308 day at the range...which rifles?

[Ian]

So if you were going to do a 308 evaluation day at the range, what rifles would need to be included? I'm thinking military-style semiautos only here, and what I've come up with are:

FAL
M1A
M1
HK91
Cetme
AR10
Mas 49/56
NDM 86 Dragunov
Sig AMT
Galil
Valmet
Argentine FN49
Saiga/Vepr

Any I'm missing?

 

[HorseSoldier]

Nothing comes to mind that isn't on the list already.

The one thing I see, though, is that with some of the weapons in question you might want to look at examples from different manufacturers for evaluation. Seems like most everyone in the AR-15 business has cobbled together their own take on the "AR-10" these days, and those seem to have some variation in reported quality, for instance.

In a world of unlimited resources, I'd also be interested in seeing how an HK built G3/HK91 performs compared to its clones. Likewise I'd be interested in how Springfield M14 clones compare to some of the more pricey options out there (Fulton Armory and upward from there).

 

[JWarren]

DPMS LR-308.... yeah, I know... Its an AR-10 clone. But Armalite gets nuts if you try to refer to the DPMS as an AR-10-- that whole copyright thingy.


-- John

 

[H2O MAN]

Make the M14 clones SEI military builds and see how they stack up against the others

 

[Firepower!]

-g3
-m14

 

[coltcollector]

Just got my .308 Galil together and it's awesome!

Had almost all the guns on your list. Valmet was the closest to perfect since I couldn't find the folding stock for the M1A. I bought a Galil barreled receiver(16") from a guy the other day and put a used .223 kit on it and it shot phenomenol. More money than a saiga conversion, but more accurate and more valuable, too. I think I can let my preban M1A go now and recover the cost and have one of the coolest .308s out there. If ORF's .308 receivers hold together, I'd build one of theirs. ($350receiver+160barrel+110new bolt+300.223 kit= $920+bulid fee if you don't do it yourself) They ought to do a kit price.

 

[Ian]

Well, I think the trickiest one to get on hand would be the AMT, followed by the Dragunov.

And, of course, once one pulls off 308 day one must have 223 day and light machine gun day.

 

[3/325]

Isn't HK putting out another 308 (model 417)?

 

[romma]

Keltec Bulpup...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DCVb55UxYbU

 

[W.E.G.]

Pick 3.

If you are "evaluating" rifles, three is the maximum you can do in a day unless you are just tilling the berm.

 

[Leif]

The MAS 49/56 is not chambered for .308, but rather for the French 7.5x54mm.

 

[skinewmexico]

Take a cheap Savage with you. Then when you're done, you can shoot some small groups, and feel about your shooting ability again........

 

[Ian]

I know ab out the KelTec and HK417, but neither is available at this time (as far as I know). As for the Mas, there are a bunch floating around that were converted to 308.

Really, per W.E.G.'s comment, the next question is exactly what sort of tests/comparisons/evaluations one ought to do in a shoot-off day. Clearly benched accuracy would be one, I'm thinking that offhand accuracy, snap shots, shootability in different positions (prone, squat, kneel, etc), reloading, and such would also be fun to do. Does anyone have an overview of what national military forces do in rifle testing, aside from reliability?

 

[El Tejon]

You know about the AMT? I'm impressed.

I'd replace the M1A with the Fulton Armory or LRB copy. That's just me.

No M1 converted to .308? No Ber 52 or Nigerian?

 

[Ian]

Doh! Forgot about the BM59 (I do have a .308 M1 though).

As for the AMT, not only have I heard of them, I have access to one. Problem is that it's a pristine unfired example that cost the owner a big huge pile of money, and there's no way I'm going to take it out for a day of trials.

 

[navajo]

which one

Valmet 78.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Keep the first six and the Saiga/Vepr, and maybe a 0.308 M1. Toss everything else.

- Chris