Two AR Questions

[52grain]

I have two questions about the AR platform:

-Why is the AR-15 (ie 5.56/223) so much more popular than the AR-10 (ie 7.62/308)? Is it ammo cost?
-What kind of accuracy can be expected from the "National Match" service rifles? (The two models that I am most interested in are the Armalite and Rock River A4s)

 

[Grunt Medic TXARNG]

The reasons the (several models of) AR-10 is not as popular as the AR-15 are mutifold -

- The AR-15 is used in Service Rifle competition, while the AR-10s are not
- The AR-15 is based on the US military rifle, and so is very popular with veterans and wannabes
- The AR-10 is not standardized, with no less than 3 different types (DPMS, Rock River and ArmaLite), each using different magazines (though this is changing, with the M110 sniper rifle now issued and based on the DPMS platform, with MAGPUL making corresponding magazines)
- Surplus 7.62 NATO has all but dried up, with the remaining stocks becoming much more expensive

A rack grade M16A2 with ball ammo should give about 2 MOA performance. A match grade rifle with match ammo should consistently group under 1 MOA. My competition service rifle is a White Oak Armory upper on a Fulton Armory lower with a factory trigger job, and performs well for me.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Ammo cost is a small factor.

However, I believe it is because it has a lot to do with the fact that it is so popular with military and LE.

Anything that the military is having produced is gonna be popular. That is why the AK and the AR are so popular.