What battle rifle to get?

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Conelrad said:
An Enfield rifle should be in every home...

Conelrad
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Umm? You spelled Springfield wrong?

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My No. 1 Mk III shown is an Isshy, bought from Golden State Arms for $29 in '59 by my dad when I was but 6.

It harvested 6 deer in it's time, keeping our freezer stocked most of the time. All with the same red & green box of Remington 215gr.

No repairs other than a split to the small top handguard and a new safety spring. Mint bore, original stocks with lots of character.
 
For the G3 or FAL (both iconic and pleasurable to own/shoot) watch for good deals on Springfield SAR`s.

G3 version is SAR3 or SAR8. Both made in Greece on HK tooling so next best thing to genuine HK.

SAR48 is Imbel manufactured on FN tooling in Brazil. Next best thing to a Belgium FN.

The SAR8 with integrated top rail are aluminum receivers that reportedly can suffer short lifespan but Springfield lifetime warranty means they will send you an M1A as replacement if yours fails so shoot away.

I bought a few of the Springfield FAL`s in the $1300 range on GB in the past 18 months and the G3 version at a gun show in mint condition for $800 last year. When buying guns like these decide what you are willing to spend and refuse to go higher, be patient and you`ll get what you want.

The Springfield imports are impressive guns that can be had at a very fair price and make great additions to any collection.

Just my $.02
 
...I also have an early DSA FAL clone that is a high quality build. They are a good runner up to the Springfield version that I use as my shooter to keep round count very low on the Springfields. $600 Century version of the G3 is my shooter for that Springfield to keep round count down as well.

I consider the Springfield SAR (both versions) to be very collectable and expect their value to increase over the years. At least until the zombies attack and my SAR`s unleash holy Hell on the undead hordes.
 
After an extreme amount of research I went with a Wyndham Weaponry AR-10.

Why?

The company does one thing -- makes AR rifles, so they know their stuff. Spare parts are easy to find, magazines too, and the number of AR accessories around makes it so I can tailor the rifle to my preferences.

Plus, it's lighter than any of its competitors, without sacrificing reliability.

-Stan
 
Why are we even using the term "battle rifle"? Besides the fact that battles aren't being decided by small arms any more, all the world's armies are equipping their infantry with smaller caliber, lighter weapons. "Battle rifle," as a term, is obsolete.
 
I think (to me anyway) the term "Battle Rifle" refers to a heavier hitting, longer range alternative to your typical 5.56 of any flavor. Pretty much a DM kind of role. Typically it`s a .308 or the like but I often contend that 6.5 Grendel fits nicely in between light weapons with 300 yd effective range and the traditional heavier "Battle Rifle" that can reach out and touch someone.

I'm 57 and not planning to go to war but if it comes to me I'll be able to choose the right tool for the situation. If it's what some refer to as a battle rifle so be it.
 
One aspect that we haven't touched upon is that all modern "battle rifles" have a full-automatic capability. If they are relegated to the Designated Marksman role, this capability becomes superfluous. Ergo, civilian clones of "battle rifles" become fully equivalent to their military counterparts. In other words, you're not missing much if your M1A, PTR, or DSA FAL lacks the "happy switch."
 
Ignition Override said:
Anybody “needing” a battle rifle- in the immed. future - shoot train on AK-74s etc, to fight in the true battle zones of Mariopol & Kiev suburbs.

And be prepared to use a Javelin missile.

But inside America: handsome Profit$ are earned by US businesses (some are linked to certain Youtube gun channels) selling accessorie$ for "future battles/wars" Inside the US.:(
Your only battle will involve their struggle for your Wallet. ;) ---Dein Kampf geht um das Geld---
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Love me some 7N6!! No experience [yet] with Javelins...
 
