What battle rifle to get?

PTR makes a good G3 clone, quite reliable. There seem to have been some good CETME clones made recently. Read reviews here on several models - worth searching for. FALs are great but there have been a lot of bodgy kit guns made up so you need to which are the decent ones. Not a fan of of the AR-10 myself, and like the FALs - some great ones and some not so great - so worth researching.

Any reason you seem to be ruling out a large platform AR?

Ergonomics, looks, everybody has one?

Space Ghost said:

Any reason you seem to be ruling out a large platform AR?

Ergonomics, looks, everybody has one?

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No good reason. Cantankerousness and an unreasonable opposition to ubiquity in the main.

Make yourself a G3 clone. I helped a guy do one. They are pretty cool. Says it shoots about 2.5 inches with steel case ammo at 100yd with HK sights.
Get a stock that fits you, ergo is only bad if you are married to the AR platform. If you are used to pulling back a charging handle not so bad.

Whilst I'm tired from all the AR debate I've been involved in recently, the AR system does have two things about it that I like. The magazine release, and the safety. I think the position of both of those is great if magazines are going to be loaded with the support hand, and if there's a reciprocating charging handle on that side of the rifle.

The FN SCAR 17S has all those things.

The best overall option is an AR-10 of some sort. Highly tunable, best optics platform, most potential for accuracy, modern ergonomics, parts compatibility/customization. Not even close.

If you want something modern but not an AR-10, get the SCAR.

If you want something classic and dig iron sights, get an M14/M1A.

HK and derivatives have a lot of panache but realistically have the worst ergos and the worst recoil (specifically the G3/HK91).

The FAL is a classic but it always tagged my glasses with the ramp. It's also a bad platform for optics.

My recommendation would be a good AR-10 if you want something objectively good, and an M14/M1A if you want something classic.

Slender Girls in the Lithuanian and Portuguese Armies were able to adjust to the military G3 rifles with no complaints which I read about.

But American Men…. ? When my friend from Germany heard the US complaints about the PTR charging handle, trigger and somewhat fwd. C.g. , he quietly shook his head.

I’m a skinny 66 year-old guy with very Underdeveloped shoulders/arms; my pair of PTR-91s aren't difficult at all.

Not the best ergos—but this does not equate to difficulty . And I’m left-handed, never expected my guns’ ergos to pamper me. ….three dozen handguns / rifles.

What battle you planning on fighting?

Different...get you quality M14/M1A. Mags easily available and if you obtain a good one she will be accurate as can be. Optics depend on the quality of the mount.
A quality AR10 will shoot lights out as well with good glass/mount.
I keep saying quality because there are cheaper options out there that sling lead but are not accurate. I personally like accuracy. ymmv

I like the form, feel and function of the FAL best.

FAL, they are so cool, try and find a nice example built on an Imbel receiver.

Unless you want ultimate accuracy then…it would have to be the AR10 followed by the SCAR

I don't care for the G3 at all. They are not accessory friendly (esp scopes), wanting in the accuracy dept., the zeroing procedures are ridiculous and require a special tool, the recoil is excessive for a semi auto in 308, and the bolt doesn't lock back on an empty mag. If you plan on reloading, the brass is often damaged (if you can find it- it is usually ejected into the next zip code). Full disclosure- I am a HK factory certified armorer and I trained allied soldiers on the G3. The FAL isn't bad, but I think the only civilian one that is worthwhile is the DSA. I also trained others on the Belgian FAL. No M14 for me, either. I used it in various forms for a long time, it just doesn't do it for me. Of those you mentioned, the SCAR is the best one with the best options available, and I have some experience with it too, but you will have to pay to play. As for me, I went with an AR10 carbine for my 308 semi.

Roverguy said:

PTR makes a good G3 clone, quite reliable. There seem to have been some good CETME clones made recently. Read reviews here on several models - worth searching for. FALs are great but there have been a lot of bodgy kit guns made up so you need to which are the decent ones. Not a fan of of the AR-10 myself, and like the FALs - some great ones and some not so great - so worth researching.

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I built my FAL out of a parts kit. IMBEL Brazil
Like said, there's some good ones and bad ones out there, and they all carry a large price tag regardless.
The one I built is pretty darn good, but I've seen some real turds out there.
Be careful and give it a good inspection you go that route

Winchester model 94. 30-30 was good for signal Corp in 1917. Timber protection. Timber used to build aeroplanes

WrongHanded said:

The FN SCAR 17S has all those things.

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The biggest problem I have with the SCAR lol

I will agree with most of the short comings mentioned above about the G3 but I recently picked up a PTR and it has been a great rifle. Sighting it in was easy and you can use a pair of needle nose pliers instead of the HK tool. My trigger is not that bad and accuracy was fine for iron sights. The elevation drum works on the rear sight and we were able to dial and hit out to 400 yards. Recoil was not bad at all and I am glad I did not spend extra money for a reducer. No last round hold open is weird. Charging handle is awkward, but it is fun to slap it down for loading. Mags are cheep and abundant. All in all the quirks are outweighed the fun factors. It is definitely worth a look.

The Exile said:

I guess I just want something different? I was originally looking at another 5.56 rifle too but all the options I have found just seem like they're expensive rifles that do the same thing as an AR15 as well or less well but they look different. I guess just I already have an AR15 in 5.56, it's already seemingly the best at what it does; so I just want a little more variety instead of yet another AR in another chambering.

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If you want something different... that's up to you, but IMHO, the reason to go for a full size battle rifle is the caliber. The idea is to have something with more punch, so If you already have an AR... and are familiar with it... a larger one... with the same manual or arms... (but more punch) seems like the perfect answer to me.

But as you stated, if you are looking for variety. Just know, a large format AR doesn't simply "do the same thing". Not when it's available in different calibers.
Plus it's popularity makes it a much less expensive option, and your training will cross over.

Another vote for FAL, but then I like the history behind it.

Guess im a weirdo... I think the CETME/G3 handles really well. I find the charging handle to be easy and quick to operate, though im used to operating left handed - right side eject bolt action pistols.

Mine is a Century CETME which comes with a pic rail welded on. Mine runs great, but others dont so YMMV. 5 surplus mags, 100 rounds of ammo, and the gun were under $1000 including taxes.

The most recent PTR-91s, possibly some earlier batches, don’t require any tool to rotate the aperture sights.

You simply rotate the Diopter.

FN FALs are nice handling rifles but not as accurate as a good AR10. I love mine but I mostly shoot my AR10s. DPMS pattern AR10 magazines are cheap and should be available forever too which is a plus. The SCAR seems nice but you could about buy an AR10 and an FN FAL for the cost of one. I'm not sure what magazine availability is for the SCAR17 now or going forward into an uncertain future. If magazines were cheap, readily available now and for the foreseeable future and the gun could shoot MOA or better, I might be inclined to buy one. I haven't put enough research into the SCAR to really know if I want one and I'm pretty happy with my DPMS Recon, my Armalite AR10T and my FN FAL. I'm not super enthusiastic about my PTR91 PDW. I'd probably go with a good AR10 that accepts PMAGS but I'm pretty well biased towards the AR15 pattern.

IWI Tavor 7 .308

mavracer said:

The biggest problem I have with the SCAR lolView attachment 1067580

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That's hilarious! Yeah they're not pretty. But once the boot were to my shoulder I guess it wouldn't much matter. Not to me anyhow. If I had 3K to drop on a rifle, I'd probably get one.