AR10 Chambered in .243?

[19Scout77]

I am contemplating building an AR10 in .243 for a LR comp rifle. Looking for suggestions regarding barrel length and twist--and overall impressions of such a rig. Ideally this rifle will be used in all the matches in which I currently use one of my bolt actions. I'd love to use the same 115 dtacs I use in my other rifle, but that may be a dream!

TIA

 

[Ren]

Re: AR10 Chambered in .243?

Funny you post this Scout. Ive been kicking the same idea around since November.... ever since I spotted an AR-10t in one of my local shops. To bad I have 0 info to give you on it though.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: AR10 Chambered in .243?

Are there any tactical competitions that specifically limit the field to bolt guns?

That is the only thing that has stopped me from looking at that route. Otherwise I may just build a .243 or 7-08 upper for my AR10. It would be sweet to be able to swap the upper, install the scope, rezero and gas on. Less expensive than building a complete second rifle (especially when you can run a QD scope mount to swap the glass on the uppers).

 

[JaneDoe]

Re: AR10 Chambered in .243?

I just got one back from GAP that has a Rock AR10T contour and length (24") with a 1:8 twist fitted with a Surefire break. It becomes very front heavy when the suppressor is mounted even with the PRS stock. In order to shoot from anything but a supported position I will either need to shoot unsuppressed or really work on my sling technique.

It has been to the range just once and I have not yet tried 115 DTAC's, just fireformed some factory loaded 95 SST's, but think the 115's will be on the edge of being able to be stabilized with the 1:8 twist from what I have read. I too would like them to work as I have a bolt gun with a 1:7.5 that really likes the DTAC's. If it doesn't then I will try 105's or 107's in both rifles.

Besides the unbalanced feel with the suppressor, the only problem I see is the barrel life, I tend to shoot more rounds from gas guns at each range session than bolt guns.

I think this will be a great rifle for steel, comps and pigs.

Tim

 

[scotharr]

Re: AR10 Chambered in .243?

I'd suggest at least a 24" barrel: 26" even better for the long-range matches. I'd also suggest you get a gas block that allows you to adjust the amount of gas going back to the bolt. I suspect you will have to tune that variable for the heavy DTACs.

Long-ass DTACs in a magazine-fed AR....not sure how well that's gonna work.

Not sure how well the industry has fine-tuned the 243 gas port: size and location. You might want to check into that before spending too much cash.

 

[Hellbender]

Re: AR10 Chambered in .243?

I'm building one right now, on a semi-wildcat (no fireforming) made specifically for mag length 115 DTAC's (will shoot 105's and 107's, too, of course).

You just run a .243 case into a die and it lengthens the neck and forms the shoulder to match the 6XC.

Hope to get 2900 fps out of the DTAC's.

Here's a link....

http://www.6mmar.com/Super_LR.html

The gun will be a DPMS LR w/ 24" 1-7.5" twist Kreiger, the bbl has been on order for 2 months, so hopefully it will be here soon!

I'm also shooting for a 12.5 pound OA weight. I had the countour made pretty light.

 

[19Scout77]

Re: AR10 Chambered in .243?

I appreciate the comments and caveats. This is still in the preliminary stages--a lot more R & D to be done.

Keep it coming!!