Bolt Action AR-10: Uintah Precision UPR-10 in 6.5 Creedmoor

I can recall thinking to myself about 10 years ago: I like this AR-15 [I was shooting at the time], but it would be interesting to see what it would take to make a bolt-action AR-15 and AR-10 platform. I didn’t linger too long on the subject, and years later I recall seeing something that looked totally different than anything I’d seen before, but brought me back to my previous thoughts about a bolt-action AR platform. It was the Uintah Precision UPR-15. Then I saw the UPR-10 on West Desert Shooter, a YouTube Channel. Right then I knew I had to try out this technology for myself!

Uintah Precision makes two styles of uppers: The UPR-10 bolt action upper for the AR-10, and the UPR-15 bolt-action upper for the AR-15. I’ll be showing both platforms here on Ultimate Reloader, and in this post I’ll kick things off with an overview of the UPR-10 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor!

Uintah Precision UPR-10 Info

The UPR-10 is a bolt action upper receiver that only requires an AR-10 style lower (DPMS LR-308 pattern), magazines, and an optic. Everything else is included with the UPR-10 that you’ll need to build a complete rifle.

Here are the chamberings offered in the UPR-10 lineup:

  • .308, 24” barrel, 1:10 Twist
  • 6.5 Creedmoor, 26” barrel, 1:8 Twist (featured in this article)
  • .243 Winchester, 26” barrel, 1:8 Twist

From the UPR-10 product page:

Introducing the UPR-10 – – A bolt action AR-10 upper receiver assembly for DPMS pattern AR-10 rifles. This barreled upper changes your AR-10 into a fully compliant, long-range precision bolt action rifle. With 3 barrel varieties available, you can custom pick the caliber and barrel length of your AR-10 rifle

PRECISION MADE IN THE USA
Every proprietary component of the UPR-10 upper assembly is made and assembled in The United States. This complete barreled upper assembly is ready to fire once bolted onto your AR-10 rifle. Major included parts are the hand-guard, bolt, firing pin, barrel, and handguard. The handguard is a 15” M-lok, which can be easily replaced with any free float AR-10 handguard

Want a more customized option for your AR-10? We are happy to offer special order, customized AR-10 bolt action uppers. For special order requests, call 435-738-2422

What’s Included

When you open the box, you’ll see the following for an UPR-10 or UPR-15 package (only the size is different):

  • Upper assembly
  • Bolt
  • Instructions and literature

Putting things together couldn’t be easier (as shown in the video). Here’s what I did:

  1. Install M-LOK swivel stud adapter for harris-style bipod
  2. Install bolt in upper
  3. Remove conventional 308 AR-10 upper from lower
  4. Remove buffer and buffer spring from lower (optional, but the UPR-10 works better without these components)
  5. Install UPR-10 on lower
  6. Install scope

That’s it! But there’s one more important thing to mention: triggers, not all AR-15/AR-10 triggers are compatible.

Here’s how I configured my UPR-10: (click/tap to enlarge)

Some features and specs for this rifle:

  • DPMS LR-308b lower
  • Elftmann Tactical AR Match trigger (optimized for ~1.9lb pull by Elftmann)
  • Magpul MOE Rifle (fixed) buttstock
  • Factory magazines
  • Harris S-BRM tilting 6-9″ notched leg bipod
  • Bushnell Elite Tactical 4.5-30 SFP scope

A Note About Triggers

Because of the unique design of the UPR-10 and UPR-15, not all triggers are compatible. This has to do with how the bolt and the trigger interface. The good news is, there’s a lot of great triggers that will work.

A note from Uintah Precision:

UPR Compatible triggers

We are continually working to keep this list as up to date as possible. At this point in time, if it is not a
standard AR trigger or one listed below, DO NOT USE IT. There is a possibility that if the trigger is pulled,
with the bolt open, the hammer may fall before the bolt is closed completely and the lugs fully engaged.
This may cause serious damage to the rifle and/or injure the shooter. Due to the many trigger variations
available, it is impossible to guarantee they will all work safely with our upper. Again, we advise that if it
is not listed here, DO NOT USE IT.

Compatible triggers
“Standard Mil-Spec” trigger groups
Velocity Triggers
Black Rain Ordinance
Rise Armament
American Tactical
Elftmann Tactical
TriggerTech AR Diamond
TriggerTech Primary (some modification required)
Hiperfire EDT SS / EDT HG/ GENESIS

DO NOT USE THE FOLLOWING TRIGGERS
Geissele
Timney
CMC Triggers
Cedar Enterprise Inc.
Wisconsin Trigger Company
Larue MBT
POF

I’ve used the following triggers with success with the UPR-10 and UPR-15 uppers:

More information is available on the Uintah Precision website.

