• Frank's Lesson's Contest

    We want to see your skills! Post a video between now and November 1st showing what you've learned from Frank's lessons and 3 people will be selected to win a free shirt. Good luck everyone!

    Create a channel Learn more
  • Having trouble using the site?

    Contact support

Reliable AR10 style that's reliable for "plinking"?

teddy12b

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 22, 2008
281
113
Somehow or another rifles like the Sig 716i, and Ruger SFAR are popping up in my emails and it got me thinking. Those are two examples, and I know there more comparable rifles out there. One thing though is that I just can't stand a rifle that doesn't run reliably. I know if I was going to max a rifle out for competition I'd be looking in the Seekins SP10 class of rifle, but for something that runs reliably and accurate enough to enjoy at the range or light enough to take hunting I'm just curious on what's out there. I could get talked into either a 308 or 6.5cm because I'm a fan of both. I don't know that I'd shoot a competition with the gas gun, so it doesn't need to be hair splitting accurate, but it's gotta shoot better than my M1A scout, lol.

Thanks,
 
  • Like
Reactions: Redlion
I was looking for something similar a few years back and just bought a PSA and it runs like a champ and is also fairly accurate for an AR. I think it cost me around $750 total. I am sure the Sig or Ruger would work out too.
I got tempted by a PSA AR10 and mine never ran or cycled anything close to reliably. If you got one that works I'm very happy for you and I wanted the one I bought to have been my new favorite, but it just didn't play out that way for me. For what I'm looking for now I wouldn't put PSA on my list of choices although I have to admit their new sabre M110 clone ish rifles look very tempting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rob01
I understand as PSA can be a little hit or miss in reliability and why I almost didn’t mention it but mine has run great from day one so figured I would toss it in the mix. If I had a bad experience with them I wouldn’t put them on my list either.
 
I understand as PSA can be a little hit or miss in reliability and why I almost didn’t mention it but mine has run great from day one so figured I would toss it in the mix. If I had a bad experience with them I wouldn’t put them on my list either.
Don't get me wrong, I've assembled enough PSA kits at my kitchen table for myself and others that I'm sure there's a political party that would love to ban my kitchen table. I've seen more good than bad out pf PSA, but it's a gamble every time it's not their premium line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rob01 and PusherX11
I went to Aero's website and every complete lower is out of stock. I'm not sure if there's another website where they sell their stuff, but I don't know where to find them.

I haven't heard anything bad about the Saint Victor, and I'd consider it.
 
What about the SFAR? No need to have a large frame to run 308 or 6.5. Comes in both off the shelf.
I haven't seen a lot of glowing reviews for the SFAR as far as reliability goes. From what I've read and listened to so far I think the Sig 716 tread seems to be more reliable. That's also why I'm asking and asking here too. I'd like to tap into peoples first hand experience with any of these and hope to here about some experience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roostercogburn98
  • Like
Reactions: GhostFace and BCP
I have 2 PSA PA-10's, one was a receiver set that I assembled with a Criterion barrel, other was a complete rifle. Both have been fine. They are an adequate platform for this.

The complete rifle has been exceptional, but this was from a first run of them that PSA did with premium parts (NiB BCG, MI 15" handguards, and a 18" rifle gas FN CHF barrel). I don't know how the rest of the new production cheaper versions are.

At this point for a complete rifle I would not hesitate to get one of the Armalites.
 
I have a ruger sfar 308 20 " and apparently I am one of the lucky ones . it will shoot 150grain core-lokts minute of angle for 5 shot group's at 100 yds perfect for deer hunting . I don't like the gas block but it works running the gun suppressed or not . That being said I bought an armalite 6.5 creedmoor 22inch barrel at an exceptional price from PSA and have run it for 1 season shooting dmr matches . There is a world of difference between it and the sfar , much better and easier to adjust than the sfar and I run hornady 140 grain American gunner all through the season . I had no malfunctions of any kind and the rifle just hammered I seen a big improvement in my score's as we progressed through the season .
 
  • Like
Reactions: stanley_white
Ok, so I kept looking at the Armalites and couldn't figure out why something didn't seem right to me about them. Then it dawned on me. Didn't they used to have some weird proprietary magazine? Now it looks like they're built to run off of magpul pmag pattern mags and that's great. I just couldn't help but think something was off or different every time I looked at them.

So, I think these are the options and rough prices of what's been talked about so far. Please let me know if I'm misunderstanding something about any of these rifles.

Sig 716i ~$1,300
Ruger SFAR ~ $1,000
Armalite ~ $1,400
PSA ~ $700 on up
Aero ~ $1,200 depending

As far as the Sig 716i goes it sounds like they run and shoot, but parts are proprietary. Not a big deal if you like it the way it is, big deal if you can't help yourself from swapping parts out. I think it's a feather in their hat that the Indian Army is using this as their main rifle.

Ruger SFAR sounds hit or miss on both accuracy and reliability. Sounds like swapping parts can be easier if that's a must.

Armalite sounds like they run and shoot well. It doesn't sounds like much is proprietary, and now that they run on pmags I'm more interested in them.

PSA seems like you can get about any configuration you'd want and results will vary.

Aero Precision sounds good but everything I look at on their website is mostly out of stock and I don't know of other retailer websites that sell their products. Seems like the most plug and play out of the options and buy your preferred lower and whatever uppers you'd want and you're good.
 
I'd probably go Aero if I were you. Friend had one, shot great.

A family member had a PSA PA-65 rifle. Didn't shoot great, had reliability problems. I took a look at it and noticed the barrel was pretty canted and not centered in the free float handguard at all (gas block was almost touching the inside of the handguard on the right side). They sent the upper back to PSA, and PSA fixed it. Shot reliability after that. Their updated premium line might be better.
 
Ok, so I kept looking at the Armalites and couldn't figure out why something didn't seem right to me about them. Then it dawned on me. Didn't they used to have some weird proprietary magazine? Now it looks like they're built to run off of magpul pmag pattern mags and that's great. I just couldn't help but think something was off or different every time I looked at them.

So, I think these are the options and rough prices of what's been talked about so far. Please let me know if I'm misunderstanding something about any of these rifles.

Sig 716i ~$1,300
Ruger SFAR ~ $1,000
Armalite ~ $1,400
PSA ~ $700 on up
Aero ~ $1,200 depending

As far as the Sig 716i goes it sounds like they run and shoot, but parts are proprietary. Not a big deal if you like it the way it is, big deal if you can't help yourself from swapping parts out. I think it's a feather in their hat that the Indian Army is using this as their main rifle.

Ruger SFAR sounds hit or miss on both accuracy and reliability. Sounds like swapping parts can be easier if that's a must.

Armalite sounds like they run and shoot well. It doesn't sounds like much is proprietary, and now that they run on pmags I'm more interested in them.

PSA seems like you can get about any configuration you'd want and results will vary.

Aero Precision sounds good but everything I look at on their website is mostly out of stock and I don't know of other retailer websites that sell their products. Seems like the most plug and play out of the options and buy your preferred lower and whatever uppers you'd want and you're good.
Of your list I’d go Armalite

Could watch for a used rock river LAR 8 as well. Mine used FN pattern mags but was a solid shooter
 
The more I think about this, the more I like the idea of being able to use the 308 pmags that I've already got and can easily get more. The pmag is a great mag and they're dirt cheap by comparison so I don't see why I'd hop into a specialized mag.

Something else I'm considering, is I'm looking for spare parts online. How hard is it to find an new extractor for brand XYZ? I had forgotten about the Daniel Defense 308's but I don't see their spare parts. Do any of these brands sell a "spare parts kit" like you can find for AR15's?