The world of AR-platform rifles continues to steadily broaden. You will get an AR in nearly any caliber, from .22 LR up by way of some elephant-stompers. I personal a number of, ranging in caliber from .22 up by way of .450 Bushmaster. Another caliber ARs I personal embrace one 9mm, a few .223/5.56mms and one 7.62×39. I’ve taken deer with the 7.62, and my son used the .450 throughout deer season. They’re actually very helpful firearms.
One AR-10 variant at present out there, the S&W Volunteer X in .308, is a helpful gun certainly. However first let’s have a look again at some historical past.
A Bit Of Historical past
Many shooters don’t know that the 5.56mm was not the unique 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 unique AR-10, in caliber .308. He thought that the army may be , however they actually didn’t get labored up about it. The next 12 months, he downsized the rifle and launched it in 5.56mm. The powers-that-were had been pondering of going to a smaller-caliber battle rifle, getting away from the .30 so this time they paid consideration. One profit they famous was that the smaller caliber would permit extra ammo to be carried for a given weight. This isn’t a treatise on whether or not we must always’ve switched calibers, however it had a bearing on rifle growth. As soon as launched, the AR-15 was licensed to Colt, which turned it into what got here to be the M-16. Most of you understand the remainder of the story. My important level is that, upon introduction within the Fifties, the rifle was initially chambered in .308. It solely got here out in .223/5.56mm a 12 months or so later.
The Volunteer X
Smith & Wesson has been on an innovation kick in recent times. I simply reviewed a few their newer fashions, a stainless lever-action 1854 .44 Magnum rifle with a polymer inventory, and their new Bodyguard 2.0 .380 pistol. I purchased them each. These weapons are, in a phrase, glorious. The lever motion places 5 of my hard-cast handloads in a single ragged gap, and the Bodyguard appears like somebody took a full-size M&P pistol and shrunk it down. It nonetheless has a ten+1 and 12+1 capability, although. Wonderful.
So, it was with nice expectations that I ordered this Volunteer X (ten, get it?) in .308 for evaluation. After I noticed the MSRP of $1,779 for the rifle, I questioned what there was in regards to the gun that will enhance its value that far, particularly since their base-model AR-15 goes for underneath $800. I used to be not lengthy to find out.
Listed here are some pictures.
Capturing The X
I’m recovering from a damaged collarbone with resultant surgical procedure, so my buddy Ed, a former deputy and no stranger to the AR, gladly volunteered to shoot the Volunteer. I acquired out my brand-new, still-learning-to-use-it Caldwell VelociRadar chronograph to experiment with it as he shot the rifle. It was enjoyable on two ranges!
We arrange some targets at 50 yards since this rifle had open sights. (I do know, a few of you on the market are good to way-out-there-with opens, however I wasn’t eager to push issues for my buddy). He shot three completely different masses: Hornady Superformance 150-grain, their American Whitetail 145-grain and the Monarch steel-cased 150-grain.
Listed here are some consultant targets…
I used to be not making an attempt to wring MOA accuracy out of this rifle since I didn’t have an additional scope to placed on it…with the precise optic and ammo, it should do sub-MOA teams. I used to be merely making an attempt to get an thought of the way it dealt with, by way of my professional buddy, and see what he needed to say about it. He was impressed. (He’s no stranger to AR-10s as he owns a Ruger SFAR).
I’d not hesitate to mount an honest variable-power scope, one thing that will let me see critters both up shut or means on the market after which proceed to the woods with this rifle. However…its declare to fame is that it’s competition-ready. With a few of its subtle add-ons, I’m inclined to consider that. The flat-faced set off was very nice…very tiny quantity of take-up, then a crisp break at not fairly 4 kilos.
I actually appreciated the charging deal with. It’s a bit bigger than a regular AR deal with, and its “ears” are very distinguished. One other characteristic I appreciated is the bolt launch and journal launch are replicated on the left facet of the receiver. The both-left-and-right-side security is icing on the cake. We lefties have a tricky time with some weapons, however not this one. This rifle is actually left-hand-friendly.
Specs
Here’s a listing of specs from the S&W web site for this rifle:
S&W Volunteer X
Caliber: .308 win
Motion: Gasoline Operated
Barrel size: 16 in.
Grip: B5
Sights: Williams Gun Sight Firm folding sights
Optic Prepared: Sure
Security: Ambidextrous thumb security selector, bolt launch and journal launch
Shade/end: Black
Threaded barrel: Sure, with PWS 762 muzzle brake (suppressor-ready)
Barrel materials: 4140 cm, Armornite end
Body: Aluminum
Inventory: B5 Programs SOPMOD inventory, BCMGunfighter forend with M-LOK, B5 Programs P-Grip 23 pistol grip, Magpul Sort-2 M-LOK rail covers
Capability: 20 (one journal included)
Width: 3 in.
Size: 39.3 in.
Top: 8 in.
Weight: 10 lbs., 8 oz. from the web site – my scale confirmed 8 lbs., 9.5 oz.*
I added the price of the quite a few third-party upgrades that include this rifle and acquired a complete that hit $500. You additionally should determine in some additional engineering and manufacturing prices, since that is a sophisticated rifle. The add-ons do make for a nice-handling, strong firearm with a superb match and end.
Conclusion
This can be a nice-looking and nice-handling rifle. In case you are eager to get into some long-distance competitors and .308 is your caliber (or 6.5 Creedmoor – it is available in that caliber, as effectively, on the similar value), you may want to try the Volunteer X. It’d prevent a couple of bucks by way of customization, as S&W has accomplished a few of that for you. With the addition of a very good optic, I’d say you’d be fairly effectively good to go, not less than beginning out. Discover out what masses shoot finest in it and spend some set off time dialing it in. I’d positive volunteer to do this.
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