S&W M&P 10 Sport vs. Diamondback DB10ELB?

[The viking]

Hi,

I am in the market for an AR10 .308 clone and have the option to get a S&W M&P 10 or the Diamondback DB10ELB rifle. Where I live in Europe the prizes are the same for both of them. The rifle will be used for hunting and target shooting, so precision is somewhat a factor for me. I know there are better AR10 clones out on the market, but supply is mininal here, and so is my wallet.

Which rifle will give me the best precision out of the box? And how is the quality in practical use for these rifles?

 

[W54/XM-388]

The USA version of the Smith and Wesson M&P 10 rifle is very light and built to a budget.
It's main feature is how light it is and the price.
"Precision" is not what I'd say best describes it, from the one I had.

 

[The viking]

Thanks for your reply W54/XM-388. Did it function reliably for you?

 

[W54/XM-388]

Thanks for your reply W54/XM-388. Did it function reliably for you?

I had no problems at all with the function, it worked flawlessly.
However I only ran about 100 rounds through it before I sold it to get something heavier, with more accuracy potential.

 

[shoot4fun]

I know nothing about the Diamondback but quite a lot on the S&W M&P10.
The M&P10, although it runs with DPMS pattern magazines, is far from a true DPMS clone. The barrel extension and the barrel nut are both unique to the rifle and are basically unobtainable. That said, there is one company that makes a free-float handguard but I do not remember the name. I tried changing the stock from the 6-position collapsable to a Magpie PRS. The change required I change the buffer tube and that changed the spring/buffer needed. It was such a PITA I finally just went back to the original buttstock.
So, not sure what the S&W costs there or if you plan on making any changes but I would look at another brand.

 

[The viking]

I know nothing about the Diamondback but quite a lot on the S&W M&P10.
The M&P10, although it runs with DPMS pattern magazines, is far from a true DPMS clone. The barrel extension and the barrel nut are both unique to the rifle and are basically unobtainable. That said, there is one company that makes a free-float handguard but I do not remember the name. I tried changing the stock from the 6-position collapsable to a Magpie PRS. The change required I change the buffer tube and that changed the spring/buffer needed. It was such a PITA I finally just went back to the original buttstock.
So, not sure what the S&W costs there or if you plan on making any changes but I would look at another brand.

I read about the parts for the M&P 10 somewhere else, but isn't all AR10 clones unique in some way? I was thinking about free floating the barrel, but nothing else in that department. In Europe both rifles cost around 1900 US dollars, so they ain't cheap by your standards.

 

[JS8588]

Of the 2, get the Diamondback.

 

[Cobradoctor]

+1 For the DB. I own one. A DB10DB and my friend owns 1 as well. Standard Mil-spec trigger in the lower tier DBs are shit, at least my friends was. Significant accuracy increase with Rise Armament Trigger, even more fun with a Franklin Armory BFsIII

 

[UpSideDown]

I wouldn’t buy either. Diamondback is known as a low tier brand, and the S&W isn’t popular. AR-10’s can be picky and are harder to shoot well than bolt guns. I’d buy a better AR-10 if I wanted one, but I wouldn’t buy either of those two options.

 

[The viking]

Thanks for all of your replies, I can understand that both brands are low tier, and maybe I should be looking for something else when money are more plenty full

 

[knuckleballz]

If you do buy the m&p 10, plan on upgrading the trigger and install an adjustable gas block. Those will increase accuracy and allow you to tune the gas for proper cycling. If it has the pencil profile 18 inch barrel, avoid heating the barrel up with rapid fire because accuracy will degrade. You can change the barrel and bolt out using dpms pattern parts.

 

[The viking]

If you do buy the m&p 10, plan on upgrading the trigger and install an adjustable gas block. Those will increase accuracy and allow you to tune the gas for proper cycling. If it has the pencil profile 18 inch barrel, avoid heating the barrel up with rapid fire because accuracy will degrade. You can change the barrel and bolt out using dpms pattern parts.

Great advice! The only one I can order is the 16" barrel version, but I guess the heating problem goes for this one also.

 

[knuckleballz]

I think the 16 inch barrel is a heavier barrel profile, So it may not be as much of an issue for barrel heating.