ImageProductPrice

S&W Volunteer X

Check Price

The world of AR-platform rifles continues to steadily expand. You can get an AR in almost any caliber, from .22 LR up through some elephant-stompers. I own a few, ranging in caliber from .22 up through .450 Bushmaster. Some other caliber ARs I own include one 9mm, a couple of .223/5.56mms and one 7.62×39. I’ve taken deer with the 7.62, and my son used the .450 during deer season. They are certainly very useful firearms.

One AR-10 variant currently available, the S&W Volunteer X in .308, is a handy gun indeed. But first let’s take a look back at some history.

A Bit Of History

Many shooters don’t know that the 5.56mm was not the original caliber that the AR-platform rifle was made in. In 1956, Eugene Stoner of ArmaLite (a division of Fairchild Industries) perfected his rifle. It was the original AR-10, in caliber .308. He thought that the military might be interested, but they really didn’t get worked up about it. The following year, he downsized the rifle and introduced it in 5.56mm. The powers-that-were had been thinking of going to a smaller-caliber battle rifle, getting away from the .30 so this time they paid attention. One benefit they noted was that the smaller caliber would allow more ammo to be carried for a given weight. This is not a treatise on whether we should’ve switched calibers, but it had a bearing on rifle development. Once introduced, the AR-15 was licensed to Colt, which turned it into what came to be the M-16. Most of you know the rest of the story. My main point is that, upon introduction in the 1950s, the rifle was originally chambered in .308. It only came out in .223/5.56mm a year or so later.

The Volunteer X handles nicely on the range. Author image

The Volunteer X

Smith & Wesson has been on an innovation kick in recent years. I just reviewed a couple of their newer models, a stainless lever-action 1854 .44 Magnum rifle with a polymer stock, and their new Bodyguard 2.0 .380 pistol. I bought them both. These guns are, in a word, excellent. The lever action puts five of my hard-cast handloads in one ragged hole, and the Bodyguard looks like someone took a full-size M&P pistol and shrunk it down. It still has a 10+1 and 12+1 capacity, though. Excellent.

So, it was with great expectations that I ordered this Volunteer X (ten, get it?) in .308 for review. When I saw the MSRP of $1,779 for the rifle, I wondered what there was about the gun that would boost its price that far, especially since their base-model AR-15 goes for under $800. I was not long in finding out.

Here are some photos.

Being a lefty, I appreciate the duplicated controls! Author image
The handguard offers a solid grip during all kinds of drills. Author image
The buttstock is fully adjustable. Author image

Shooting The X

I am recovering from a broken collarbone with resultant surgery, so my friend Ed, a former deputy and no stranger to the AR, gladly volunteered to shoot the Volunteer. I got out my brand-new, still-learning-to-use-it Caldwell VelociRadar chronograph to experiment with it as he shot the rifle. It was fun on two levels!

We set up some targets at 50 yards since this rifle had open sights. (I know, some of you out there are good to way-out-there-with opens, but I wasn’t wanting to push things for my friend). He shot three different loads: Hornady Superformance 150-grain, their American Whitetail 145-grain and the Monarch steel-cased 150-grain.

Here are some representative targets…

Hornady American Whitetail. Author image
Hornady Superformance. Author image
Monarch. Funny… the cheapest ammo gave the best group! Author image

I was not trying to wring MOA accuracy out of this rifle since I did not have an extra scope to put on it…with the right optic and ammo, it will do sub-MOA groups. I was simply trying to get an idea of how it handled, through my expert friend, and see what he had to say about it. He was impressed. (He is no stranger to AR-10s as he owns a Ruger SFAR).

I would not hesitate to mount a decent variable-power scope, something that would let me see critters either up close or way out there and then proceed to the woods with this rifle. But…its claim to fame is that it is competition-ready. With some of its sophisticated add-ons, I am inclined to believe that. The flat-faced trigger was really nice…very tiny amount of take-up, then a crisp break at not quite 4 pounds.    

I really liked the charging handle. It is a bit larger than a standard AR handle, and its “ears” are very prominent. Another feature I liked is the bolt release and magazine release are replicated on the left side of the receiver. The both-left-and-right-side safety is icing on the cake. We lefties have a tough time with some guns, but not this one. This rifle is truly left-hand-friendly.

Specifications

Here is a list of specs from the S&W website for this rifle:

S&W Volunteer X

Caliber: .308 win

Action: Gas Operated

Barrel length: 16 in.

