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Comprehensive Guide To The AR-10/SR-25 Platform
In this guide on the AR-10/SR-25 platform, we will go over what makes the AR-10 so popular and the SR-25 for those who want a battle-ready rifle out of the box.
No, not an AR-15. The AR-10 looks similar, but it swings in a different ballgame.
While the AR-15 shoots the well-known 5.56×45 cartridge, the AR-10 shoots a mighty 7.62×51 round. Or better known as the .308.
The .308 deals devastating stopping power up to 800 yards (in a bolt-action rifle configuration).
We’ll also review the differences to discuss what makes the platform as popular as it is and give you a short history behind the AR-10 and the SR-25.
Brief History Of The AR-10
Eugene Stoner designed the AR-10 platform back in 1956 to replace the old M1 Garand. The U.S. Army wanted a rifle that fired the 7.62×51 and was also light at the same time.
Springfield Armory entered updated versions of the M1 Garand, and FN entered the FAL.
Unfortunately, while the Army tested the AR-10 that Armalite entered, the aluminum/steel barrel burst during the torture test.
Which wasn’t Eugene’s fault, if you were wondering.
The Army decided to go with Springfield Armory’s T44 rifle, better known as the M14.
M14 with optics attached. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.
But the seed was planted. And the rise of the AR-10 had just begun.
Brief History Of The SR-25
When Eugene Stoner joined Knights Armament in the early 1990s, he got back to work on the AR-10 and brought life to the SR-25, which got its name by, no lie, adding 10+15 for the AR-15 and AR-10.
He took parts from the M16A2 and brought it over to the AR-10 to piggyback on the enhancements made in the time that passed between him entering the AR-10 in 1956 and then.
The abundance of spare parts gained the attention of the U.S. military—specifically, SOCOM. You know, SEALs and stuff.
Cool dudes.
Anyway, the SR-25 was adopted by the SEAL teams as the MK11 Mod-0 in May of 2000 after modifying the barrel to be shorter, with a suppressor mount, and accept M118 along with M1188 LR 7.62×51 NATO cartridges.
Marine Corps Sniper using the M110 SASS. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
And it’s still kicking today.
So Is The SR-25 An AR-10?
The SR-25 was based on the AR-10. So technically, the SR-25 is an AR-10.
AR-10s are simply Armalite-style rifles that shoot the 7.62×51 round. Plenty of manufacturers make AR-10s, from Sig Sauer and Springfield to Heckler and Koch.
Daniel Defense DD5. Courtesy of Daniel Defense.
After all, that’s how the SR-25 got its name. Instead of AR for Armalite, SR stands for Stoner Rifle. And they added the 1- from AR-10 plus 15 for the AR-15 and got 25.
That’s the extent of my math skills for the day.
What Makes The AR-10 So Popular?
There are a few reasons why.
The AR-10 is a proven platform. It’s been around since the 1950s, so they have found a way to weed out the kinks and produce a rifle. And it’s a weapon system that every red-blooded American is familiar with.
While some may function differently, as in piston-driven and direct impingement, they still utilize the Armalite design in one way or another.
And you can find them in all price ranges from budget to high-end. So, it makes the AR-10 popular for shooters who want more stopping power than one can achieve with an AR-15.
Is The SR-25 Any Different From an AR-10?
Functionally? No, but the SR-25 comes from one of the world’s finest purveyors of modern battle rifles—Knights Armament.
Knights use proprietary systems in their rifles and aim to give you what you would need to be effective in a firefight. After all, it has seen combat.
Out of all the AR-10s on the market, the SR-25 is one of the most well-known by you GWOT guys out there.
The controls are ambidextrous, the trigger guard is oversized to allow the usage of gloves, and every piece of the rifle was put together with combat effectiveness at the forefront.
Essentially, the SR-25 is an AR-10 but refined and tuned to work under any circumstance. Even though the gas block isn’t adjustable, the SR-25 still shoots well-suppressed and unsuppressed.
It’s a premium rifle with a premium price tag. But the price is worth it if you want a true battle rifle.
Knights Armament SR-25. Courtesy of Fefquest on Twitter.
Direct Impingement vs. Piston-Driven AR-10s
To get this out of the way as easily as possible, I will give a brief rundown of the two operating systems you see on AR-10s.
Direct Impringment AR-10s use the gases from a fired round that are forced through a gas tube and into a gas key on the bolt carrier group to force the bolt carrier group back, which ejects the spent round and cycles a new one.
Piston-Driven AR-10s, which are synonymous with the AK-47, have a rod attached to the bolt carrier group and use the gases from the spent round to drive a piston into the rod, which forces the bolt carrier group backward, which ejects the spent round and cycles a new one.
Short-stroke pistons are similar, but the rod uses either a spring to hold it in place or free floats and hits a strike face on the bolt carrier group, which sends it back—ejecting the spent round and cycling a new one.
Piston-Driven AR-10s are cleaner and more reliable (think of the AK-47) but have more recoil from reciprocating mass. It’s a fair trade. As for which one is better, it all depends on what you’re planning on using the firearm for.
Conclusion
I hope you understand the AR-10 and how the SR-25 plays its role in the family. Again, the SR-25 is a high-end version of the AR-10. Various firearms manufacturers make AR-10s, but Knights Armament is the only one that manufactures the SR-25.
But you don’t have to spend six big ones for a quality AR-10. There are plenty to choose from, but if you’re going for a solid battle build and have the money to spare, then you should look into the SR-25.
Have fun, happy hunting.
