AR 10 in the Dominican.

[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.

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[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.

[Flying10uk]

Too, the FN and AR10 aren't even close to the same.

I wasn't, in any way, suggesting that they are. The point that I was implying is that they both fire 7.62 Nato. Or to put it another way 7.62 Nato was a popular caliber for military rifles at the time.

[browningautorifle]

they both fire 7.62 Nato

Yes, they do that. But we can't just roll them together in caliber, military rifles aren't like that. The handling is important, the feel. That platform proved the light caliber was widely accepted and the heavy caliber not much.

[mrclark303]

It's an interesting one Jim, I would say the AR10 was a failing of the advertising men, a wrong time to the market really, Fn had pretty much cornered the 7.62mm market with the Fal in the late 1950's.

By the 1960's, Vietnam ensured the AR15 a launch pad and a market dominance it still effectively has 50 years later.

[browningautorifle]

a wrong time to the market

Perhaps...

[RCS]

The AR-10 was manufactured under license by a Dutch Company in 1960 and adopted by Portugal. These were issued to paratroops and special forces and used
from 1961 to 1974 in Angola, Portuguese Guinea and Mozambigue extensively. Some were fitted with 3x scopes, all were selective fire and could use rifle grenades.
None of these AR-10's exhibited the problems and issues associated with the early M16's service in Viet Nam under identical conditions.

Note: after Portugal retired their AR-10 rifles, the parts kits (without the selective fire lower) were imported into the USA where some companies manufactured a
semi auto steel lower to fit these kits, they are still around !