ArmaLite AR-30

Lore & Background

The AR-30 features a receiver modified in octagonal form, drilled and slotted for a scope rail. The bolt uses dual front locking lugs. The stock comes in three sections: an extruded forend, a machine grip frame with vertical grip, and a forged and machined removable buttstock. The buttplate is vertically adjustable, specifically built for heavy calibers. A muzzle brake is optional on the .308 Win. and .300 Win. Mag models, and standard on the .338 Lapua model. The scope rail is mil-standard with a boss to engage the cross-slot on the receiver.

In November 2012, Armalite announced the AR-30A1, a completely redesigned model that shares few parts with the original AR-30. The A1 is available in .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum, in both a standard fixed stock version and a target version with a thumb-wheel adjustable stock and enhanced sight and accessory rails. The AR-30A1 replaced the AR-30 in the Armalite product lineup.

In October 2013, Armalite announced the AR-31 at the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers Expo. The AR-31 is a short-action rifle based on the long-action AR-30A1, initially chambered in .308 Win, and accepts AR-10B magazines.

Reader's Guide

The ArmaLite AR-30 represents a significant entry in the bolt-action rifle market, leveraging design elements from the larger AR-50 while offering a more portable platform in three popular long-range calibers. Its modular three-section stock and vertically adjustable buttplate were specifically engineered to manage heavy-caliber recoil, and the optional or standard muzzle brake further addressed this need. The rifle's introduction at the 2000 SHOT Show marked Armalite's expansion into precision bolt-action rifles beyond the .50 caliber niche. The subsequent AR-30A1, announced in November 2012, represented a complete redesign with few interchangeable parts, indicating a shift in Armalite's design philosophy toward a more modern platform. The AR-31, announced in October 2013, extended the A1's long-action design into a short-action variant chambered in .308 Win, compatible with AR-10B magazines, showing the lineage's adaptability. The AR-30's legacy is thus one of a foundational model that spawned a family of rifles, each iteration refining the original concept while maintaining the core bolt-action, detachable-box-magazine format.

Did You Know?

• The AR-30 is based in part on Armalite's AR-50 rifle.
• It was introduced at the 2000 SHOT Show.
• The AR-30A1, announced in November 2012, shares few parts with the original AR-30.
• The AR-31, announced in October 2013, accepts AR-10B magazines.