Got the .308 Bug

[Archangel14]

Gents:

I think I'm infected. The only remedy to this malady is to obtain a .308 semi-automatic rifle. You may have noticed the thread I recently started on the AR10 platform. I went to my LGS and found a S&W MP AR10 for about $1,600 (a little pricey, I think). But it felt good and seems to have a good reputation. But right next to it was a Springfield M1A Scout Squad (18 inch barrel). It too felt good in my hands. A little heavier than the AR10, buy nothing crazy. There were some other AR10's that I liked which were a bit easier on the price tag.

So here I am, confused again. AR10 or Scout Squad? I'm suffering, please help!

 

[GAMEOVER44]

Springfield is a much better company than S&W imo.. id go that route.. my dad being a gunsmith, sees M&Ps coming back ALL the time.. wether thats due to the fan club going on and buying of this brand I dont know all I know is I wouldnt buy an M&P. Even Springfields polys are superior imo.

The 308 is a very potent round. I highly recommend it.

 

[Lord Teapot]

$1600 is a little high for a smith ar10. buds has them for $300 less.

 

[Archangel14]

$1600 is a little high for a smith ar10. buds has them for $300 less.

It's a lot too high. I wouldn't pay that. My inquiry has less to do with price, but with the respective platforms. Thanks.

 

[desidog]

Depends on your plan.

If irons: M1A
If scope: AR

 

[Lord Teapot]

It's a lot too high. I wouldn't pay that. My inquiry has less to do with price, but with the respective platforms. Thanks.

going to depend a lot on which brand of ar10. armalite/s&w have more quality control than cheaper brands like dpms. get the ar10 if you plan to mod it substantially, the m1 if you're just buying to use as is.

 

[Nature Boy]

Well, last year I had the same itch as you: wanted a semi-auto in .308.

The M1A has scratched that itch. You can scope it easier than some will tell you. I have the Basset scope base. You'll also want the Bradley Cheek riser to go with it (you can google both).

From what I'm told, Springfield's warranty second to none, although I haven't had to use it. I have a few thousand rounds through my Standard so far without a single FTF or FTE. Not one.

And, it's a shooter

 

[MistWolf]

Only Armalite makes AR-10s.

I've been playing around with an M&P -10 for about a year and a half and I like it. It's accurate, light compared to most other AR 308s and as long as I feed it ammo loaded to commercial pressure, it's always reliable. Of course, you'll need to swap out the boat anchors S&W uses for the gas block and muzzle device.

The M14 is among my favorite rifles, but the source of reliable parts is drying up quickly and it's difficult to mount options on it. Stocks designed to give the shooter a good cheekweld with optics are as heavy as the Presidential limousine.

You can't go wrong with an M14, but the M&P-10 is a more practical choice.

Another 308 AR you should look at is the new version of the Colt 901

 

[castingdonkey]

Even after reading multiple bad reviews on the Palmetto State Armory PA-10 I couldn't help but build one for the price. The only issue I've had was the crumby charging handle it came with. I replaced that for $40 and have a complete AR-10 for under $800 counting the Magpul steel flip up rear sight. I ordered the stainless 16'' upper with Magpul hand guard, BCG, and charging handle for $369. Coupled that with their blem lower (couldn't find the blem) and a ACT trigger. Magpul MOE butt stock and pistol grip. That landed me in the $730 cost before a rear sight, two mags and a BCM gunfighter charging handle. Upper fit to lower nicely all functions checked out well. I have put 120 rounds down range so far and have not had an issue. Maybe I got lucky who knows but I definitely like it. If I was going to buy a complete rifle I'd more than Likely go with Windham arms for the quality and cost. My buddy has one and it is much lighter weight and has a better balanced feel that the PA-10. Next purchase will be an optic and I'm stuck on which one to get.

 

[bangswitch]

Well, last year I had the same itch as you: wanted a semi-auto in .308.

The M1A has scratched that itch. You can scope it easier than some will tell you.

And, it's a shooter

Agreed. I haven't enjoyed a rifle so much in years, since I got my Standard. It's certainly not a light rifle, but the weight makes it excel at benchrest, the thing hardly moves under recoil, and you can shoot all day without getting beat up. I have a Fulton DMR mount on mine, it's notched so I can just remove the scope and still shoot iron sights if I want. Made my own cheek riser.

