ArmaLite has been building quality precision bolt-action rifes for more than a decade now. The company’s AR-30 has been immensely popular, and the changes developed for the AR-30A1 were huge. These next-generation rifles included more ergonomic stocks and significant attention to detail. I’ve spent plenty of time at the range with the AR-30, and I also spent some time testing the AR-30A1. Its buttstock provides for easy length-of-pull and cheek height adjustments, and the continuous top rail provides ample space for scopes and even night-vision gear. The rifle also features a very effective, well-known muzzle brake.
Chambered in .338 Lapua and .300 Winchester Magnum, the AR-30A1 was accurate, easy to shoot and very well constructed. But, while these calibers certainly have their value, they can be rare in real police work. This realm remains the purview of the .308 Winchester, and it was only a matter of time before ArmaLite created a .308 rifle with an updated profile—the AR-31.