Brownells Retro ARs, any good?

Mikehenrybell

Mikehenrybell

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I've noticed that Brownells started their complete AR retro lines a year ago, I wonder if anyone owns one of these classic looking rifles? How do you feel about it? Always looking for Vietnam era looking ARs but the price of Colt's is just ridiculous. Haven't found any online retailer stock Brownells gun for Canadian firearm owners, is there any website that sells this type of rifle in Canada?d28e69785d71b9edc19ecdf0f26092b2.jpg
 

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I just checked with I Run Guns and they have some of the Brownells retro guns on their US website, so I would check with them. I don't think anybody here in Canada actually deals with Brownells stuff, so IRG would be the best place to get one imported.

I'm not 100% sure if they have an FRT but if not it's usually a pretty simple process for a restricted as long as it has the high shelf lower that the RCMP demand.
 
The 308 should be NR as it was a direct clone as the original ar10.

The xm and the 600 series should be restricted as it is just another AR
 
sky52 said:
The 308 should be NR as it was a direct clone as the original ar10.

The xm and the 600 series should be restricted as it is just another AR
Click to expand...

The XBRN177E2 doesn’t have a fake auto sear pin like the other xm177 replicas so it might be safe.
 
sky52 said:
The 308 should be NR as it was a direct clone as the original ar10.

The xm and the 600 series should be restricted as it is just another AR
Click to expand...

I get so tired of this. It is not a direct clone. There is not a single part of this rifle, or a NEA, BCL, TROY etc... that is interchangeable with an original AR10. If it was a direct clone it would cost at least three times the price.

It’s more of a tribute than anything else.
 
I've been eyeing up the brn10 and it almost looks like it will fit on a stag 10 lower. Both are slant cut armalite pattern uppers and the pin hole looks far enough back
 
Why are these not up here NR?
How is this not a thing yet!? Someone has to have some greasy inside info on the BRN10.
I heard rumours wolverine was working on submission of one to RCMP for an FRT decision.
I have never wanted a single rifle so badly in my years of this hobby. Its literally my holy grail rifle within potential grasp.
 
Leg said:
I get so tired of this. It is not a direct clone. There is not a single part of this rifle, or a NEA, BCL, TROY etc... that is interchangeable with an original AR10. If it was a direct clone it would cost at least three times the price.

It’s more of a tribute than anything else.
Click to expand...

Umm. The brn10 is a direct clone of the dutch version, and the dutch version is NR or R if its shorter than 18.5 Go to Wolverines thread.

Ar102 is a complete different beast
 
sky52 said:
Umm. The brn10 is a direct clone of the dutch version
Click to expand...

No. Taken right out of the description on Brownell's website: " A majority of the components on the BRN-10® are compatible with modern DPMS/SR-25 parts or AR-15 parts." It is a modern AR-10 that has had the externals modified to resemble the originals. It should be non-restricted because the receivers are proprietary, not because it is a copy of the Artillerie Inrichtingen guns.

As for the AR102 being a different beast, no, again. The AR102 was made at AI right alongside military contract guns, they are mechanically the same as other Dutch AR-10s made at the same time, but for a few changes specifically done to earn the "sporter" designation, such as a modified mag well that won't take standard magazines, and a semi-auto only trigger group.
 
sky52 said:
Umm. The brn10 is a direct clone of the dutch version, and the dutch version is NR or R if its shorter than 18.5 Go to Wolverines thread.

Ar102 is a complete different beast
Click to expand...

BattleRife summed it up nicely. Where do you guys get this stuff? Take everything you’re told at face value? Not even NEA claimed the NEA102 was interchangeable with the AR102, and they were professional bull####ters.
 
BattleRife said:
No. Taken right out of the description on Brownell's website: " A majority of the components on the BRN-10® are compatible with modern DPMS/SR-25 parts or AR-15 parts." It is a modern AR-10 that has had the externals modified to resemble the originals. It should be non-restricted because the receivers are proprietary, not because it is a copy of the Artillerie Inrichtingen guns.