 

[Archangel14]

It's certainly not a light rifle, but the weight makes it excel at benchrest

Ah, weight, yes. That is a concern of mine. I don't want such a rifle for the bench. It's got to be a field rifle. The difference in weight between the synthetic and wood stocks is significant. But even with the synthetic and the 18.5 inch barrel, the M1A is a bit weighty.

 

[Awsomepossum]

not love for the FAL?

 

[mainecoon]

Heckler and Koch has a nice 308:

http://www.heckler-koch.com/en/products/sport/rifles/mr308-a3/mr308-a3-165/overview.html

 

[stoky]

H&K has traditionally been pretty weak on support for civilian owners.
IMO go with AR10 for a target rifle, M1A for all around everything else.

 

[Archangel14]

IMO go with AR10 for a target rifle

Why is an AR10 only worthy of target shooting?

 

[Averageman]

I would suggest you go to M4 Carbine.net and take a close look at some of the offerings in the .308 AR's these guys are building and buying.
I would read a lot and use the search tool for about a week before posting.
These guys have a lot of info available and once you kind of ease in to the place it is a plethora of information.
For the most part these guys are builders of some high end guns and there is a lot of knowledge available, just be aware that they can be a bit prickly at times with new people.
It may be the only place on line where you can see 1000 + AR's in .308 that guys have built for themselves.

 

[Nature Boy]

...Ah, weight, yes. That is a concern of mine. I don't want such a rifle for the bench. It's got to be a field rifle......

Ahhh, field rifle, check......



And not too heavy for a 15 year old girl

 

[shuvelrider]

I vote for a FAL also, just plain fun and you don't really see them at the local ranges. Had a few FUDD's come over and look at mine, I usually will give someone a couple rounds to try it out though.

 

[cmb3366]

Maybe a little of the beaten path, but a 308 M1 is a ball to shoot, and very handy to tote in the field. $1030 will get one mailed to your doorstep with a brand new criterion barrel.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

A couple of years ago I was wanting a AR-10, I looked at a lot of brands and wasn't real happy with any of the sub $2,000 guns. So I went with a PTR-91 and love it. It feeds anything I put through it.

However a few weeks ago I got my first M-14 and I do mean my first. I should have got one years ago. Now I want a FAL as well, one day I might get a AR-10 but it will be fourth on the list

 

[stoky]

Why is an AR10 only worthy of target shooting?

I didn't really say (or mean) "only worthy", and certainly there's overlap in functionality. I think that direct impingement and ease of maintenance and expedient malfunction clearance tip the scales against the AR10 as a general purpose rifle. One of the piston versions could change that up.
YMMV

 

[Archangel14]

Maybe a little of the beaten path, but a 308 M1 is a ball to shoot, and very handy to tote in the field

I've thought about this! And I must say that the idea of en-bloc clips is actually very appealing to me. Less capacity, but there's nothing hanging below the rifle that may impede firing from a prone position. And they're small too. But alas, I've handled a Garand and it felt a bit weighty and awkward to me.

 

[aubie515]

I must be the oddball as I would never choose M1A over AR10 type.

AR is going to give you precision over M1A unless you dump a lot of money into the M1A.

I've owned multiples of both AR10 and M1A, so this isn't a I have no idea what I'm saying. I didn't read about it online or know someone who knew someone.

 

[Don357]

For what I wanted a.308 semi-auto for, the red headed step child works for me. I have a Century CETME. Of course I did a complete "fluff and buff" and a few other tweaks to it, but ended up with a very serviceable rifle. And unlike any AR platform, there's no such thing as to dirty to run. It may not be as accurate as a M1a or AR, but inside combat range, COM is easy. And another plus is that it is several hundred dollars cheaper than FAL's, M1a's, or AR's.

 

[bangswitch]

I've thought about this! And I must say that the idea of en-bloc clips is actually very appealing to me. Less capacity, but there's nothing hanging below the rifle that may impede firing from a prone position. And they're small too. But alas, I've handled a Garand and it felt a bit weighty and awkward to me.

I wonder if "M1 thumb" is less painful in .308 than it is in 30-06?

The M1A comes with ten round magazines and they pose no impedance to prone shooting off a sandbag. Unless you have really short arms, the 20 round mag works well when shooting elbow supported prone.