Why not AR 10's?

[Smokin]

Why are most if the competitors using .223/.556 over .308 or .260? Is it mainly the recoil and the expense of the rounds?

[Tim N]

Recoil and expense are factors, the size difference also makes AR10s a bit less handy offhand.

[carbon9]

Why are most if the competitors using .223/.556 over .308 or .260? Is it mainly the recoil and the expense of the rounds?

Kinda and Yes.

I would say it is more the cadence of multiple rapid fire shots being slower then a .223 because of the recoil then straight up harsher recoil.

Good quality .308 ends up costing quite a bit more even if you are reloading, which is fine if all you do is shoot matches. But what happens if you want to put in practice time with the rifle you compete with? It's kinda like shooting slugs and buckshot and seeing a $1.00 flying down range every time you pull the trigger.

[HRider]

Since most 3gun matches do not offer major/minor scoring within the same division, there is no advantage in shooting the big rifle. When shooting heads up against 5.56/.223 with a .308, you are at a disadvantage on most stages, splits are slower, mag capacity is lower, rifle is generally heavier, ammo cost more etc. Thank goodness there is still a Heavy Metal class/division at most 3gun matches so I can still shoot my AR10, 1911 and pump shotgun against people with similar equipment .

Hurley

[bobbleeye]

I shoot an M1A and reload and figure it costs me .55-.60 cents everytime I pull the trigger, my AR I figure cost me in the neighborhood of .20 cents. Most of it is economics,and the extra weight of the 308 over the AR and just about everyone has lightened their AR's in some form, carbon fiber , skeleton stocks ect which taking weight from an M1A is just asking for more recoil. I just put an SJC domp on mine and it makes a world of difference, beleive it or not, brings recoil and muzzle rise to not much more than an AR, best money I ever spent. So in my opinion I say economics and weight, can make for a long day shooting an M1A, but it is fun to watch steel FLY when you hit it

[ken hebert]

Why are most if the competitors using .223/.556 over .308 or .260? Is it mainly the recoil and the expense of the rounds?

scoring here in the U.S. there is no practical reward for running major pf in most matches. some specialized classes cater to .308's, but it takes a bit of a commitment to do it as a competitor.

[bobcatt320]

I bought a SR-25 with the greatest intentions of shooting .308 just for something different in our local matches. Always wanted one so convincing myself I would shoot it in competition helped persuade myself that it was a need and not a want. Ha Ha you guys all know what Im talking about Im sure. Make a long story short with a little more recoil I figured it would be slightly slower than my .223 on rapid shots, but my biggest reason in not using it yet was the cost. I do reload .308, but even then the cost of it is a lot more than .223 so I haven't taken the plunge and shot it yet in a match. If they had a heavy metal class locally it would be nice, I would deff try it out then.