AR 10 in the Dominican.

[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.

Information

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[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 !

[browningautorifle]

None of these AR-10's exhibited the problems and issues associated with the early M16's service in Viet Nam under identical conditions.

They had better ammo than the ARs...the ball powder issue. Still compared to the number of countries using the M16/M4 and variants...a pittance.

[HHollow]

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 !

The Dutch made several variants, most notable below.

Cuban variant AR10 made in 1957-1958. Maybe a couple of hundred sold to Castro and other central and South American dictators. No bayonet lug or BFA threads, or provision for grenade launching.

Sudanese AR10s were made in 1958. Like the Cuban except had a heavy barrel shroud with bayonet lug. BFA threads and the shroud was compatible with grenade launching. A scoped example is in a photo below. Original AR10 Delft scopes are uber rare and a mechanically identical FAL Delft scope is shown on the gun. The brass disc on the stock was installed at the factory and often had the unit number engraved.

Portuguese AR10s were made in 1961 (maybe starting late 1960). The barrel was heavier and bolt lugs beefier. The handguard system was completely designed to be a multiple piece affair that was easily removed.

Peter Wilke (Ontario, Canada) imported a few hundred surplus AR10s, mostly Portuguese. Wilke sold some to the Canada market as semi-auto conversions. Many more were sold as parts sets and imported into the US from Canada. The US made lower receivers used to complete the parts sets were most commonly aluminum. Only one or two makers might have sold a steel receiver.

Alan Lever, Lever Arms, was a Canadian importer that must have had connections in Holland. Lever Arms was able to import quite a few un-issued AR10s left over after the closure of the AI factory.