Lets talk Battle Rifles!

[Mongo Hunter]

This last weekend I picked up a couple new long guns, don't want to say what they are quite yet but lets just say my previous AR15 problems are a thing of the past. anyways it got me thinking about .308 battle rifles and the possibility of getting one in the near future. I have had previous experience with the M14 but that bugger was heavy, and it was the SOCOM 16 version! And I did get a short time with the HK-91, one was a clone the other Im not sure, once again heavy but also "clunky" feeling. anyways I thought I would see what all my buddies here liked and why.

P.S. I left the SCAR H off for simple cost reasons, I can get 2 FAL's for the price of 1 SCAR H

[jay.sharkbait]

I have been lucky enough to have owned all four.

FAL- Beautifully designed and built rifles. They are reliable and easy to maintain and keep clean. Accuracy isn't that great due to the tilting bolt and sights being mounted on the lower receiver.

AR10 and derivatives- They can be all over the board. I think they have the greatest potential for accuracy, with the GAP-10 and LaRue OBR being the best 7.62 gas guns available.

HK-91/G3- Sheet metal dirty pigs. That said the PSG-1 and MSG-90's rock. But they better for what they cost.

M14/M1A- Great rifle and something even the Chinese couldn't screw up (sorta). If you like shooting prone with iron sights this is the rifle. Box stock Springfield armory guns are pretty good and the Ron Smith guns are legendary.

These are my biased opinions. 

[Heredoggydoggy]

Any of the above are good makers.  Just a matter of choice.  I've always preferred the varmint calibers, and at my age the big bores won't do my retinas any good, so I avoid them.  That being said, I have 3 FN pistols and an HK-94 (9mm) that I bought years ago.  (And it does get dirty, but there are lots of cleaner burning powders these days...)

[Alchase]

If it has to be .308 or (7.62)
I pick the HK SR9.
Or the CAR 14.

[Special T]

If i were to buy one it would be the Kel Tec RFB. Its a bull pup design that uses 10 or 20 rnd FAL mags Completley ambideztros and you can one with a 32in barrle that only has a 40" over all length. they aint cheep $1800 MSRP 

[12Gauge]

NO experience with HK or the FAL.  I'ver owned a M1A, (strickly Springfield Armory), couple of M14's semi auto version of course, still own a Socom 16.  Been around and shot the AR 10.

I do not think that you can go wrong with any of them. 

My preference is the M14 made by LRB Arms

Also the owner of ancient battle rifles, M1 Garands.  Can still be had for about $600 (field grade), from CMP.

[Alchase]

If i were to buy one it would be the Kel Tec RFB. Its a bull pup design that uses 10 or 20 rnd FAL mags Completley ambideztros and you can one with a 32in barrle that only has a 40" over all length. they aint cheep $1800 MSRP 

That is a sweet bullpup, how does it shoot?


The CAR 14, has a 12.5 inch barrel

[Alchase]

I have always wanted an AR-10 or variant, I have just not got around to build one.

[Special T]

Don't know how they shoot, never even seen one in real life. I personally think Kel Tec is the most innovative gun maker today. I think thier pistols are down right ugly. If i had the bank roll I'd order one of their KSG shotgun bull pups and thier RFG... That would only set me back about 3.5k tho. 

[Mongo Hunter]

If i were to buy one it would be the Kel Tec RFB. Its a bull pup design that uses 10 or 20 rnd FAL mags Completley ambideztros and you can one with a 32in barrle that only has a 40" over all length. they aint cheep $1800 MSRP 

Agree price is high and I've never had a lot of experience with Bull Pup's. Personally from the ones I have got to play with, I didn't like the ergos over a standard style rifle. There are some serious advantages to a bull pup don't get me wrong, just don't like how they feel, mag reloads felt slower especially.

[Alchase]

I also love most anything HK.
I would love to have an HK 416 as well.

My favorite weapon of any type is the HK MP5SD.

[hillbilli]

i've always been fond of the M1a (m14) series. I have the squad scout version, 18" barrel, standard flash supressor, scout mounted scope or standard. i've discovered a lightweight stock takes about a pound and a half off the rifle, and makes it reasonable to carry all day. I get 1" groups or close to it at 100yds with ammo it likes, and they've always been reliable for me. what else could you want? (yeah, I know- a less expensive version!!) I tried a SOCOM,  but the permanently attached muzzle break, combined with the shorter 16" barrel results in loud as hell, lots of flash, more lost velocity, and it doesnt take standard m1a gas system parts. My experience with FAL's have not been good brands, but rather Frankenfal parts guns-but I wasnt impressed with the accuracy or trigger pull. It was reliable, thats about all I could say. The HK's always run, but they are always heavy, and the sights and trigger always seem quite crude compared to the M1A. (and two of the most critical things to being accurate -is sights and trigger) 

[Yondering]

I've always liked the looks and handling of the M14, but the PTR 91 clone of the G3 is a great rifle for serious use. (They accept HK parts, and are built on HK tooling.) I picked mine up last summer, but they are even cheaper now.

Agreed that they need some trigger work, but the triggers can be cleaned up pretty nicely. A welded on scope rail is a big benefit as well.

[Mongo Hunter]

Lots of people liking the M14 style. Ill agree its one of my favorites just the weight really bugs me. not to sound like a wimp but a fully decked out quad railed M4 with EOtech, x3 magnifier, and a weapon light weights about as much as a bare M14. I did like the weight savings of the SOCOM but GOOD LORD that thing was loud! if Zombies invaded I would have to pack ear muffs lol. I think Im leaning towards the FAL but I need to get my hands on one first and maybe bump it off a few times.

[snowpack]

RFBs are great in concept and maneuverability.  Nice because if you are in the passenger seat, you can get out easily and even be at ready in the car.  Really accurate I thought.  I liked the balance too.  Only things I don't like are the way it 'ejects', the empties come out forward down a tube...if you have a quad rail, then the as soon as an empty hits the rail it can back up the ejection and jam.  A saw and a file on the top rail took care of that though.  Jams seemed slower to clear, but were rare.