.308 / 7.62x51 The "other" rifle

S

SHNOMIDO

New member
I'm in the market to buy a .308 auto-loading rifle. Obviously the big 3 im looking at are:

FAL
M14 (m1a or other)
HK G3

Now each of these has its pro's and cons, including price, and im drawn to each one for its own individual reasons.

The question i have is, what else is out there? What are the less mentioned, underground, less popular .308 auto-loaders out there? I'm just looking for some other less obvious options, and another piece to use as a comparison, in both performance and price.

I'm not too interested in 7.62 AR platforms. If/when i go for an AR its going to be a classic 5.56

So what am I missing? when you go for a militarized style .308 are you stuck between a FAL and a M1A, and to a lesser extent a G3 and AR? I dont care if its a 50 year old cold war battle rifle that barely saw service or something like the Kel-Tec RFB... anything goes, what else is out there???

...That RFB is pretty cool though eh?

A synthetic BAR in .308 seems kind of cool. any comment on this? I would probably go for something like the FNAR. On that note, the SCAR-H or SCAR-17 is damn sweet, but its also damn expensive so I've kind of ruled that out.
 
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Thats just the kind of idea I'm looking for, just other platform options. I did forget about the saiga/AK platform entirely. Good call.

And don't worry about cheaper! I'm looking for cheaper! If i had the money I'd just pony down and get a tricked out G3!
 
Browning FNAR, they got a nice one now with a mcmillan stock.

(EDIT) looks like you were already aware of that option.
 
I know you said you weren't interested in AR rifles, but I own a Rock River Arms LAR-8 standard A4 model and its been a fine shooter so far. Think I paid close to $1K for it.

I had a PTR-91 for a short while, ergonomics of that rifle suck.

I had a M1A for awhile but scoping is awkward.

I also considered the FAL, but it was not "scope ready". The AR flat-top was the choice and it works.

Also, as my other rifle is also Rock River in 6.8 I have two rifles with practically the same operating system, that is a convenient feature.
 
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No experience with the H&K models.

M1A is better for iron sights. On average, trigger is a little better than FAL.

FAL, while not "scope ready", is easier to scope than an M1A. Just add a cover from DSA and any scope works.

An AR is easiest to scope, and can be had with a superior trigger, and is most accurate for the money. But you're "not too interested in 7.62 AR platforms". So the others are a compromise.

Lee
 
If I was starting out today with the 7.62 NATO cartridge, I"d go with an AR style. Versatile, accurate, cost effective...............

I am fairly heavily invested in the M1A platform now. I like it, shoot it well, and have all the spare parts, ammo, optics I'll ever need.
 
The M1A with the full length VLTOR rail system is scope ready.

I find it more fun to shoot with irons.

I also shoot an LR308 that is scope ready.

Both rifles shoot well. The M1A is my favorite.

Geetarman:D
 
Eugene Stoner's AR10?

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A nice Autoloading AR10 if I've ever seen one. But they sure are a bit on the pricey side. And for good reason. After that, I'd be looking at the M14 for sure. Some synthetic furniture and some aftermarket accessories and you can have a very comfortable rifle to carry and operate in just about any circumstance.

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Hope this gives you something to think about.

~LT
 
Another Wild-Card that I've had my eye on since the first time I saw it is the RFB in .308 from Kel-Tec.

What's your biggest complaint about a .308 rifle besides ammo price? It's big, heavy, and long right? How's about we take the entire stock off and modify the receiver to make the .308 in a Bull-Pup format...

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You can usually find them for around $1500. The frame comes optics ready and will mount anything you can fit in front of your face.

You can also find them in varying barrel lengths...

kel-tec_rfb_mar07.jpg


~LT
 
Also, the French introduced a rifle design in the late 40's called the MAS 49. Durring the 50's the model was shortened and a proprietary grenade aiming and launching platform was integrated into the weapon and it was renamed the MAS 49/56. It was intended to be a true "all-around" weapon firing a potent round, with easily mounted optics for medium to long ranges, with the option for anti-artillery fire as well. (A new friend also informs me that the .308 models that are available are all post-production conversions of the stock French Chamberings. -Thanks TimW77) You can usually find them for $700 and under depending on what condition they are in, but they really are nice rifles. You might want to give them a look.

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~LT
 
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I'm not too interested in 7.62 AR platforms. If/when i go for an AR its going to be a classic 5.56
Click to expand...

You say classic 5.56 AR, but you do realize that the original chambering for the AR was 7.62 NATO right?

That being said though, I prefer the M14 platform over the others for 7.62 NATO myself. Not for any reason I can put on paper or type up in words really, it just feels better to me.

Jason
 
Thanks for the replies guys, maybe i'll reconsider the AR. Theres nothing wrong with having more than one!

Maybe an AR is the "other rifle"

the saiga is kind of tempting too though. ill have alot to consider between the three I listed and whats going on in this thread, which is exactly what i wanted.

Im not closing off the thread, just wanted to chime in and say thank you so far! if anyone has anything to add, please do.
 
The first thought that came to mind after reading your post was...what's the intended use of the rifle??

Truck gun? Zombie killer? Target? Hunting? Anticpated shooting range?

Accuracy, barrel/weapon length, etc. are all relevant considerations...
 
The purpose would be 99% recreation 1% SHTF. I want to get it for pure 2A purposes, but lets face it, thats pretty much entirely paper and cans. I may hunt with it one day, but theres no rifle hunting in IL, and to be honest I've never hunted before. I would like to, but thats not the purpose of this piece. My dad has plenty of deer appropriate rifles i could borrow, and i have a 12ga myself.

I've been doing a little looking around myself, and ive re-discovered the CETME.

Any comments on this rifle? it might be the ticket. It appears it shares alot of accessories with the G3 which is nice. I see alot of people mentioning the magazines and handgaurds especially.

Does anyone have any positive or negative comments about the CETME rifle? Does anyone know how interchangeable with G3 parts the CETME is?
 
Best advice I can give you is go somewhere where you can lay hands on all of the rifles that interest you, which will likely be the next local gun show, and go from there. If you don't like the way a weapon shoulders or feels, you aren't likely to enjoy shooting it either. Most of these rifles will cost you a chunk of change for a decent one, and you want to make a good purchase. There have been several instances where I thought I wanted a certain rifle, until I shouldered it, and quickly (very quickly in some cases) changed my mind. You can look at accuracy claims, ballistics, build specs, and all of that stuff on paper, and buy it and hate it. No substitute for shooting one first, but the next best thing is to at least handle it before making a decision.

Jason
 
The issue with Century seems to be very spotty QC from reviews I've read on just about all their rifles.
Some are great shooters out of the box, many others have issues...
 
When I first read the OP, the first rifle that came to mand was the CETME, which has already been mentioned, then the MAS49 in .308, but that was already brought up too.

Others?
BM59. I've seeen a few around, but it may not fit the inexpensive requirement.

Wasn't there a AK clone called the VEPR offered in .308 also?
 
My vote is for the m14. Simple reliable semi auto action that can get dirty, bumped and bruised and will still crank rounds out. there are M1 garands in 308 on the market. US made but sold to italy after the 7.62 was adopted by nato and rechamberd.
 
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