Best 7.62x51 Battle Rifle

[cav_scout_tj]

I been thinking about moving to a semi-auto battle rifle, but I need some opinions:

What is the best large battle rifle. I am thinking of a portable (folding/collapasable stock) 16" barrel, iron sights. I have an M-4 type now with an EOTech.

 

[ny32182]

You can't fold the stock on an AR10... There are folding versions of the FAL and fully collapsing versions of the HK91 type rifle.

 

[pat86323]

i like the springfield armory socom rifle.

 

[flip180]

"What is the best large battle rifle. I am thinking of a portable"

Those two statements kinda contradict each other . I have an M1A Scout/Squad with the black synthetic stock and, I also have a Stag Arms AR. Those two are like two peas in a pod. If you're wanting something portable in a 7.62 Nato then you might be interested in a FAL with a folding stock. IMO, you have the portable thing covered with your AR.

Flip.

 

[lionking]

I'm not saying I don't like the G3 but it has some drawbacks.The PTR-91 can be had for a reasonable price.

Never fired a FAL before but they have a good reputation.They have better egronomics than a G3.

Never fired a Galil,heard they are good.

M1a,my personal choice.If you plan on target shooting besides having a warrior rifle the sights are the best.

Ar-10,I fired it.Its real accurate.Everything about it is expensive.

 

[mkh100]

M1A......best sights on a modern rifle (copy of the tried and true M1). Making a MBR short is not necesarily a good thing, loss of muzzle velocity with shorter barrel, poor cheek weld with a collapsing stock. Socom is pretty sweet though.

All that said I don't own an M1A yet. I chose the G3 clones from JLD because it was good all around, robust, and VERY affordable ! You can have 2 rifles with more mags than you will ever use for less than the cost of 1 used M1A.

I didn't see the M1 on your list......I would not discount that rifle in the hands of a trained operator. Very affordable also !

 

[tikka_fan]

As designed the G3 is more reliable than an AK-47. The only weak point is optics mounting. Only the AR-10 has it beat there.

 

[El Tejon]

Ahhh, yes, the subjective is objective (yet again). Kirk's Third Law of the Internet is in da house.

What is best depends on you (or, rather "for you"). If you joined the Bundeswehr as a young man and toted a G3 about, and then immigrated to the USA later in life, an HK91 is probably best. If you carried an M14 for a couple of tours in Vietnam, then an M1A may be best.

If you are a gun geek and shoot the M1A in competition, that is best. If you are a gun geek and lust after an FAL, or AR10 or whatever, and are willing to put in the blood, sweat and tears to become one with the weapon, then that is best.

cav, remember what my Uncle Sonny told me in typical Hoosier fashion, "[d]ammit, boy, rifles are like dogs, you have to put in love and lots of work."

I like Fulton Armory M1As, real HK91s (not the clones, but I'm told the clones are getting better), FAL (get a T&D guy who knows what he is doing and you can get better than Belgian grade weapons), ARs (I like Rock River and use them at gun skul) and Ber M59 and the SIG AMT.


Lots of good guns, very few good men. Put love in that dog, cav!!!

 

[Evil Monkey]

I chose other, as in...


SIG542

If the SIG550 is the best 5.56mm, then the SIG542 is the best 7.62mm.

 

[mkh100]

+1 on El Tejon

The man, and the training, is FAR more important than the rifle or even the caliber.

 

[Teapot]

Hey, Evil Monkey, where did you get your 542? Is it a SIG or the Chilean version and lastly is it automatic or Semi-automatic only?
Well, lastly lastly, how long ago did you buy it and for how much? I have been looking for one for a long time. I wanted a Valmet M-78 in 7.62 but the one I found on another site was $3500!

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Gimme a FAL

There might be other more accurate rifles out there, but If I needed a rifle that would go BANG every time, I'll take my FAL.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

And if you want portability:
http://www.dsarms.com/catalog-list.cfm?Category=04&storeid=1&CFID=9463748&CFTOKEN=68149007

 

[Evil Monkey]

Hey, Evil Monkey, where did you get your 542?

HA! I wish I had a 542! I don't own one. I only chose it because I've heard very great things about it and Swiss firearms in general.

But doesn't it look sweet? It looks like an HK, but has AK internals.

 

[El Tejon]

The subjective is objective.

 

[cav_scout_tj]

I learned something...

I never even seen a 542 before... and I was just lusting for the 556. Galil has been on my list forever, but its just too darn expensive. Never shot an M-14, HK-91, AR-10 or a FAL, so I dont have a predisposition. My 7.62 experiences are limited to m-60 and m-240c and my remmy 700. Being that I did carry an m-16 for a few years, the AR-10 is familiar in that way. I guess I am looking for bang for the buck. Something more than the 5.56 AR platform.

thanks for all your input so far.
TJ

 

[Otherguy Overby]

Best???

Just get one of your Garands re-barrelled in .308 and add a spacer.

 

[TonyRumore]

Holloway Arms HAC-7

 

[Evil Monkey]

Holloway Arms HAC-7

You have one of these?


http://www.biggerhammer.net/hac7/

It looks like an XCR, in 7.62mm.

 

[FatalMove]

AR-10

I don't know about other 7.62 rifles but i have an AR-10. It is sub moa accurate with factory ammo. It wears a 20 inch recessed crown barrel and a Leopold vx-2 3x9. The stock is a 4 position collapsible but will not fold. shortest setting on stock makes it 38 inches overall. The pros are that its accurate and opperates exactly like an AR-15. The only thing i dislike about it is its weight. Tipping the scales at 15 pounds its one heavy bastard carrying it in the deer woods all day. I would have to say that its not very portable. A 16 inch barrel with flash suppressor may not be as heavy. hope it helps


FataL][V][ove

 

[possum]

Welcome to THR

I personally like the m1a weapons above all other battle rifles. I do like the fact that most of them have a pistol grip which i really like and is easier for me to shoot for long range sessions, but i just prefer the m1a's. They look great the shoot good, and there are many configurations out there, from springfield armory, fulton armory, and not to mention the fact that all kinds of custom builders do great things with the m1a. i also believe that the m1a's is the best weapons on the list to aquip optics, that will be durabile and dependable. there are varieties from match grade models, scout models, and even the cqb model like the socom. I just believe they are the most versitile out of the bunch. if i was to have any other from the list i would go with one of the custom fal's i have seen they are pretty sweet.

 

[Fosbery]

Another vote for SIG 542. Never used one but I've got a 550 and it's just sublime so presumably the 542 is the same only in XL flavour.

 

[Ian]

Large battle rifle? How about a Browning 1919A6?

It may have a bit longer barrel than you want (24"), but OTOH the stock can be completely removed and it'll still fire...

 

[lionking]

quote;+1 on El Tejon

The man, and the training, is FAR more important than the rifle or even the caliber.


well of course thats true.But the beauty of the internet and the forum is shooters can unite and discuss,give opinions,which after that take it or leave it.Personally I've learned quite a bit from the forum.

cav scout,shooters when hanging together like at a range generally are a happy and polite bunch.Bring a box of 7.62mm to the range, chat with some of the guys if they have a rifle you like and almost certainly they will offer to let you try it.

A guy next to me once at the range had a Pedersoli trapdoor 45-70.After eyeing it he asked if I'd like to try it and oh yeah! I did.Very accurate by the way.Of course I then offered mine for him to shoot but he said no thanks,he loved his 45-70 and needed not try anything else....I can understand why.

 

[MountainBear]

Despite its short lifetime as the standard issue service rifle in the US Military, I still give the M14 the nod, with the FAL Platform coming in second.