Vanity - .308 rifle query

me

[Bulwyf]

It will crack ballistic plates easily enough, then your 2nd round can be placed on top for a kill shot.

I used the c-7 (same as m-16 essentially, just modded bolt for less issues), for years and years. It’s a good rifle, and she’s accurate. Each has their uses, myself I sure like the 7.62mm though too.

[PzLdr]

I own a SOCOM. Good rifle [civilian version of M 14, but it’s loud [muzzlebrake]. Go with the large cap mags.

I can deal with the .308 recoil a hell of a lot better than 30-06, but it might be a proble, so look at an aftermarket recoil pad.

If you like bolts, Ruger just came out with a “Scout Rifle” in .308. Short, light, and detachable mags.

[Dusty Road]

As much as I like Ruger rifles especially the old tang saftey’s the Scout has to be one of the ugliest rifles I've ever seen. Kinda like Savage rifles they're a good rifle and accurate but damn they're ugly.

[cc2k]

Put me down in the FN-FAL camp.

I had a chance to shoot a very well cared for example of these about 10 years ago on a trip out west. At the time, I was very new to guns. Still, it was very impressive.

The thing I liked best was, after pulling the trigger and firing, that thing was always still pointed right at the target, with almost no effort to hold it there. I’ve shot a lot of rifles since then, and the FAL still impresses me in that respect.

I don’t own one yet, but when I get a 7.62 rifle, that’s the one I want.

YMMV.

[FreedomPoster]

FN FAL, the Right Arm of the Free World during the Cold War era.

Huge range in quality out there. DSA makes some nice ones.

http://www.dsarms.com/

[jboot]

Operating an M1A is a piece of cake. You'll pick it up in one range session. Now as to your choice, if I were you I'd either get a Standard or go hog wild and get the M21. You don't need a Loaded or a SOCOM unless you are planning to trick the gun out with all kinds of lights, lasers and tacticool geegaws. Plus a 16" barrel will produce extra "recoil awareness", trust me. The National Match is a great gun IF you are shooting competition. Otherwise the tight tolerances and sensitivity to dirt might become a drawback if TSHTF. If you budget is tight, get the Standard. It's the same basic gun, it's got an indestructible polymer stock and if you decide later that you simply must scope it or add a rail system there are plenty of them out there that will just drop in.

Whatever you get, enjoy!

[Spktyr]

I’ll grant you the bolt gap thing, but most people would see that as headspace so I simplified. It’s also not quite so simple to rectify - new bolt head? New plus size rollers?

Also, would you care to tell the class what’s involved in changing the barrels on the Century-made CETMEs when you find out that they ground the bolt head to compensate for screwing up when they pressed the barrels into their new receivers (which was often)?

Hint: The bastards welded the barrels to the receivers. Those cheap CETMEs quite often aren’t such a bargain when you have to fix them.

If you want a relatively inexpensive G3/CETME pattern rifle, consider the US-made PTR-91s, which are made on ex-H&K tooling bought from military contract.

[Spktyr]

I love the FAL, too - I do own one - but they’re really, really really long rifles. Even in carbine form, they’re long.

[jboot]

Although I am not convinced that there is any degree of parity between the 5.56 and the .308, I selected 5.56 for my SHTF gun because it will be the cartridge of my opponent. If the worst happens .308 (and 7.62x39 Russki) will be thin on the ground but 5.56 will be everywhere. And remember, your semi-auto SHTF gun is just a tool to get a BETTER gun, a selective fire gun, which in most cases will be an M4. It is merely sensible to have cartridges and mags that fit the M4 already on hand in quantity.

[jboot]

Lots of FAl talk up here. Great gun but in my experience you could have a case of M1As for what one costs. Are there cheap ones coming over now??

[jboot]

FA1=FAL. Not enough coffee.

[FromTheSidelines]

Yeah, I’ve heard about the “bullet-proof face shields” - basically 14-18mm thick polycarbonate (with something like 4-5 pounds of weight in the shield alone). It’ll stop a lot of rounds, but shatters like crazy rendering it opaque. You might not kill him, but he’s going to either be blind, or take the shield off - and then it’s a non-issue again.

Not to mention, probably deaf and with a mild concussion from the impact of 1000 lb-ft smacking you in the head - think fastball to the batting helmet kind of impact!

[GingisK]

I own two of those. They are, of course, the same as the FN LAR, but not as finely crafted. It is very reliable and packs a punch. I am preparing to replace the dust cover with one that includes a scope mount and the foregrips with a Picanniny rail system.

I'm not fond of the stock sights ... it is pretty sloppy. All in all, these are nice rifles.

[Spktyr]

Forgot to add this - this one's mine:

I love mine dearly, but the FAL is a long, long, long rifle and not really handy, even in Para carbine form. I'm saving for an RFB for carbine and general work and leaving this one for the long range shoots. It's an Israeli HB model, which means it's one of the few that actually had a forward bolt assist.

[PzLdr]

I have a Savage Scout Rifle. Unlike the Ruger, it only holds 4 rounds. But it’s good for what it has to do.

[Spktyr]

Um... there have been cheap ones running around in the States for a while. Mine’s a semi-collectable and it cost less than a good new M1A. You can build one for less than $750 now - “It’s like Barbie for men!”

They’re even made in the USA now, DSA got tooling from the Germans and elsewhere.

[Tijeras_Slim]

DSA SA58 FAL Carbine, available in 16 and 18 inch barrels. Seen them locally for about $1150. Oodles of accessories available, has a built in bipod. They also make a folding stock "Para" version.

[Spktyr]

Apparently the latest version is survivable, can take multiple hits before going opaque and includes a head mount system that diffuses the impacts. It is apparently proof against most 5.56 NATO loads, but not 7.62.

[Spktyr]

.308 will be available from the GPMGs, sniper weapons, and SCAR-H’s of the opponents. Not so 7.62AK, true, but while the 5.56 is going to be the most common, the .308 hasn’t exactly disappeared.

In fact, you should be able to obtain .308 in convenient, OD green 500 round weatherproof boxes if that happens. As well as the automatic dispenser thereof.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I have an Armalite AR-10T. I want the carbine version."

I got one...about the same overall length as an M1 Carbine...

Just had her out to the range this past weekend, as a matter of fact ;-)