AR-10

Sub-Minute of Angle .308 AR for Under a Grand? Diamondback Firearms

Diamondback Firearms’ DB-10 proves excellent in testing and has an price way below the competition. The group pictured was shot by Erika and consists of five, not three, rounds of Federal Match .308 from 100 yards.

Everyone has an AR-15 or three, and so now we look for something different. The AR-10 is nothing new, but has tended to be priced out of the average-shooter’s budget. With rifles typically selling for close to $2,000 and rounds hovering around a buck a pop the AR-10 has mostly been something to fawn over but not own. The recent availability of surplus 7.62×51 solved the ammo issue. Diamondback has solved the pricing issue.

Not having much experience with an AR-10 I was impressed with how beefy the Diamondback DB-10 is built, yet balanced well enough to be handled like a battle riffle. A few nice touches were incorporated to make the rifle unique, but nothing so outlandish that it will be seen as faddish next year.

So many features at such a low price point, you’re likely wondering the same thing I was: How does it shoot? Sub MOA.

Stag 10S .308 Battle Rifle: a Little More “Boom” Than “Pew”

With all they advancements of AR-15s it’s easy to forget that the original intent of Eugene Stoner was to build a battle rifle, not an assault rifle. The original design, the AR-10 was for the .308/7.62x51mm cartridge. There are several reasons why that model was droped by the military and the M-16 was born, but those don’t apply to most shooters. Today’s sportsman-shooter already has half a dozen AR-15s and is perhaps looking for something with a little more “boom” than “pew”. It’s time to move to a bigger cartridge and the AR-10.

Because the AR-10 was never a military rifle there is no such thing as “mil-spec” and that can lead to frustration. Stag Arms has built their Model 10S to accept aftermarket stocks, pistol grips, and best of all aftermarket triggers. After first glance the conservative build specs seen below lead me to expect a well-built, albeit boring, battle rifle. I was wrong. Before we get into how, let’s look at those specs taken directly from the Stag Arms website:

Weight: 8.2 pounds
Length: 35.25″ collapsed, 38.50″ extended
Action: Semi-Auto Direct Impingement
Caliber: .308 Winchester | 7.62×51
Twist Rate: 1/10 button rifled
Muzzle Device: VG6 Gamma 762
Barrel: 16″, 4150 steel, chrome lined
Handguard: 13.5″ Stag M-LOK Handguard
Receiver Material: Forged 7075 T6 aluminum with type 3 hard coat anodizing. Upper features a .210 Tang Height (DPMS High Profile)
Bolt Carrier: .308 Nitride QPQ BCG
Hammer/Trigger pin size: Mil-spec small pin .154″
Pivot/Takedown Pin Size: .2770″
Buttstock: Magpul ACS Stock
Gas System: Low Profile Gas Block with Mid-Length Gas Tube
Buffer: Standard .308 Carbine Buffer and .308 Action Spring
Trigger: Mil-spec single stage trigger with a non-adjustable 5-8 lb trigger pull
Grip: Hogue Grip
Magazine: 10rd PMAG
Safety Selector: Right Hand

I knew that Stag builds good rifles. That was proven when we experienced the Model 3 and Model 4. What I did not expect was to be able to run .308 and the softer 7.62x51mm in both brass and steel casings without issues. Nor did I expect that 10 shots at 100 yards from two shooters with a hot barrel would fit in 1.2″. We’ve seen accuracy from Stag rifles before, but doesn’t range lore mandate an absurdly long barrel and special trigger? The Model 10S Rocks and will make for an excellent addition to any personal armory. Beefy battle rifle, semi-auto hunting rifle, or surprisingly accurate target shooter. I would say the choice is yours, but with the Stag Model 10S it appears you get all three.

How the M-16 and AR-15 work | Detailed animation

When Eugene Stoner designed the AR-10 platform in the late 1950s, it is unlikely he could have imagined the success this rifle (and it’s progeny) would achieve. While the total number of AR platform rifles in civilian hands isn’t known, estimates range from 2-30 million. Combine that with the multitude of M-4’s and other descendants of the AR-10 in the US military’s armory’s, and it’s easy to see why the AR-15 is hailed as “America’s Rifle”.

