The Most Reliable .308 Semiauto Rifle

[bernie]

I am an M1 man and think that one in .308 is hard to beat. But I have a friend with an HK91. As hard as I try not to like that rifle (not the best ergonomically, sheet metal receiver, etc.) the reality is that it is very hard to beat. It runs, period. It is also surprisingly accurate for an assault battle rifle shooting ball ammunition. I have shot his and like it, it is so reliable, that he has never had to use an immediate action drill on it. I have no idea how to even perform one on a G3!

 

[MAKOwner]

If anyone was interested in the Alaska State Trooper rifle test mentioned earlier here is a scan of the article: http://www.valmet-weapons.com/Torture_Test_Page1.html Only a couple .308s tested though. The M1A, FAL, and HK91 failed the last two tests, the .308 Galil was the only .308 to pass... Of course how practical the tests they did would be in real life is arguable...

 

[Feanaro]

The last test seemed a little silly to me. If you spritz the whole gun with oil, of course it's gonna freeze. That's why you only oil lightly.

 

[355sigfan]

The last test seemed a little silly to me. If you spritz the whole gun with oil, of course it's gonna freeze. That's why you only oil lightly.

END

The Troopers are thick headed when it comes to oil use in real life. I remember arguing with a sert Trooper instructor over the proper way to lube an ar15. He was all for having oil dripping off it. I explained that stops the guns in the gold and in the summer because they collect sand. He lives in an area where he has had no problem with his method. I have seen his method cause problems where I am at.
Pat

 

[WyrTwister]

7.62 NATO M1 Garand .


God bless
Wyr

 

[armoredman]

Brain is leaking, wallet empty, considering stainless steel cast CETME ....I can't get two lemons in a row, can I?

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Back in the late 1970s, I purchased a brand new HK 91. I fired it extensively, and never experienced a malfunction of any sort. it was an easy gun to clean and maintain, and was extremely accurate, comparable to a typical bolt action sporter. Purchase price was $600, if I recall correctly. Sold it for exactly that much a few years later, just before the original Bush import ban. Had I waited till after (I couldn't predict that ever happening), I would have made a small fortune on the sale. Oh well. Nowadays, I wish, of course, I never sold it. Here's a picture of it, taken in 1979, along with most of the rest of my collection at that time, none of which I have today.

 

[Onmilo]

I'm going to stick my neck out here.

I have owned or now own
FN-FAL
DSA made FAL
M1As
HK-91
PTR-91
M1 Garands in .308
Saiga .308

The only rifle that has not malfunctioned in some form or another is the Saiga.
Every other rifle has choked on some type of ammunition and yes, the malfunctions always seem to be ammunition related.

The Saiga just gobbles up anything I shove into it.
It is THE ONLY .308 rifle that I will shoot steel case ammunition in and not think a thing about it.

The Saiga is not my most accurate .308 and like the M1 Garand it is limited by an ammunition capacity of eight rounds, but it is the only rifle that will fire and function with any ammunition I shove into it without any adjustment of any kind.

I can, and do, get my other rifles to function with the reliability of the Saiga but I must be very ammunition conscious to do so.

Now if this big thread is limiting the choices to selective fire battle rifles only then I will cast my vote hands down, without question, for the German made G3.

 

[matt9052]

I have shot 2 CETME's, 1 h&k 91, 1 fal, and one Valmet(it was a .223 thought). I the CETME's, mine broke the firing pin, which was replaced by a H&K firing pin which was about twice as thick. My uncles CETME was very pickyon the ammo he shot from it and would only fire ball ammo. His Valmet would often times double fire when it got dirty. His hk 91 broke the bolt back in the 70's. His FAL has never failed, but it is his newest rifle. He paid $375 forhis H&K 91 and about $350 For the Valmet at the same time, $350 for the CEMTE in 2005, and $850 for his FAL in the mid ninetines during the assult rifle ban. i PAID $350 FOR MY cetme in 2005. Through these findings, I see the FAL as the most accurate, but no rifle has had the longjevity of the H&K without over 30 years without a failure.

 

[pete f]

I have shot FAL's M-1 M1a'a 91's and Valmets. i think the valmet was the best. I had the Valmet for a pretty long time, while the owner was in rehab and then until several of us thought he was stable enough to get his guns back. i shot it alot. and it never hiccuped., shot well with the sights on it. and it was very pleasant to shoot.

 

[LoadAmmo]

DSA FALs are by far the best FAL made right now.. Probably in the world.

Building them up from kits isn't cost effective now, since IMBEL receivers can't be imported (F-TROOP ruling) and kits have gone up in price.

DSA Dealer cost on an STG59 is still under $1000, about what a build by a smith will cost today.