Another vote for FAL :)

My first StG58 FAL Build (yeah, I know that I had the sling rigged backwards ;)):

2v2uKsd7FxAW38L.jpg

My FUN-est StG58 FAL Build, my "carbine" that I made sometime later:

2v2u13H6WxAW38L.jpg

Even with the 4"-6" of barrel that I removed and no bipod, this is still a heavy, solid and accurate little rifle. Excellent for walkabout. :D
 
IMO, your best bet is a DPMS pattern AR-308. I recommend Aero Precision M5E1 receivers. You can start from scratch and assemble everything yourself or buy complete rifles or anything in between. I have 28 variations of AR-10s and prefer the Aero sets the best. Best of all you can always build complementary uppers in different calibers/barrel lengths as time goes on without having to start from scratch every time. I currently have 5-6 different caliber AR-308s besides .308 and really enjoy the diversity of caliber while maintaining the same manual of arms.
I did buy a Stag Arms, pre-all their recent trouble and before the move, complete AR-10 which everyone who shoots it loves. Very nice furniture set on it. I don't know how their stuff is since the move, but my older Stag receivers and this AR-10 have been stellar.
I would not hesitate to get a Scar 17 or 20 if I had the $$$. My next large frame .308 will be a bullpup: Tavor 7 or Desert Tech MDR.
 
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The Exile said:
I've been wanting to add a .308 rifle to my collection, and the three main things I keep coming back to while looking around are the FAL, the G3, and the SCAR 17. I've heard a lot of people say the ergonomics are the G3 are really bad but FAL mags are expensive. The Scar has been the hardest to find solid info on because a lot of people seem to be judging it as some future tech sci fi rifle so expectations are high and it falls short of the hype. Any suggestions on how to pick between the three of these or any additional things to check out? Only thing i'm not open to the is the Garand/M14 because I already want one of those anyway so when I got the money together I'll get one of those anyway. Thought it might be nice to diversify calibers though so if any one cartridge is harder to find I can just shoot something else, so .308 isn't really competing with 30-06 in my books.
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"Battle Rifle"?

Get a SIG 510. Be a leader not a follower.
 
Mars5l said:
FN49 have caught my eye lately. Haven't seen them chambered in .308 but they are chambered in other big rounds
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There were some FN49's aresonal converted to .308 and detachable mags. I remember when a few big batches were imported in the 90's, I think from Argentia? Otherwise they were produced in 30-06, 8x57 mauser and 7mm Mauser. They are definitely one that I should have picked up.

My nicest shooting battle rifle is a French MAS 49/56 in 7.5x54. Second would be my Sweedish Ljugman in 6.5x55. M1 Garand is the most iconic in my opinion. My HK-91 settled down quite a bit after I put a muzzle brake on it. I love my HK-91 but think a FN-Fal is a better shooter. SVT-40 is a pretty good shooter but very complex to take down. A Hakim is just a crudely built Ljugman in 8x57, not near as nice as the real thing.
 
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The Exile said:
Only thing i'm not open to the is the Garand/M14
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Obviously a Eurocentric socialist. smh



The Exile said:
because I already want one of those anyway so when I got the money together I'll get one of those anyway.
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Yes. Postpone that purchase, because Garands are getting cheaper every day, and the factories are churning them out like sausages.
 
Are we able to get the CZ Bren 2 308 yet? That would be my choice if available.
 
My biggest dislike on the FAL is that rear sight, sticking up in the breeze like a huge sail , just waiting to snag somethin or dropped on a hard surface and broken off. See post # 88. I know... they are very ruggedly built but still...

I am allergic to any sighting system that doesn't contain iron in it's construction. I own about 50 guns. I have scope sights on two, both 22 hornets.

I don't need a rifle that can hit a dime at a hundred, I can't shoot that well, anyway. Not even with optics. I like wood and steel...

So give me an M-1A
 
If you have the money, buy the SCAR. I like the others listed, but to me the SCAR is in a league of it own. I don’t personally own one because of the price. I have handled them, I prefer the PTR to the FAL, but I just like the looks of them. 20 years ago you could pick up a CETME for $200 or less. I sure wish I would have gotten a few. All of the rifles you listed will give you pride of ownership. For the FAL and PTR I would check out Atlantic Firearms. Ive always found them pleasant to work with and there are a bunch of questionably assembled FALS in the US, they were a pretty big hobby gun back in the day.
 
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