It was suggested in another thread that starting my own thread regarding this would be best, so this is it.
1st……… here is how I define a General Purpose Rifle. “ A rifle that can be utilized for hunting medium to large game with, and also be used for security”. I use the word security in place of defense, as it holds a different meaning to me, and reflects in my preference for a semiautomatic rifle instead of a bolt or lever action rifle.
Nothin fancy there.
I base my decision on personal past experiences when it comes to hunting, and from my job as an Infantrymen in the Army. ( Coming up on retirement soon)
For one thing, I’m not all that concerned with self defense as compared to the defense of others…….if that makes sense. IE…….. creepy crawlin through the woods with intent to EnE all by my lonesome is an outlandish/unrealistic idea….for me at least. Even if it was how I forsee things to come, events to unfold…etc..etc.. I would simply choose a rifle chambered in 22lr with a can for this purpose.
I have also looked at Jeff Cooper’s ideas, and while I believe that he came up with a great concept in how he described it…… it did not meet my criteria for a GPR. ( While a bolt action rifle is fine for hunting and has a limited role for self defense, a semiautomatic rifle is better suited for my vision concerning overall security. ( And from my experience… a bolt action GPR doesn’t even hold a candle to a semiautomatic GPR if a worst possible scenario of bullets flying towards me and mine ever come to pass)
Note: Just my experience here, but past unfriendly encounters with armed 2 legged types shooting in my direction not too long ago equates to a very memorable one. I suppose I might change my outlook on it all after retirement, but that day aint here yet…..lol
The other thing I wanted out of a GPR concerned hunting. (Not “survival” hunting for small birds and chipmunks, but using it as a tool to fill the freezers for my clan now. Since 308 Winchester equates to one of the most widely used cartridges for hunting worldwide, there is really not much too add……other than putting 308 to the test firsthand, as I grew up hunting with others, and 30-06 was my favorite hunting cartridge before.
I had to put it to the test in regards to hunting, and have found it to be just fine in this area. ( I’ve been using it for hunting off and on since the late 1970’s, and have used mine pretty much exclusively for hunting since 1997 or so.) 3 species of deer, elk, black bear, and a few truck loads of feral pigs, as well as other critters.
To cut right to the chase here……. After buying, and trying out various different 308 chambered semiautomatic rifles, I ended up choosing the M14 design as the one for me. ( Lots of little details as to why, but the big reasons were personal preference towards this type of rifle’s ergonomics and iron sights. As I mentioned before, I grew up around the 30-06, and one of the rifles I spent a lot of time shooting was the M1 Garand. The M14 not only felt familiar, but better while in my mitts.) FWIW…. I’m a left eye dominant southpaw.
One of the first things anyone brings up regarding 308 chambered semiautomatic rifles is the weight. I have heard everything from the truth to ridiculous claims that they weigh more than the Army’s current light machine gun. ( I’m referring the “standard” models, and not the “HBAR” or “Match/EBR” models here, concerning the rifles.)
I put the hoopla to the test, and have weighed several of them in various configurations. Concerning my choice, the M14 types can vary in weight, depending on the type of stock as well as the sling. Mine weigh between 8.3 to 8.7 lbs. ( A modified synthetic USGI stock, ARMS18 mount, and cotton web sling.)
While Mr. Cooper’s idea revolved around a rifle being fired very little and carried everywhere, his weight restriction has merit. Mine gets fired quite a bit, and I have no problems carrying it anywhere that I can carry a 7 lbs bolt gun. The reason is simple. It only weighs about 1.5 lbs more overall. More important to me is how the weight is distributed along the entire rifle, as I find them well balanced overall.
Overall length is another factor, as a std length bbl puts the M14 or SAI M1A at 44inches when utilizing the typical stock design. I prefer the 18in tubes, and utilize the SEI GLFS to achieve an OAL of less than 38 inches approx.. ( Yup. I’m not an “M14 purist” by any sense of the term.)
