FNAR .308. Is it a good buy?

[epijunkie67]

Just wanting some feedback on the FNAR from FN. I've seen them in the ads but I've never handled or shot one before. My sister in law wants to buy one for her husband for Christmas and asked me about them. Apparently he had mentioned it to her as an interesting rifle and she wants to surprise him with it.

So what's the consensus on them? Good rifle? Worth the money? I've heard they are accurate. He would probably use his for hunting.

Also, he has a previous neck injury that prevents him from using any rifle with moderate recoil. Even a lever 30-30 is too much for him. He's used my PS90 and loves it due to the lack of recoil but obviously he can't deer hunt with it. Might this be an option?

 

[JHenry]

50 rounds of 5.7 might get a deer lol.

And as for the FNAR although its strange looking ive heard its a nice rifle, a few people on here have them and hopefully theyll chime in for you

 

[DPris]

The one I tested was accurate, reliable, and heavy.
The adjustable stock capability was a bonus.

If you buy one as a good medium to long distance .308 & put good glass on it, it'll be a good shooter.
If you buy one as a "tactical" gun, it won't do a very good job. It was not built to be a field gun.
Also a bit heavy to lug around as a hunting rifle.

Recoil is heavier than a .30-30, but very tolerable for most.
Denis

 

[DesertFox]

Denis nails it. Accurate, reliable, heavy, and absolutely the most difficult to take down of any gun. I love mine. Heavy to lug around while hunting but worth it IMOHO. Semi-auto action takes much of the recoil out, shooting way "softer" than a bolt action. Winchester SXAR is the same gun in Mossy Oak Brush camo minus 2 side rails and prolly $500 less but only comes with heavy barrel. Shooting 150gr will give less recoil than 180gr too.

 

[Bill_Rights]

I highly recommend the FNAR/SXAR, and probably in the light barrel, for walking or hill-climbing hunting. If you're just sitting in a blind or tree stand, it doesn't matter - you could use the heavy barrel. Even the light barrel is a beefy barrel, tho'. For any kind of hunting where you're going to only get one, at most two shots, BOTH barrel weights are way too heavy. These barrels will stay thermally stable after a dozen or more rapid shots.

I believe DesertFox is wrong - I think that the SXAR comes only in the light barrel, comparing to the FN FNAR barrel specs. Winchester may call it a heavy barrel, and for a hunting gun the FN light barrel is heavy (and, as I said, that is overkill for deer - maybe you might need it if you got charged by multiple wild boar)

I believe your friend's wife could risk the recoil of the FNAR/SXAR for her husband. Not sure what .30-30 lever gun we're talking about, but I bet the more powerful .308 Win in the 9-10 pound FNAR with its semi-auto recoil smoothing will give equal or LESS felt recoil than a .30-30 in a 5-6 pound lever gun. Can't be sure, but my FNAR sure is pleasing to shoot...

But let's figure, the FNAR is not really a hunting rifle, so if the husband is expressing an interest in it, he probably wants it also for defense, SHTF, TBDLO scenarios or whatever. Not a bad idea. The FNAR/SXAR is way more rapid, sustained firepower than a hunting rifle.

As for a good buy, last I checked you could get a new LB from Arizona Gun Runners for a little over $1,300. I think other new American style .308 semi-autos, FAL-improvements and so forth are over $1,700. The FNAR price is right for the functionality. As for ruggedness, there is no purpose-made hunting rifle as tough as the standard commercial/LEO FNAR.

 

[ericnvegas]

as for the price I just bought a fnar heavy barrel for $988,00 via Davidson the supplier of my local gun shop. I have not got it yet, but am very excited.

 

[ms6852]

My brother just got a great deal on a used one for $900, normally they go for $1200 or higher. I am not much into the tactical stuff but in all honesty I really liked the feel of the particular rifle. It is one of the more accurate rifles in a semi-automatic platform and I will testify that it is true. I shot it at 200 yds 5 shots at approximately 1 7/8, second group at 2 1/3 inches and the last 5 shot group at 2 1/4 inches. Regardless of the groups I was truly impressed and truly believe that it shoots MOA of deer and elk.

On a bad note it is a bear to break apart for cleaning. I am sure that eventually it will become easier to break apart with practice or die from a ruptured vessel for getting frustrated.