MY PTR Sucks - Which .308 Instead

[bk1]

Since my PTR91 turned out to be way too picky to be my go to rifle I am looking for it's replacement.

I'm thinking either a DSA FAL or a RRA LAR-8.

The price would be about the same for the particular FAL I would be getting.

So, I know the FAL is considered to be reliable, anyone care to speak up in their support of the RRA LAR-8?

Thanks.

 

[rocinante]

if reliability is numero uno criteria get a saiga.

 

[nwilliams]

Get an M1a, it may be a few hundred more but it will go bang when you want it to.

There's also the FNAR, kinda ugly but I hear the work great and are very accurate.

 

[C-grunt]

Ive always liked the FAL. They are really good battle rifle. For one thats nice and has "class" get the M1A.

 

[stubbicatt]

Please contact me via pm when you decide to sell your rifle, perhaps we can make an arrangement.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Rock River (either that or M14 style).

Nothing wrong with DSAs, but why pay half again as much for a rifle that does the same thing and is harder to put optics on?

 

[Z-Michigan]

FAL or M1A depending on your price tolerance. FYI, while 2 years ago FAL mags were $5 and M1A mags were $50, that has almost reversed - decent M1A mags are $15, USGI are $21, and FAL mags are becoming scarce and are generally above those prices.

The Saiga is a good gun but magazines are a severe limitation for the .308 version. IIRC it's Surefire US-made plastic ones or nothing.

 

[desidog]

I just read on THR the other day that there are metal 20rd Saiga 308 mags out now.

Haven't seen a link to a shop, so i can't verify.

 

[Pony Express]

if i were you I would buy an AR-10, but thats just cause im a big AR fan

 

[Slamfire]

I am sorry to hear that you lost faith in your PTR 91

My favorite 308 semiautomatic is the M1a. But that is not on your list.

My next favorite is a FAL.

I do not want to diss Rock River's rifle, considering I don't have one, but the FAL had decades of use and years in the development cycle. People don't appreciate just how important that development testing is for end item reliablity, but it is real important. Then the FAL was in service for so long, you can bet that the design has been throughly debugged.

 

[H2O MAN]

Get the M1A/M14 and have it gone over with a fine tooth comb
by an experienced M14 gunsmith like Warbird or Smith Enterprise.

 

[jpwilly]

The LR-308 DPMS rifles are some of the best 308's out there. Sure you and spend much more on a POF or SR-25 and probably have a little better rifle but IMO nuthing the DPMS cannot do. The M1A and FAL are other solid choices and behind that a Saiga.

 

[tju1973]

The LR-308 DPMS rifles are some of the best 308's out there. Sure you and spend much more on a POF or SR-25 and probably have a little better rifle but IMO nuthing the DPMS cannot do. The M1A and FAL are other solid choices and behind that a Saiga.

Agreed-- especially for the money. A close friend of mine bought one a few months ago-- spent minimal money afterwards, and it is a straight up tack driver-- rolls hogs over too like no one's business...

 

[pfl101]

Sorry to hear the PTR didn't work out for you. I wonder what ammo you've been using and if there's a problem with the mags you're using?

I have run hundreds of rounds of Wolf through my PTR-91 with no problems. Ditto for Federal and milsurp from SA.

 

[rangerruck]

Saiga, without a doubt. From what I have seen, the 308 has become the most reliable go to rifle in semi auto 308 out there. plus with all the new parts coming out for Saigas, seems like almost everday now, you can make them pretty modular, and hang all kinds of stuff off of them...
promag makes saiga mags as well, and i think I saw a steel version not too long ago at a gunshow,
but not sure on that one.

 

[Frankl03]

If you want a serious battle rifle I would get an AR10 by Armalite. An AR10 with a 20 inch barrel will shoot rings around a FAL, PTR91 and probably most M1As. AR10 is hard to beat for accuracy. Also very easy to mount optics to.
Just my .02!

 

[Snowdog]

My FAL is not picky. It has never malfunctioned in any way, ever. It's robust and its accuracy is actually quite nice (probably because it's a Springfield SAR).

 

[kimberfan]

M1A all the way.

i love my M1A standard goes bang every time (300rds and not a hang up yet even with Taiwan type 57 mags) put a ultimak M8 scout rail with a AimPoint comp c3 2x 1MOA on it and a GG&G off set light mount with a streamlight TLR 1 on it and its awesome

 

[bondmid003]

If you've got the money pick up one of Springfield Armory's many M14 models. I've heard nothing but good things about their SOCOM 16 and SOCOM II models

H20Man that is one sweet looking rifle. Is the suppressor real?

 

[H2O MAN]

bondmid003

H20Man that is one sweet looking rifle. Is the suppressor real?

Thank you! Yes, the sound suppressor is real.

 

[GunTech]

Another vote for the M1A. Better trigger, more smiths that work on them, plenty of accessories and a lot of people who know how to make them accurate.

Some caveats. The M1A is scopeable, but you want a good mount and you'll need an aftermarket stock or some kind of cheek piece. The best M1A trigger is not cheap and not service rifle legal (Rader trigger) but can be safely set to as low as 1.5 pounds. Accuracy typically means weight. Match barrels are heavy.

I have a few - none so fancy as H2Oman

 

[H2O MAN]

GunTech

Some caveats. The M1A is scopeable, but you want a good mount and you'll need an aftermarket stock or some kind of cheek piece.
The best M1A trigger is not cheap and not service rifle legal (Rader trigger) but can be safely set to as low as 1.5 pounds.
Accuracy typically means weight. Match barrels are heavy.

I have a few - none so fancy as H2Oman

I don't have any as fancy as your Safety Orange M1A

The Rader trigger is very nice, but one should also consider the M14/M21A5 C-IED 4.5 lb MAX-PAK Trigger Upgrade from Smith Enterprise, Inc.
The SEI trigger is legal for service rifle matches.


GunTech, how do you like this one when compared to the others in your collection?

 

[jd46561]

I vote FAL. Mine is reliable and accurate.

 

[Robert]

Nothing wrong with DSAs, but why pay half again as much for a rifle that does the same thing and is harder to put optics on?

Huh?
DSA makes a great optics mount for the FAL and a couple clicks on the gas nut will have you tuned for whatever ammo you like. True they will never win any long range matches but they are field accurate and that is good enough for me. I did not have money to pour down just any hole so I went with what best fit my needs and budget. I have never regretted my FAL, and it is a parts build. Oh and out of curiosity what does one of them fancy tricked out M1As weigh?

 

[gundog94]

You must have got a lemon. My PTR eats anything and will hold 2 inches at 100 yards with mil-surp ammo. It is simply the best built HK design firearm that I have owned (JLD PTR91, Cetme, Vector Arms, Special Weapons). Mine is a PTR Inc. rifle, not a JLD built one. I have owned 2 FAL's, an M1A, and 2 DPMS LR-308's. The FAl's are reliable as hell but they are a 3-4 inch gun at best. The M1A was accurate and reliable but expensive. The LR-308's both were accurate and seemed reliable, but I don't let my AR's get too dirty.