Which 308 Semi Rifle?

m1a scout squad killed an antelope 1 shot 550 yrds

I voted the AK just cause I'm biased and that's what I would want...

I voted AR 10

I have the SR-308 from Windham weaponry and love it. I like the M-1A and the HK Clones like the PTR 91 etc. but I don't much like chasing brass 30 or 40 feet. I chose the AR mostly because I am most familiar with that platform.

Accuracy will be at least the same, maybe better, than the AR-10.

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Out of the box? I am under the impression that to match AR-10 accuracy, the M1A needs a bedding job, but I have no direct experience.

If it were my money, I'd probably go with an AR-10 of some flavor (the S&W is interesting) due to out-of-the-box accuracy, ergonomics, and ease of mounting optics. Other options are the SCAR, FNAR, etc. but are out of my price range.

A .308 or 7.62x54 AK-pattern rifle would be interesting and fun, but probably less practical.

I absolutely gotta go with AR platform.

Too damn versatile and inherently accurate a design to look elsewhere.

Make it long, short, suppressed, match, battle, hunting or tactical... All in your own shop - as legalities apply.

I voted for the AR-10, but...
those PSL type 7.62x54r rifles are lots of fun, too. And it's a .308. Sort of...

Box-fed semi-auto 308 rundown;
If you want a rifle that's the coolest in Greatest Generation-era form with iron sights; M14 for its history and tenuous Garand connections
If you want what the M14 was supposed to be; Beretta BM59
If you want a highly impressive tack driver; AR15 in 308 from some high-end maker that sells accurized platforms
If you want a highly impressive-looking tack driver to woo the ladies; The same AR with a bunch of junk hung on a quad rail and a complex stock
If you want something unstoppable but with no other redeeming qualities; PTR/G3/CETME
If you are a hipster who's into cool swag that the mainstream is too dumb to appreciate; MAS 49/56 conversion
If you are a Fudd, friendly or otherwise; Remington R25
If you are an 8ft tall Ubermensch with a (local) Swiss bank account; SIG AMT or STGW57/PE57
If you want something boringly functional and adequate; FAL
If you want an elegant weapon from a more civilized age; FN49
If you are a cheap SOB at heart and vulnerable to Ban Panic; Saiga 308
If you area rich SOB; Galil, Daewoo, WA2000, SVD, PSG1, or other unobtainables not listed
If you want an accurate platform built on a concept suited for anything but that role; VEPR or new-production M76, as well as PSLs and M77
If you want a 1MOA repeater that takes 5,10,20 round mags, is set up for optics-only bench/blind shooting, and costs an arm but no leg; FNAR/SXAR
If you are bored with buying guns, think about building many of the above and gain a whole appreciation (or hatred) for your 'favorite' platform

Since most folks have never held, let alone even fired a VEPR 308, here's my take on it as an owner of one. I have previously had 2 M1A's (basic and scout) and 1 Fal, now I have a 22" Vepr 308. The Vepr feels just as robust as the M1A or Fal. Its possibly more versatile than either of those rifles, due to the ease of optics mounting (yes, good side rails are versatile, Q/D and easy to come by) and options available for accessories that dont always weigh a ton (looking at you M1A "chassis systems") & dont break the bank. Mags are more expensive for the Vepr, with quality steel mags available from CSSpecs for around $40ea (last I looked). Reliability is effectively the same for all 3, none have had any problems for me. Accuracy is also about the same, 2moa being about the best with off shelf ammo. Weight goes to the Vepr, its just hands down lighter than either the Fal or M1A, with the ability to reduce weight further by swapping out the heavy walnut furniture (thumbhole stock alone weighs 1lb 9oz !!!!). All these other things being equal, cost was my determining factor. While M1A's and Fals start at around $1000-$1200, the Vepr was on sale right before the Russian sanctions for $599 (now commonly going for about $800, still not bad). For $637 after shipping and transfer, I had a Vepr 308 in my hands. Thats nearly half the price of most other options in the .308 battle rifle game, with only the PTR91 coming near at around $900.

Stuff I had...

FN/FAL
HK91
CETME

Stuff I still have...
M1a
Saiga 308
Ruger SR 762

Ergonomically the Ruger is the most comfortable and versatile to shoot. It is also very accurate.

Other-

VEPR in .308 Win.

For all the reasons specified in #57


Its more accurate than you are, anyway



And hay, the bailing wire trigger system is so high-tech, even I can understand it.

he DPMS AR10 was the cheapest at a little over $1k but felt the cheapest too.

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Was it the new G2 model or one of the the prior/older LR models?

If it wasn't the G2 - I recommend finding one to look at.

FNH SCAR 17S
light
accurate
tested
easy on the shoulder

Yeah, not easy on the budget.

Definitely an AR308 variant given your budget. I have an FAL, had an M1A but much prefer my POF P308. It's an outstanding rifle, particularly when paired with a suppressor. AR308s can be heavy but they're versatile and capable of very good accuracy.

