AR10
Summary
| Country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Sniper rifle |
| Manufacturer | Armalite |
Technical specifications
| AR10 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 30 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | .308 Winchester or .223 Winchester |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Length | 1105 mm (43.5 in) |
| Weight | 4.72 kg (10.4 lb) |
| Range | 800 m (2625 ft) |
Description
The ArmaLite AR-10 is a 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle designed by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950s and manufactured by ArmaLite, then a division of the Fairchild Aircraft Corporation. Introduced in 1956, the AR-10 featured a straight-line barrel/stock design combined with phenolic composite furniture, a novel gas-operated bolt and carrier system, and forged alloy parts. These innovations aimed to improve control during automatic fire and reduce weight, resulting in a rifle significantly lighter than its contemporaries. Limited original production under ArmaLite and its licensee, Artillerie Inrichtingen (A.I.), totaled fewer than 10,000 rifles. Due to financial challenges and production capacity limitations, ArmaLite sold its rights to the AR-10 and its derivative, the AR-15, to Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1959. Colt modified the AR-15, which was adopted by the U.S. military as the M16 rifle. In 1995, the ArmaLite brand was re-established, leading to the introduction of the new semi-automatic-only AR-10B series, followed later by the AR-10A series in 2012, based on updated designs.
The AR-10 is a lightweight, air-cooled, magazine-fed, gas-operated rifle utilizing a piston within the bolt carrier and a rotary bolt locking mechanism. Its design incorporates an in-line stock, aluminum alloy receiver, and fiberglass-reinforced composite pistol grip, handguard, and buttstock, reflecting a weight-saving philosophy influenced by aircraft industry practices. The gas system uses combustion gas from a barrel port to directly cycle the bolt carrier. The receiver is hinged, allowing the rifle to open for cleaning, and bolt locking utilizes an extension on the barrel, enabling a lighter receiver construction. The design drew upon concepts from other firearms, including the FN FAL (hinged receiver), StG44 (ejection port cover), M1941 Johnson rifle (bolt locking), and MG 13/FG 42 (straight-line stock layout).
Historical production of the AR-10 under ArmaLite and A.I. included approximately fifty "Hollywood model" demonstrators by ArmaLite's workshop. Production by A.I. in the Netherlands under license yielded identifiable versions:
-
the Sudanese model
-
Transitional
-
the Portuguese model
The Sudanese model, weighing 3.3 kg empty, featured a fluted steel barrel and Arabic sight graduations. The Transitional model included features like removable handguards and some examples were fitted with a folding bipod. The Portuguese model incorporated lessons from field use, including a heavier barrel, optional bipod, wider bolt lugs, a stronger extractor, a simplified gas regulator, and a forward bolt assist on the cocking handle. Experimental types included a limited production 7.62×39mm variant and a 16" barrel carbine for KLM Airlines. Post-1995 ArmaLite Inc. introduced the AR-10B series, based on the AR-15A2 design scaled for 7.62mm NATO/.308 Winchester, using modified M14 magazines. The later AR-10A series (from 2012) reverted to the original pattern magazine (SR-25 pattern). These modern series are available in various configurations and multiple alternative calibers. Other manufacturers produce similar AR-type rifles chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO/.308 caliber, although they may not be dimensionally compatible with the ArmaLite AR-10B.
The AR-10 competed in U.S. Army trials in 1956-57 but was not adopted, partly due to testing issues and the required development time compared to more mature competing designs like the T44 (M14). Despite this, the AR-10 was purchased for limited issue by the military forces of several countries, including Guatemala, Burma, Italy (Navy commando teams), Cuba, Sudan, and Portugal. Sudanese forces employed AR-10s in conflicts and retained them until 1985. Cuban AR-10s acquired from the Batista government were later used by Dominican rebels supplied by Castro's forces. The Portuguese Army's paratroopers officially adopted the Portuguese model and utilized it extensively in counter-insurgency operations in Angola and Mozambique. Reports from Portuguese service indicated the rifle demonstrated accuracy and reliability in harsh combat conditions and was used by marksmen with telescopic sights.
Purchasers of the original ArmaLite and A.I. produced AR-10 rifles (1956-1960) included Bangladesh (later SWAT use), Brazil (later BOPE/CORE use with AR-10A4 and SuperSASS variants), Cuba, Dominican Republic (used by rebels), Finland (evaluation), Guatemala, Italy, Myanmar (Burma), Nicaragua, Portugal, Romania, Sudan, and West Germany. Non-state users during this period included KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for Arctic survival kits. Modern users of the post-1995 ArmaLite Inc. AR-10 series include the Ontario Provincial Police Tactics and Rescue Unit, and specific units in Bangladesh and Brazil using AR-10A4 or SuperSASS variants.