AIA's 7.62 x 39mm M10A2 Carbine - Pics

1feral1

1feral1

Regular
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
NH, USA
Greetings and G'Day from tropical Queensland!

Some of you may have heard or read about this new rifle being offered for the North American market. Well, I have been meaning to post a few pics of this firearm for all to see. Rumour net says MARSTAR might be the Cdn distributer for this well made Australian re-engineered robust 21st century version of the battle proven "Lee Enfield" rifle.

I had bought this carbine last year. It uses 10rd AKM mags, and all parts are new, no old "surplus" or "wartime" parts are used, as all are newly made by AIA.

The company is based out of Brisbane, Queensland, not even an hours drive from my house here in the Caboolture shire area.

The M10A2 is robust, and well suited for the harsh Aussie climate. It comes with a tapped reciever for the standard Picatinny rail, and there is no charger guide.

I am sure it would do well both in Canada and the USA, and the calibre is quite popular, using the 7.62mm M43 Soviet cartridge. Seems there is NEVER a shortage of this ammunition, even here.

The rear sight is the standard flip (200m/400m) rear apeture type, but the Singer .303 No5 Jungle Carbine rear sight works well, but only fits if the rail is removed.

The M10A2 comes with two 10rd AKM mags, the rail, front sight adjuster (both azimuth and elevation are done on the front sight), cheek pad (similar to a sniper No4 T type), and a leather "M1903" Springfield US type sling, made of Aussie water buffalo hide from our Northern Territory.

The bolt is matched to the carbine by serial number, as is the bolt head. The finish comes either blued or phosphated, the one I have is the military phosphated type.

The barrel is 16.1 inches long and has a chrome bore, which is fixed to the reciever similar to the M16 FOW. The wood is teak, and resembles a pattern late of the experimental Aussie Lithgow Jungle Carbine version of the No1 MkIII .303 rifle.

I do have some pics, but I am not that swift when it comes to loading them, so if anyone can lend a few words, that would be excellent.

I can then load some, and your curiosity will indeed be quenched, as they say a picture has a thousand words.

Good shooting!


Wes
 
Last edited:
Wes, do you own one?
If so does it feed?
I've heard some ugly stories about the ones chambered to 7.62x39 and I've also heard that the machining is done in Vietnam whether or not the company is Queensland based.
How does it handle?
 
Mate, yes I own one. I bought it out of Rebel Guns at the Gabba last year, and paid $1015AUD, but the blued version goes for around $900AUD. Personally, I think the price is over the top, and no doubt will be cheaper in Canada and the USA. Honestly, I would have expected them to be around the $650AUD or so price, but its supply and demand.

As for feeding it goes well, but the problem you are talking about is magazine related, as the first generation, would have a rd on occasion pop out of the mag as the bolt was pushed into battery.

This problem has since been fixed. I am told that all rifles currently in the US from Tristar where 'dealer samples' and not to be sold to the public. That has happened, and hence the defect has come to the attention of many, although an isolated incident.

Ya, AIA has used feeder factories for the components, and all are assembled here, but I too have heard of the O/S factories in VN and other nearby places, and this is no doubt true.

As for this one, I am getting groups about 200mm at 300m (prone supported position) with clean Chi-Com steel cased generic military ball ammo (1990's manufacture). This as recent as last Sunday at Belmont.

I see that 'Lawrance on George' has removed his 7.62 x 39mm carbines from advertising on his website, and is only going for the 7.62 NATO calibres in carbine and rifle lengths.

Cheers,

Wes
 
Last edited:
FWIW, I happen to know these will be offered in Canada within a few weeks, but I'm sworn to secrecy about pricing and supplier... sorry guys.
 
Claven2 said:
FWIW, I happen to know these will be offered in Canada within a few weeks, but I'm sworn to secrecy about pricing and supplier... sorry guys.
Click to expand...

Rumour net around here says it's MARSTAR ????


Cheers,

Wes
 
I hope that's true. I can't wait until the fifteen threads appear debating the legal status of any AIA M10 A2 marked mags.
 
1feral1 said:
Rumour net around here says it's MARSTAR ????


