Armalite AR-10A2 Carbine. How good (or bad) is it?

Rickmeister · May 31, 2002, 07:53 AM

Greetings.

I'm thinking of buying an AR-10A2 Carbine, but I don't know as much as I'd like about it. What is your general impression of it? And what's the difference between a carbine and a rifle in this case? Other ARs fire the same caliber and have similar bbls, and yet they're called rifles.

Steve Smith · May 31, 2002, 09:08 AM

The AR10A2 rifle has a20" barrel. The carbine has a 16" barrel. That's the difference.

A .308 with a 16" barrel does nothing for me.

RikWriter · May 31, 2002, 09:32 AM

I like the carbine length AR10s...they are very handy and compact, yet pack a big punch. Unless you'll be doing a significant amount of shooting at ranges over 400 yards, you will never miss the extra 4 inches of barrel.
Personally, I prefer the A4 version with the flattop receiver (the version I personally own), since I plan on putting optics on the gun when I can afford it.

dZ · May 31, 2002, 09:36 AM

the flames from a 16 inch .308 postban must add at least 3 points of CDI factor

check out the SR-25 forums at
http://www.biggerhammer.net/stoner/wwwboard/

fix · May 31, 2002, 11:07 AM

I've got the A4 Carbine. Muzzle blast is significant. Flash is really not that bad. Accuracy out to 800 does not suffer. I imagine that past 800, you'll experience some problems due to the round going sub-sonic and subsequently sinking. The only complaint I have regarding it is magazine availability. I currently have 3245 rounds through it without a single failure. I give it a quick cleaning every 500 rounds, and a thorough cleaning every 1000 rounds. I've fired pretty much everything through it. It likes South African surplus the best. I have been very pleased with this rifle. It averages just under an inch with good match ammo, about 1.5 with surplus. I have shot a .75 inch group with surplus though. I use the GGG MAD flip up rear sight and the GGG flip up front sight. Currently I have an ACOG TA01B on it.

LevelHead · May 31, 2002, 08:56 PM

I used to have an AR10(TC) (16" target). I miss it - awesome little rifle.

JIH · June 1, 2002, 08:09 AM

It just has a 16" barrel.

You basically lose a little velocity, sight radius, and weight and gain muzzle blast.

They're good guns... pretty handy. I don't like going short on a .308, but that's my problem.

Scott Evans · June 1, 2002, 05:43 PM

Love mine so much I will one day name it (something only reserved for best of the best in my collection). The only problem with that for the moment is I haven’t yet come up with something appropriate.

I cannot say enough good about it … a very reliable performer!

Muzzle blast has never been an issue for me. The factory M/ brake dose an excellent job of reducing both recoil and flash.

I would highly recommend either the 16” or the 20” variants A-2 or A-4 dependent upon your intended overall use.

I selected an A-2 16” as I wanted something in my collection that I would go to first if I needed a “no nonsense” battle rifle.

May 31, 2002, 07:53 AM	#1
Rickmeister Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 797	Armalite AR-10A2 Carbine. How good (or bad) is it? Greetings. I'm thinking of buying an AR-10A2 Carbine, but I don't know as much as I'd like about it. What is your general impression of it? And what's the difference between a carbine and a rifle in this case? Other ARs fire the same caliber and have similar bbls, and yet they're called rifles. __________________ NRA Lifer

May 31, 2002, 09:08 AM	#2
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	The AR10A2 rifle has a20" barrel. The carbine has a 16" barrel. That's the difference. A .308 with a 16" barrel does nothing for me. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

May 31, 2002, 09:32 AM	#3
RikWriter Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 1999 Posts: 2,104	I like the carbine length AR10s...they are very handy and compact, yet pack a big punch. Unless you'll be doing a significant amount of shooting at ranges over 400 yards, you will never miss the extra 4 inches of barrel. Personally, I prefer the A4 version with the flattop receiver (the version I personally own), since I plan on putting optics on the gun when I can afford it. __________________ In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on.---Robert Frost

May 31, 2002, 09:36 AM	#4
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	the flames from a 16 inch .308 postban must add at least 3 points of CDI factor check out the SR-25 forums at http://www.biggerhammer.net/stoner/wwwboard/ __________________ "O tell the Lacedomecians to damn the torpedoes." BOTR, Chapter V: Some Monsters

May 31, 2002, 08:56 PM	#6
LevelHead Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2000 Location: America Posts: 219	I used to have an AR10(TC) (16" target). I miss it - awesome little rifle. __________________ "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face -- for ever." ~ George Orwell, 1984

May 31, 2002, 11:07 AM	#5
fix Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2001 Posts: 919	I've got the A4 Carbine. Muzzle blast is significant. Flash is really not that bad. Accuracy out to 800 does not suffer. I imagine that past 800, you'll experience some problems due to the round going sub-sonic and subsequently sinking. The only complaint I have regarding it is magazine availability. I currently have 3245 rounds through it without a single failure. I give it a quick cleaning every 500 rounds, and a thorough cleaning every 1000 rounds. I've fired pretty much everything through it. It likes South African surplus the best. I have been very pleased with this rifle. It averages just under an inch with good match ammo, about 1.5 with surplus. I have shot a .75 inch group with surplus though. I use the GGG MAD flip up rear sight and the GGG flip up front sight. Currently I have an ACOG TA01B on it.

June 1, 2002, 08:09 AM	#7
JIH Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1999 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 963	It just has a 16" barrel. You basically lose a little velocity, sight radius, and weight and gain muzzle blast. They're good guns... pretty handy. I don't like going short on a .308, but that's my problem.

June 1, 2002, 05:43 PM	#8
Scott Evans Staff Alumnus Join Date: December 7, 1998 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 1,380	Love mine so much I will one day name it (something only reserved for best of the best in my collection). The only problem with that for the moment is I haven’t yet come up with something appropriate. I cannot say enough good about it … a very reliable performer! Muzzle blast has never been an issue for me. The factory M/ brake dose an excellent job of reducing both recoil and flash. I would highly recommend either the 16” or the 20” variants A-2 or A-4 dependent upon your intended overall use. I selected an A-2 16” as I wanted something in my collection that I would go to first if I needed a “no nonsense” battle rifle. __________________ “This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine …” MOLON LABE ! I’m a G-CODE holster fan ! www.range5.com