AR 10 in the Dominican.

[browningautorifle]

Here's a neat pic in passing. A couple weapons you hardly see and the equipment on the "Italian Merc" is interesting.

Title is "Italian merc Elio Capozzi (U.S. HBT camo and AR-10) speaks with a Dominican rebel with a Cristobol Carbine, 1965"

Information

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[RCS]

Photo shows a later Portuguese AR-10 with an aluminum butt stock for firing rifle grenades

[CINDERS]

Looks to have a F/S knife in his belt or one of similar dimension.

[HHollow]

The merc has a Cuban style AR10, which was sold to castro and a few other tin horn central and south american dick-taters.
The rifle was made in 1958 and was essentially the first generation Dutch AR10.

[Flying10uk]

It's surprising that the AR10 rifle wasn't used more widely, by more armed forces, when one considers that the FAL series of rifles was once commonly in use.

[browningautorifle]

It's surprising that the AR10 rifle wasn't used more widely,

You can see how it was dropped from considerations when the original sales pitch came and the two rifles, one .223 and one 7.62 travelled the world. After a while they gave the 7.62 ammo away as no one wanted to shoot it. Just the little one.

It's all in the book. Too, the FN and AR10 aren't even close to the same.

[CINDERS]

Jim was the doctrine of the day like the .30 cal M1 carbine that the services placed emphasis on the soldier being more accurate with a lighter kicking rifle rather than say using a Garand with the 30/06 round with a heavier rifle and recoil.
For that era in say WWII the Carbine round would have no where near the hitting power of the 30/06 round, but with the advent of better ballistically efficient projectiles as in the case of the 5.56 it became a viable option despite all the stuff saying if it hit your hand it would take your arm off!

I would have thought the Armed services yours and ours would have stayed with a 7.62mm platform given the knock down and penetration power that round has, now days there are so many calibers being used that I think standardisation rule is out the window.
What would a load out be for a squad now with 5.56's, 7.62's and now a 6.8 especially the latter as no one else in the squad will be able to toss you a mag or ammo when you run dry!

[browningautorifle]

The book "The Black Rifle" gives all the poop about the decision to make 5.56 the new round. Accuracy was always preached, pinpoint aiming and accuracy. Didn't matter which cartridge. The demonstrator travelled the world with two rifles to try and sell them both, draw interest in production of both. After a point though the AR10 was just not as desirable, specially by smaller stature people. I always wondered if it was BECAUSE the two rifles were side by side that comparison took place. If they had been shown separately the AR10 might have been bigger.

As for the M1 Carbine not having stopping power, graves are full of guys that would differ. Shot placement is everything, you'd know that well...some of the shots you've taken with different animals. I still think most of the guys that failed to stop hadn't taken a seriously placed shot.

[CINDERS]

You are correct Jim as a hunter shot placement is the key, I've stalked animals for good Kilo's up hill and down dale and had to pass because due to factors be it scrub, angle or just the flighty nature of the animal passed up the shot and gone home. But boy I got fit! although some critters were not so fortunate not that they would have known anything about it.

[browningautorifle]

Bobby Macdonald and Gene Stoner took the rifles overseas for demonstration... They had to give away 6000 rds of 7.62. Although some have told me my OPINION is wrong, I always felt the AR10 seemed to be right at the top edge of the time/pressure curve when firing. It seemed to be about to come apart. This was after years of carrying and shooting the FN. The M16/AR15/M4 don't feel that way to me.