AR-10 Build Writeup

#4
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

Many thanks for taking the time to share the build. My next project is to upgrade my AR-10 and your "recap" is just what I needed.

CT

PS. I really enjoy your contributions to the forum.
 
#8
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

I like your comment on cheaper to build or buy. It seems that unless you really enjoy the mechanics of putting it together yourself, it may pay to buy it. So far, my AR-10 upper parts list build, is $400 less than buying a complete Noveske upper assy. Then there's shipping and tools. At that point, it's less than $400. Waiting on the parts is about the same as waiting for Noveske to build and ship a complete upper
confused.gif


On the other hand, your article is rignt on time, esp. with the caveate on what an AR-10 really is, the lack of interchangeable parts, etc. I just wish you guys who have been into parts, suppliers, and manufactureres would break down the accronyms at least once in your post. As in: KAC=Knights Armament Company, PSR is a Magpul. New guys don't know all the accronyms.
 
#9
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gnfiter3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just wish you guys who have been into parts, suppliers, and manufactureres would break down the accronyms at least once in your post. As in: KAC=Knights Armament Company, PSR is a Magpul. New guys don't know all the accronyms. </div></div>

I will try to keep that in mind in the future. With a military background it's easy to throw acronyms into common conversation and not even realize it.

Much like AR15 building, the key to deciding to build an AR10 is if the configuration you want it available from a manufacturer. If it is, then buying is usually a better option. If it's not, then building will save money when you factor in the depreciation of selling "takeoff" parts. Plus building is my "payment plan" because I can buy a part here and there as I can afford it and squirrel them away. When I get all the parts in a pile, then I can build it. I would bet it ends up being cheaper than putting it on a credit card and paying the interest.
 
#10
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

LoneWolfUSMC,

With my Noveske 18" on the way, I just ordered my Armalite Gunsmith Kit, Magpul PRS, MOE Grip, Troy 13.5 308 rail, enhanced trigger guard and extra 2nd gen mag. I went with Dark Earth on all of the magpul stuff and the troy rail.

I can't wait to see how these Noveske barrels shoot. This should be a fun ride!!
 
#13
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

Got the assembly done this morning.

Hopefully we will take her for a test drive tomorrow.

AR10_5743.jpg


14.2 lbs. Dry weight. She's a heavy pig for a 21" rifle, but I have some plans for her.

The short list is as follows:

Eagle Arms Lower
Armalite Two Stage Tactical Trigger
Magpul PRS
Magpul MOE Grip
Armalite Upper
Armalite BCG
PRI Gas Buster Charging Handle
Badger Stabilizer Handguard
Noveske 21" barrel and gas block
POF Brake
ADM Recon S Mount
Falcon Menace 4-14x44FFP scope

 
#16
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Got the assembly done this morning.

Hopefully we will take her for a test drive tomorrow.

AR10_5743.jpg


14.2 lbs. Dry weight. She's a heavy pig for a 21" rifle, but I have some plans for her.

The short list is as follows:

Eagle Arms Lower
Armalite Two Stage Tactical Trigger
Magpul PRS
Magpul MOE Grip
Armalite Upper
Armalite BCG
PRI Gas Buster Charging Handle
Badger Stabilizer Handguard
Noveske 21" barrel and gas block
POF Brake
ADM Recon S Mount
Falcon Menace 4-14x44FFP scope

</div></div>

That rifle's a thing of beauty. Nice work, and if I end up putting one together, I'm going to take a lot of notes from your build. Great stick.
 
#17
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

Nice. I just finished my LR-308 just see if I liked .308 ARs (got all the parts dirt cheap). So far I dig it. Some QC issues with DPMS stuff, but nothing that can't be fixed. Yours looks much better than mine, but so mar mine had been just under 1 MOA. Not a bug hole shooter, but good enough to do what I need done.

IMG_1568.jpg


I like a few things about the AR10 better, but bought into this pattern because of the mags.

Looking forward to hear how yours shoots.
 
