What battle rifle to get?

[Conelrad]

This more a battle over the gear than the engagement...

Conelrad

 

[Bob Meyer]

I had an HK-91 for several years and didn't care for it. I had a hard time operating the charging bolt even though I'm left handed. After cleaning it I had a hard time getting the rollers to retract into the bolt to reassemble it. It was hard on brass. I sold it and got an M1A

 

[David Hoback]

David Hoback:

My newish pair of PTR-91s are my only centerfire rifles along with the VZ and Maadi AKM. Never owned anything related to any HK, nor FAL, M1A-1 etc. These HK clones are so much fun to shoot, and with such good iron sights, that they are the Favorite Guns.

How Favorite, You Ask?

My excellent CZ PCR and Sig P225 (“pre”- P6 civilian 225), quite frankly, mostly just pass the time while I —wait— for a PTR’s barrel to cool off.

The PTR91’s were built on Cetme original parts kits. It’s identical to the HK91. I had a Cetme & yes, it was extremely fun at the time. They aren’t my bag anymore. No interest in having 308 anymore, and there was no good option for mounting a scope. (Not that they are all that accurate at 500yds+ anyway).

 

[Ignition Override]

Dave Hoback:

PTR or the company which it acquired reportedly brought/bought German HK tooling from Portugal to gradually (years ago) begin producing its own components for the 91 series.

They then gradually switched to CDC manufacturing.

This was described on HKPro Forums and AKfiles.

 

[David Hoback]

Dave Hoback:

PTR or the company which it bought reportedly acquired German HK tooling from Portugal to gradually (years ago) begin producing its own components.

They then gradually switched to CDC manufacturing.

They covered this on HKPro Forums and AKfiles.

Yes, you are correct about the receivers. This belo, in the picture. They are stamped steel Receivers, folded in half & welded at the seems.


The Parts Kits are the various parts which make up the rifle. The barrel, bolt, carrier, gas rod, trigger group & such, etc, etc, etc. ALL the bolt carrier groups with the rollers & such, were original parts from de-milled Cetme kits. PTR doesn’t make those. I know this stuff because I know.

 

[Ignition Override]

David Hoback:

That's interesting, and cleared up what I had forgotten. Thanks.

Maybe such a unique mix of parts helps explain the high reliability of the recent PTR-91s?

 

[bannockburn]

Have spent time with the FAL (DSA), M1A (Springfield Armory), and the HK91. No experience with the SCAR or AR10.
Of the three mentioned I found the FAL handled the best with just the right balance to it. The M1A also felt very similar to the FAL in that they both were first rate renditions of a Main Battle Rifle that you wouldn't go wrong with either one of them. Personal preference would be a slight nod to the FAL but very close to the M1A, probably due my having a long term association with the M1 Garand.

The HK91, (and it's civilian counterpart the SL7) were decent, reliable rifles but suffered from less than ideal ergonomics, though the SL7 was a bit more user friendly. Besides some of the drawbacks that the 91 has, many already mentioned by other members here, were the availability of parts/accessories (when you could find them) and their subsequent high prices, which to me made the HK91 a rather expensive proposition.

 

[David Hoback]

The PTR’s were done right. My Cetme was from Century. Remember them? I couldn’t afford the PTR’s then. But I was lucky. My Cetme ran great. And back then (2004-5), surplus 308 was so cheap! All of it was! 223, x39, 308, 30-06 black tips. Cheap, and plentiful. Darn hind sight Ahh well.

It was fun. But I soon went to building AK47’s then AR15’s. Once my ability surpassed the AK’s accuracy. And also, dumping ammo lost its luster. I had a stretch of years will limitless access to full autos. I was certified & armeror of the MP5, UMP, G36, M16, IMI Uzi, M1 Carbine, Thomson. Honestly, it gets boring. I still love my AR15..but Semi only. I’ve set my sights on Precision in the last decade+. 1 shot at a time & low round count.

 

[d2wing]

Just realized I might as well start wearing a peace button on my jacket and write born to kill on my helmet.

Seriously. I'm just trying to make a statement about the duality of man.

Been there. Me and lots of other guys wore peace signs carrying an M-60 or M-16. Didn't see "Born to Kill" so much. More "FTA".

