Best accuracy was obtained using Winchester's 180-grain XP3 load. This 3-shot 100-yard group measured 0.437 inch.

Moving to the bench I proceeded to spend a very long afternoon behind the ArmaLite AR30. During my time with it I noticed a few things. Rounds loaded easily into the magazine and chambered smoothly, but the bolt throw was rather long. The safety on this example sported a number of sharp edges, but it operated easily.

I have never cared for the M16A2 pistol grip, and on this rifle I think it indexes the trigger finger too far forward. I would prefer a different pistol grip design more suitable to this type of rifle. The barrel is relatively thin, so it heated up very rapidly. Once the barrel was hot, a sea of mirage rose off it and made aiming through it a chore. Recoil was very mild. But despite this, the amount of blast coming off the muzzlebrake was uncomfortable. Call me a wuss, but after a long afternoon behind it my head began to hurt.

Accuracy-wise my AR30 shot best with Winchester's 180-grain XP3 load. Pounding out at a respectable 2979 fps it averaged 2.00-inch groups at 300 yards. Not far behind was Black Hills Ammunition's 178-grain A-Max load, which averaged 2.50 inches at 3037 fps, and Hornady's 178-grain A-Max load, which averaged 2.60 inches at 2981 fps. Winchester's 180-grain Ballistic Silvertip load averaged a very respectable 2.75 inches at 2938 fps. This rifle did not particularly like the AccuBond load.

From the bench I moved to shooting prone off a pack. A bipod is available for the AR30, but I did not receive one with the review rifle. No big deal--I just flopped with a pack. In this manner I shot reduced-size steel silhouettes from 100 to 300 meters. During this portion of testing I had a chance to evaluate not only the Meopta riflescope but also a Steiner 8.5x50mm Peregrine binocular. The Meopta performed very well and exhibited accurate color rendition, excellent resolution, and a bright image. Its adjustments were exactly what they should be dialing in both elevation and windage. All in all, it's a very nice European scope.

The Steiner 8.5x50mm Peregrine also performed very well. Despite the large 50mm objectives this model is still a fairly light 30 ounces. Exit pupil is a fat 5.88mm, enhancing low-light performance. Field of view is 306 feet at 1000 yards, and eye relief is 19mm.

This model is fitted with fold-down rubber eyecups and well designed detachable objective lens covers. Plus, it will go from close focus to infinity in one knob revolution. Optically, the binocular performed very well with a crisp image providing accurate color rendition and very good resolution. Size-wise the 8.5x50mm Peregrines are not overly large and pack nicely. Steiner has stuffed a lot of performance in a comfortable size package.

ArmaLite's AR30 performed well with zero problems or malfunctions. At 12 pounds it's fairly light for a rifle of this type, and it fed and operated smoothly. Ejection was positive. Blast was fairly heavy, and the stock design was not the most comfortable I have ever used.