#18
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

Just a few words of caution when building your own AR-10 or AR-15. You can screw up just about anything else on the rifle and survive the effects, but you cannot screw up the head-spacing or barrel nut torquing. I have been building AR's for 20 years and have seen some real atrocities. Remember that you are dealing with a 308 and a lot of CUP.
Barrel nut gas tube holes do not always line up perfectly with the gas tube hole in the receiver at the proper torque. You need 40 to 60 foot-pounds of torque in an AR-10. Anything less and you risk the barrel nut working loose. Anything more and you may damage the receiver threads. And....Loctite is NOT a substitute for proper torquing. There are times when you have to cut the shoulder of the barrel extension back a few thousands to get the nut to torque properly. This takes an accurate lathe and carbide tooling. The barrel extension is heat-treated and it is hard.
When you buy a barrel, buy a bolt with it that has been head-spaced to the particular chamber in that barrel. A good head-spacing job is one that allows the bolt to close on a GO gauge but not on a NO-GO gauge. Remember that the difference between those two gauges is about .003”. A bolt that closes on a NO-GO gauge will ultimately cause case head separation, not to mention a sever loss of accuracy. Do not rely on a field gauge to head-space an AR-10.
If you have a bolt that closes on a NO-GO gauge, your remedies are limited. You can try to find a bolt with a bolt face that that has been machined a few thousands forward. You will need someone with a large supply of bolts. Good luck. The other alternative involves removing the barrel extension, cutting the barrel shoulder back exactly one thread, re-cutting the chamber, timing the extension back onto the barrel and shortening the gas tube. I have done this job exactly once and will never do it again.
My opinion is that if you are not absolutely certain about what you are doing, take your AR-10 to a qualified gunsmith to have the barrel installed and the head-spacing checked. Buy a barrel with a bolt matched to the chamber. Have fun putting the rest of the rifle together knowing that you will not be shooting a 14-pound hand grenade.
 
#19
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

Gauging the headspace is not hard, but MAKE SURE you have the correct gauge for your chamber.

I.E. a .308 gauge set will not give you a true reading on a Noveske 7.62 barrel.

The above poster is correct that if you get a barrel that was chambered too loose for your bolt, you will have some work ahead of you. If you have GAP build a barrel, they will ask you to send in your bolt. Noveske builds it's barrels to Armalite bolts, so unless tolerance stacking kicks your ass you should be OK.

ALWAYS check the headspace before firing a newly built rifle.

And to clarify, I do NOT consider myself a gunsmith. I am only an armorer (parts switcher outterer). I don't have the ability or experience to chamber barrels....yet. When I get a car sold and the garage cleared out it will be shop time.

My "shadetree" method for checking headspace is with a .308 Go gauge and a roll of scotch tape. Layers of tape will allow you to build up the headspace gauge and actually give you a finer resolution than a set of gauges. The tape I use is about .0015 thickness. Mic'ing the guage before and after taping, then adding that measurement to the gauges stated headspace will give you the actual headspace.

Remember, I am not using this to chamber a barrel. I am just making sure it's not so loose it blows my face off.
 
#23
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

DUDE! Lonewolf, I had the EXACT experience with the noveske gas block. I ended up using my Tubb 2k barrel vice in order to clamp the block for both removal and installation. It was a real pain! I think that they must have a special jig for when they build them inhouse.

It's too bad they don't do taper pins. I found that infinitely easier to remove and install.
 
#25
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

Got some trigger time on the rifle today.

I didn't have the scope mount adjusted tight enough so I was laying down 1.25 MOA groups. Once I got the scope cranked down and re-zeroed I was turning in sub-MOA groups at the end of 100 rounds.

I think part of it was the fact that I am learning the gun. The other part is that it's a 1:10 twist and I am shooting 168gr SMK's.

I have half a box of 175 SMK's and a new box of 178gr A-Max. I am not going to spend a ton of time on load development, but I think I will load some up to M118LR spec and see how they do.

On the plus side, I did not have a single malfunction with the new rifle. It dropped my brass in a nice pile at five feet away off the bench. Shooting from prone I was bouncing them off the bench stations, so they were getting beaten up a bit.

Looking forward to mic'ing the cases and seeing what the chamber looks like compared to my 700.

Should have some video up shortly.
 
#26
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I think part of it was the fact that I am learning the gun. The other part is that it's a 1:10 twist and I am shooting 168gr SMK's.

I have half a box of 175 SMK's and a new box of 178gr A-Max. I am not going to spend a ton of time on load development, but I think I will load some up to M118LR spec and see how they do.

</div></div>

How much do you think the 1:10 affected performance? I ask because I was thinking of going with the 1:10 because I'm gunna have a suppressor shooting subsonic 200+ grain bullets, but under normal circumstances I'll be throwing 150-168
 
#27
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

Ya know, its been a while since I shot any 168's through my AR10T but if I remember right, it didn't like them near as well as it does the 178 Amax's I've used for the past few years. Think its a 11.25 twist though so a 10 might be an even greater difference. Good luck.

okie
 
#29
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DocHoliday13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How much do you think the 1:10 affected performance?</div></div>

Honestly it was probably more me getting used to the platform than the twist, but if I get some 175's down the tube and they are give me 1/2 MOA performance that will tell the tale.

If I wasn't required to use the 168's at work I would not have much use for them. After trying to hold on to them for so long the numbers finally convinced me. The 175 SMK outperforms the 168 in every way.
 
#31
Re: AR-10 Build Writeup

Hey LoneWolfUSMC.. excellent write up! This will definately help those that are on the fence about building their own to give it a shot. The pictures and the detail in the write up are good to go! Keep it up!
 
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