Performance and Results

One of the first tests I did with the UPR-10 was to shoot some 5-shot groups with some 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammunition that has performed well in multiple rifles. During that session, I shot the following 5-shot group at 100 yards:

WOW, I thought- that’s really good!

During an unrelated load work-up for Hornady’s 135 grain A-Tip bullets, I shot the following 10 shot ladder with the UPR-10: (click/tap to enlarge)

What’s interesting about these numbers is that the UPR-10 produced a max velocity that was nearly 100 FPS over the Hornady data. That’s  a benefit of the 26″ barrel that’s included with the UPR-10. Many 6.5 Creedmoor rifles have 24″ barrels, and those will obviously produce lower velocities if all else is the same.

Uintah Precision has a 3-shot sub-MOA guarantee for all of their uppers, and I had no problem holding sub-MOA performance for 5-shot groups (significantly harder to do compared to 3-shot groups). Here’s the setup I used to verify groups as I was shooting:

Above you can see the overlay from the ShotMarker system, an e-target with integrated chronograph, and a lifesaver for me a the range!

A Versatile Package

Above, Top: LR-308b upper (308 Winchester), Middle: AR-10 buffer and buffer spring, Bottom: UPR-10 6.5 Creedmoor complete rifle

Over the years, I’ve really enjoyed shooting my DPMS LR-308b. With the addition of the Uintah Precision UPR-10, I now have a multi-caliber rifle package that uses most of the same components (grip, trigger, buttstock, magazines, etc) but enables many different shooting scenarios. If I was in a state where AR-compliance was an issue, the UPR-10 would take on a different significance for sure! This AR-10 shooting setup is both fun and versatile. I guarantee if you show up to the shooting range with an UPR-10 or UPR-15 rifle, you’ll get a lot of looks, and most likely a lot of questions! It’s definitely something different.

And there’s more related content to come here on Ultimate Reloader including:

  1. More UPR-10 shooting
  2. UPR-15 content (6.5 Grendel!)
  3. UPR builds (now that will be cool)

Order yours here:

UPR-10 | AR-10 Bolt Action Upper Assembly

UPR-15 | AR-15 Bolt Action Upper Receiver

So make sure you’re subscribed! Do you have an UPR-10 or UPR-15? I’d love to hear your stories, please leave a comment!

Thanks,
Gavin

12 thoughts on “Bolt Action AR-10: Uintah Precision UPR-10 in 6.5 Creedmoor”

  1. I’ll be putting back in Trigger Tech trigger. Somehow, I struck the hammer was in the upright position the bolt I had just received from Uintah Precision upgraded style. Trigger Tech honored the company warranty replacing my four-month-old trigger the AR Diamond trigger 1.5-4 pounds weight, costly. The AR Diamond trigger number #3 from Trigger Tech. Be careful making sure that the hammer is in the down position.

  2. I’m not sure I see the point, when I compare this to building a side-charger ar upper built with a sealed gas block on the barrel so it’s not semiauto I’m saving a bunch on the upper and I can get a barrel that has a longer lifespan then stainless.

    1. Bolt actions are inherently more accurate. That is pretty much the main reason for using bolt actions for precision rifles.

  3. One of the best AR triggers on the market (Geissele National Match) and it doesn’t work. How do do I know it’s one of the best? I have no less than four of them. One is in a 6.5 Creedmoor AR-308.

  4. How does this not fall under the ATF’s latest ruling on bolt action uppers for ARs? I waited over a year on safety harbor firearms to figure things out with the ATF, and eventually gave up and went with a more expensive one .50bmg upper. Either Unitah is breaking the law selling those or the ATF just killed their ruling on accident.

  5. I’m thrilled that your on board with Uintah Precision. I have been looking at this setup for a while now. I also pulled the trigger on one in 6.5 Creedmoor. I’m looking forward to shooting and hunting with it this season. I just hope the 300 dollar triiger works with this rig!

  6. Gavin: I though this was going to be the answer to my delmia of having a bolt gun to go along with my semi auto till I came across the Kali-Key Bolt Action Charging Handle. Do you know about this system and if so what are your thoughts? How do you think this would stand up to a real bolt gun as far as accuracy goes?
    Let me know I really respect your expertise.
    Thanks
    JR

  7. The list for compatible triggers for Uintah Precision that they provided Trigger Tech trigger should not on the list of compatible triggers. I have installed two AR-Diamond triggers both have broken, the hammer area. through an email from Trigger Tech states, “We have learned that we are not compatible with the Uintah Precision bolt action AR. We have clearance issues with our AR15 hammer and will not work on their platform and have not been able to see anything online indicating that we are good in their platform.” Since I purchased directly from Trigger Tech – refund my cost of $260.00 on one trigger; the first trigger replaced already.

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