Armalite AR-10B?

[Dionysusigma]

^Click for bigger picture^
Armalite AR-10B site

Another rifle I know nothing of. Were these developed before, or in conjunction with the AR-15? How similar are the designs? Is it also direct-gas-impingement operated? How does it compare to the Bushmaster BAR-10? Accuracy? Reliability? What kind of mags does it take?

I'm looking around for semi .308 MBRs, and this one really jumped out at me. It's got classic styling, familiar enough to be trendy but unusual enough to get second looks. Nothing against the Bushmaster BAR-10, but... it just doesn't seem to do it for me. Not retro enough or something.

P.S. Out of sheer curiosity, how would the Armalite compare to a ROMAK-3?

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The AR-10 was the predecessor to the AR-15. It is a .308 direct-gas impingement operated rifle. The version you have linked to is a "retro" version of the AR10 offered to the commercial market. It is based on the design sold to the Sudanese government in the 60s IIRC.

There are significant differences between the AR-10 and Bushmaster's BAR-10. The BAR-10 uses FAL mags and many of the differences reflect that design change (longer upper receiver being one).

The AR-10 is capable of impressive accuracy, like most rifles sharing that design. It is usually not as reliable as its smaller cousin though. I haven't heard a lot about the BAR-10 one way or the other, but the groups I've seen claimed for it haven't been impressive - adequate 2-2.5MOA; but I'm used to seeing better for ARs.

 

[teppo-shu]

Many of the parts on the AR-10 are interchangeable with the AR-15, including the FCG. However, the AR-10 uses modified M14 mags that are proprietary to Armalite (at least AFAIK) and therefore EXPENSIVE.

Note that the AR-10B you've posted CANNOT mount any optics on the carry handle as the charging handle is mounted right in the open space. It's that little upside-down "trigger" you see right up at the front of the carry handle.

Other differences are as noted by Bart.

Armalite at one time was making .243 uppers for the AR-10 - don't know if this is still the case, but you might could find one floating around somewhere.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

I don't have much experiance with them, but a buddy of mine was very interested in picking up the one made by DPMS, but he ended up not going for it because of the price (wayyyy too high in my opinion...but no one asked).

I would personally go with the Romak because of its versitility and potential (1.5-2 MOA with a good shooter and good ammo) and also its price and the supply of 54R ammo. Even though the Romak's are great, if you would like a SUPERB sharpshooters rifle, buy one of the Chinese NDM's that CDNN has. They go for about $1600 (no one else has them but CDNN as far as I know) and they are the most accurate of the "Dragunov" style rifles. Also, because its chambered in .308, there is tons of great ammo to get.

 

[DannyinJapan]

"Note that the AR-10B you've posted CANNOT mount any optics on the carry handle "

This is not true. The original AR-10 DID have a scope-mounting capacity on the carrying handle.

 

[Cosmik de Bris]

"Note that the AR-10B you've posted CANNOT mount any optics on the carry handle "

This is not true. The original AR-10 DID have a scope-mounting capacity on the carrying handle.

Yes, although not really designed for a carry handle optic you can mount one if you use bolts with thin enough heads. The charging handle is depressed and then pulled back, so there is actually more clearance than one sees in a static picture. I have a Portuguese model made in 1960 or so and have mounted an ACOG type sight and other types of scope on the handle. They do sit pretty high though and generally I prefer the irons.