Compared next to each other, most modern bolt guns don’t have iron sights, and the models that do have sights are typically of the open leaf type, and/or have the rear sight located just fwd of the chamber on the bbl….. thus reducing sight radius. The Ruger GSR is the exception, but the adjustability of the rear sight is not near as handy compared to the M1/M14 rear sight. ( I like them, and use them with various different loads, bullet weights, etc…… so the versatility they have is something of importance.
I’ve also heard the old and overused comments regarding the use of semiautomatic firearms in general will somehow lead the shooter into some psychological mishap concerning accuracy problems, while a single shot or bolt action will turn them all into super precision shooters overnight………………… even though the fundamentals of marksmanship apply to all of them. It has nothing to do with the rifle itself, and if anything, the semi is easier to shoot, as it requires less steps to operate it repeatedly, and all focus is on acquisition of a next target, followed by the application of sending a bullet at said target. ( I’m not referring to bench guns here….. but of rifles intended to be used in offhand positions in the field.)
There was a study conducted by the Military regarding the above, and the M1 Garand was better suited for this task, as compared to the bolt action rifle it ended up replacing. ( Both chambered in 30-06). The British Army came to the same conclusion when they put the M1 up against their Enfield….. even though the Enfield held 2 additional cartridges in it’s magazine compared to the M1 Garand.)
I often read how a bolt action is more reliable than a semiautomatic. Nothing specific, but a general blanket term instead of comparing a specific bolt action to a specific semiautomatic rifle. It then goes on about the fact that a bolt action has less parts overall, so less things can go wrong. The only way that said statement would be correct is if the comparison was done between 2 specific rifles, as a semiautomatic rifle could have been put together with better quality parts, and under better quality control than a bolt gun.
Every rd fired through one of my M14S rifles, M1A-A1, and M14SA have been documented since they were new. All of them are built with parts that were originally designed to withstand select fire use, and all of them were put together by hand, so I believe that any one of them will stack up against the average factory produced bolt gun, and hold their own with the custom mountain rifle bolt guns that are out there.
So what are your thoughts concerning a 308 chambered GPR?
Eye candy encouraged if ya wanna share your pics here.
1st……… here is how I define a General Purpose Rifle. “ A rifle that can be utilized for hunting medium to large game with, and also be used for security”. I use the word security in place of defense, as it holds a different meaning to me, and reflects in my preference for a semiautomatic rifle instead of a bolt or lever action rifle.
Nothin fancy there.
I base my decision on personal past experiences when it comes to hunting, and from my job as an Infantrymen in the Army. ( Coming up on retirement soon)
For one thing, I’m not all that concerned with self defense as compared to the defense of others…….if that makes sense. IE…….. creepy crawlin through the woods with intent to EnE all by my lonesome is an outlandish/unrealistic idea….for me at least. Even if it was how I forsee things to come, events to unfold…etc..etc.. I would simply choose a rifle chambered in 22lr with a can for this purpose.
I have also looked at Jeff Cooper’s ideas, and while I believe that he came up with a great concept in how he described it…… it did not meet my criteria for a GPR. ( While a bolt action rifle is fine for hunting and has a limited role for self defense, a semiautomatic rifle is better suited for my vision concerning overall security. ( And from my experience… a bolt action GPR doesn’t even hold a candle to a semiautomatic GPR if a worst possible scenario of bullets flying towards me and mine ever come to pass)
Note: Just my experience here, but past unfriendly encounters with armed 2 legged types shooting in my direction not too long ago equates to a very memorable one. I suppose I might change my outlook on it all after retirement, but that day aint here yet…..lol
The other thing I wanted out of a GPR concerned hunting. (Not “survival” hunting for small birds and chipmunks, but using it as a tool to fill the freezers for my clan now. Since 308 Winchester equates to one of the most widely used cartridges for hunting worldwide, there is really not much too add……other than putting 308 to the test firsthand, as I grew up hunting with others, and 30-06 was my favorite hunting cartridge before.
I had to put it to the test in regards to hunting, and have found it to be just fine in this area. ( I’ve been using it for hunting off and on since the late 1970’s, and have used mine pretty much exclusively for hunting since 1997 or so.) 3 species of deer, elk, black bear, and a few truck loads of feral pigs, as well as other critters.
