armalite ar 10 one rifle?

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cwdotson

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Despite an earlier post where I mused on building up a rifle on an FN SRP action, I am seriously considering another option: The above-styled rifle. I am geeting a bit on in years and amd narrowing down what I own in just about all facets of my life. I recently went through a mil-surplus binge but have now sold all those fine weapons off. I want one shotgun and have it-a 1968 Remington 870, 12 gauge, 3" chamber. With a couple of different barrels, I am pretty well set on that-it will do everything I want and outlast me-maybe not the best at a few tasks, but the familiarity gained with one gun will hopefully make up for inherent deficiencies in a given task.

My handgun: One of the very first S&W 686 revolvers. Again, not a specialist, not a tricke-out 1911 (had 'em, loved 'em, sold 'em) or a wondernine, and definitely not the easiest to carry in a city, but it'll do. This one was a source for an earlier post, too: It was stoled many years ago, used in a double-homicide, and after certain statutes of limitation expired, came back to me. I replaced the cylinder (got better lock-up) and she works as good as they get. Sure, she has a shady background, but not her fault. And, again, practice with one handgun overcomes the DA shooting option, the lack of high-capacity clips.

Rimfire rifle? Jury's still out, but I am really looking hard at a Marlin 60. Inexpensive? Yes, BUT...if they do what folks say they do, why spend more?

Finally, the pay-off for hanging through this prose...one centerfire rifle: For target, for hunting (deer, yotes, wild hog, MAYBE someday elk), and God forbid, if I ever need accurate firepower for less pleasurable reasons. Review on this sight and other sources indicates quality, accuracy, reliability...looked at DPMS and haven't definitively ruled them out, BUT the AR10 seems a better choice, and I like .308 (or maybe a .260 Remington upper, too?). Thinking about pulling the trigger (ouch, bad pun) after IRS rebate time on an Armalite lower, at the very least, to get the ball rolling. Any naysayers? Thanaks.cwd
 
Pleased to make your acquaintance.

I have the weapons you mention above save the AR-10. All are as you say,perhaps not perfect but far from poor and up to most any tast given a practiced handler. I can find no falt in your choices if they work for you. I am still very much in "the collection" fase of my life but have a HUDGE respect for the saying "fear the man with only one gun...".

I was researching the .308 based ARs last year and if memory serves me correctly the Armalite has a VERY well laid out lower,ie controls are ambidextrous and well possitioned.There quality is top notch as well. I am going to assume that you well know much of the current trends with modularity in these systems...I too like the .260Rem. idea. A great "American Medium bore." However I would suggest going with the .308Win. for your build and later getting an upper in the .260Rem.,if for no other reason than the tremendous variety of ammunition and the availibility of the same.:) Perhaps if I were to have any naysaying ;) to do about your project,it would be that I prefer oprods to DI and have wondered why :rolleyes: we did not change to that since I started shooting the M16s in the 1980s.

Your project seems quite sound to me regardless and I admire a person that has the disapline to simplify as you have.:):cool:
 
ar10

Thanks for the response, and I definitely remember the joy at one time of having a Steyr AUG, an HKP7M8, a Benelli autoloading shotgun, etc., all on a cop's salary....ah, those were the days!
Pardon the ignorance on the nomenclature, but what is the DI and the oprod-I was in the military, too, years ago, and DI means one thing to me, but not sure I am savy on your terms.cwd
 
ar10

And, by the way, I agree 100% on the .308 first, THEN a .260 Remington upper...
 
but what is the DI and the oprod
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Direct impingement and operating rod

And to your original query, I think it'd be a fine choice. If I could keep only one gun, it'd be my AR-10 A2 carbine. It is the all around most useful firearm I own, from self defense to game getting and everything in between.
 
Anytime and no worries on the DI/OP-ROD...

DI... 'direct impingement',meaning the spent gasses travel thru' a 'gas tube' and work directly on the bolt to send it rearward.The system works but has,IMO,several VERY negetive aspects.
1)It is very dirty,dumping the spent gas,read powder residue,in the front portion of the breach.This is THE magor reason for the weapons malfuntions other than actual dirt/sand.
2)The spent gasses can also build up in the gas tube,there by rendering the weapon inopperable because the gasses can not pass thru' enough to force the bolt backwards.Unlikely with the correct powder in the ammunition but possible.
3)HEAT,hot gasses = heat.
4)If for whatever reason you may want to get a supessor for it,those gasses will pass around the bolt and OUT the rear of the weapon at the charging handle...into your face.Some have reported this even without a supessor.
5)Submersion...should you ever find yourself in a possition to have your weapon under water or it gets full of water to the point that the gas tube gets more than a little,say 1/2 oz.,water in it and then you fire it...they can and do blow apart.In your face.

Op-Rod...some call this system by a different name that currently escapes me.Basicaly there is a "rod" that spent gasses work against to force the bolt to the rear.These can be connected to the bolt,like an AK or work as a "transfer" to the bolt meaning they are not directly connected to but are in contact with the bolt like an FN-FAL or M-14.The advantage tothis system is it eliminates the above problems of the DI system because the spent gasses only travel a very short distance and at the front of the weapon.Usauly less than 1" before being directed to the atmosphere thru' ports.

Do a bit of seaching for op-rod ARs and you will find plenty of information.This is becoming one of THE most popular conversions to the basic AR system and will be replacing the DI system in our next service rifle...Finally,IMO.

The one negetive to me,and it is not even worth mentioning IMO,is a couple of onces of weight. Also there are those folks that say the system was not designed for it originaly and it is not proven...thing is FN and HK among others have proven it timeand time again.


