Ranking 4 308 rifles

[dvdcrr]

Been quite a bit of 308 rifle interest lately so I wanted to share my experience with four different 308's some are fairly new to me some I have had longer. The four rifles below:
Springfield Armory M1a Standard, Fulton stock, PTR-91F (wide green handguard, heavy buffer installed) Saiga 308 converted 922R compliant, Smith and Wesson M&P10, scoped.


I am going to rank some characteristics and welcome feedback or questions. 1 is best, 4 is worst (although sometimes they are all good.)

Accuracy:
3. Springfield Armory M1a Very close to PTR
2. PTR91F Wide Handguard 1.5" groups possible when scoped.
4. Saiga 308 (worst though not bad at 2.5 moa)
1. Smith and Wesson M&P 10 (probably the winner scoped or not.)

Reliable function with varying ammo:
2. Springfield Armory M1a no jams
3. PTR91F Wide Handguard one jam
1. Saiga 308 No Jams, magazines are the limiting factor
4. Smith and Wesson M&P 10 doesn't like at least one type of ammo.

Weight
3. Springfield Armory M1a
4. PTR91F Wide Handguard
1. Saiga 308
2. Smith and Wesson M&P 10

Balance
4. Springfield Armory M1a
3. PTR91F Wide Handguard
2. Saiga 308
1. Smith and Wesson M&P 10

Controls (ergos)
2. Springfield Armory M1a
4. PTR91F Wide Handguard
3. Saiga 308
1. Smith and Wesson M&P 10

Breakdown and Cleaning
4. Springfield Armory M1a (need tools for gas system cleaning.)
3. PTR91F Wide Handguard (very easy to break down but also very dirty.)
1. Saiga 308
2. Smith and Wesson M&P 10

Ease of Rapid Fire
2. Springfield Armory M1a
1. PTR91F Wide Handguard (you can really rock one of these.)
4. Saiga 308
3. Smith and Wesson M&P 10

Suitable for Optics/ Ease of mounting and use
3. Springfield Armory M1a
2. PTR91F Wide Handguard (you can really rock one of these.)
4. Saiga 308
1. Smith and Wesson M&P 10

Ability to change or accessorize
4. Springfield Armory M1a
2. PTR91F Wide Handguard
3. Saiga 308
1. Smith and Wesson M&P 10

Cost
4. Springfield Armory M1a
2. PTR91F Wide Handguard
1. Saiga 308
3. Smith and Wesson M&P 10 (sans scope)

Availability/ Cost of good Mags
3. Springfield Armory M1a
1. PTR91F Wide Handguard (cheap)
4. Saiga 308 (lots of polymer mags not many good steel.)
2. Smith and Wesson M&P 10

Discussion, questions welcome, hope this helps if you are considering a buy.

 

[bamajoey]

Wish you would have included the CZ 550 in 308. I am really interested in one of those.

 

[js8588]

Gah...had every intention of buying a PTR91F this year and instead, allocated those funds to a 7.62x54r Vepr. Now you've got me jonesing for a PTR again.

 

[Dean1818]

If the poo hits the rotating wind mover,

Which one are you grabbing?

 

[bannockburn]

dvdcrr

Nice comparison and ranking of the four rifles. I have only had experience with the M1A, HK91, and the FAL. All three were very well built and extremely reliable. The M1A and the FAL had the best ergos, ease of operation, overall handling, and balance. Most accurate was the M1A, followed by the FAL and HK91. None of them were ever had a scope mounted on them so my preference was the iron sights of the M1A. Also had a decent number of surplus M14 mags, web gear, and accessories to make the M1A the most cost effective of the three rifles.

 

[pisc1024]

Good info. I have experience with the M1a I think its a good rifle. Im interested to see how the Smith and Wesson works out.