After modifications (most notably, the charging handle was re-located from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver), the new redesigned rifle was subsequently adopted by the U.S. In 1959, ArmaLite sold its rights to the AR-10 and AR-15 to Colt Firearms due to financial difficulties, and limitations in terms of manpower and production capacity. 223 Remington cartridge, and given the designation ArmaLite AR-15. In 1957, the basic AR-10 design was rescaled and substantially modified by ArmaLite to accommodate the.
However, the ArmaLite AR-10 would become the progenitor for a wide range of firearms. Over its production life, the original AR-10 was built in relatively small numbers, with fewer than 10,000 rifles assembled. When first introduced in 1956, the AR-10 used an innovative straight-line barrel/stock design with phenolic composite and forged alloy parts resulting in a small arm significantly easier to control in automatic fire and over 1 lb (0.45 kg) lighter than other infantry rifles of the day. The ArmaLite AR-10 is a 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle developed by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950s and manufactured by ArmaLite, then a division of the Fairchild Aircraft Corporation. 3.6× telescopic sight)Īdjustable aperture rear sight, fixed post front sightĪn early 'Hollywood' model AR-10 with over-sized flash Suppressor/compensator, at the National Firearms MuseumĬlose-up of flash Suppressor/compensator on early 'Hollywood" model AR-10 ArmaLite AR-10 with mounted bayonet made by Artillerie Inrichtingen (A.I.).ħ00 rounds/min (fully automatic cyclic), variable (semi-automatic)Ħ00m/656yd ( ca 700m/765 1/2yds with A.I.