Cheers,

Wes
Click to expand...

No comment.

That being said, they are pretty nice rifles. Hope they sell well here despite the quantities of original .303's as it would be a shame if they didn't catch on to continue he Lee Enfield Story... ;)
 
Too right Canuck223! I wonder what will happen with that contention. At the end of the day, what happens when an banned 'over capacity' magazine for a 'naughty gun' also fits on a politically correct rifle designed in the 19th century. I guess time will tell, but at least those limp wristed liberals are out of the game. The damage they have caused, and the millions upon millions of your tax paying dollars have been wasted for the 'Cukiers' out there.

As for the AKM mags, the only difference between them and the M10 mags is there is a slight modification to the back of the magazine, where the rear retaining lug is cut at a bit more of an angle. I am sure that the 10rd mags would still happily fit into any AK/AKM/Valmet, but a standard AKM mag without this mod, will not fit into the M10A2. I have tried.

See, here in Queensland, one can posess over capacity mags, but not the original firearms they are designed for them (except under special certain circumstances which I am not part of). These mags are available at gun shows, but very pricey. I have seen AR10, M14, L1A1, and AK mags too often.

There is no law in Queensland on magazine capacitys for bolt action/lever action rifles and carbines, but a 30rd mag in a M10 does not look quite right, and why attract attention on the range. I'll stick to the 6 or 7 10 rd mags I have.

Yes, and the M10 7.62mm NATO version too, which takes 10rd M14 mags. I bet the Cdn market will be stuck with 5rd mags, but who knows, there might be some kind of a loophole. We'll just have to have a 'wait out' on this and see what the Cdn distributor will be having for mags for the M10 'happy' family of firearms.

Cheers,

Wes
 
Last edited:
Claven I hope you aren't yankin' us. If someone brings in these at a decent price and we get 10 round mags I will drain my account. It is the gun I've always wanted but didn't know it until I saw it. Does anyone have a link to their home page?

M10A2.jpg
 
Hmm, just had a good look at the rear sight. It looks more like a L1A1. Also clued in that with the charger guide machined in, the M-43 stripper clips will work perfectly with the 10 round mag.

If this can hit the market with the 10 round (or greater) mag for less than $600, it will fly off the shelf.

Yes, I know it's just a bolt action shooting mediocre ammo, but it's the perfect utility gun. You can affort to wring it out and get comfortable with it. Screw the scopes etc, just plain two position irons and a lot of practice.
 
DaveMachine said:
Since they are using AKM magazines that means they are going to be limited to 5 rounds, right? Anyways, a full length one would be nice.
Click to expand...

That will be the 64 million dollar question.

In it's favour, the gun is a derivative of the Lee-Enfield. The Lee Enfield has a specific exemption so long as the magazine is in it's origional caliber. (We know it's a redundant exemption being a bolt action, but there were some semi and full auto's designed to use that mag)

Also since the mag catch area seems to have to be slightly altered, the mag would seem to be manufactured for this gun.

I would not take any bets against this gun being imported with a factory 10 round mag.
 
Canuck223 said:
That will be the 64 million dollar question.

In it's favour, the gun is a derivative of the Lee-Enfield. The Lee Enfield has a specific exemption so long as the magazine is in it's origional caliber. (We know it's a redundant exemption being a bolt action, but there were some semi and full auto's designed to use that mag)

Also since the mag catch area seems to have to be slightly altered, the mag would seem to be manufactured for this gun.

I would not take any bets against this gun being imported with a factory 10 round mag.
Click to expand...

Well, that's kind of reassuring but just keep in mind that we're dealing with the CFC and the RCMP here.
 
Big Guy said:
The Rem 799 ( a mauser 98 variant) lists for $599. It comes in 7.62x39 You would have to beat this price to sell them to me.
Click to expand...

Looks like a neet gun. For my purposes, I would prefer the M10's shorter barrel length, flash hider, and iron sights. I agree with you about the pricing. If they can't get it to market for under $600, it will be a harder sell. It's got to be priced to compete with the Norinco Bush gun. It will clearly cost more, but how much more???
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom