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SCAR Goes To War
Strategy Page ^ | 5/13/2009 | Strategy Page

Posted on 05/13/2009 7:19:28 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie

Two years after completing field testing, the new American assault rifle, SCAR, has been issued to a battalion of U.S. Army Rangers, who are headed for Afghanistan. SCAR (Special operations forces Combat Assault Rifle) was a SOCOM (Special Operations Command) effort to develop a new assault rifle that had some of the characteristics of the (now abandoned) U.S. Army XM-8 rifle. SOCOM had the money, and authority to develop their own weapons. And SCAR is mainly for use by SOCOM troops.

.

SOCOM wanted a weapon that did everything the XM-8 did, and a little more. Back in 2003, SOCOM asked rifle manufacturers to submit proposals, and FN (a Belgian firm) came up with the best ideas. One advantage FN has was its ability to quickly implement requests for design changes. FN’s rapid prototyping shop was often able to turn out a new part in hours. This, and FNs long history of good weapons design, gave them the edge. SCAR has a more reliable short-stroke, gas piston operating system, and a floating barrel for better accuracy, plus several other improvements over the current M-4/M-16.

There are two basic models of the weapon. The 5.56mm SCAR-L weighs 7.7 pounds (empty), while the 7.62mm SCAR-H weighs 8.5 pounds (empty). A 30 round 5.56mm magazine weighs a little under a pound, while a 20 round magazine of 7.62mm ammo weighs a little over a pound. Special sights can weigh a pound or two, so a fully loaded SCAR won't weigh much more than ten pounds. FN also came up with a grenade launcher for SCAR.

Both models operate the same way, and have many interchangeable parts. SCAR-L is basically a replacement for the M4, which was designed (with a shorter barrel) as a “close combat” version of the M16. The SCAR-H will replace the M14, a 1950s era 7.62mm weapon (a replacement for the World War II M1) that is still favored for long range and sniper work. The SCAR design is the result of much feedback from the field. For example, the rate of fire was lowered to 600 RPM (rounds per minute) from the 800 typical with the M14 and M16. This makes SCAR easier to hold on target when firing full auto.

SCAR-H can be quickly converted to fire AK-47 ammo (the 7.62x39 round) with a change out of the barrel and receiver. Both models can be fitted with a longer and heavier sniper barrel. Thus this ability to quickly change the barrel length enables the SOCOM to equip their troops with the specific weapon they need. SCAR is also built to be more rugged than the M-16. The barrel is good for some 36,000 rounds, twice as many as the M-16. Barrels may be switched by users without special tools. Both models of SCAR take all the special sights and other accessories SOCOM troops favor. SCAR is meant to be easily modified and personalized for each user. It’s expected that SOCOM experience with SCAR will influence the next generation of U.S. Army and Marine Corps small arms.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; m16; military; scar
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To: rahbert
Anyway I soldiered with a Colt model and found it perfectly adequate. plastic is fine as long as you aren’t planning on using the vertical buttstroke feature.

Same way here, put quite a few rounds through the XM16, utilized most versions through the M-4 with few problems... although out of all the weapons I've operated with, the M-14 would be the "One", and with all that wood (or heavy high impact plastics), the "buttstroke" is highly effective... ;-)

61 posted on 05/13/2009 1:00:04 PM PDT by AvOrdVet ("Put the wagons in a circle for all the good it'll do")
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To: xsrdx
prices well above the $2600 MSRP.

Ouch!

62 posted on 05/13/2009 1:02:57 PM PDT by TLI ( ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

No. The 30-06 and the .308 are esentially the same round. Check the ballistics on both cartridges.


63 posted on 05/13/2009 3:56:49 PM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (NRA /Patron - TSRA- IDPA)
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To: Shooter 2.5
What you may call equal is not really so. On average the 30-06 beats the 308 by 150-200fps in most scenarios. That extra fps takes far more punch to get it out of the barrel. For a 10% increase in velocity it probably takes 25 pct more power. Cartridge Information
Index Number Cartridge Type (grs.) Bullet Style Primer No. Coefficient
PG30064 Remington® Premier Green® 180 Lapua Naturalis 9 1/2 0.302
PRC3006C Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 Core-Lokt® Ultra Bonded 9 1/2 0.402
PRC308WC Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 Core-Lokt® Ultra Bonded 9 1/2 0.402
PG308W3 Remington® Premier Green® 180 Lapua Naturalis 9 1/2 M 0.302
R30069 Remington® Express® 55 Pointed Soft Point 9 1/2 0.197
Velocity (ft/sec)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
Remington® Premier Green® 180 LP 2665 2337 2108 1856 1626 1422
Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 CLUB 2700 2480 2270 2070 1882 1704
Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 CLUB 2620 2404 2198 2002 1818 1644
Remington® Premier Green® 180 LP 2620 2335 2068 1820 1594 1394
Remington® Express® 55 PSP 4080 3484 2964 2499 2080 1706
Energy (ft-lbs)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
Remington® Premier Green® 180 LP 2838 2258 1775 1377 1057 808
Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 CLUB 2913 2457 2059 1713 1415 1161
Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 CLUB 2743 2309 1930 1601 1320 1080
Remington® Premier Green® 180 LP 2743 2179 1709 1324 1015 777
Remington® Express® 55 PSP 2033 1482 1073 763 528 355
Short-Range Trajectory
Cartridge Type Bullet 50 100 150 200 250 300
Remington® Premier Green® 180 LP 1.3 1.4 zero -3.2 -8.3 -15.6
Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 CLUB 0.0 zero -1.3 -4.2 -8.7 -15.1
Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 CLUB 0.0 zero -1.4 -4.5 -9.4 -16.3
Remington® Premier Green® 180 LP 1.4 1.5 zero -3.3 -8.6 -16.2
Remington® Express® 55 PSP 0.0 0.2 zero -1.0 -3.0 -6.2
Long-Range Trajectory
Cartridge Type Bullet 100 150 200 250 300 400 500
Remington® Premier Green® 180 LP 3 2.4 zero -4.3 -10.9 -31.9 -66.2
Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 CLUB 2.1 1.8 zero -3.5 -8.9 -25.8 -52.7
Premier® Core-Lokt® Ultra 180 CLUB 2.3 2.0 zero -3.8 -9.5 -26.4 -56.4
Remington® Premier Green® 180 LP 3.1 2.5 zero -4.5 -11.3 -33.2 -68.8
Remington® Express® 55 PSP 1.4 1.8 1.4 zero -2.6 -12.2 -30.0

64 posted on 05/13/2009 6:19:53 PM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

I was really hoping the HK416 & HK417 would get the gig.

oh well.


65 posted on 05/16/2009 3:51:23 AM PDT by ebiskit (South Park Republican ( I see Red People ))
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
The 5.56mm SCAR-L weighs 7.7 pounds (empty), while the 7.62mm SCAR-H weighs 8.5 pounds (empty). A 30 round 5.56mm magazine weighs a little under a pound, while a 20 round magazine of 7.62mm ammo weighs a little over a pound. Special sights can weigh a pound or two, so a fully loaded SCAR won't weigh much more than ten pounds.

My Eagle Arms AR carbine weighs 6.8 pounds (empty), almost a full pound lighter than the L, and my IMBEL/DSA FAL carbine comes in at 9.0 pounds (empty), only about a half pound heavier than the H. Funny that they couldn't make 'em lighter...

66 posted on 05/16/2009 3:25:03 PM PDT by Who is John Galt? ("Sometimes I have to break the law in order to meet my management objectives." - Bill Calkins, BLM)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
What you may call equal is not really so. On average the 30-06 beats the 308 by 150-200fps in most scenarios.

I believe he was referring to the original military loadings (for comparable bullet weights):

.30-06, 150gr FMJ, Ball M2, 2740 fps MV
7.62x51 NATO, 150gr FMJ-BT, Ball M80, 2750 fps MV

Only 10 fps difference - according to my old copy of 'Cartridges of the World,' at least...

;>)

67 posted on 05/16/2009 3:34:26 PM PDT by Who is John Galt? ("Sometimes I have to break the law in order to meet my management objectives." - Bill Calkins, BLM)
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To: Who is John Galt?

Yea, but you have to clean out the crud in the receiver. Buy the wrong ammo and you have a real mess.


68 posted on 05/16/2009 3:36:37 PM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
Yea, but you have to clean out the crud in the receiver. Buy the wrong ammo and you have a real mess.

A little "crud in the receiver" might slow down an AR, but doesn't much bother an FAL. "Ol' Dirty" digested at least 15,000 rounds of 7.62 NATO without being cleaned (and with an occasional toss into the swamp to cool her down ;>), and was still functioning. Here are some sites that have photos of "the crud in the receiver:"

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68486&s=d54143a6b85c9b21b7487dde0fcbcc95

http://ronocracy.blogspot.com/2007/02/ol-dirty-texas-legend.html

http://lukesbunker.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

;>)

69 posted on 05/16/2009 3:58:30 PM PDT by Who is John Galt? ("Sometimes I have to break the law in order to meet my management objectives." - Bill Calkins, BLM)
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