Ruger SFAR

It will be interesting to see in a few years how the rifles are holding up. AR-10s are a lot beefier for a reason so hopefully there's enough meat on this thing to take the stouter round. Ruger generally displays good engineering to I'm optimistic.
I wonder what kind of bolt is used whether it is hogged out for the bigger rim. if it is I dont think the bolt would last that long. even a full size AR- 10 bolt is still smaller then the original AR-10 that the Portuguese used
if guys think the AR-10 is to heavy to hunt with use the sling lol. I hunted with a M1A- FN-FAL and an AR-10 and they werent bad at all. being I did concrete and framing for 45 years I figure I like physical abuse lol
 
I wonder what kind of bolt is used whether it is hogged out for the bigger rim. if it is I dont think the bolt would last that long. even a full size AR- 10 bolt is still smaller then the original AR-10 that the Portuguese used
if guys think the AR-10 is to heavy to hunt with use the sling lol. I hunted with a M1A- FN-FAL and an AR-10 and they werent bad at all. being I did concrete and framing for 45 years I figure I like physical abuse lol
From Ruger:
Bolt and barrel extensions are CNC-machined from high-strength super alloy steel that outperforms traditional C158 bolts.

Haven't read of any failures from those testing the gun so far. If there are I'm sure Ruger would take care of the problem better than most companies would.
 
I wouldn't mind having the SFAR, looks like a solid, handy rifle.
Made with using a suppressor in mind it seems with the adjustable gas block and gas vents too.

Looks a lot smaller and lighter than the Ruger SR762 that I have.
 
I’m curious about the mag compatability, not because I have a whole lot of intent to buy one. But I’m wondering if they added a 3rd variety of ar10 mag to the market. I have read a few articles none of which discuss it. If I wanted a 308 rifle it would be a bolt gun. It prolly would be the 5th rifle caliber choice I would go for. My defense rifle choices are either 7.62x39 or 5.56. Sporting is either 375 win or 45-70. I guess I can already hunt with any of the above but not to the range of a 308 with the first two.
I comes with a PMAG that is SR-25 compatible.
 
I wonder what kind of bolt is used whether it is hogged out for the bigger rim. if it is I dont think the bolt would last that long. even a full size AR- 10 bolt is still smaller then the original AR-10 that the Portuguese used
if guys think the AR-10 is to heavy to hunt with use the sling lol. I hunted with a M1A- FN-FAL and an AR-10 and they werent bad at all. being I did concrete and framing for 45 years I figure I like physical abuse lol

It’s not that they are too big or too heavy, it’s that there so many other options for a hunting rifle that are slimmer and lighter.
 
From Ruger:
Bolt and barrel extensions are CNC-machined from high-strength super alloy steel that outperforms traditional C158 bolts.

Haven't read of any failures from those testing the gun so far. If there are I'm sure Ruger would take care of the problem better than most companies would.
Translated "Bolt is made of something less expensive than C158"
 
Just did some looking and found a picture of the SFAR bolt. It looks to me like it’s a little larger in diameter than a standard AR bolt, maybe .080” or .100” larger diameter or so. It does have an improved tapered shape to the lugs which will greatly strengthen the root of the bolt lugs, but it’s not radiused like the MDWS bolt which is a little disappointing. Assuming similar materials I would bet the MDWS bolt is stronger. Not to say the SFAR bolt isn’t strong enough though. Will still be much much stronger than a regular AR15 bolt. The dual ejectors are an excellent idea as the regular AR15 ejector struggles with heavy cases.

D61157E2-9246-4069-BCF6-1F27F06DBE0E.jpeg
 
Just did some looking and found a picture of the SFAR bolt. It looks to me like it’s a little larger in diameter than a standard AR bolt, maybe .080” or .100” larger diameter or so. It does have an improved tapered shape to the lugs which will greatly strengthen the root of the bolt lugs, but it’s not radiused like the MDWS bolt which is a little disappointing. Assuming similar materials I would bet the MDWS bolt is stronger. Not to say the SFAR bolt isn’t strong enough though. Will still be much much stronger than a regular AR15 bolt. The dual ejectors are an excellent idea as the regular AR15 ejector struggles with heavy cases.

