Getting the itch to buy/build an AR-10

[RANGERRON72]

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......

[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.

[Little Dutch]

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.

[Colorado Osprey]

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.

[RANGERRON72]

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

[izzy]

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

[zimagold]

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.

[powerstroke79]

+1 Aero M5

[crays]

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.

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...

[VNgunfighter]

JP!