The AR-10

by
posted on September 15, 2009
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
2009915-dpms-repr-ar-10_f.gif

The AR-10 name is copyrighted by Armalite. But it, too, is used generically to describe the AR-15’s big brother. AR-10s are bigger and heavier than AR-15s, but they are also built for larger cartridges. They were engineered originally for the .308 Winchester and will handle any cartridge in the family. The .308 Winchester is the most common chambering, but .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 7mm-08 Rem. and the .338 Federal are available. The guns are also chambered in some new cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor offered by DPMS.

ArmaLite and DPMS offer hunting rifles in the .338 Federal. Mine is a DPMS LR338, and it’s become one of my favorite hunting rifles. I like the .338 Federal and have used it, or watched it used, to take a bunch of game including multiple whitetails as well as moose, caribou and black bear. It hits very hard and can handle longer shots out to any reasonable hunting range very well. I find it interesting that my swinging steel target from R&R Racing will take .308 hits all day long, but when I shoot it with my .338 Federal, every few shots it is knocked completely out of the stand. The impacts are visibly much harder with the .338 Federal. I like that in a cartridge.

I also have DPMS rifles in .308 Win., .243 Win. and .300 Rem. Short Action Ultra Mag. Unfortunately, the .300 RSAUM has since been discontinued.

Remington introduced their R-25 in .308 Win., .243 Win. and 7mm-08 Rem. I used one in .308 last fall to take three Texas whitetails with three well-placed shots.

It seems like every day more and more companies are adding AR-10s to catalogs. While the list of manufacturers offering them as hunting rifles is still far shorter than AR-15s, it is growing, and with that growth will come more cartridge options suitable for hunting.

I know one custom barrel maker who is turning out rifles chambered in the new Ruger Compact Magnums, and would be surprised if one of the innovative rifle companies didn’t introduce them very soon.

Latest

LEDE Count Some Quail
LEDE Count Some Quail

Count Some Quail, Tally Some Turkeys

The Arkansas turkey season ended in May, but there’s still good reason for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to keep the birds in mind when they head out to their favorite hiking trail or drive the backroads of The Natural State. Outdoorsmen who scare up coveys of quail are welcome in the survey as well.

2025 Online Firearm Sales Continue to Grow

While nationwide firearm sales have held steady this spring, guns.com is reporting significant growth, surpassing 10-percent year-over-year gun sales growth in the first half of 2025, according to the company's internal data.

#SundayGunday: Henry Special Products Division HUSH

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the HUSH Series, from Henry’s new Special Products Division, SPD for short.

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.