Haven't been on here in quite awhile; haven't done a lot of shooting this year (a big garden, 5 kids, and a lot of work have kept me too busy).
I managed to pick up one new gun in the last 6 months; a SCAR17S. I have to say... It's absolutely, definitely, unquestionably my new favorite rifle.
I've put 800 rounds of surplus Malaysian through it now, mostly at the 300 yard line, and it's proven to be a great, reliable rifle. Highly accurate even with the surplus ammo. Getting mostly about 1.5MOA with the surplus ammo and iron sights. Would do better, I'm sure, if I dropped a scope on it. But I've never BEEN this accurate with another iron sight gun. The iron sights that ship with it are fantastic. I mean, REALLY fantastic.
The front sight is adjustable for elevation with the standard AR tool. Rear sight adjustable for windage wit big thumb dials. Has a dial cam action that allows you to adjust 100-600 yards in 50 yard increments. Haven't had the opportunity to adjust past 300 yards, but with 168-grain surplus ammo, it was spot on at 200, 250, and 300; after zeroing at 100.
It shoots CLEAN. I mean.. like, clean clean clean... Zero fouling in the action. Haven't needed to clean the gas piston yet. Only thing I've had to clean is the barrel, and wipe the action down with a light coat of oil. Take down is a breeze, no tools required other than your two hands.
It's remarkably LIGHT. But the build feels as sturdy as a rock.
Transitioning the charging handle for left-handed shooters is a simple process. But this is where I have my only complaint about the rifle itself; when I shoot left handed, the adjustable stock kind of pinches my cheek and the spent casings eject, hit, and burn my neck. So not quite as friendly for lefties as the marketing material would make you think. (I'm not left handed, but I regularly practice shooting all my firearms left-handed, for the challenge of it).
Haven't mounted any accessories to it.. I kicked around the idea of mounting a scope to it, but being able to hit a 6" target 100% reliably with iron sites at 300 yards, I don't see much of a reason to mount a scope. (Don't have a range longer than that I can go to anymore..)
Another drawback.. magazines are still nigh-impossible to find.
Third drawback.. expensive. Not just the rifle, but also cost-per-magazine to shoot. Blasting away all day with 7.62x51mm isn't exactly cheap.
So.. I thought I'd put forth my experiences and thoughts so far. Wish I could get a spare magazine or six.. not like I'm worried about fighting a war with the thing, but I'd sure like to have a spare if I did something stupid like break the one that the rifle came with. Also, it kind of sucks having to take a break from shooting to "clunk-clunk-clunk" more rounds in to it. Especially when I'm squatting in chest high weeds down by my lake. I tend to drop a few here and there while loading the magazine, and lose them. (Yeah I know I could fix the weed problem but I like the tall grass, come goose season).
Aside from these drawbacks, this is one fine rifle. You always hear about people looking for the "perfect" gun (for them). Well, think after all this time I finally found mine! All my other evil black rifles .. they're all collecting a bit of dust... probably end up selling a fair chunk of them over the years if they continue to suffer from dis-use. I've never bought a rifle that made me want to sell other rifles before. Usually each gun just feeds the desire to get more. But this one.. I think the only way to explain it, is I feel "satisfied", finally, after 15 years of buying guns.
I managed to pick up one new gun in the last 6 months; a SCAR17S. I have to say... It's absolutely, definitely, unquestionably my new favorite rifle.
I've put 800 rounds of surplus Malaysian through it now, mostly at the 300 yard line, and it's proven to be a great, reliable rifle. Highly accurate even with the surplus ammo. Getting mostly about 1.5MOA with the surplus ammo and iron sights. Would do better, I'm sure, if I dropped a scope on it. But I've never BEEN this accurate with another iron sight gun. The iron sights that ship with it are fantastic. I mean, REALLY fantastic.
The front sight is adjustable for elevation with the standard AR tool. Rear sight adjustable for windage wit big thumb dials. Has a dial cam action that allows you to adjust 100-600 yards in 50 yard increments. Haven't had the opportunity to adjust past 300 yards, but with 168-grain surplus ammo, it was spot on at 200, 250, and 300; after zeroing at 100.
It shoots CLEAN. I mean.. like, clean clean clean... Zero fouling in the action. Haven't needed to clean the gas piston yet. Only thing I've had to clean is the barrel, and wipe the action down with a light coat of oil. Take down is a breeze, no tools required other than your two hands.
It's remarkably LIGHT. But the build feels as sturdy as a rock.
Transitioning the charging handle for left-handed shooters is a simple process. But this is where I have my only complaint about the rifle itself; when I shoot left handed, the adjustable stock kind of pinches my cheek and the spent casings eject, hit, and burn my neck. So not quite as friendly for lefties as the marketing material would make you think. (I'm not left handed, but I regularly practice shooting all my firearms left-handed, for the challenge of it).
Haven't mounted any accessories to it.. I kicked around the idea of mounting a scope to it, but being able to hit a 6" target 100% reliably with iron sites at 300 yards, I don't see much of a reason to mount a scope. (Don't have a range longer than that I can go to anymore..)
Another drawback.. magazines are still nigh-impossible to find.
Third drawback.. expensive. Not just the rifle, but also cost-per-magazine to shoot. Blasting away all day with 7.62x51mm isn't exactly cheap.
So.. I thought I'd put forth my experiences and thoughts so far. Wish I could get a spare magazine or six.. not like I'm worried about fighting a war with the thing, but I'd sure like to have a spare if I did something stupid like break the one that the rifle came with. Also, it kind of sucks having to take a break from shooting to "clunk-clunk-clunk" more rounds in to it. Especially when I'm squatting in chest high weeds down by my lake. I tend to drop a few here and there while loading the magazine, and lose them. (Yeah I know I could fix the weed problem but I like the tall grass, come goose season).
Aside from these drawbacks, this is one fine rifle. You always hear about people looking for the "perfect" gun (for them). Well, think after all this time I finally found mine! All my other evil black rifles .. they're all collecting a bit of dust... probably end up selling a fair chunk of them over the years if they continue to suffer from dis-use. I've never bought a rifle that made me want to sell other rifles before. Usually each gun just feeds the desire to get more. But this one.. I think the only way to explain it, is I feel "satisfied", finally, after 15 years of buying guns.
