Reccomend me a .308 Battle Rifle

[C'Thulhu]

Why not have one? Similar platform means similar muscle memory, and therefore better shooting overall.

 

[liberalwithagun]

True.

My inner gun collector freak wants something different. It seems that the ready availabiity of a AR-10 and reloadbility may win the day.

 

[mberoose]

DSA FAL fo sho.

 

[Nico Testosteros]

Spanish FR8.

 

[C'Thulhu]

If you want something completely different, the RFB is my choice. But a AR10 style rifle is pretty much the most customizable.

 

[liberalwithagun]

RFB does look damn cool. I am not buying this thing till after I pass the BAR in July anyway.

Gives me plenty of time to shoot each....if I can find people who own each around here. I know I can find a .308 AR. FAL? Probably. PTR? Probably. RFB? Not a chance.

 

[jchico28]

Since I'm another liberal w/ guns, I like my M1A NM. I like the walnut stock, the lineage and the accuracy. But...you need $2k. At 9lbs, it aint lite. My 2 cents.

 

[HILLBILLY-06]

Find an M1 Garand in .308, -
- Accurate
- Easy to work on
- Easy to find parts
- Brass is reloadable after firing
- Can be shot left handed safely
Will outlast the M1A with Cast reciever and enblocks are cheaper than 20rd mags. Plus you will find it very reliable, you may get lucky and even find a "Tanker Garand" which is much shorter than the Standard M1 Garand. Kind of like the difference between the M1A and the M1A Socom rifle, if you want to speak comparatively.
Thats what I'd take, if I wanted a rifle such as you desrcibed, for the price your asking.

 

[GreySmoke2]

What about an Israeli Galil in 7.62x51 NATO. They are different

 

[liberalwithagun]

Hillbilly -

VERY interesting. I am a WWII nut. Have a love affair w/ M1's. That is going on the list.

 

[AKMtnRunner]

In the spirit of something different, how about a bolt action? Great accuracy, great price, easy to work on, and still a decent market of left handed options.

 

[liberalwithagun]

@AKmtnrunner - Already own a Savage 10 .308 Bolt Action. Love it.

 

[amprecon]

If I were to buy a .308 Battle Rifle and not too concerned with putting optics on it, I would go out right now and by the Springfield Armory M1A Scout Rifle. The Scout does offer a forward mounted picatinny if you wished to install a long-eye relief scout scope or some type of red dot.

This rifle just feels good.

 

[CSestp]

The FAL is stupid easy to work on. In SHTF situation its a very good go to gun. With the adjustable gas block it provides many many many different solutions and options. If you were in the bush for a very long amount of time with out the option to clean/ maintain the rifle properly you could crank down the gas to keep it cycling. Of course you would be running the risk of damaging the rifle but if you got to have it slinging lead down range you have that option. Also you can change it up for different ammo loads to help keep recoil down.

M1A seems a bit more difficult compared to the FAL so far as maintenance goes. It is a little better at long range. Is also a bit more user unfriendly so far as movement under fire drills.

So far as reloading they are about the same because they both have rock-in mags. Have found with the bolt still forward the FAL is a bit easier. Just a bit though.

 

[Baba Louie]

WHAT?! No one has yet recommended a French MAS 49/56 modified to shoot the .308?

Might be an interesting variant in the overall scheme of things. Small. Looks good with a beret.

Don't know about battle proven (and won't go there) but it could be a contender.

Otherwise my vote would be an FAL of some type. Tho a Saiga would be hard to beat dollar wise. and you do have to feed whatever you buy...

Have fun with your selection process. Keep us posted whatcha bring home.

 

[Rshooter]

I would vote for the M1A as the price for a basic M1A is similar to the FAL. IMHO better ergonomics and accuracy. I have had a basic M1A and it has served me well for twenty years.

 

[303tom]

Enfield 2A1...............

 

[KodiakBeer]

I'm with Rshooter. I'm a happy owner of a very pretty, reliable and accurate FAL built as close to the original G1 as the ATF allows. I built mine back in the heyday of the late 90's when you could get kits in like-new condition and top of the line receivers like the F.A.C. with all the lightning cuts of the original G1 FAL, as well as original walnut furniture in great condition. They don't get any better than mine.

