“The design includes an innovative, new A2 front sight designed by ArmaLite engineers!” the presser proclaims. Which is why I didn’t send this to Nick to blog. Our man Foghorn is not a big fan of “old” guns slightly repackaged or updated and touted as new products. I, on the other hand, am. Call me a risk-aversive incrementalist, but I like buying products that are the same only better. This speaks to me: “The front sight is taller than traditional A2 front sights to account for differences in AR-15 and AR-10 receiver heights. This eliminates any issues of being able to zero your sights when a carry handle or flip up rear sight is used in combination with an A2 style front sight, on your .308 platform.” Awesome! Full press release after the jump.
(Geneseo, IL) ArmaLite is proud to announce its AR-10 Law Enforcement Carbine. ArmaLite has long been known for its LE carbines chambered in .223/5.56X45mm NATO. Now comes an LE firearm with the added stopping power of the .308 cartridge.
ArmaLite already manufactures well-known, dependable AR-10A2 carbines. They are based on the traditional A2 front sight, A2 upper receiver and permanent carry handle. The AR-10 LE Carbine combines an innovative A2 style front sight with the A4 flat-top upper receiver so popular for its ability to accommodate sights, scopes, lights and other LE accessories.
The new A2 style front sight was designed by ArmaLite’s engineers and is manufactured from forgings here in our factory. The front sight is taller than traditional A2 front sights to account for differences in AR-15 and AR-10 receiver heights. This eliminates any issues of being able to zero your sights when a carry handle or flip up rear sight is used in combination with an A2 style front sight, on your .308 platform.
The result is a spectacular Armalite .308 carbine ready for the toughest LE duty. The 16” barrel is chrome lined chrome moly. The rugged Troy Medieval muzzle brake enhances control and accuracy during rapid fire. It’s tough enough to serve as an improvised breaching device if the situation calls for it.
The ERGO F93 buttstock features a fixed cheek piece for a constant and repeatable cheek weld in any of the eight available stock positions. Once the buttstock is locked into position, the F93 is as rigid as a fixed stock. With a completely adjustable 4” length of pull, this stock gives the shooter plenty of room for fine-tuning the stock to their liking.
Caliber: .308/7.62X51mm NATO
Barrel: 16” Chrome Lined Chrome Moly
Rifling Twist: RH 11:25”
Muzzle device: Troy Medieval Muzzle Brake
Trigger: Tactical Two-stage
Weight: 9 Lbs.
Overall length: 35.3” to 39.3”
Accuracy: 2-2.5 MOA
Included With Rifle: One 10 Round Magazine, Sling, Black Case, Owner’s Manual, Limited Lifetime Warranty
FOR MORE ON THE AR-10 LE CARBINE GO TO http://www.armalite.com/ItemForm.aspx?item=LE10A4CBA2F&ReturnUrl=Categories.aspx?Category=f4bd4a13-55d1-41aa-aea0-49488ec48776
“The toughest LEO duty”? You mean it’s tough enough to withstand falling off the trunk lid as they drive away? Just what cops need is main battle rifles.
2-2.5 MOA? What the hell? All the expense of an AR pattern rifle ($2K), with none of the potential accuracy. Just buy a Saiga if you want that kind of accuracy from a semi .308, and for 1/3 the price. Or spend a little more and get a GAP anything, or a Larue, or even a Panther.
Nice job ArmaLite, what a let down.
haters gonna hate lol
I think she’s beautiful!
$2 large should be sub-moa, esp. in an AR platform.
Yeah, that accuracy seems to leave a bit to be desired. Especially for a rifle costing 2Gs.
Is it a barrel length thing? I mean, if you want that .308 battle round, don’t you want the increased accuracy of the longer barrel?
Armalite apparently doesnt think so.
yeah get a 308 Super VEPR and use that savings for training. Seems like a waste on the AR platform for (relatively) disappointing accuracy.
why does a battle rifle need to be 1 MOA accurate? 2-3 is acceptable for its intended use. its not a precision weapon. I doubt people that cry over sub-MOA accuracy can actually shoot to that capability.
Besides, if you want close to MOA accuracy in a battle rifle, get a SCAR.
Why do the police need a battle rifle? The world is full of unanswered questions. The point really is the cost vs. performance. For $2k, is it better (at what?*) than a $500 Saiga or a $1600 M1A?
*lighter, more reliable, more accurate, lower overall tco? anything?
“For $2k, is it better (at what?*) than a $500 Saiga or a $1600 M1A?”
Im agree with your point and i dont understand either why law enforcement would need 308.
As far as cost vs performance, you have to consider other factors such as the rail system, ergonomics, magazine availability, spare parts etc. This rifle has a quad rail, which undoubtedly explains the price.
The saiga and M1a need modifications for such railing. A M1A with a equivalent rail system is more than 1600 and approaches the same price as this armalite.