To cut right to the chase here……. After buying, and trying out various different 308 chambered semiautomatic rifles, I ended up choosing the M14 design as the one for me. ( Lots of little details as to why, but the big reasons were personal preference towards this type of rifle’s ergonomics and iron sights. As I mentioned before, I grew up around the 30-06, and one of the rifles I spent a lot of time shooting was the M1 Garand. The M14 not only felt familiar, but better while in my mitts.) FWIW…. I’m a left eye dominant southpaw.
One of the first things anyone brings up regarding 308 chambered semiautomatic rifles is the weight. I have heard everything from the truth to ridiculous claims that they weigh more than the Army’s current light machine gun. ( I’m referring the “standard” models, and not the “HBAR” or “Match/EBR” models here, concerning the rifles.)
I put the hoopla to the test, and have weighed several of them in various configurations. Concerning my choice, the M14 types can vary in weight, depending on the type of stock as well as the sling. Mine weigh between 8.3 to 8.7 lbs. ( A modified synthetic USGI stock, ARMS18 mount, and cotton web sling.)
While Mr. Cooper’s idea revolved around a rifle being fired very little and carried everywhere, his weight restriction has merit. Mine gets fired quite a bit, and I have no problems carrying it anywhere that I can carry a 7 lbs bolt gun. The reason is simple. It only weighs about 1.5 lbs more overall. More important to me is how the weight is distributed along the entire rifle, as I find them well balanced overall.
Overall length is another factor, as a std length bbl puts the M14 or SAI M1A at 44inches when utilizing the typical stock design. I prefer the 18in tubes, and utilize the SEI GLFS to achieve an OAL of less than 38 inches approx.. ( Yup. I’m not an “M14 purist” by any sense of the term.)
Compared next to each other, most modern bolt guns don’t have iron sights, and the models that do have sights are typically of the open leaf type, and/or have the rear sight located just fwd of the chamber on the bbl….. thus reducing sight radius. The Ruger GSR is the exception, but the adjustability of the rear sight is not near as handy compared to the M1/M14 rear sight. ( I like them, and use them with various different loads, bullet weights, etc…… so the versatility they have is something of importance.
I’ve also heard the old and overused comments regarding the use of semiautomatic firearms in general will somehow lead the shooter into some psychological mishap concerning accuracy problems, while a single shot or bolt action will turn them all into super precision shooters overnight………………… even though the fundamentals of marksmanship apply to all of them. It has nothing to do with the rifle itself, and if anything, the semi is easier to shoot, as it requires less steps to operate it repeatedly, and all focus is on acquisition of a next target, followed by the application of sending a bullet at said target. ( I’m not referring to bench guns here….. but of rifles intended to be used in offhand positions in the field.)
There was a study conducted by the Military regarding the above, and the M1 Garand was better suited for this task, as compared to the bolt action rifle it ended up replacing. ( Both chambered in 30-06). The British Army came to the same conclusion when they put the M1 up against their Enfield….. even though the Enfield held 2 additional cartridges in it’s magazine compared to the M1 Garand.)
I often read how a bolt action is more reliable than a semiautomatic. Nothing specific, but a general blanket term instead of comparing a specific bolt action to a specific semiautomatic rifle. It then goes on about the fact that a bolt action has less parts overall, so less things can go wrong. The only way that said statement would be correct is if the comparison was done between 2 specific rifles, as a semiautomatic rifle could have been put together with better quality parts, and under better quality control than a bolt gun.
Every rd fired through one of my M14S rifles, M1A-A1, and M14SA have been documented since they were new. All of them are built with parts that were originally designed to withstand select fire use, and all of them were put together by hand, so I believe that any one of them will stack up against the average factory produced bolt gun, and hold their own with the custom mountain rifle bolt guns that are out there.
So what are your thoughts concerning a 308 chambered GPR?
Eye candy encouraged if ya wanna share your pics here.
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. Folded length is a bit over 30" with a 20" barrel.
