SCAR 16: overpriced?

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Bernie Lomax

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I'm considering the purchase of a 5.56mm assault-style rifle and have been looking at the SCAR 16. From what I've heard, they're fine weapons, but man, are they expensive. Are they really worth what they're charging for them? Impact guns has them listed for about $2500, which is $500 more than what it would cost to have my gunsmith build me a quality Galil AR and $1000 more than what it would cost for a Colt 6920 SOCOM.

So what's the deal with the SCAR? is it really worth it or just overpriced? Should I just forget the SCAR and get myself a Galil or 6920? TIA for your opinions and input.
 
IMO, yes, they're very overpriced. Some folks love them, but considering that you could built a top shelf AR and put an ACOG on it for the same kind of money..............

I've played with them, can't figure out what they do that my $600-$1,200 AR-15s or .308 ARs won't do at least as well, if not better. Some say "but quick change barrel" "but side charging handle", blah, blah. Guess what? I can get another upper for what a SCAR barrel costs, and I can do a reciprocating or non-reciprocating CH on an AR if I so desired.
 
It's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it....

If you like it, and have the money and want it because it's a cool gun...then buy it.

But if you are looking for a tool... its not really going to do anything a $600 ar15 can't do....
 
I shot a SCAR 16 and immediately fell in love with it.

Worth is such a relative thing. I own an AR, carried an M16 and M4 in the army and in my opinion a SACR 16 is "worth" more. Maybe it's the smooth operating piston system, quality of the components, how the design elements come together, who knows.

I'd own one if I didn't have other rifle priorities. May yet own
 
I split the difference and bought a PWS MK116 instead. God I love that thing. The piston action may be proprietary, but then so is the SCAR 16. Pretty much every gun except a 1911, AK47 or AR15 is proprietary, so that shouldn't matter.
 
The SCAR-16 is overpriced for the capability it provides... anyone who buys one is a fool. The SCAR-17 is priced right for what it provides in what is the best modern .308 Battle Rifle in terms of weight, ergonomics, and accuracy.

Really, I dunno why FN even bothers with the Mk16....
 
The SCAR-17 is priced right for what it provides in what is the best modern .308 Battle Rifle in terms of weight, ergonomics, and accuracy.
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That's entirely subjective. Personally, I don't care for the 17 at all. My preference in order is:

1: .308 AR
1 (tie): FAL
3: M1A
4: SCAR
4.1: CETME/G3
 
The SCAR-17 is priced right for what it provides in what is the best modern .308 Battle Rifle in terms of weight, ergonomics, and accuracy.
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There are a lot of players in that field. The aforementioned PWS is another good option, although they are around the same price.
 
The SCAR-16 is overpriced for the capability it provides... anyone who buys one is a fool.
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yes, because god forbid anyone buy something just because they like it......


people can buy $300 pocket knives.....$200 flashlights......$150 gun grips.......$200 holsters.....all without people batting an eye.....

but a guy buying a $2500 gun is a "fool".....right.....
 
yes, because god forbid anyone buy something just because they like it......


people can buy $300 pocket knives.....$200 flashlights......$150 gun grips.......$200 holsters.....all without people batting an eye.....

but a guy buying a $2500 gun is a "fool".....right.....
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Buying it because you want it is a perfectly legitimate reason.

Where the wires get crossed is the folks trying to put these things on an (undeserved) pedestal and/or trying to justify the $1,500 premium over an AR or other platform.

I don't begrudge anyone for spending whatever amount of money they did to buy what they wanted. But as most do, I get quickly annoyed when they flaunt it as a (sometimes phallic extension) status symbol or, worse, start insulting everyone else's gear. One of my biggest beefs with the HK fanboys for sure.
 
Its a very good rifle. If I remember correctly the only major problem the Rangers had with them was the buttstock connection breaking. I heard that FN tweaked the design and beefed up the connector though. That being said the Ranger Batt went back to the M4 stating the Mk16 gave no real benefit over the M4.

Id love to own one but I dont forsee myself spending the money any time soon. I did get to play with a legit dealer sample Mk16 CQC at the range one time. Its a sweet little gun. But for 2500 bucks Id be able to buy two good ARs or fully deck one out and get a case or two of 5.56.

https://youtu.be/KV2wQJbzYwE
 
* * * The SCAR-17 is priced right for what it provides in what is the best modern .308 Battle Rifle in terms of weight, ergonomics, and accuracy.
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In weight, for sure. Having handled it, the ergonomics of the SCAR-17 aren't superior to my LMT LM8.

