Armailite AR10 Mag Question

[wstrickland]

Do Armalite AR10 rifiles only use armalite style mags? Are all AR10 mags universal?

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Not all universal, at least two styles exist I believe.
"...ArmaLite AR-10 Magazines are proprietary magazines. Previously ArmaLite AR-10's used converted M-14 magazines (1st Generation)..." - per ArmaLite website

 

[ugaarguy]

Some of the Eagle Arms (Geneseo, IL) made Armalites use converted M14 mags as noted above. Recently (within the last year or two?) they've begun offering their AR-10 rifles with a lower that will use the almost universal Knights SR-25 / DPMS LR pattern magazines, which includes the MagPul PMag LR. The SR-25 / DPMS pattern is actually true to the original Armalite small arms division of Fairchild Aviation AR-10 rifles.

 

[Reloadron]

From the people at Armalite:

ArmaLite AR-10 Magazines are proprietary magazines. Previously ArmaLite AR-10's used converted M-14 magazines (1st Generation). Today AR-10 Magazines (Generation II) come in many sizes. Each magazine will accommodate ammunition variants used on the AR-10 platform.

*Our AR-10 .308 magazines only work in our AR-10 rifles.

Mine is an older one using the what is now called Generation I magazines which were patterned off the M14 Magazine design.

Armalite Magazines can be seen here.

They also offer a Magazine Conversion Kit which can be seen here.

Ron

 

[CLP]

The older Armalites used the converted M-14 mags. The Gen II mags, which are pricey but very good quality, work in AR-10B rifles. The newer AR-10A rifles accept PMAGS.

So, the information that's needed is- what type of AR-10 is it?

 

[kwg020]

It's my understanding that the Armalites come in 2 versions, the A and the B. The A's were the first design and during the Assault Weapons Ban starting in 1994 they created a B model that used modified M-14 magazines. Armalite made the B model for all of the years during the banned years and several years afterword. In the last 2 years Armalite went back to the A model that use the Promag magazines.

You need to know if the Armalite you are looking at is the A or B model before you invest in magazines. Armalite still sells the B magazines the last time I looked. I'm sure if you give Armalite a call with the serial number they can tell you what model you have. That's my understanding of the Armalite magazine issues. kwg

 

[CLP]

It's a little confusing, but the "A" model AR-10 is the newest one, the "B" model series was made before that (and still made I think). The really old ones didn't have either designation (anyone with good Armalite knowledge please correct me if wrong).

www.armalite.com/ItemForm.aspx?item=A10A4CBF

 

[Quiet]

Armalite AR-10A = KAC SR25 pattern magazines
Armalite AR-10B = Armalite AR10 pattern magazines

 

[lmccrock]

Armalite made the AR10 originally with what are now the SR25/DPMS/etc. mags. Then the '94 ban and they changed to modified M14 mags, which were more common, and allowed surplus M14 mags to be converted for anyone wanting 11+ rounds in a mag. Ban ends, some time passes, Armalite changes back, which is why the "new" model is "AR-10A".

 

[Quiet]

Armalite made the AR10 originally with what are now the SR25/DPMS/etc. mags. Then the '94 ban and they changed to modified M14 mags, which were more common, and allowed surplus M14 mags to be converted for anyone wanting 11+ rounds in a mag. Ban ends, some time passes, Armalite changes back, which is why the "new" model is "AR-10A".

Keep in mind that...

Armalite in CA, developed the originally AR-10. That company went out of business in the mid-1980s.

ArmaLite in IL, is a new company. Which bought the trademarks and patents of the old Armalite company in 1996. When they made their "new" AR-10, it used a proprietary magazine (based off the M14 magazine) that was different from the original AR10 magazine, because the original AR10 magazines were not very robust and prone to being damaged.

Knight's Armament Company (KAC) continued on with the original AR-10 design because they had Eugene Stoner in their employment, which is why they started off using the original AR10 magazine and worked at improving the magazines reliability.

Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services (DPMS) then jumped in and used the KAC improved AR10 magazines.


It's funny because the newer pattern AR10 magazines are now referred to as Armalite magazines or AR10 magazines.
While the original pattern AR10 magazines are now referred to as KAC/DPMS magazines or SR25 magazines.