Yet... Shooting it next to an M1A is eye-opening! The ergonomics and general shootability of the M1A is superior out there in the real world. Shooting off the bench, it's a toss-up, but when you stand on your hind legs and start shooting at targets out there at 400 yards, the FAL pales in comparison to the M1A. I don't own an M1A (yet), but a couple of range sessions with my buddies M1A has me convinced that I must have an M1A. I'll probably get the M1A Scout Squad because it's a good compromise between the SOCOM and the full sized M1A.

As good as the FAL is, the M1A is the better "real world" shooter.

Here's my FAL, I'm going to keep it always and I'm always going to love it. But... sometime soon I'm buying an M1A because it really is the better rifle.

 

[Rifleman 173]

In Viet Nam I lugged an XM-21 sniper rifle. That later became the M-21 sniper rifle. If you hunt around in the gun stores, search high and low, on occasion you can find a decent M-21 sniper rifle that has slipped through the cracks. The M-21 is a very high quality M-14 or M-1A type rifle so it uses M-14 magazines and such. Like an M-1A, the M-21 is heavy but it is a fantastic shooter! With practice, the right high quality ammo and a good scope people can be taught to make 900 meter silhouette shots. From 0 to 300 meters you can make head/upper torso shots all day long. Once you get an M-21 broke in and everything stabilized, you couldn't ask for a better shooting system.

 

[xxxleafybugxxx]

I'll give you the same advice I've given everyone. M1A.
I can shoot 1.5 moa from a bench with mine (standard model) with factory hunting ammo. Never had a problem, other than with a 20 rd mad I've used. I believe its the mags fault.
With the M1A, you get a reliable, great weapon you know will fire. Its a blast to shoot. (i'm punny )

 

[RangerHAAF]

Price Range: 500-1100

What I have looked at:

FAL - Like it very much. Seems that the gas block can be adjusted so that brass is reloadable. Seems that a DS Arms built unit is the way to go.

PTR-91 - Seems to be very hard on brass.

M1A - Great all around gun. Seems that brass ejection is a problem for lefties. High price.

Ar-10 - Not super interested. I already own an AR.

FAL: Had one; terrible gun. Beautiful aesthetics and form, couldn't hit a thing with it and the price was outrageous. DSA-SA58

PTR-91: Don't know much about it.

M1A: Never fired one but was too heavy for my liking.

AR-10: The best gun that I own and is super accurate. Like night and day between an AR-10 and AR-15.

 

[liberalwithagun]

So conflicted now. I believe I will be purchasing both the M1A and FAL. Obviously this will be spread over time.

I love the history (right arm of the free world) and looks of the FAL. The M1A just seems like such an outstanding package that I can't turn it down.

Hell the reason I went to law school was both to follow a dream and make more money. Might as well put that money towards firearms

 

[KodiakBeer]

The deal (I think) with the ergonomics of the FAL vs the M1A is that from the beginning, the FAL was designed as a full auto rifle, thus the pistol grip and the weight-forward feel of the rifle.

The M14 is an updated Garand, designed for the rifleman and thus the balance is further back and at least for me, just hangs better when fired from the shoulder. It was updated to full auto, but was never great in that role. However, the semi-auto civilian version returns it to its roots.

I think you'll be happy with both if you choose quality builds.

 

[liberalwithagun]

The High Road - Enabling Gun Addicitions Since the Internet Started

 

[Girodin]

Of those listed i would get an AR if I was after accuracy first and fore most. Although the ones I'd be most interested in run more than $1000

If I was after a tough, proven, battle rifle then it would be the FAL.

The saiga is good gun but once you start putting the money into it to set it up how you like it quickly goes from a $450-500 gun to a $900+ gun.

If you are willing to save up I think the SCAR bests them all. It is accurate. Ergos are better than some of the others. Eventually one may be able to make use of the quick change barrel feature as well. It also isn't nearly as heavy as some of the other guns.

So conflicted now. I believe I will be purchasing both the M1A and FAL. Obviously this will be spread over time.

For the money 1 scar is more useful than a FAL and a M1a in my opinion. However, I totally understand the desire to own certain guns just to have an exemplar of them.