Maxim Defense MD:10L
Premium quality minus the premium price tag
Quality AR10 platforms, or, more importantly, AR10 platforms that function reliably, are not as prevalent as one may expect, certainly not at a sub $2,000 price point. The AR10 can be a tough nut to crack.

We recently received an AR10 chambered in .308 Winchester from Maxim Defense called the MD:10L (L for “Light”) and have since decided to give it a 2024 On Target Editors’ Choice Award. Maxim Defense is best known for short AR15-based Personal Defense Weapons (PDWs) in 5.56 NATO and .300BLK. These platforms typically have very short barrel lengths, in the 5-inch range, and are direct impingement. Getting these platforms to function reliably requires engineering, not simply parts assembly. Given Maxim Defense’s successes within the PDW market, we became more optimistic about the performance possibilities of the MD:10L and its sub-$2,000 price point.

The MD:10L is an affordable rifle equipped with premium components where it truly matters — components not found in some of the competitor’s offerings — while cost savings were achieved where they do not. An example of this is starting at the muzzle end; the MD:10L features a standard A2 flash hider in place of a more expensive flash hider or compensator. Just behind the flash hider is a premium feature that does, in fact, matter. The MD:10L comes equipped with a spiral fluted 16-inch (18-inch in 6.5 Creedmoor) barrel that has been done right. These flutes extend nearly the entire length of the barrel to not only promote faster cooling times but also pull a noticeable amount of weight out of the barrel, leading to a far more balanced platform. A nice, skinny, free-floating 13-inch M-Slot/M-Rax (M-LOK compatible) handguard shrouds the barrel and is of functional length with usable rail space. If you’ve never heard of M-RAX accessories, they are a more functional version of Magpul’s M-LOK products and are far easier to use.

The bolt carrier group is standard AR10, while an ambidextrous Radian Raptor charging handle is a nice upgrade. The Raptor is a favorite of ours, as the ergonomics are spot-on, and the handle serves as a gas buster when the rifle is equipped with a traditional suppressor.
The magazine well is STANAG and comes with one Magpul PMAG 20LR magazine. Controls are not ambidextrous, but this is not even close to being a deal breaker on an AR10 priced at sub-$2K. Remember what we said about premium where it matters and standard components where it doesn’t?

A Magpul MOE+ rubber over-molded pistol grip and MOE SL-K buttstock riding on a six-position Mil-Spec receiver extension can be found out back. While subjective, we don’t exactly love this buttstock and find the length of pull it provides is a little on the short side for a large-frame AR that is destined to pull at least some precision rifle duty.
The heart of every rifle is the trigger. Again, Maxim Defense did not skimp on this feature and equipped its MD:10L with a very nice (and very light) flat-faced Blackout Defense Zero Trigger. A light and crisp trigger goes a long way towards wringing out the mechanical accuracy of a rifle and enhances the practical accuracy as well.
The MD:10L shined during our performance testing. Not only was it one hundred percent reliable across all of the loads it was tested with, but the level of accuracy it demonstrated did nothing but exude our confidence in the platform. Best groups were achieved using Hornday 165-grain SST Superformance ammunition, printing a five-shot group of 0.89 inches at 100 yards — exceptional performance from a 16-inch AR10, again, priced under two thousand dollars. Black Hills 175-grain Match was close on its heels with a 0.95-inch best group. Groups may or may not have tightened with a higher power optic, but we felt Leupold’s Mark5 HD 2-10x30mm (www.leupold.com) was a very practical optic for this platform, one that would likely find a permanent home on this rifle for its shear versatility.
Not all manufacturers have cracked the code of a reliable running AR10 platform, but Maxim Defense has the recipe dialed in. Reliable, accurate, and able to reach beyond the effective range of 5.56mm, the MD:10L has earned a spot as our top AR10 pick in the sub-$2,000 category.
Looking back at our initial reservations regarding the performance versus cost ratio regarding AR10 platforms, given Maxim Defense’s achievements with known-to-be-finicky platforms and barrel lengths, it should not have come as a surprise the MD:10L would function flawlessly. If you’re in the market for a sub-8 pound 7.62 NATO semiautomatic rifle that has the ability to reach out and touch those longer-range targets without breaking the bank, look no further than Maxim Defense’s MD:10L. See it at your nearest dealer, or for more information, contact Maxim Defense; Tel.: (239) 580-7800; Web: www.maximdefense.com — Ben Battles
Specifications:
Caliber: .308 Win (tested) or 6.5 Creedmoor
Action Type: Direct Impingement Gas Operated
Trigger: Flat-faced Blackout Defense Zero
Rate of twist: 1:10
Barrel: 16-inch stainless steel
Finish: Anodized/Cerakote
Handguard: 13-inch M-Slot/M-Rax (M-LOK compatible)
Buttstock: Magpul MOE SLK-K
Grip: Magpul MOE+
Magazine/capacity: 20-round Magpul
Sights: Picatinny optic rail, Magpul MBUS sights
Overall Length: 33.80
Weight: 7 pounds, 15 ounces
MSRP: $1,995