Getting the itch to buy/build an AR-10

Background is mostly Service rifle shooting, AR-15, March Optics 4.5x scope, Geiselle trigger, high quality barrels (Chanlynn). While a M1A Supermatch languishes in the safe, an AR-10 of some kind is whetting my appetite ....

Will go with a full 20" plus barrel, maybe longer, adjustable gas block for suppressors, put it on bipods, but may sling shoot it in some matches.

Seems to be lots of upper/lower combinations out there....... Wanting great quality, but not the super expensive brands. To me the rifle is the barrel, the optics, and the trigger, everything else is window dressing and marketing.

What brands would you recommend? What pitfalls to watch out for? Anyone can assemble the lower, and I will. Probably have a gunsmith take care of the barrel, gas block and upper......

All thoughts and comments are invited......

Buy a "matched upper/lower"...darned AR-10 platform is not standardized to the extent AR-15 is.
Pay attention to the different buffer the AR-10 requires.

Maybe not surprisingly, I’ve been pleased with my Palmetto AR-10. I bought a complete upper and complete lower from them, just replacing the trigger.

You could probably do better on long range accuracy with a higher-end barrel.

If I were to ever build one I’d start with a Sharps Bros receiver.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh-1odXDovU
PSA PA-65 hitting steel at a mile. Not sure why you need a higher end barrel. Wear their barrel out, then buy a different barrel.

Thx for comments...... keep them coming!!

I'm insane mostly but if it were me I'd go LWRC REPR

I've tried a few, but the only large frame AR I have kept is an Aero M5 kit with Atlas S1 Handguard and Faxon 18" Pencil barrel.

Weight is just under 8lbs without optic and the rifle length gas system in an 18" makes for a great running rifle suppressed. With the longer action of the large frame, the 18" setup is also closer in handling to a 20" AR-15. My experiences with Faxon have been mixed, but this barrel keeps 5rds of 168gr ELDs w/ Varget inside an inch at 100yds slow fire. After a mag dump, groups open up to 1.5-2 inches which makes sense given its a pencil barrel. Shooting 12" steel with a 1-5x optic is consistent out to 600yds and a fair bit easier in the wind than 77s. Initial cost of build was $1200 rifle + $1100 optic.

My first large frame AR build was very typical reading forums. A 20" for accuracy intended to be shot off a bipod and with a suppressor. At the end of the day it was >10lbs, I just found it unpleasant to take it to shoot and it liked to tear up freshly prepped precision brass. It mostly sat in the back of my safe and I would take a precision bolt gun instead or a smaller gun for close range shooting.

+1 Aero M5

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 20X11

Buy a "matched upper/lower"...darned AR-10 platform is not standardized to the extent AR-15 is.
Pay attention to the different buffer the AR-10 requires.

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A little late to this party, but I second this ^^^ x10. It is exactly what I tell everyone that asks about such matters, regarding the receivers. As you may or may not be aware, lower parts kits are not 100% compatible between AR15-AR10 as well...

JP!

Another vote for the Aero M5 although I have an 18" barrel and the thing is a bit of a pig. It's not something you would want to carry around, say for hunting unless you are a glutton for punishment.

+1 for the Aero M5. I have owned a 16" barrel 308 and now have a 20" barrel 308 just waiting to have an optic put on it before testing it out. I have never seen any (and I mean ANY) play between the upper and lower receiver on either one and I purchased both as parts to assemble. If you can find their stuff in stock, I'd strongly recommend the Aero M5.

I've done several large frame builds with Mega Maten monolithic matched upper and lower sets (although it looks like Mega is now gone?) and have had excellent results. In those builds, I've used Satern cut rifle barrels and Bartlein cut rifle barrels (from Compass Lake Engineering). These rifles were unbelievable tack drivers. Find a decent quality upper and lower and spend the coin on a good barrel. Both Satern and Compass Lake were also great to deal with.

Definitely get the Channlyn barrel!

There is also the Seekins matched set. If you can ever find one, the LMT MARS-H with MWS upper. Swap calibers in minutes.
I have the LWRC REPR MKII. Mine is 6.5 with the steel barrel. It is definitely heavy. I also have an aero M5 in 6.5 with a carbon proof barrel. Very well balanced.
My PWS is also a great piece. I sold my SCAR 20s and kept the AR's, the SCAR did nothing better than any of my other guns. I recommend the proof carbon. You will appreciate the weight savings. Just my personal opinion.

Often I would say mix and match - but for an AR-10 - nope.....I was watching a youtube video and the title was - why AR-10 suck; and it pretty much came down to that parts are not parts; and while there is a hard core common design in ar-15 platform...that is not true for the AR-10 world.

I have a wonderful DPMS pattern bolt; which pretty much fits nothing on the market today. I would even look close to the design by Ruger the SFAR. The issues I have heard about have been with a few that were under gassed - or had an issue with the adjustable gas block not fitted correctly. The goal of the Ruger style was keep the weight down while still doing a good job with the 308.

My first look would be prob at Aero or PSA with the 3rd SFAR. I would opt with an adjustable gas block for the build.

Very pretty!

-John

Attachment 94600Attachment 94601 Final AR-10 build and 600 yard firing ..........The end product from a June 2020 ordering a Krieger M110 SASS configuration barrel, JP upper, SCS (silent capture system), BCG, all installed by Krieger when the barrel was made (sent parts to Krieger and they assembled, headspaced, and test fired), JP Adjustable gas block, Nightforce 4-16 ATACTS with a Magpul PRS Gen 3 stock, Geissele trigger, all on a custom ghost lower with the Special Forces Regimental Crest on the magwell......Long journey to completion but worth the wait. Shots outside the X ring (6 inch diameter at 600 yards) were an old man out of practice using a light 2.5 pound trigger.......This AR is a tack driver!!! Thanks for all the advice above.....

I think LaRue is having a sale on assembled lowers ar-15 for sure, and I think AR-10....end this weekend....

5.56 (AR-15) @ $200
7.62 (AR-10) @ $300

Very nice. Quite a journey of 2+ years. Thanks for reporting back. Looks like a good shooter.

I’m jealous. My RRA is a piece of s—t.