As for the AR102 being a different beast, no, again. The AR102 was made at AI right alongside military contract guns, they are mechanically the same as other Dutch AR-10s made at the same time, but for a few changes specifically done to earn the "sporter" designation, such as a modified mag well that won't take standard magazines, and a semi-auto only trigger group.
Click to expand...

I agree with BattleRife. Brownell's was able to deliver their BRN-10 rifle for an affordable price because they accomplished a largely cosmetic clone of the Cuban variant of the Dutch AR10. The BRN-10 product manager and I had many email exchanges and he admitted to using photos as a reference since they only had access to a Portuguese AR10. Lucky for you Canadians that the upper-lower mating profile and location of the locking pins are unique to the BRN-10. Just look at the exaggerated carry handle on the BRN-10 and it is a reminder of the Hollywood Model AR10. The charging handle stickiness of the BRN-10 is not inherent to the early trigger style design. Brownells choose a cheaper and simpler retaining method as compared to the more complex detent used on Hollywood and early Dutch AR10s.

As for the AR102 Sporters. I have inspected several different authentic AR102 rifles and again BattleRife is 100% correct. The US ATF demanded that several changes be made to the AR10 platform before semi-auto variants could be imported and sold to the public.
1) The gun could not be called an AR10, so Armalite toyed with AR100 and settled on AR102 name.
2) Military magazine could not function with the semiauto. So Armalite installed a block in the right side of the magwell to prohibit military mags from inserting.
3) A steel sear blocking pin must be present, much like Colt used during the ban years on AR15's.
​

This is what a real Cuban variant AR10 looks like. The brother to this gun lives in Toronto at "Movie Armaments Group" Toronto. The one below is in the US and is intact.

2019-09-edit.jpg
 
sky52 said:
The 308 should be NR as it was a direct clone as the original ar10
Click to expand...

I thought they were a “visual” clone made by Faxon and based on the DPMS LR-308 as operating parts are interchangeable. I believe you can buy the retro barrel and fit it on any LR-308 type gun.

Edit: I guess some else beat me too it. lol
 
Last edited:
HHollow said:
I agree with BattleRife. Brownell's was able to deliver their BRN-10 rifle for an affordable price because they accomplished a largely cosmetic clone of the Cuban variant of the Dutch AR10. The BRN-10 product manager and I had many email exchanges and he admitted to using photos as a reference since they only had access to a Portuguese AR10. Lucky for you Canadians that the upper-lower mating profile and location of the locking pins are unique to the BRN-10. Just look at the exaggerated carry handle on the BRN-10 and it is a reminder of the Hollywood Model AR10. The charging handle stickiness of the BRN-10 is not inherent to the early trigger style design. Brownells choose a cheaper and simpler retaining method as compared to the more complex detent used on Hollywood and early Dutch AR10s.

As for the AR102 Sporters. I have inspected several different authentic AR102 rifles and again BattleRife is 100% correct. The US ATF demanded that several changes be made to the AR10 platform before semi-auto variants could be imported and sold to the public.
1) The gun could not be called an AR10, so Armalite toyed with AR100 and settled on AR102 name.
2) Military magazine could not function with the semiauto. So Armalite installed a block in the right side of the magwell to prohibit military mags from inserting.
3) A steel sear blocking pin must be present, much like Colt used during the ban years on AR15's.
​

This is what a real Cuban variant AR10 looks like. The brother to this gun lives in Toronto at "Movie Armaments Group" Toronto. The one below is in the US and is intact.

2019-09-edit.jpg
Click to expand...

Hollow

That's excellent news. Thanks for the info very much
So it has to be NR for the same reason the 102 and troy etc all are. Proprietary non mating upper and lower receivers.
Outstanding!
Has anyone to your knowledge submitted a copy to the rcmp for frt yet?
That's what I'm dying to know. I want this rifle so bad it hurts.
 
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