AR10 vs AR15 upper length?

Armedsask

Armedsask

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As I have mentioned a few times I'm dreaming up a new AR180 variant that has more feature in common with the AR15. My first phase will be a new aluminum lower for my 180B upper. I hope to start on that in the new year.

The second phase will be a new upper that uses AR15 barrels. This will be a little trickier than the lower project. I figure it's going to be a rather big project with lots of trial and error. I was hoping to find a way to retro fit an AR15 upper to save time but the 180B receiver is longer than the AR15 one. Then it hit me, an AR10 receiver is longer!

Could some one measure and tell me the difference in length of the AR15 and AR10 uppers? Measuring from the front pivot hole to the very back of the upper receiver would be extremely helpful. Exact dimensions aren't needed, just ball park.

Of course, a few issues may arise. How much difference is there between the AR10 and AR15 uppers? Most importantly, will an AR15 barrel and/or bolt fit in an AR10 upper? I'm hopping the AR10 is just a longer version of the AR15.

Thanks in advance guys.
 
Barrel isn't so much of an issue, I'll have to make up a custom one anyway that uses the AR18 type recoil springs and gas system.

Will the AR10 take an AR15 barrel?
 
5.56/.223 or course. Basically just a stretched AR15 lower that uses the AR18 style bolt and gas system for the upper.

I've already been told that it will not be an AR15 variant. Right now the project is the lower. In the end I hope to have a non-restricted, gas piston operater rifle that will use AR15 barrel, magazines, and all the other fancy gadgets you can bolt on the AR15.
 
An AR10 will not take a AR15 barrel
- the barrel extension and barrel nuts are different diameters.

You could get a 5.56mm AR10 barrel made if you really wanted - but the bolt is also setup for a larger.

I think it would be easier to mill one out yourself from a billet.


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Thanks for the pics Kevin! Looks like the AR10 receiver would be the perfect length but would add more trouble than making a scratch built, out weighing the cost saving possibility.

Dave, you never know, if I get good at this gun building stuff, wouldn't be all that hard to do a .308 version. :lol:
 
Armedsak.

I would think you could get a stripped AR10 upper off Wolverine. Bead Blast it to remove the annodising and then weld/reweld whatever you want then re-annodize it. However the problem also exists with the Bolt Carrier

IMG_0953.jpg


I dont think 5.56mm woudl have sufficient energy to cycle it.

I hate to be a party pooper on the AR10 upper fit....

-- maybe you could get a AR10 Upper forging and machine it to fit
 
I think the most viable (if building a 308 version-sorry, I like it) would be a barrel w/extension and a bolt/carrier assembly - than hack off the rear 1/2 of the carrier and build a plate to support dual recoil spings like the 180 design - adapt/modify the carrier key for a short recoil system....the gears are turning and the design is starting... :D
 
Hey, anything that looks, feels and operates liek an AR-15 AND is non-restricted is a plus in my book, no matter what the caliber ends up being ....
 
I dont think 5.56mm woudl have sufficient energy to cycle it.

I hate to be a party pooper on the AR10 upper fit.
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I'm not planning to use an AR10 bolt at all. I'm going with the AR18 style bolt system with the short recoil, to keep it an AR180B variant. As such, if I did start with an AR10 upper it would more than likely use a custom bolt carrier, probably be milled out a bit on the inside.

Or maybe cut an AR10 bolt carrier in half and go from there.

At this point I think a scratch built upper that takes AR15 barrels will be the easiest option. The 180 upper is pretty simple, would be to hard to add an AR15 style barrel nut and such to it. The only reason I was going to use an AR10 upper was to save time and money and keep the AR look but it probably isn't worth the hassle.
 
I dont know much about the topic but...

how complex are the AR15 uppers?

- do you know how many (approx) setups would be required to CNC mill a forged or cast upper?
- can you get a blank upper that would work?

I'm not a machinist but I might be able to help with CAD drawings and G-code.

Sounds like an interesting project!
 
If I'm going to have to scratch machine a custom upper, it will just be a simple one. Kind of like the Dlask PAC5 upper, it's pretty much just a block with the center drilled out for a bolt.
 
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