I have the need for one (and only one) semi auto .308 rifle. While I currently have a SCAR, I am not in love with it, and I am intrigued by several other .308s.

Question:
If you could only own one, which semi-auto .308 would you keep?

Choices:
Sig 716 Gen 1 (the piston ones)
SCAR 17
FAL
M1A

 

The SCAR is objectively going to be the best/most practical option. Lighter, generally more accurate, more modern features, more customizable, etc.

But you may find that another platform, while it may be worse than the SCAR on paper in one or more ways, just "speaks" to you more than the SCAR. That's going to come down to personal preference though. 100 different people are going to have 100 different opinions about which rifles they "love", and none of them may have the same opinion as you. So you'll never know until you try all those other options.

There's definitely an old school cool appeal to the FAL and M14, and I enjoy them, but I wouldn't pick one over the SCAR if I could only own one .308 rifle forever. Especially if I intended to rely on it for serious purposes. And especially especially if I already owned the SCAR and not the others.

While it isn't on your list, the only thing I could consider taking over a SCAR if I could only own one .308 semi might be a POF Revolution. It checks basically all of the same boxes as the SCAR while being a bit lighter and less expensive. But being just another fancy AR it doesn't have any "wow" factor above and beyond the SCAR so you may not "love" it either.

I currently have an M14, it's a Maunz Match rifle that I inherited from a friend. I usually like to stick to proven battle rifles and plan on getting a Scar when funds are available. Got to shoot one, only to 100 yards, but I liked it.

If you don't like the SCAR 17, I can't help you.

I’ve owned an actual HK91 and nice, built-up Norinco M14 receiver with all TRW USGI stuff from the early 2000’s when that was the move. I wouldn’t have either one back, and anyone saying they’d have one of those platforms over a SCAR 17 is being more nostalgic than practical, and I don’t care who that offends. I’d throw the FAL in there also. Yes, wonderful examples of those Cold War era rifles exist, no doubt, but I’m more inclined to leave them there. I’m sure a better argument could be made for an AR of some iteration, but I have zero experience with those, so I can’t say for sure, but I would take a SCAR 17 over all of those and not feel an ounce of regret.

Y'all know my answer, but I'm biased.

Two of many...

A DI AR10 offers flexibility that the other platforms can't.
- Many options for barrel, furniture, optics & mounts, trigger, magazines.
- Can be configured as light SBR, a medium weight all-around rifle, or a solid precision rifle.
- Plays nicely with a suppressor.
- Generally not very picky with ammo, as related to cycling reliability.
- Lots of competent gunsmiths who can work on the platform.
- With a few tools and some video assistance, many folks can assemble/repair/enhance their own rifle.
- None of the other options can be so easily be accurized, and hold their accuracy over time.
- Multiple caliber options.

Here's a precision build in 6 Creedmoor.



5 rounds at 525 yards. 2-3/8" vertical dispersion -- what really counts at distance -- .43 MOA.
Hornady factory ammo, on a 12" steel plate.
4" horizontal dispersion in winds of 5-15 mph from 3 o'clock. At my elevation, 10 mph winds result in 13" lateral drift at the target.
This is bolt action accuracy from a semi-auto.

I have Fals and M1As.
I wanted something different.
I picked up a POF Rogue and love it!
Recoil like a 5.56 AR, mags are cheap, and the best part is With good glass Ican reach out to 600 with ease.

Since I have an M1A I voted for that (also recognize that it’s a 3-4MOA rifle w/o work). But if I didn’t, I’d get an AR10. Same ergos as the AR15. I understand that the different builder are not all interchangeable and use different mags. I’d find one of the big name producers and go with that.

For me, mainly due to budget. But I actually like it. An AR10. While not perfect I love shooting mine and the .308 is a perfect cartridge for it. If shtf ever happens 20 rds. of 7.62 is awfully good.

I was at a range one day and three guys were there. I don't recall what they were shooting. One of them comes over and say's "what is that" He obviously knew it was and AR.

quote:

I picked up a POF Rogue and love it!
Recoil like a 5.56 AR

Well those boys would be fools not to apply the same engineering to their 5.56 rifles. A 5.56 that has the recoil of 10/22 would be a show-stopper!

I voted for the SCAR, but a "DI" AR10 is what I'd actually go for.

