bayonets.