Rhodesian Bush War history + A Good Bottle Of Holy Water = S&W MP10

[ECVMatt]

long story short, I have been reading a lot about the Rhodesian Bush War and kind of got fixated on a .308/7.62x51 battle rifle. I actually have about 1500 rounds of .308 in the ammo locker, but only a Ruger Gunsite Scout to shoot it out of. Along came a good bottle of holy water and a NIB S&W MP10 for a great price from a local online dealer and out came the credit card.

I have looked at MP10's for a while and they seem like a solid gun. I know they don't compare to the higher end AR10's, but this gun will is just for recreational shooting.

So what do you guys think about the M&P10? Did I do a good job or will I wake up and try and chew my arm off to get away in the morning?

[HeavyDuty]

Watching with interest… I have a FAL that I built years ago after being inspired by a Rhodesian friend (RIP) who waxed eloquently about them, but have always been interested in a AR pattern 7.62 rifle.

Did you get the 16” or 18”?

[BobM]

I’ve had one for several years. Out of the box I’d get a flyer almost every group but after putting on a free float rail, it’s consistent. With match ammunition I run 1 1/2” five shot groups at 100 yds. Federal 150 ball is less accurate, but not too bad.
A range I’ve used has 12” steel plates every 100 yards out to 1,000. I’ve shot the MP10 out to 600 yards with 155 and 168 grain bullets and easily hit the plates.
One of these days I’m going to try 175/178 grain bullets.
It has a Leupold 3-9 VX/R Patrol in a Larue mount.

[rcbusmc24]

They are good guns for using as a" modernized" battlerifle. Don't be tempted to try to turn it into something it isn't... the ones I've had and shot have always ran well with various flavors of old surplus MG ammo, with the expected battlerifle accuracy. They do tend to hold their value for resale if you decide to part with it as well.

[ECVMatt]

I am not trying to make this into a 1000 yard shooter, just a good camping/4x4ing rifle. I will probably put a more conventional scope on it, change some furniture, and call it good. I got the 16" version. I'm working pretty much non-stop for the next couple of weeks so it will be a while before I get to shoot it, but I am excited to give it a whirl.

I will update once I have shot the rifle.

If anyone has tips/suggestions in the meantime I would appreciate them.

Thanks,

Matt

[HeavyDuty]

A 16” set up like my main 14.5” AR with a RDS is a very appealing concept.

[CSW]

I seriously thought about building one as well, with a 16-18 barrel, but I just can't give up on my m1a.

[theJanitor]

I had a 16" noveske with a really effective (obnoxious) brake and an aimpoint M3 on it years ago. If i wanted to redo a 762 battle rifle, I'd probably go down that same path again.

[JonInWA]

The SIG-Sauer 716i Tread is of interest to me as well; I've been pretty impressed with my M400 Tread; any one else have any feedback?

Best, Jon

[Tokarev]

Does Brownell's still make this?

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2019/10/9/review-brownells-brn-10/

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[Trukinjp13]

The SIG-Sauer 716i Tread is of interest to me as well; I've been pretty impressed with my M400 Tread; any one else have any feedback?

Best, Jon

Have not shot one. But have looked at a few battle rifles lately. The Sig was very impressive. Lightweight. Good furniture.Well put together. Good profile Barrel. Only thing I wish it had was a adjustable gas block. But other than that for the price I was blown away.


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[Coyotesfan97]

75321

My Belgian Defense Team back in the day. I still have the DSA58. Talon’s waiting for me across the bridge.

[MistWolf]

The MP-10 requires full power commercial 308 to function correctly.

Extractor springs are weak.

If I recall, it comes with carbine weight buffer. It could use an H2.

Shooting it with the M4 style buttstock is painful.

The factory gas block and muzzle devices are boat anchors.

Use a DPMS low style free float tube. Carbon fiber tubes handle the heat better.

[MistWolf]

PS- The metal factory mags won’t work unless you modify them with extreme prejudice using a big hammer and buy MagPul replacements.

[idahojess]

One early change I did was to put an MOE buttstock on it with a limbsaver pad. I see that they now have Magpul SL pads.

https://limbsaver.com/collections/all/products/magpul-sl-stock-recoil-pad

I used to have a scope on mine, but right now it has Daniel Defense irons.

[Zman001]

75774 FAL is the way to go

[UNM1136]

AR 10 type is on my short list as well. Had a school shooting here the third day of school last week. Governor starts banging her gums about "weapons of war". If she gets legislation moving I see a few lowers moving into the safe for future projects. 6.5CM, or .308 for me, .300BO for each of the kiddos.

pat

[idahojess]

77275

Mine originally had the boat anchor muzzle device. After a couple years, I took it off and put an A2 style flash hider on it, and I noticed much more recoil and muzzle rise.

After a few years of that, I recently put a Wilson Combat Q-combat muzzle brake on it. I like the way it shoots. I haven't put a ton of rounds through it, but I did get it pretty well sighted in at 100 yards. Which is definitely a meditative eye exercise, with iron sights, for me.

[Dr_Nimslow]

The SIG-Sauer 716i Tread is of interest to me as well; I've been pretty impressed with my M400 Tread; any one else have any feedback?

Best, Jon


Have not shot one. But have looked at a few battle rifles lately. The Sig was very impressive. Lightweight. Good furniture.Well put together. Good profile Barrel. Only thing I wish it had was a adjustable gas block. But other than that for the price I was blown away.


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I drunk bought this 716i a while back. I haven't been able to shoot it beyond a function check before I took the rattle cans to it, and sourced the elcan. I echo what Trukinjp13 said. Seems well put together.

I did make a couple of minor tweaks. The stock trigger is a very average single stage, so I added a LaRue MBT-2S. the rifle ships with a Magpul SL-K stock, I didn't care for it on this rifle, so I swapped it out for the slightly bigger SL-S model. The factory safety selector is perfectly useable as-is, but I had a spare Badger FDE one laying around, so after I painted the rifle, I put the Badger short throw selector in.


https://i.imgur.com/zFTshaJ.jpg

[theJanitor]

I put a few rounds through an older 716 yesterday. It felt way harsher than my OLD Noveske N6, if my memory serves me well

[High Cross]

I am good friends with Ken Gaudet, 173rd Airborne in Vietnam, Rhodesian Light Infantry III commando Recce Troop, and 44th Pathfinders South African Army under Peter MacAleese. Something I have found is that if you call the FAL anything but the term "FN" to a Rhodesian Veteran, its blasphemy. They get really angry about it.