{"id":222186,"date":"2022-06-22T12:00:17","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T18:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=222186"},"modified":"2024-09-19T14:29:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T19:29:00","slug":"ar15-vs-ar10-which-rifle-is-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/ar15-vs-ar10-which-rifle-is-better\/","title":{"rendered":"AR10 vs AR15: Which Rifle is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The AR-15 rifle might get the most coverage, but it isn\u2019t the only AR platform out there. It\u2019s all too easy to forget the AR-10, the rifle made to handle bigger cartridges and longer-range shots (as a general rule). Which one should you get? Which is the better gun?<\/p>\n

AR15 vs AR10: here’s what we have to say about it.<\/p>\n

\"AR-15
The AR-15 is a ridiculously popular platform. But what about the AR-10? (Photo credit: Team Never Quit)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Love the AR-15 platform rifle? You might like the AR-10 rifle even more. (Photo credit: ARGearJunkie.com)<\/p>\n

AR10 vs AR15 \u2014 Which Came First?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a rather common misconception that the AR-15 was designed before the AR-10. In reality, Eugene Stoner created the gas operating system for the AR-10 before the AR-15 had even begun. Early prototypes of the AR-10 platform rifle appeared in 1955 and it was sometime in 1956 when the AR-15 was designed (and 1958 when the design was fine-tuned for production). So not only is the AR-10 literally bigger, it\u2019s also technically the older of the two.<\/p>\n

\"Two
The AR-15 has been around for almost seven decades. (Photo credit: Team Never Quit)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s an AR-15 Good For?<\/h2>\n

The great thing about the AR-15 is how versatile it can be. It doesn\u2019t matter if you want a gun for home defense, hunting, range use, or to carry as a truck gun; the AR-15 does it all. Part of what makes it so multi-purpose is the wide array of calibers and barrel lengths it\u2019s offered in, but it has a lot of accessories that broaden its use as well. That means that even within each category of use there are practically endless sub-categories.<\/p>\n

\"Man
Yes, you can hunt with AR-15s. (Photo credit: Kat Ainsworth Stevens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A good example of the platform\u2019s versatility is the use of an AR-15 for close quarters (CQB) work. The AR-15 platform gives you quite a few options from carbine-length barrels of 16 inches to set up a short-barreled rifle (SBR) which involves tax stamps to get the sub-16-inch barrel length approved (along with the suppressor you\u2019d probably want on it). In addition, 300 BlackOut was specifically made for CQB with an AR-15, making it an ideal setup if you have the means and patience to get an SBR going. Of course, you can stick with a carbine and not worry about getting or paying for a stamp for a short barrel.<\/p>\n

\"AR-15
The AR-15 is a cool platform that can be used for just about anything. (Photo credit: Axelson Tactical)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And if you\u2019re a hunter, you\u2019ll find out the classic 223 Remington chambering<\/a> in the AR-15 is very well-used among hunters chasing smaller game and varmints. If you want to go after a slightly bigger game, just get a larger caliber AR-15 like one in 450 Bushmaster or 50 Beowulf.<\/p>\n

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\"AR-15
Infantry typically uses the AR-15 platform.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s an AR-10 Good For?<\/h2>\n

As a larger, heavier rifle, the AR-10 is often used for long-range, precision shooting, and hunting. Snipers in the military lean more heavily on the AR-10 due to its greater ability to reach and touch distant targets with stunning accuracy, while infantry guys typically use AR-15 platforms. (It is vital to note the guns the military uses are not the same AR platforms you get at the gun store, they\u2019re M16s and M4s, which have a full-auto option and cannot be owned by a civilian without a lot of money, paperwork, and approval steps).<\/p>\n

\"AR-10
AR-10s like this Ultralight Ranger from Wilson Combat are a thing of beauty. (Photo credit: Wilson Combat)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yes, an AR-10 is noticeably larger and heavier than an AR-15, but it\u2019s for good reason. AR-10 rifles have longer barrels and are chambered in bigger, harder-hitting calibers. They\u2019re also legal to hunt game in states where the AR-15 is not legal in its traditional caliber. With an AR-10 you might sacrifice some degree of portability, but that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re that difficult to carry, because they\u2019re not. The AR-10 has a lot of uses and things to recommend it, not the least of which is the kind of precision you can get from it.<\/p>\n

What Calibers Does an AR-15 Come In?<\/h2>\n

When the AR-15 rifle was originally created by Eugene Stoner it was chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO\/223 Remington. Today that remains the chambering a lot of people associate with the AR-15 rifle, but there are actually a lot of other options out there. Some possibilities for AR-15 rifles include:<\/p>\n