 

[d2wing]

I like battle rifles. But for me the primary use of rifle is hunting for the most part. I find all battle type rifles awkward and heavy for hunting. They are rugged and can have a sustained rate of fire. But that's not needed for most hunting. Also except for a good AR they are not very accurate. Unless you compete against other battle rifles. So I like to have one or two samples around but now days they are mostly to look at or shoot in a social situation.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I kind of want to get an AR10 but for no really good reason. I've gotten by just fine without one and have no real need, just kind of have the itch.

 

[citizenconn]

If you have the money, buy the SCAR.

Then get handy in extractor replacement among other things.
I really want to love the SCAR, particularly the 17s and 20s. But I have read many instances of people having difficulty procuring replacement damaged/broken parts from FN. And I don't want to end up with a $3500-4500 wall hanger.
Get a good AR-308 with 2 uppers, one short in .308, one long in 6.5 CR, 7-08, or whatever caliber floats your boat. Then spend the extra $1500+ on........well heck, whatever.

 

[lsudave]

I stumbled blindly into my C308, just before the world went insane. I was always more of a fan of surplus pistols, while my son likes the old bolt rifles. We'd recently found him a decent Ishapore, and so we had picked up some surplus Korean 7.62 NATO. People were getting nervous about the virus (still called it coronavirus then), and we started seeing common calibers flying off the shelves. I could still find 9mm S&B online at some less popular sites, for about $210 or so; so right before everything went to hell. *I just looked, early April 2020*
Wandered across Classic's site, and they had the C308's for $600. Wood stock, 2 mags.

I knew about the Cetme more from the old Cruffler site, than from people complaining about Century , and either way I thought it might be a good idea for another semiauto rifle. At this point I just had a pair of SKS's, didn't have any 223/556 stashed yet. I did have the 7.62 NATO though, as well as a fair amount of 308 I got on a clearance deal (bag of bullets) from Lucky Gunner.

C308 is Cetme internals, Cetme wood stocks, PTR receiver and barrel, with Cetme iron sights and PTR Navy plastic trigger housing. Has a picatinny rail on the receiver so I can mount a scope. Mine shoots well, happily churns through steel 308 which I took advantage of, stocking up when I could. I picked up about $30 worth of magazines (at the old price ), which I keep loaded with Tula or Red Army. The plastic trigger housing always bugged me, so I eventually bought a clipped and pinned steel one from Bill Springfield, which makes it far more 'matching' IMO.
It seemed like prices doubled not more than 2 months after I bought it; but it took awhile for the Tula 308 to really go up a lot. I was still finding it for under 60 cents a rd recently.

Re my comments about not having any ARs yet... I managed to land a couple just as the real panic kicked in. Based on price searching and google history, I didn't do too bad there, maybe $50 higher than 2019 list, and I bought up all the 223/336 I could find at the 30 cents a rd price. I spent a good deal of money then, but it was ok... I work in healthcare, so while everyone else was out of work, I was doing overtime. I spent less than 2 yr's worth of vacation budget, which was out the window anyway at the time. So I'm good with that too, now.

 

[d2wing]

I kind of want to get an AR10 but for no really good reason. I've gotten by just fine without one and have no real need, just kind of have the itch.

You are officially a member of the High Road enablers club. Buy it.

 

[hk940]

I got my DSA medium contour (FAL clone) about 16 years ago, mags were dirt cheap then. I got the DSA solid top scope mount base.
I wanted one back in the early 80's but wife and finances over ruled the purchase.
FAL for the classes, AK's for the masses. FAL right arm of the free world.

 

[hk940]

I had an HK-91 for several years and didn't care for it. I had a hard time operating the charging bolt even though I'm left handed. After cleaning it I had a hard time getting the rollers to retract into the bolt to reassemble it. It was hard on brass. I sold it and got an M1A

I had a HK 940 same with getting it back together, yes the fluted chamber did a job on the brass.

 

[mongoslow]

How about the bull pups. Kel tec, desert tech, tavor 7

 

[plainsdrifter]

Here's mine

 

[Gone Hiking]

If we're talking battle rifle as in SHTF or if you want to shoot cloverleafs or long range, then a high end, precise shooting AR10. But if we're talking battle rifle for range bang giggles, then a PTR 91 (I prefer railed), FAL, or Springfield SOCOM 16.