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Posted: 1/23/2018 5:58:25 PM EDT
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Hi Folks,
I have been busting at the seams for the last several weeks with knowledge that I could not share until just now, but following their success in producing modern semi-auto copies of the early AR-15s like the 601, XM16E1, M16A1, and XM177E1, Brownells has just announced (in the last few minutes) that they will be releasing this year for sale semi-auto copies of the original Dutch AR-10s! As the author of the Collector Grade Publications book on the topic and the recent article on retro AR-10s in Firearms News's Big Retro Edition, I am happy to reveal that I will be testing and evaluating one of these rifles, and my review of it, in comparison to my 1959-production original Portuguese-issue AR-10, will be appearing soon in Firearms News with lots of glorious photos. Contractually, I can't say much more of what I know, and won't be giving my impressions of the T&E gun until I write my review for Firearms News, but my editor Vince DeNiro is at SHOT Show right now, and as he sends me photos of the unveiling, I will be sharing them with y'all here. I am sure I am not alone in champing at the bit to get my hands on this rifle, and the last few weeks have seemed like an eternity! |
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Dutch AR-10s are what the Germans ALMOST adopted instead of the G3. But only didn't because the Dutch didn't have enough industrial capacity to complete the orders the West Germans needed for fighting the Communist horde.
As I understand it, they were probably the best AR-10s ever made. So a Dutch AR-10 clone sounds amazing. |
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I'm curious if this is a legitimate reproduction or just a modern design made to look like an AR-10 to some extent or another. I'm very interested in the former, especially if they go the Portuguese route (which is one of the most refined AI variants), and even moreso the scope-compatible version, but I have no strong interest in the latter, especially at the price point someone suggested above. I'd hold out for an original on a rewelded AI lower in that case, or a parts kit (in the off-chance that I came across one for sale) and try to get a cut receiver rewelded or have a new one made.
A poor facsimile based on a modern design holds no interest for me whatsoever. |
for!!
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Quoted: Going to be watching these to see if they end up changing any parts to make them a closer clone then. I know nothing about AR10s, but I'd want more than a lookalike. |
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This was the going price on a Armalite AR-10B that just closed out on GB. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/735882472
The Brownells appear to be a closer representation of a true AR-10 |
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Quoted: There are so many niggling things wrong, from the fsb back, that it is more of a tribute and less of a clone IMHO. Still cool. But I know if I got one I'd start researching and the niggling little things would start to bug me 
Guess I'll have to stick to the PTR for .308 lead slinging for now. |
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Quoted:
Didn't ArmaLite do a run about 15 years ago??? I guess AL was ahead of their retro time..... Might hafta sell off one of my Armalite 10Bs, I like the looks of the Brownell's a little better. |
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Quoted:
This is awesome, I am so impressed. I understand it's not a true clone, but for many of us this will be the closest we will ever come to handling a real AR 10. Wasn’t totally blown away by the AR-15 lineup but that’s because I’ve already built my colt clones with surplus parts. But for the guy who doesn’t have the time or motivation to do the research and doesn’t care about those smallest details, that’s a cool product lineup as well. |
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Quoted: Isn't the DPMS mag patterned after the original AR-10 mags? |
Well I’m not buying that ptr91 now . Can’t wait for this !
Edit : even with the small cosmetic differences this is super cool , I’m sure there are some talented cats on this board that will be replacing barrel assembly’s, fsb’s and hand guards with some more period correct looking ones , as far as I’m concerned it’s a nice ar10 that only weighs 8 pounds and should be pretty accurate compared to other 308 semi auto rifles. There goes my gun money this year . . Anyone else notice the weight difference listed for the 2 models ? Is it 8 or 9 pounds ? |
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I need a new job to make up for the debt I will go into because of this.
I never dreamed something like this would happen. Sure it's not perfectly accurate but, who cares? No one else is doing it. This is ground breaking. Armalite's earlier attempt is a joke compared to this. Haven't we been asking for this for years now? "I want a retro AR-10, even if it just looks the part and uses modern internals." Well, that package has just been delivered and I think it looks damn good. Way better than I would have ever expected. |
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Quoted:
Well I'm not buying that ptr91 now . Can't wait for this !
Edit : even with the small cosmetic differences this is super cool , I'm sure there are some talented cats on this board that will be replacing barrel assembly's, fsb's and hand guards with some more period correct looking ones , as far as I'm concerned it's a nice ar10 that only weighs 8 pounds and should be pretty accurate compared to other 308 semi auto rifles. There goes my gun money this year . . Anyone else notice the weight difference listed for the 2 models ? Is it 8 or 9 pounds ? https://youtu.be/pGPJOzHD3oM |
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Quoted:
I think these will be great. Think about it: other than originals, where is there another source for a receiver set like that? The way I see it, they've done the hardest part. The details we can always work on. After all that's sort of what we do here, right? |
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Compatibility Notes: DPMS/SR-25 compatible parts on the Brownells BRN-10™ rifle include: magazine, bolt/carrier group, barrel assembly, barrel nut, slip ring assembly, crush washer, muzzle devices, buffer, buffer spring, handguard, magazine latch, and magazine release spring. AR-15 compatible components include: front sight base assembly, gas tube, handguard cap, drop-in GI-style handguards, receiver extension (buffer tube), buffer retainer & spring, takedown detents & springs, selector, selector detent & spring, trigger assembly, buttstock assembly, and pistol grip & screw. Brownells BRN-10™ (Both A & B) Features & Details: *Receivers machined from billet 7075 T6 aluminum *.308 Winchester chambered, 20" barrel with 1-10" twist *.750" diameter at the gas block *"Trigger"-style charging handle on top of receiver, under carry handle *Chrome-plated bolt/carrier group with period details *Magnetic particle inspected 9310 carbon steel bolt *Brownells Retro buttstock assembly & pistol grip *Flat slip ring assembly *Standard AR-15-style front sight base *Period-style rear sight *5/8"-24 tpi muzzle threads *Rifle receiver extension (buffer tube) with correct rifle buffer & spring *42" OAL *Accepts standard, metal DPMS/SR-25 magazines (Magpul PMAGs will NOT work) *Comes with one 20-round Brownells aluminum magazine, chamber safety flag, safety manual, and copy of the USGI Field Manual BRN-10A Features & Details: ($1699.99) *Heavy-contour barrel with aggressive fluting underneath the handguard *Open, 3-prong, Dutch-style flash hider with black QPQ Nitride finish *Brown Retro furniture to replicate original fiberglass look *9 lbs. wt. BRN-10B Features & Details: ($1599.99) *Lightweight barrel *Closed-prong, Portuguese-style flash hider with black QPQ Nitride finish *Black Retro furniture to replicate later production AR-10® rifles *8 lbs. wt. |
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I just got the photos from the reveal event from my editor, and am happy to share them with y'all. If I thought I was excited to try these puppies out before, I'm even more eager now!
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a556/putnamev/BRN-10%201_zpsc2misjcj.jpeg http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a556/putnamev/BRN-10%201_zpsc2misjcj.jpeg http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a556/putnamev/BRN-10%201_zpsc2misjcj.jpeg |
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Quoted:
I just got the photos from the reveal event from my editor, and am happy to share them with y'all. If I thought I was excited to try these puppies out before, I'm even more eager now! http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a556/putnamev/BRN-10%201_zpsc2misjcj.jpeg http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a556/putnamev/BRN-10%201_zpsc2misjcj.jpeg http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a556/putnamev/BRN-10%201_zpsc2misjcj.jpeg |
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