While most people reading this article are probably already informed to a degree as to the general operating mechanics of an AR-15/M-4/M-16, the following video does a great job of detailing (and showing) the specifics of each function. This includes going into detail as to the operation of the auto sear and three-round burst cam. Check out the following video!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMIBUIN30yU

Rex Nanorum

@Rexnanorum

Shots Fired: Spike’s Tactical Roadhouse AR-10: GBguns Video

Not long ago we brought you an up-close look at the Roadhouse AR-10 in .308 from Spike’s Tactical. Ambidextrous controls and no detail overlooked describes this battle tank of a rifle. On a bitter-cold morning with sleet accenting the weather I hit the range for testing.

Does the cold impact ammunition performance? Yes. Does the cold impact the metal’s performance? Potentially. I shot and filmed regardless because we don’t get to decide the weather. Wouldn’t you rather see how a gun runs in less-than-ideal conditions? Of course you do. That’s why you read TheArmsGuide.

Testing including fowling the barrel and heating up the rifle with some initial function checks. Since not every AR-10 is built to the same specifications we first check magazine compatibility. This test checks for fitment compatibility with magazines from MagPul, Brownell’s, C-Products, Hexmag, and IMI Defense. Malaysian military surplus ammo is used in mag testing. Once that’s complete it’s time for real-world accuracy.

Five-shot groups fired at a moderate cadence with a variety of loads. Not everyone has premium ammunition on hand, or even the correct load weight available. 125gr FederalTactical Urban Rifle, 168gr Federal Gold Medal Match, 168gr Speer Gold Dot, and 175gr RDF Nosler Match are tested. To show you real-world shooting the footage is left uncut. You will see in real time how quickly or slowly the groups are fired.

Test equipment included the Stinger Rest from Caldwell and Leupold VX3i LRP in a Warne XSKEL mount. Showing you every hit on target is the Ballistic Precision Target Camera from Caldwell.

The Roadhouse is am impressive rifle. As I’m sure you’ll see in the magazine testing the rifle just begs to be shot quicker and quicker. Mild recoil and easy handling make the Roadhouse a rifle that is difficult to put down. For more information visit the Spike’s Tactical product page.

First Look: Spike’s Tactical Roadhouse .308 AR-10

Spike’s Tactical has a well-established name for making some of the coolest rifles out there. From fun lowers to high-performance dream rifles they’re all available at Spike’s. In our recent series of AR-10 rifles we came upon the Roadhouse in .308.

Built like Schwarzennager should wield it, the Roadhouse is beefy. Of course everything is bigger on an AR-10, but this rifle is a beefcake of an AR-10. It’s not that weight reduction measures haven’t been taken, rather that everything is built tough. The barrel itself reminds me of a machine-gun barrel. Despite the beefiness there is also a stylistic and artistic touch to the gun. You have to see it to believe it and that’s what the video below is for.

Another impressive feat with the Roadhouse is the overall feel. It’s beefy, but not blocky, stylized, but not in that dainty “show only” way other makers have done. This gun has the looks for show, and build for go. A great example of this is are the ambidextrous controls. The magazine and bolt release don’t look like GI models simply glued in place, nor do they scream at you as if to be the start of the gun. Instead they flow into tastefully raised sections of the lower.

This will be the first 1:12 twist AR-10 we’ve shot, and I’m looking forward to how it runs with the lighter loads. We all know that twist rate serves as a general guideline for load compatibility, but there still seems to be a golden rule of 168gr performing best. Will that remain true with this rifle? In the video you can see the pile of ammunition to chose from. We want to hear your estimate as to which one will run best.

Make your vote for our ammo choice in the comment section below and we’ll get this beast to the range!

