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"... The AR-10's right now do have a problem with jamming but that's because of the magazines. Sending in a brand new, in the wrapper M-14 mag, then paying an embarrassing ammount of money to have it reworked and finding out it doesn't work can be trying."

That's too bad. There's a scarce amount of M-14 magazines left, and no shortage of Springfield M-1As coming off the assembly line.

Too bad that Armalite didn't -- or doesn't -- make a version that uses FN-FAL mags.

M-14 mags: $60/each, and climbing.

FN-FAL mags: $4/each, and stagnating.

Converting an M-14 mag for AR-10 service is a risky and expensive gamble.

Too bad that Armalite didn't -- or doesn't -- make a version that uses FN-FAL mags.

Actually Mark Westrom and Armalite did work on a FAL mag conversion, but reliability was better with M14 mags.

As an aside, the 10rd mags supplied with the AR10B (current manufacture) are reliable, the problem often comes when folks send in M14 mags of widely varying quality. The best ones - new, parkerized GI - are of course hugely expensive, so folks send in $8 stamped chinese copies and hope for the best. Still, there have been problems even with good mags, and you may have to fiddle with mag springs and followers. Long live the Crime Bill, keeping us safe from bad guys with $3000 20rd AR10's.

The AR10T flattop and SR25 systems, when properly scoped and set up, are absolutely hell for strong precision rifles. Better than MOA accuracy, great triggers, and rock solid platforms for high performance optics. Putting the package together can cost some $$ and time, but in the end you wind up with a semi auto rifle capable of repeatedly hammering targets at 500-800 yards all day long without much effort. IMO these guns are much easier to shoot well than equivalent match M1A setups, of course they are also heavier and thus not as easy to transport.

Shooter 2.5 - has your son been to the Armalite website and forum for suggestions on resolving AR10 mag problems? I would imagine so but if not there are a number of tech notes on the subject at www.armalite.com/.

Too bad that Armalite didn't -- or doesn't -- make a version that uses FN-FAL mags.
M-14 mags: $60/each, and climbing.
FN-FAL mags: $4/each, and stagnating.
Converting an M-14 mag for AR-10 service is a risky and expensive gamble.

I don't doubt it can be done, but it may not be as simple as just reworking a magazine catch. The feed lips of the M14 magazine are very short, less than half the length of the magazine, as was necessary for feeding with the M14s Garand-derived turnbolt action.

That could well mean that not only would the rifle's receiver magazine well dimensions need reworking, but also the internal bolt guideways, and either a rearrangement of the front magazine pivot pin or modification of the magazines' front pivot lug, necessating a more complicated rework and removal of the seperately fabricated and welded-on front pivot lug of the inch-pattern FAL magazines. Then there's the matter of the bolt catch, as tripped by the rising follower of an empty magazine, which works a bit differently on a FAL.

I think it's a good deal easier to just go with the FAL, which also can be transformed into a handier carbine-length shorty without altering the rifle's sights.

It's certainly possible. But it's not without some problems. Better, I think, to work up a new design altogether, as per the Robinson Arms Model 96 *Expeditionary Rifle* in .223....

-archy-/-