Fn-fal

barnbwt said:

Box-fed semi-auto 308 rundown;
If you want a rifle that's the coolest in Greatest Generation-era form with iron sights; M14 for its history and tenuous Garand connections
If you want what the M14 was supposed to be; Beretta BM59
If you want a highly impressive tack driver; AR15 in 308 from some high-end maker that sells accurized platforms
If you want a highly impressive-looking tack driver to woo the ladies; The same AR with a bunch of junk hung on a quad rail and a complex stock
If you want something unstoppable but with no other redeeming qualities; PTR/G3/CETME
If you are a hipster who's into cool swag that the mainstream is too dumb to appreciate; MAS 49/56 conversion
If you are a Fudd, friendly or otherwise; Remington R25
If you are an 8ft tall Ubermensch with a (local) Swiss bank account; SIG AMT or STGW57/PE57
If you want something boringly functional and adequate; FAL
If you want an elegant weapon from a more civilized age; FN49
If you are a cheap SOB at heart and vulnerable to Ban Panic; Saiga 308
If you area rich SOB; Galil, Daewoo, WA2000, SVD, PSG1, or other unobtainables not listed
If you want an accurate platform built on a concept suited for anything but that role; VEPR or new-production M76, as well as PSLs and M77
If you want a 1MOA repeater that takes 5,10,20 round mags, is set up for optics-only bench/blind shooting, and costs an arm but no leg; FNAR/SXAR
If you are bored with buying guns, think about building many of the above and gain a whole appreciation (or hatred) for your 'favorite' platform

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How fondly I remember the first time barnbwt posted this list! It may be my favorite THR post of all time and should be re-posted every time a thread like this is created.

Best .308/7.62x51 I have to go with the big brother of my SR-15. If you can afford it the KAC SR-25 is definitely in the running for best.

BTW, My alter-ego is as barnbwt describes "a hipster who's into cool swag that the mainstream is too dumb to appreciate; MAS 49/56 conversion".

If you want to use it for hunting hard to beat the lighter accurate and new handling Remington 750. However it does not make a good range toy as it has a limited round count
life span.

M1A all day, everyday for a semi auto .308.

Dave

Thread Resurrection to Update My List

Hey, at least there's a reason for the necromancy this time ;D

Box-fed semi-auto 308 rundown;
If you want a rifle that's the coolest in Greatest Generation-era form with iron sights; M14 for its history and tenuous Garand connections
If you want what the M14 was supposed to be; Beretta BM59
If you want the greatest battle implement ever devised by the CMP; M1 Garand conversion
If you want a highly impressive tack driver; AR15 in 308 from some high-end maker that sells accurized platforms
If you want a highly impressive-looking tack driver to woo the ladies; The same AR with a bunch of junk hung on a quad rail and a complex stock
If you want a highly impressive-looking tack driver to woo the guys; The same AR with a piston conversion and tubular something-mod/lok guard
If you want to ride the cutting edge of 1970's technology adjusted for inflation; SCAR
If you want something unstoppable but with no other redeeming qualities; PTR/G3/CETME
If you want something with no redeeming qualities; Century CETME
If you are a hipster who's into cool swag that the mainstream is too dumb to appreciate; MAS 49/56 conversion
If you are a Fudd, friendly or otherwise; Remington R25
If you are an 8ft tall Ubermensch with a (local) Swiss bank account; SIG AMT or STGW57/PE57 (if only 7.5ft tall, see HK G3)
If you want something boringly functional and adequate; FAL
If you want the same thing but twice the size/weight for no increase in capability; FN-DA1
If you want an elegant weapon from a more civilized age; FN49
If you are a cheap SOB at heart and vulnerable to Ban Panic; Saiga 308
If you are a rich SOB; Galil, Daewoo, WA2000, SVD, PSG1, HK416 or other unobtainables not listed
If you want an accurate platform built on a concept suited for anything but that role; VEPR or new-production M76, as well as PSLs and M77
If you are just a filthy show-off; reproduction M1918 BAR, HCAR, or FG42
If you want a 1MOA repeater that takes 5,10,20 round mags, is set up for optics-only bench/blind shooting, and costs an arm but no leg; FNAR/SXAR
If you are bored with buying guns, think about building many of the above and gain a whole appreciation (or hatred) for your 'favorite' platform
__________________

That is all...

TCB

Okay, how 'bout:

If you want a 7.62/.308 mag-fed semi-auto that's actually been selected for use by a nation's military over several others mentioned here, ...

... try LMT's 7.62 MWS MRP (or its "slickside" equivalent, the LM8 MRP.)

Wow, that LMT sure sounds like a highly impressive tack-driver! Also, can Lewis Machine & Tool please start just combining their multiple TLA's into single TLA's? Acronyms don't save any time if there's still like a half dozen syllables to run though

I have a spot slated for that Turkish MPT-76 and CZ805 (in 308) if they ever come out ;D

-If you want the coolest bayonet ever and the rifle that goes with it; CZ805

--that's the best I got, for now

TCB

It may not be the lightest or most accurate or the best at what ever, but I love my NM M1A.

I like the AR10 platform, however I shoot either an M1A Super Match or my HK 91. As a battle rifle the HK91 is my favorite due to its reliability. While not a light weapon it is lighter than my M1A and I do believe it's lighter than many AR10s out there. I use iron sights on both weapons.

The M1A Super Match has superb iron sights that I find excellent out past 200 yards. Currently I have them set up as battle sights for 100 yards rather than competition sights. My HK91 has had its original turret system replaced with ghost ring sights. From point blank range to 100 yards I find the ghost rings to be quicker in acquiring my target and making follow up shots if necessary. You do however have to chase the spent cartridges and even then they are pretty badly battered. In a battle situation I'm not concerned about reloading. I've never had a failure to eject a spent cartridge from my HK91. In fact I've never had a failure to do anything it supposed to do. That's what matters. JMHO

agtman said:

Well, since you listed "Other - please specify" as an option, I'd recommend you at least consider LMT's 7.62 offering on the MRP platform, either the MWS, which the Brits adopted, or the *somewhat* light(er)-weight variant, the LM8.

Very accurate and 100% reliable with 7.62 mil-surplus ball or .308 commercial fodder.

LM8 in "precision mode," w/ 18" SS tube & Leupy 1x-6x scope.

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Another vote for the LMT.