Please keep in mind that THOUSANDS of folks use the DI system with no problems and tho' I dislike it greatly,most will never know the difference.


Hope this helps.:)
 
ar10

Yeah, once he said what it was I knew what he was talking about-I remember a couple of years ago I picked up a copy of AR Magazine (Ithink that's the name), a once-a-year publication, and read a big article about comparing the two systems, and especially remember the discusion on "sanitary" issues, for lack of a better term. Think LMT makes and aftermarket, at least for the 5.56 platform?...Anyway, I grew up on the present system, at understand it takes more maintenance, but, heck, I enjoy cleaning my firearms and such. IIRC, the alternative systems cost a whole lot of green, which I will be laying out, anyway. But, that's the beauty of options for different folks. Thanks for the time and discussion.cwd
 
LOL! Ya,just a little OT.:D

CWD,
Yah,my response was a bit long winded but hey its not often that I get to talk like I know something:D.

I hear you on the cost and yes the DI system works for most everybody.Choices are definately a good thing...I'm sure you will have fun with your project!
 
I'm thinking along the exact same lines. To keep life simple, and to propogate the use of AR-pattern rifles, as the Heller decision emphasized that the rifles that are "In common use" are protected under the Second Amendment. I also want to work to dispel the mindset that AR pattern rifles aren't for hunting.

To that effect, I have built one AR-15 lower, I will build at least one more, and then before I leave the country for a while this summer, I will buy at least one stripped AR-10 lower. I will start with a .308 upper, and then probably get a .243, and maybe one of the magnums.

I have decided that the DPMS pattern is the most versatile. I was looking at the RRA, but they use proprietary hardware that limjits your upper options. The RRA uses FAL magazines that are (in theory) cheap and available, but Magpul just announced magazines for the DPMS/SR-25 pattern rifles, which will be cheaper AND better. The Armalite pattern has a diagonally shaped cut at the back of the upper (the other pattern uses a rounded cut) which limits their options and compatability as well.

If it works well, I could see myself being near exclusive with AR-pattern rifles.
 
I kinda like your idea!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=487273

:p

I had the AR10 from Armalite (in .308), and IMO the DPMS is better rifle, and the LR version is a significantly better rifle with the superior trigger, etc. Shame that DPMS discontinued the .260s it appears for some reason (yet is still making the 6.5 creedmoor - WTH?). If you're like me, however, you will have to pay a gunsmith to get the loudener off of the LR version, due to some sort of superglue they put on the threads. PM me for details if you're gonna do this on any of the light DPMS LR 18" versions. I have detailed instructions for your smith...

As for a "just one" rimfire, I would suggest a turnbolt or lever action, preferably a turnbolt. It will cycle shorts, longs, flobert, colibri, etc. and the semi will not! I like your other choices.


And yeah, I have this inexplicable urge to save up for a Rem R25 or similar in .243 Win - I think that'd just be cool, and a superlight recoiler. That one would be the perfect SHTF and hunting rifle, with a SHTF priority. Mine is same with a hunting priority.
 
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Very good to hear about the MagPul offering!!!:D

DrTad---That is a very nice and reserved build. I quite like it.How do you like the .260Rem.? I have little more than range experience with it but on paper it looks like a true winner to me.
(You realy liked the DPMS better than the Armalite? Would you be willing to tell us why?)

My RRA LAR-08 works very well and my FAL mags work flawlessly in it.Tho' I have heard some complaints.I guess I got a good one.
 
Would you be willing to tell us why?
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Yes I would, Wanta B:

The Armalite mags, though very expensive, were frankly defective without some dremel work. The BHO nubs were both too long and of too steep geometry, which made them not go into the magwell smoothly; sometimes not at all - other than that, all else seemed roughly equal to me. But that's a BIG thing to me when you pay that much for mags. Not confidence-inspiring of the Armalite folks and their products. The version of the DPMS I got is much superior due to extra amenitities, but that's not a fair apples to apples comparison of base models. The Armalite I had was the A4 'SPR' version - pretty standard 20" version.

My RRA LAR-08 works very well and my FAL mags work flawlessly in it.Tho' I have heard some complaints.I guess I got a good one
Click to expand...

Very good to hear. These are the ones that they made from the tooling bought from Bushmaster, right? I had heard of a lot of problems with those, in feeding. Something about the lucking lugs and front of FAL mags not getting along.
 
DrTad---Thank you very much,good to know.
Yes they are the same ones that were being made by Bushmaster.Magazine feed lip to Bolt lug interference is the main complaint that I have heard.Fotunately for me it would seem that I got one that locks the magazines pefectly...I imagine that theyare much like so many others but in those cases they were FTF due to poor magazine chamber alignment. If the LAR-08 was an op-rod system it might just have become my favorite semi-auto .308Win. but alas it is not.
 
ar10

Dang it, and I was convinced to go with an Armalite-honestly, I know a lot of folks may look at the DPMS vs. AR10 as a Ford-Chevy, a Ruger-Smith, and AK-SKS, and so on, as something done to death and much sound and fury signifying nothing. But, I figured that the AR10 may have been a bit higher quality, maybe a consequence of being "combat worthy" or such? Us folks who do not have all the money in the world sure we make the best possible decision on a purchase like this.
 
The 260s have not been discontinued at DPMS, they were on hold for a bit while the tooling used to make them was being rebuilt. The back orders are currently being built and the rifles have been put back online and are available for ordering. They carry an estimated 6 month lead time, longer with upgrades.
 
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