I have a SCAR 17 and it's great. Wanted a .308 that took SR25 mags that I could spray paint and beat doing Run N' Gun matches, so I picked up one of these:

https://iwi.us/firearms/galil-...djustable-buttstock/

For the money it's a hard one to beat.

I have an M1A Scout Squad which I love, but I wouldn't grab it for a serious use/drag through the mud and shoot 500m type thing.

I picked up a Ruger SR762 when they were in production.
Always goes bang but it's a pig.
Easy enough to rebarrel it as a DI gun though and shave a bunch of weight.

A few notes:
-When I say I have a need for a .308 semi auto rifle, its not a real "need". Its more like "I will only ever take a single one to the range, and I don't have the desire beyond that one." Its purely for fun, a range toy only.

-I wonder how many people who voted for the SCAR actually own one. I say that because I am not impressed with it, mostly due to its "clunkiness". Its lightweight, sure, but it has a reputation for destroying optics and is just "big" overall, from the Ugg boot to the receiver and flash hider. That's why I am considering replacing it.

-I absolutely love the look of M1As, and I know a guy selling an M1A SOCOM 16 for $1000. However I have heard many stories of their pickiness and poor accuracy. I mean, they were the shortest serving standard issue weapon in US military history for a reason...

-The FAL is an awesome rifle, I got to use one during a foreign weapons course a few years back. Love the look and the reliability. My main qualms are finding one that isnt a DSA FAL, because just like with the M1A, I have heard mulitple stories of DSA FALs not being quite right. If I could get a belgian one somehow the FAL would be my pick, no doubt.

-The reason I have the piston Sig 716 on there is because I have always loved the piston AR .308 concept. Plan would be to add an MR762 stock to it, drop in a radian raptor charging handle and throw an ACOG on top. I have no desire for a DI AR-10, if I did I would just buy something cheap.

what about the MCX-SPEAR?

quote:

I wonder how many people who voted for the SCAR actually own one

Own one currently? No. I have owned a 16, and have shot a couple different 17s.

I almost voted 716. They're a darn fine rifle. I like them better than the SCAR, when we're not considering aftermarket. The SCAR aftermarket is plentiful. The SCAR also has a reputation for accuracy; I don't know how the 716 performs in that regard.

Why is a DI AR10 off the table? I don't intend to make a debate out of it. You like what you like. I am curious though.

quote:

mostly due to its "clunkiness"

Nothing is more svelte than a DI gun.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KSGM,

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
what about the MCX-SPEAR?

LOL yeah it's svelte

If you're looking for a rifle that will be a range only gun, and you want a piston driven platform, and you want it to be sexy and have a soul, no other piston driven 308 will beat the accuracy of the match grade M14/M1A platform. Expect to pay about $4,500 for a top quality rifle with a hammer forged receiver.

I'm talking accuracy in the 0.5 MOA to 1.25 MOA range. I haven't seen any other piston driven 308 deliver this. I've sought it out and I can't find it. I've exhaustively documented this kind of accuracy on this forum over the years with rifles with 18.5" and 22" barrels. Haven't cracked the code yet on 16" barrels, but I will in time.

Tony.

quote:

Originally posted by dwd1985:


-I wonder how many people who voted for the SCAR actually own one. I say that because I am not impressed with it, mostly due to its "clunkiness". Its lightweight, sure, but it has a reputation for destroying optics and is just "big" overall, from the Ugg boot to the receiver and flash hider. That's why I am considering replacing it.

Have a close look at this, as someone may have mentioned. It's not your standard AR-10. 6.1 pounds.

https://www.pof-usa.com/firearm/13-75-rogue/

Or this, cheaper and 6.3 lbs
https://www.pof-usa.com/firearm/LMR-BASE/

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:
If you're looking for a rifle that will be a range only gun, and you want a piston driven platform, and you want it to be sexy and have a soul, no other piston driven 308 will beat the accuracy of the match grade M14/M1A platform. Expect to pay about $4,500 for a top quality rifle with a hammer forged receiver.

I'm talking accuracy in the 0.5 MOA to 1.25 MOA range. I haven't seen any other piston driven 308 deliver this. I've sought it out and I can't find it. I've exhaustively documented this kind of accuracy on this forum over the years with rifles with 18.5" and 22" barrels. Haven't cracked the code yet on 16" barrels, but I will in time.

Tony.

I assume you've tried the SCAR 20?