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Gunsmithing AR10(Armalite) Performance Enhancements

KYbulldog

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 7, 2013
221
4
Kentucky
Mine works well already, but can I improve it?
My rifle, Armalite Lwr/Upr, BCG, buffer/spring, Apex handguard,harris6-9bipod, 18.5" fluted heavy barrel(Rock5r),Larue Lopro Gasblock, Magpul PRS, PRI gas buster charging handle, Geissele SSA-E, ambi safety, Vortex 6-24x50ffp on Bobro mount.

What kind of performance upgrades have you done and how did it compare to stock hardware?

Has anyone tried the following...how do you rate? (Be sure to include your rifle specs for apples to apples comparison)
JP Low Mass BCG/enhanced bolt combo
Tubbs CS flatwire or other aftermarket buffer spring(JP silent captured spring)
 
At this point, id say the best enhancement would be to spend any extra coin on ammo or reloading supplies and improve yourself to beyond the capabilities of the weapon.
 
Mine works well already, but can I improve it?
My rifle, Armalite Lwr/Upr, BCG, buffer/spring, Apex handguard,harris6-9bipod, 18.5" fluted heavy barrel(Rock5r),Larue Lopro Gasblock, Magpul PRS, PRI gas buster charging handle, Geissele SSA-E, ambi safety, Vortex 6-24x50ffp on Bobro mount.

What kind of performance upgrades have you done and how did it compare to stock hardware?

Has anyone tried the following...how do you rate? (Be sure to include your rifle specs for apples to apples comparison)
JP Low Mass BCG/enhanced bolt combo
Tubbs CS flatwire or other aftermarket buffer spring(JP silent captured spring)

Well...not much about your current rifle is anywhere close to "stock" and you already have some arguably ideal components in place for a precision large-frame semi-auto build, but just let me help you out before you goof up too bad with some of the things you are considering.

FIRST...the JP Low mass BCG and enhanced Bolt are NOT compatible with an Armalite platform rifle. The are built to operate on the DPMS LR-308 platform which as you may or may not know...is not cross-compatible with the Armalite. Using them with your rifle could well be a recipe for disaster. The Armalite BCG and bolt components are VERY strong, reliable parts and should serve you well. I have run the hell out of multiple Armalite AR-10 bolts and carriers in various generations including the newest ones setup for use with Armalite's forward assist that's been offered for the last few years...there is no need to upgrade to aftermarket components as far as those parts are concerned.

As for the JP Silent Capture Spring setup, it will work with your setup, but depending on what loads you are running, whether or not your rifle is overgassed or not, etc., you may need to swap out the stock spring that comes with the unit to one of the heavier models that JP sells (unless you do one of the suggested upgrades I reference below). They do a nice job "quieting down" the noise of the rifle cycling in terms of the spring rebound and settling some of the perceived recoil impulse of the rifle., but aside from that, I wouldn't go so far as to say that they offer significant "performance" upgrades. I have never been a big fan of the Tubb flatwire springs as to me, they don't offer any significant advantage over the stock Armalite/DPMS/etc. springs and they cost significantly more for the same level of function.

Seeing your component list, perhaps one of the basic recommended "improvements" or upgrades that I would consider would be an adjustable gas block of sorts. That would allow you to fine tune your gas system with the ammo you are using at any given time which can have dramatic effects on performance, including reducing perceived recoil, reducing wear/tear on your rifle components as a whole, improving accuracy, increasing speed on follow-up shots, etc.
 
Agreed,
Plenty of good gouge on here to help in reloading to maximize performance. In process.

On the JP bcg/bolt combo, the website says they can be used in an Armalite platform but only as a pair...as in bolts and bcg's are not interchangeable. Which is one of the reasons I asked. I was curious if anyone had used them in Armailite's receivers.

see c&p from JP website....

BC-4 Bolt Carrier Assembly Group AR-10 Compatibility

This notice pertains to any rifle based on the large-format AR-10-type or LR-308 platform typically chambered in .308 Winchester, 7.62x51 NATO or other cartridges requiring the longer magazine format. Be aware that these receiver platforms are not standardized like the AR-15/M16 platform for which most parts are cross-compatible. Before ordering accessories and parts for your large-format rifle, make sure the parts are compatible with your particular platform. The JPBC-4A complete bolt carrier assembly and its parts are compatible with the DPMS family of AR-10 products. With the Armalite/Rock River family of large-frame receivers, this assembly can only be used as a complete bolt carrier assembly group. Interchanging individual components will result in an unsafe configuration. DO NOT under any circumstances mix and match components between the platforms. Only use the complete JP bolt carrier assembly in the Armalite/Rock River platforms.


As far as the gas block goes, I'm on the waiting list for a Syrac Ordnance Adjustable(.875).

Thanks for the reply.
 
Well, SLR Rifleworks beat Syrac Ordnance to the punch with the size gas block(.875) I needed to finish out the build. No statement here other than, SLR had it, and I wanted one. Ordered and installed. Works as advertised. Quality excellent. Complete adjustability. Customer service second to none. Shipped out/arrived as promised. SLR Rifleworks