Grip: B5

Sights: Williams Gun Sight Company folding sights

Optic Ready: Yes

Safety: Ambidextrous thumb safety selector, bolt release and magazine release

Color/finish: Black

Threaded barrel: Yes, with PWS 762 muzzle brake (suppressor-ready)

Barrel material: 4140 cm, Armornite finish

Frame: Aluminum

Stock: B5 Systems SOPMOD stock, BCMGunfighter forend with M-LOK, B5 Systems P-Grip 23 pistol grip, Magpul Type-2 M-LOK rail covers

Capacity: 20 (one magazine included)

Width: 3 in.

Length: 39.3 in.

Height: 8 in.

Weight: 10 lbs., 8 oz. from the website – my scale showed 8 lbs., 9.5 oz.*

My scale’s weight with empty magazine. Author image

I added the cost of the numerous third-party upgrades that come with this rifle and got a total that hit $500. You also must figure in some extra engineering and production costs, since this is an advanced rifle. The add-ons do make for a nice-handling, solid firearm with an excellent fit and finish.

Conclusion

This is a nice-looking and nice-handling rifle. If you are wanting to get into some long-distance competition and .308 is your caliber (or 6.5 Creedmoor – it comes in that caliber, as well, at the same price), you might want to take a look at the Volunteer X. It might save you a few bucks in terms of customization, as S&W has done some of that for you. With the addition of a good optic, I’d say you’d be pretty well good to go, at least starting out. Find out what loads shoot best in it and spend some trigger time dialing it in. I’d sure volunteer to do that.

Where To Buy

Check out Ammo To Go, the ammunition retail sponsor of TTAG gun reviews, for all of your ammunition needs.

Product and gun reviews are performed independently and product mentions made based on the quality of the product and value of interest to gun owners. However, when you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission to help support the costs of operating the site and keeping it free for our visitors.

18 COMMENTS

  1. I’m going to wait at least 6 months before I consider this. S&W’s AR-15 had plenty of problems even at a rock bottom price point.

    • What’s the difference between this and the M&P10? This doesn’t seem to be lighter or smaller like the Ruger SFAR. Is it just better quality components than the M&P10?

      It’s weird that the reviewer could get his hands on an $1800 rifle, but couldn’t even find a basic $100 hunting scope to test the accuracy.

  2. RE: ” Weight: 10 lbs., 8 oz. from the website – my scale showed 8 lbs., 9.5 oz.*

    My beloved Aeros each with a bipod, irons, sling and 20″ Faxon Big Gunner Barrels unloaded weigh 9 lbs. 14 oz. S&W needs to calibrate their scales. Overall a very good rifle, nice to see the barrel mounted front sight although doubtful the handguard floats. Surprised to see the Hornady Whitetail did not deliver. Definitely a loud rifle to try prior to purchase.

  3. “set up some targets at 50 yards since this rifle had open sights.” WTH a whole 50yd!!! Could handle some worldwide standard 100yds?

  4. “The hand guard offers a solid grip for all kinds of drills.”
    Like Black&Decker?
    why I poke at some of the advertising.
    does every gun need to be a paramilitary killing machine? Not a good look with all the assualt rifle Second Amendment naysayers
    How about.
    The hand guard offers a solid grip even when hunting in the rain or snow.

  5. Ref naysayers: Snowflakes won’t be happy until everything including spit wads and wet willies are outlawed. Gun looks good, little pricey.

  6. “It was the original AR-10, in caliber .308.”
    AND, Armalite is the copyright and trademark owner of the name AR-10. If it doesnt say Armalite on the rifle, its NOT an AR-10.

    • I suspect that the trademark for AR-10 expired long ago. The length of a federal trademark registration term is 10 years, but trademarks can potentially last indefinitely. Unlike patents and copyrights, trademarks do not expire after a set period of time. Trademarks can persist so long as the owner fulfills the following requirements:

      Continue to use the trademark
      Meet the deadlines for submitting necessary paperwork
      Pay all required fees

      Since Armalite does not produce an AR-10 it would have no reason to protect the trademark.

      • “Since Armalite does not produce an AR-10 it would have no reason to protect the trademark.”
        I have a rifle manufactured by Armalite that has AR-10 stamped on the receiver and the paperwork that came with it specifically says the AR-10 is an Armalite trademark. (2015 purchase date)

  7. Smith & Wesson really stepped up with the new Volunteer X .308! A competition-ready AR-10 with solid features right out of the box—great trigger, quality barrel, and solid ergonomics. It looks like a strong contender for shooters who want precision and power without heavy aftermarket upgrades. Excited to see how it performs on the range!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here