Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Say hello to my little friend. AR10

Well, it only seemed fitting that I go out and buy an AR10. I ran across this little gem on GB for a good deal and the guy was local, so that was convenient as hell. I don't know a damn thing about AR10 rifles, but I figured the original Armalite was a good starting point. I know it's not as versatile as the DPMS pattern AR10, because I can only use Armalite mags, But the rifle came with 3 mags and they all work great. I don't mind steel mags for the 308. This one is chambered in 7.62x51 or 308w and she seems to be a shooter. Today I did some preliminary load work up with a few different bullets and a few different types of brass. Some of the brass was new and some was once fired from the other day.. The new brass was the Lapua I picked up on the cheap (56 pcs for $30.00). The rest was once fired FC and WW. Here's some of the things I added to the rifle:

PRS stock
Magpul K2+ grip
BAD lever
Griffin Armament Ambi charging handle
Ambi safety
Enhanced mag release button (Armaspec)
Burris AR 4.5-14x42 scope with Burris P.E.P.R mount

Things it had when I bought it:
National Match trigger
20" stainless match grade barrel
6-9 Harris bi-pod



I only shot 3 shot groups today, because I was getting rained out. Weather sucked. I will go out again when the weather is better. Here are the groups I shot while doing load development. Honest 3 shot groups at 100 yards in the rain. I'll try to list them in order:

168GR. Sierra MK bullets with AR Comp powder:




168gr. Hornady BTHP Match bullet with AR Comp powder:

178gr. Hornady ELD-M


It's a start, but some of these groups look promising. When the weather gets better, I'm going to have to re-check some of these loads with the chronograph and we'll see where we stand... When I get something that shoots consistent, I'll shoot the black rifle challenge with this rifle.. I know Gunner is playing with his new AR10, and I'm sure some of you other guys are also playing around with 1 or 2 of them. Just thought I'd share my new rifle with you guys.. Regards...

Nice! Appears it likes those 168gr Hornady Match loads.

Thanks tmitch. Yes, I'm going to have to run those again and see if the one group was a fluke.. Too wet today though. Couldn't even chrono them...

Good stuff BSA, these guns are a blast to shoot and tinker with.

I agree gunner. Spendy, but fun Just ordered another scope for this rifle. A cheap burris ar 7.62, so i can put the ar556 scope back on my noveske.

10-4, I was going to shoot mine with irons today, too dang windy, it came with a handy little front sight adjustment tool in the pistol grip, wish Talley would come on with those rings.

Looks good bsa,, good load work as usual.

Thanks buddy! Glad to see you stop by every once in a while.

Not bad for starters.

Might try some Varget.......it'll be compressed, but is usually very accurate.

RL-15 is a touch slower than AR-Comp & is also very,very good; friend has also had good accuracy but a little lower velocity with 8208. And don't forget about the old standby, H4350.

I'd also try the Nolser 165/168 gr Ballsitic Tip................very accurate; ditto for the AB version too. And the BT version is pretty economical to shoot.

Who's "Match Grade" barrel, as that doesn't really mean much w/o know whose it is?


MM

Armalite used Wilson for their match grade barrels.

Wilson can be very good................I have a WOA, Wilson barrel & I like it a lot.

MM

Thanks mm. I was thinking about trying some RL15, as ive had very good results with it in the past. I figured id give ar comp a try first, since it meters so well. This one has been damn fun to play with. If i werent at work right now, id be at the range!!!!!!

You shouldn't be posting on company time then.............LOL.

Yeah, I like AR-Comp a lot too, but 8208 meters as well or better, but usually with a little less velocity,

If you can get your hands on some VV-135 or 140, it's also very good, just expensive.

And try some 150/155 gr bullets...........you might be surprised.

Also, step up to the BR-2 primers for some trials............might help. Been using a lot of both the BR-2 & BR-4 for the past few years instead of Fed Match stuff.

MM

I've never had a bad one!

Nice writeup, bsa. Looks like you've got a keeper with plenty of upside. Enjoy!

Hit a wall on my 6.8. Want to put an SSA-E trigger in it like I just did with my commie zapper. No sales right now, though. Need a holiday sale.
Guess it will have to be Memorial Day.

Commie Zapper
(link to full size pic) [img]https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/gallery/80/full/70702.jpg[img]


Bone stock Colt LE6920

Add-ons
--------------
Centurion Arms C4 rail
Troy handguards
Geissele SSA-E trigger
Trijicon Acog TA31F 4x32 red chevron
TA51 Acog mount
BCM ambidextrous CH

Nice rifle ld. Yeah, wait for a sale on the SSA-E trigger. I buy mine when they are around $179.00. You might also like the RRA 2 stage match trigger. They are about $80.00 on sale.

Ive been thinking about the br2 primers. I only have a few thousand cci 200's on hand. Time to buy some more..

MM, I've also heard Wilson, but am not 100% sure. In the manual, it says this: "The AR-10®(T) has a specially lapped match grade barrel. It is superbly accurate when used
with Nexus Ammunition's Match Grade ammo. Naturally, accuracy is less impressive if lower
quality ammunition is used. ".. That's all I can give you buddy..

Well, I went out the other day and worked on some more loads with some different brass. Settled on Sig Sauer for now (besides my Lapua). I find the Sig brass has much better neck tension than the Winchester brass. The winchester is thin stuff, so I'm going to give it to a buddy with a bolt gun... I don't know who makes Sig Sauer brass, but it looks an awful lot like Hornady??? Anyway, I'm still working on the 168gr. Hornady match bullets. Have about 400 to burn up before I go and switch to something different like montanaman suggested. I will try some scenars like my buddy Gunner has been messing with, but who knows when?? As for now, here's what the groups looked like the other day. Loaded up 40 rounds and went to the range right after work. :




Accuracy node at 41.5 grains.

Then I shot some 10 round groups for fun. Didn't have enough of 1 charge wt for 10 shots, so I used a combination of what I had left from load development...Not going to place very well in the black rifle challenge with this target, but you get the picture...:


I'm happy as hell with this rifle. She seems to be a good one. I'll keep working on those loads and narrowing down what brass I like for this auto loader...