View attachment 1114838

That's the thing, I wouldn't make this assumption. All we know from Ruger's copy about the bolt is:
  • Bolt and barrel extensions are CNC-machined from high-strength super alloy steel that outperforms traditional C158 bolts. Tapered lug geometry further strengthens the breech to support larger short-action cartridges.
Supposedly POF uses something along the lines of Aermet 100 for the Rogue bolt, Ruger probably uses something similar for the SFAR bolt (one of the intro videos also mentions a high-nickle alloy).
I don't know what material the MDWS bolt is made from or what the heat treat looks like, but if it's something standard like C158 or 9310, then there is no real comparison to be drawn on bolt strength from just looking at the two side by side. We're well into the areas of design where tools like FEA would tell the real story, and there's not much to be garnered from "one's sightly bigger, one's slightly smaller". It kind of comes down to, do you trust that Ruger did their engineering homework or not? None of this is space magic, just better/more expensive materials, and adequate geometries, so I'm willing to bet that they did and roll the dice.
 
That's the thing, I wouldn't make this assumption. All we know from Ruger's copy about the bolt is:
  • Bolt and barrel extensions are CNC-machined from high-strength super alloy steel that outperforms traditional C158 bolts. Tapered lug geometry further strengthens the breech to support larger short-action cartridges.
Supposedly POF uses something along the lines of Aermet 100 for the Rogue bolt, Ruger probably uses something similar for the SFAR bolt (one of the intro videos also mentions a high-nickle alloy).
I don't know what material the MDWS bolt is made from or what the heat treat looks like, but if it's something standard like C158 or 9310, then there is no real comparison to be drawn on bolt strength from just looking at the two side by side. We're well into the areas of design where tools like FEA would tell the real story, and there's not much to be garnered from "one's sightly bigger, one's slightly smaller". It kind of comes down to, do you trust that Ruger did their engineering homework or not? None of this is space magic, just better/more expensive materials, and adequate geometries, so I'm willing to bet that they did and roll the dice.

I’ve done a good bit of FEA analysis in solidworks for my work and I am confident in saying the ruger bolt will be vastly stronger than an standard AR15 bolt, but you are correct, more detail is needed to draw an exact conclusion of how much more. I would have no hesitation in using it.
 
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Just got to play with a 16" sfar at my lgs, and let's just say I will be buying a 20" one when I find it! The finish is awesome, on par with aero precision stuff, the forend is slim and very comfortable in the hand, kinda reminds me of Fortis manufacturing forends. It is light and very well balanced. You literally have to look twice to tell it's not a normal AR-15, and it's LIGHT! I can't wait to get a 20" in my hands, but I will be buying one...
 
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Black Friday has them at $970 at Palmetto State Armory. That price pays for the transfer.:)

None in 6 CM, yet.;)

That's a great deal. I saw one semi locally for $1,100. Bought mine on GB for what'll end up being a bit less than that. Should have it early next week. I went with the 16" version with the plan to put a decent suppressor on it. I see it as a hot rodded 6.5 Grendel which proved to be just a little bit weak for my deer hunting needs.

Oddly enough it's my first rifle in .308. I've had a .243, 7mm-08 and even 338 Federal.
 
I will probably put a can on the 20" I plan for, but only occasionally.
Commitment issues lol. 308s put out lots of gas getting one to run with and without can be a task. I ended up with dedicated OSS gen 5 cans on both AR10s. But momma says I'm committed or something like that.
 
I have a 20" 308AR, the barrel is full bull profile the entire length (PSA's idea of a "A2 rifle" profile, i guess) and when I got it my first thought was "this thing weighs a ton". Once I put a scope on it and a bipod, it really does weight quiet a bit.

Then I got my scoped FAL out of the safe after collecting dust. Then I scoped my M1A. They are all in the same category of heavy, IMO. Whatever weight I save in the barrels of the M1A or the FAL is taken up by the steel receivers, so they all feel about the same weight.

An AR10 upper and lower receiver set is just bulky and big. Big compared to an AR-15 set and laughably big compared to a bolt action rifle receiver. Same with the FAL. The M1A isn't as bulky, its just...dense. Add a magazine and a scope to a standard frame AR10 rifle and its literally a foot tall at the receiver.

I've just gotten used to the idea that a scoped semi auto magazine fed .308 battle rifle is going to be heavy. Too heavy and bulky for me to want to carry in the field. If a bolt action or lever action rifle is like carrying a dowel through the woods, an AR10 is like carrying a 2x6.

The SFAR thing is intriguing to me. It seems to mitigate at least some of the issues with carrying a .308 battle rifle in the field and I would love to play around with a 16" version.
 
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