Guns this nice don’t come cheap. As seen on the Spike’s Tactical product page the Roadhouse is currently a $2,800 investment. Below is what you get for your money:

Gen II .308 Billet Upper Receiver

7075 T6 Construction
Ejection Port Door
Ejection Port Door Spring
Ejection Port Door Rod

18″ CHF Barrel

Cold Hammer Forged
Chrome Lined
1/12 Twist Rate
5/8 X 24 Thread Pitch for Muzzle
7.62 Nato Chamber
.750 Gas Block Seat
M4 Style Ramped Barrel Extension
Mil-Spec Phosphate Coating

15″ .308 M-LOK Rail

7075 T6 Barrel Nut
6061 T6 Rail
Continuous Top Rail
Free Floating 1 Piece
Q.D. Attachment Points

Low Profile Gas Block

Solid Billet Steel
.750 I.D.

Proprietary Gas Tube

Black Nitride Inside and Out
Gas Tube Roll Pin

Charging Handle

BCM 308 Mod 4
MilSpec Type 3 Coating

Nickel Boron .308 Complete BCG

Nickel Boron Coated
Laser Engraved with ST Spider logo
High Pressure Tested (HPT)
Magnetic Particle Inspected (MPI)

.30 Cal R2 Brake

Black Nitrite

Spike’s Gen II Billet Sights

Sliding Rear Aperture

Gen II .308 Billet Lower

Raised Spider Logo
Raised Bullet Pictogram Selector Markings
7075 T6 Forged Receiver
Multi Caliber
MIL-A-8625F Type III Class 2 Hard Coat Anodized Finish
Low Shelf, RDIAS Compatible
Proprietary Ambidextrous Controls
Built in Trigger Guard
KNS Mod ST Anti Rotation Pins

Lower Parts

Hiperfire 24 Trigger
Ambi Safety
Spike’s Pro Grip
6-Position .308 Buffer Tube, Castle Nut
.308 Buffer Spring
ST-T2 Buffer
Magpul ACS Stock

(Rifle includes hard case and manual)

Weight:	9lb 3oz
Length:	Position 1- 38″
	Position 6- 41 1/4″

Shots Fired: Smith & Wesson M&P 10 Sport and Nikon BLACK Scope

Not long ago we gave you a tabletop look at Smith & Wesson’s M&P 10 Sport. If you missed it, go back and see the report by following the link. I didn’t have much experience with rifles from Smith & Wesson and wondered if the rifle would be of any real quality, or just another sub-contracted pile of parts like other great American companies have done. I really wanted to like the M&P 10 Sport. Ambidextrous bolt release/catch, safety, and mag release were features that really excited me. Even more exciting was that this rifle is an AR-10 for around the magic $1,000 price range. It seems most AR-10s cost twice that or more if you want features better than bargain basement. Did the massive Smith & Wesson find the magic formula?

How did they do it? One way Smith & Wesson kept consumer price down was by not spending money on things that consumers like to swap on their own. Any increase in their cost of course becomes an increase in your cost.

The most common swaps for the AR platform is of course the muzzle device, furniture, and trigger. The M&P 10 Sport is delivered with an A2-style flash hider, M4-style collapsable stock, M16A2-looking hand guard, and a trigger not sporting the latest trendy name.

We took the rifle out for a spin and quickly recognized that the M4 stock and A2 flash-hider had to go. We swapped the stock out for the Adaptive Tactical which we had tested and proven before. The flash-hider went back in the box in exchange for the Gamma from VG6 Precision. Both items have proven themselves before and we trusted them to help us.

Range testing included our multi-mag and multi-load test. With AR-10s it is important a variety of magazines are tested for fit and function as there is no official standard for lower receivers. This is not a test of the rifle or magazine alone, rather how the two work together.

The Multi-Load test included match ammo from Nosler and Federal. We also included a defensive load from Speer and hunting load from Federal. Why the variety? This is an AR-10 labeled under the Military and Police line. It could easily be bought for the target, hunting, or defensive role. We wanted to see how it would group with ammo appropriate to each role. See the video below for the results. After watching the video let us know: What would you use this rifle for?

Testing was conducted using the Nikon BLACK X1000 4-16×50 Scope.