Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

[Bestboss]

Morning all,
Nice board you have here....
After 40 years of guns and dealing and have AR-15's, but I never owned an AR-10. This weekend, I picked up a used Armalite with the following features:
Cal 308
20" barrel
Standard stock, with round forearm
Flattop
Serial # US 326XXX

One notable item was the lack of a forward assist, which I really felt was important on my AR-15's but I guess we will see. With luck, my battles will be with the local coyotes anyway.

What did I get?

Thanks
Larry
(Bestboss)

 

[ORD]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bestboss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What did I get?

Thanks
Larry
(Bestboss) </div></div>

Pics would help!!!!

Armalite manufactures (and has manufactured) numerous versions of the AR-10. Only a pic will help 100% ID the rifle you picked up. If you don't have or can't locate any pics, you should probably check out Armalite's website for more information/pics/descriptions of their current AR-10 lineup (although it sounds like you may have a slightly older production model).

At a minimum:

1) is the barrel stainless or chrome-moly;
2) when you say "round" handguard, do you mean a perfectly round, fiberglass free-float HG or the standard, "round" A2 non-free floated HG;
3) what is the model listed on the lower.

As for the FA...only in the last year or so did Armalite begin offering the FA on their AR-10 rifles. Some people want them...some people don't. Some people swear they need them and others have no idea that the hell they ever are! I am of the opinion that the vast majority of the people don't need and will likely never use the FA on their rifles. If it bothers you, you can swap out your upper for a new FA model, but you will need a new bolt carrier with FA serrations if you do.

 

[Bestboss]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

Hello ORD,
The model designation is simply AR-10. It looks a lot like my Colt HBAR on steroids. Same 2 piece forearm, but flat top. I think A-2 style would apply. Not a free floated rigid tube.
The barrel is not stainless, so does chrome-moly become default? It has the typical flash hider. Standard (as I know it) AR style bolt and operating system.
I will know more after I call Armalite, which I will do today.
Larry

 

[ORD]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

Sounds to me like a standard AR-10A4 like this one (the stock color on yours is likely black and the muzzle device may be different depending on the age of the rifle):

 

[Badshot308]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

Sounds like an AR-10A4. A picture would be helpful. I believe for a while they were using a lighter weight barrel on some of the 20" guns than the one I purchased in 2002.

 

[Bestboss]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

Well, I talked to Armalite today and it turns out that this rifle was shipped as a stripped reciever in 2009. For better or worse, I have bought me a project.
The gal at the factory, said just go out and shoot it and I will, but I want to know there is no binder twine in here. LOL
Bear with me, as I work my way through this rifle for answers. Some, I am sure I may never know, but reliability is a must. I am sure that the tinkering will spawn some questions and someone here will have the answers.
I wonder if there is a way to pin down the vintage of the upper?
Thanks
Larry

 

[ORD]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

It is very possible that someone got a deal on a complete, factory produced AR-10A4 upper and then assembled the stripped lower with a LPK. Nothing wrong with going that route at all...provided it is done properly. If the upper was complete from Armalite, it was test fired and function checked before it left the factory.

As for pinning down the age/date of the upper...there really is no way to do it as they are not serialized, nor are any of the parts/components date coded to the best of my knowledge. None of the dozens I have had apart had any dated parts.

Again, my advice is clean her up, lube her up and go out and shoot it some to see how it goes. Any decent ball ammo will work for testing purposes (i.e. - no need to spend $1/round match ammo on field testing your rifle at this point...grab some 147gr FMJ stuff and head for the range).

The only word of caution I can offer you is that if you are unsure about whether the upper was properly assembled or that something could be wrong with it, get the headspace checked prior to firing it. You can do this on your own with a set of Go/No-Go Gauges or find a smith local to you that can check it out for you.

Also, depending on when the lower was assembled, you may have a first generation bolt catch. This will work fine with older, pre-ban/conversion mags with the plunger/spring built in to the follower, but it will not work properly with the newer generation mags that have a lip built in to the metal follower that engages the catch. Depending on what mags you have, this might be an issue...here is an Armalite Tech bulletin that will help you ID yours:

http://www.armalite.com/images/Tech%20No...200%20Final.pdf

 

[Bestboss]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

I spent some time going through the rifle this evening and can find a couple things I want to address. The barrel hinge pin does not lock up in the closed position - easy enough fix.
The forearm retainer ring does not slide onto the back of the two pieces like I think it should. I will look at that too. But other than that, I cannot find anything that shows much wear at all and the parts all seem to be doing their job as I would expect. I think it will be range ready with those simple concerns addressed. I will let you know how it does.
Larry

 

[Bestboss]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

I found two quarters in the back of the buffer tube assembly. Are they there to protect that area from a beating, or to strengthen the spring a bit?
Larry

 

[Badshot308]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

Shouldn't be there at all. Since you have no idea who assembled the upper, I would have it checked over prior to shooting by a smith that is familiar with the AR-10 platform.

 

[AssJack]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

Especially if you found quarters in your buffer tube. Thats just a shotty job, why rig up something like that? Its not a Ford. If I were you, I would play it on the safe side. Buy a new Armalite LPK with the new GEN II catch and replace everything. Either send in your upper to Armalite, or like ORD said and have a trusted smith look it over. I pieced my rifle together like this, but I made sure to buy ALL Armalite parts. The only thing not, is the tube and buffer. SOG Armory didnt have Armalite parts, but supposedly I have an H3 buffer but the spring is Armalite. I would play it safe, especially with a rifle such as this one.

 

[AssJack]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

Maybe he had a cycling issue and the 2 quarters tighten up the spring to offer more force? Hell if I know. Thats just fucked up. But I dont know which short cuts are safe when it comes to guns, I dont think any are but Im no expert.

 

[Shady_Jay]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bestboss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I found two quarters in the back of the buffer tube assembly. </div></div>

sounds like the wrong buffer spring was used and this was the fix

 

[christian77]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bestboss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, I talked to Armalite today...The gal at the factory, said just go out and shoot it...</div></div> That's hot!

 

[dieselten]

Re: Bought used Armalilte AR-10 and need info

the 2 quarters are there to minimize the rearward travel of the BCG. This will allow the BCG to only barely go past the bolt stop on an empty mag and minimize the slamming effect into the bolt stop when the BCG is moving forward. It hurts nothing and actually helps. The same thing could be accomplished by using a slightly longer buffer.