In moderately skilled hands, it’s reasonable to require that a battle rifle is capable of consistent engagement of targets up to 600 meters. It’s a great thing if it’s capable of shooting accurately much farther (and many are), but that’s a pretty fair place to benchmark. 2-2.5 MOA is a pretty large circle at 600 meters (about 12-15 inches), and especially when you consider wind and other conditions that a shooter might have to account for, every little bit of accuracy helps. I think you’d be surprised how many people can approach or exceed MOA with the right rifle, and it’s likely that they represent a larger part of the Battle Rifle purchasing demographic than many other types of firearms. This thing is approaching the SCAR-H price point, without the same accuracy and cool factor. As well, other companies already produce more accurate rifles, for less money, that do the same thing. If it looks cool, by all means, there are worse reasons to drop 2K dollars than cool looking rifles. But if those accuracy figures provided by armalite are true, then it certainly doesn’t represent the best value for your dollar.
Dat ass. I guess they wanted to differentiate from every other MagPul product placement rifle out there.
You realize that that is a stock Designed by Magpul?
Not sure that cops need a .308 Win. Also, that barrel looks awfully skinny.
I don’t see it being any better than POF, but its nice to see ‘new’ models coming out.
$2200 and that’s just the rifle? No sights, no handguard, no rails…Unbelievable. And no sub-moa accuracy? WAAAY overpriced, even if it is an Armalite.
well it does not come with handguard rails so what type of handguards does it come with?
$2K, huge muzzel blast, lousy accuracy and no eggroll?
Total Fail
Today I learned only cops are well trained enough to use a taller front sight on a rifle. It’s just far too dangerous for
peasantscivilians.I guess they’re really excited about the redesign of that front sight! Because they used an exclamation point in the press release when it seems like a period would have been just fine! Otherwise, I supposed they could be surprised, because maybe they didn’t expect their engineers to do that!
For that coinage, I’d be into a Springfield Armory M1A. It’s more accurate, has a better set of sights and can be upgraded to superb iron sights, has more parts available and has a trigger that can actually be made usable for a long-range shooter.
But the question still remains: What do the police need a .308 for?
Same reason they need .300 Win Mag or .338 Lapua. The better to kill you with, of course.
Well, the gun-grabbers would ask why us non-LEOs need .308s. But I do agree, I don’t see why any police departments would want purchase this. I would think that a .308 would be too much of a liability in SWAT raids (with over-penetration and all), and the accuracy isn’t good enough to make it worthwhile for a sharpshooter.
Plus, I think $2,000 a pop seems a little pricy for most departments. The local one where I live buys rifles surplus from the Army and converts them to semi-auto. Supposedly. At least, that’s what one of the officers told me.
I wonder what the whole package costs as shown in the picture.
What is so hard about showing it AS IS?
He probably means that his department was given a loan of some US Government rifles, on a semi-permanent basis, with the understanding that the fire control parts be converted and that the guns be used on duty and not sold.
If this is the case, then that department remains accountable to the Feds for the rifles and for the auto sears, and can potentially be required to give them back.
Edit-was supposed to be a response to Mr Lighter above
That makes sense. I know that the department has a fair amount of cooperation with the federal government. They managed to get thermal imaging equipment through some federal gear supply as well. Apparently they had quite a bit of fun with the gear until it was decided that they needed a warrant to look through houses for weed farms with it.
Because of department rules, they aren’t allowed to use automatics. At least when it comes to arms, they’re subject to the same laws as me (this department, not departments as a whole). I will say, I find it rather unnerving when police officers pack G36s and grenade launchers.
Or machine pistols:
http://www.wthr.com/story/15509550/greenwood-cops-want-to-get-rid-of-machine-pistols
@ Lighter
You must know by now that Liberal Takers never ask for anything, they are pathologically incapable of doing so, just as a slug is incapable of writing a sonnet
Ah, you have a point with that. Somehow, they just get elected and write legislation.
“As far as cost vs performance, you have to consider other factors such as the rail system, ergonomics, magazine availability, spare parts etc. This rifle has a quad rail, which undoubtedly explains the price.”
An RRA LAR-8 with a free floated quad rail is the same weight, same parts availability, same ergos, better magazine availability (FAL mags), better accuracy (RRA claims 1 MOA), and is $500 cheaper.
I question the utility of a 16″-barreled .308. The round was intended for 22-26 inch barrels. Seems like dropping 6 to 10 inches of barrel would have all sorts of downsides.
But…but… TACTICAL!
Got a Bushmaster .308 mid-length 16″ MOE.
.308 Win./7.62 NATO16” Hvy Profile Barrel
Receiver Length Picatinny Optics Rail with Magpul MBUS Rear Flip Sight
Magpul MOE Polymer Mid-Length Hand Guard Accepts MOE Rail Inserts (not included)
Magpul MOE Adjustable Buttstock with Strong A-frame Design and Rubber Buttplate
Magpul MOE Pistol Grip Accepts MIAD Storage Cores (not included)
MOE enhanced trigger guards
Magpul MOE Vertical Grip
Shipped in a Lockable Hard Case with Operator’s Safety Manual, 20 Round Mag*, Yellow Safety Block and Black Web Sling
One Year Bushmaster Warranty
The longer barrel was just too heavy – could have gotten a DPMS 22″ with a bull barrel but without a tripod set up you’d have trouble shooting it.
$1,448 in California. Takes Magpul magazines (modified to hold only 10 rnds). Changed out the buttstock pad to 7/8″ and added a slip on Pachmeyr. It is a cannon.