by Larry Vickers
Vickers Tactical, retired US Army 1st SFOD- Delta combat veteran

Today we’re kicking off a deep dive into one of my personal favorite modern rifles – the SR-25.

If you’re into firearms, you’ve probably heard of Reed Knight. Reed’s not just any gun guy; he’s the real deal, a true aficionado of the M16 platform. I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Reed numerous times, especially when I was compiling “AR-15 Volume 1” and “AR-15 Volume 2” for our Vickers Guide series with James Rupley.

Reed Knight is more than just a fan; he’s a collector with arguably the finest M16-style rifle collection on the planet. His passion for Eugene Stoner’s work, particularly the Armalite designs, is what led to the revival and evolution of the AR-10 concept into what we now know as the SR-25.

Now, let’s go back to the roots. The AR-10 was Armalite’s first venture into rifles with Eugene Stoner, back in the late ’50s. It was a 7.62 NATO battle rifle, which was innovative for its time. Lightweight, thanks to its use of aluminum and synthetic materials like fiberglass for its stocks and handguards. But despite its cool features, it didn’t make a huge splash on the global stage. The FN FAL and Heckler & Koch G3 were dominating, leaving the AR-10 to pick up what was left.

Fast forward, the AR-15, essentially a downsized AR-10 chambered in .223/5.56, became a massive success. This success story set the stage for revisiting the AR-10 concept. Reed Knight, being the visionary he is, teamed up with Eugene Stoner to bring this dream to life. They wanted to modernize the AR-10, keeping its accuracy and adapting it for contemporary needs.

The key here was the direct impingement system, which was borrowed from French designs and significantly refined by Stoner. This system uses gas from the barrel to cycle the action by expanding into the bolt carrier group, creating a simple, reliable operation without any extra moving parts to go wrong.

So, why was this important for the SR-25? Well, it meant inheriting the accuracy and simplicity of the M16 lineage while scaling up to a battle rifle caliber. The SR-25 wasn’t just another rifle; it was a testament to how far firearm design had come from Stoner’s original concepts.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll look at the developmental journey of the SR-25, from early prototypes to the models you might be shooting today. Make sure to like and follow for more in-depth gun content. Until next time.

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