Accuracy? I'll put my LM8's 18" SS SPR tube up against the SCAR tube at 300yds anyday.

Then there's the mags. My 7.62 LM8 takes the SR-25 mags, such as the 10-and 20-rounders MagPul makes in abundance and for a reasonable price.

SCAR-17 mags are harder to find and spendier than the MagPuls when you do.

If money is no object in a .30-cal AR-platform that's intended to be a range toy only, then get the SCAR. :rolleyes:
 
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The SCAR-16 is overpriced for the capability it provides... anyone who buys one is a fool.
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Now that's FUNNY!

Count me as a fool lol

As far as it being worth the $, depends-I bought the 17 1st and liked it so well that I had to have the baby to go with it-don't regret a BIT.

Have a really top notch Daniel Defense that's just a great gun that no longer is used-true, will shoot just as well as the Scar, but the way the Scar's go together/come apart, lack of recoil, run EXTREMELY clean, and IMO, they are just bad a*s cool looking, yes, they are worth it ...to ME.

Shame to have the DD not getting any use now, so I'm going to re-barrel it as a 300 blackout, just not sure what barrel length going to put on it.
 
That's one thing that I never understood. A manufacturer will make an item and put a HUGE price tag on it which stifles sales which means they don't sell too many so they don't make a lot. I don't know what the cost to FN is to make a SCAR is, but I would think it couldn't be that far from the $1000 price point, probably less. I think they would sell far more units at $1400 with only $400 profit than at $2500 with $1500. Maybe not 4x as much but getting your product out there has to have other benefits, aftermarket parts, magazines. Then again, I'm sure they pay bean counters to figure this stuff out so maybe $2500 is a small amount above cost. I just can't see how.
 
The SCAR is overpriced.

I mean besides the quick change, free float barrel, short stroke piston that keeps gas out of the action, robustly designed bolt, huge extractor, adjustable gas regulator, monolithic fully railed receiver, complete ambidexterity, folding stock with adjustable cheek height, and debris shielded trigger group there just aren't many advantages a 556 SCAR has over a standard AR.

Now, compared to the Beretta ARX it's a much closer competition.

BSW
 
I mean besides the quick change, free float barrel, short stroke piston that keeps gas out of the action, robustly designed bolt, huge extractor, adjustable gas regulator, monolithic fully railed receiver, complete ambidexterity, folding stock with adjustable cheek height, and debris shielded trigger group there just aren't many advantages a 556 SCAR has over a standard AR.
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I think most here thinks it is a good weapon and would love to have one, it's just the price point is prohibitory. I think a lot of rifles have proven themselves superior to the M4/M16 platform, but the difference is so marginal that the cost to replace them isn't worth the slight upgrade.
 
I think a lot of rifles have proven themselves superior to the M4/M16 platform, but the difference is so marginal that the cost to replace them isn't worth the slight upgrade.
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That's the conclusion the military came too-agree they don't shoot any more accurately than a good M4, it just comes down to is it worth it to the person spending the $ for the differences....
 
I mean besides the quick change, free float barrel, short stroke piston that keeps gas out of the action, robustly designed bolt, huge extractor, adjustable gas regulator, monolithic fully railed receiver, complete ambidexterity, folding stock with adjustable cheek height, and debris shielded trigger group there just aren't many advantages a 556 SCAR has over a standard AR.
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I submit that those "advantages" only exist if you're comparing a basic AR to the SCAR

AR has:

-Quick change upper receiver (bet I can swap an upper a lot faster than anyone can swap a SCAR barrel), can be with or without FF hand guard

-Op rod piston systems available (Stoner system works just fine, of course)

-Easily changed $50 bolts that can go well beyond 15K rounds anyway

-Easily changed $5 extractors that can also last many thousands of rounds (I've yet to break one, even in my ~17K round count Armalite M15A2C)

-Ambidextrous to the same degree the SCAR is; left-or-right eject is only
optioned in the ARX-100 or Steyr AUG to my knowledge. Every control on the AR can be made ambi these days, and left ejecting uppers are available

-Adjustable gas blocks (or gas keys) for AR? Check
-Folding stock optional with op rod upper? Check
-Monolithic upper available? Check

And I'll trade the "debris shielded trigger group" for a gun that doesn't smartly remind someone they shouldn't have had their support hand in certain positions on the upper.

As I said, I won't begrudge someone who wants to spend their money on a SCAR just because they want a SCAR. I just grow very weary of the rationalizations.
 
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