.308 Semi-Auto Rifle - which one?

[Pisgah]

If an AR type floats yer boat, a buddy just bought a DPMS for just over $700, and Palmetto State Armory makes one that can be had for around the same money. I have handled and fired both of these and found them quite satisfactory.

The Springfield M1A is pricier, but a fine rifle in all ways. (Just in case you are not familiar, it's not a version of the M1 but rather a semiauto version of the M14.)

Be a bit wary when it comes to FAL, CETME and HK91 clones. Some are excellent; some, particularly in the lower price range, not so hot, being parts guns that may or may not have been meticulously assembled.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

M1 GARAND. For a individual rifleman a Garand in 7.62 NATO with it's eight shot clip can be a good choice.

 

[jack the toad]

As to these 4; HK, FAL, M1A, AR10 and their clones, they all have their pluses but IMO, the AR would be my choice of these type rifles.
And with Gen1 DPMS Oracles in the $700 range, the cost isn't prohibitive either.

 

[67tempest]

I have an early Springfield Armory M1A built using all GI NM parts, a great shooter. Also have an Armalite AR10T and an FAL. None were cheap. If I was looking for a bolt gun I'd go with a Remington 700.

 

[bcarroll]

You cant take anything away of a M1A. But how many other countries use it? As I remember it is a delicate rifle. When set up for target shooting? Not to mention the price of mags when you can find the good ones? The ptr 91 ??? Fires any thing (308) I put in it. Has a match barrel. Mags under 5 dollars. Easy take down, as we say in the corps farmer friendly. For a starter 308 you will find it hard to beat. I prefer it over the ar-10 and m1a. Both of which I have owned and sold.

 

[M1A]

Let me think! Oh, an M1A NM.
Not in the budget though. S&W M&P 10 retails for $1800.00. So I bet it sells for less. I have recently seen a number of manufacturers coming out with .308 in AR. $$ and quality go hand in hand.

 

[LVSteve]

One word of caution. Be advised that many of the battle rifles may not run well with certain commercial .308 ammo. These guns are tuned for military ammo with a medium-fast burning powder. A lot of commercial ammo uses slower powders to maximize velocity from a bolt gun. That can be a problem even if the gun has an adjustable gas system. Found this to be so with my FAL. The gas requirement for Winchester 150gr SP was so far off what I had set for NATO surplus that I simply don't use that ammo in the FAL any more.

Don't know what issues slow powders bring for CETME type rifles using roller-delayed blowback. Maybe somebody will chime in.

 

[Fishinfool]

Don't know what issues slow powders bring for CETME type rifles using roller-delayed blowback. Maybe somebody will chime in.

As far as the HK91 and CETME, I have never had any issues with function using factory .308 hunting ammo, though most of my use has been with mil surp and handloads. When reloading for the .308 / 7.62x51, I always use H4895 powder, as it is in the sweet spot for rifles like the M1a.

Caution should be used when using heavy .308 factory sporting ammo in Garands and M1a's, as their operating systems can be damaged with to hot a load. Unlike the .223 / 5.56, where the NATO round is often loaded hotter, it is the opposite with the .308 / 7.62x51. Commercial hunting .308 ammo is often loaded to higher pressures than 7.62 NATO ammo pressure standards.

Larry

 

[jdlii]

Great advice thus far and you get what you pay for but, take a look at the DPMS Oracle, LR-308.

 

[Dennis]

My DPMS LR 308 was about 1100. Shoots very well. But very heavy. But DPMS has some lightweight GEN IIs that look pretty sweet for around and sometimes less than a k. Mine is very well-built.
In fact, I will be picking up a nice lightweight Windham Weaponry SRC-308 on the 11th. But it's about 1400.
Any of the above mentioned in the posts will probably serve you well.
All the warnings from above posts are valid.
Whatever floats your boat. If you get a '91, I'll send you a mag. for free.

 

[whataboutbob]

Very happy with my Ptr-91 but it is brutal on the brass.I don't reload so it's not an issue for me

 

[LVSteve]

Caution should be used when using heavy .308 factory sporting ammo in Garands and M1a's, as their operating systems can be damaged with to hot a load. Unlike the .223 / 5.56, where the NATO round is often loaded hotter, it is the opposite with the .308 / 7.62x51. Commercial hunting .308 ammo is often loaded to higher pressures than 7.62 NATO ammo pressure standards.

Larry

I don't buy into the ".308 is loaded hotter than 7.62 NATO". See here. http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/382170-rant-another-gun-rag-gets-308-vs-7-62-nato-wrong.html

 

[M1A]

Shot a lot of W & Privi NATO no problem. Reload them now. Seen two M1A bent op rods using hunting ammo.
I had some Superformance .308 that I adjusted a Shuster gas plug to cycle the action. Worked fine. The pressure of the NATO ammo would not cycle, nor my reloads at that setting. I've since replaced the Shuster with the original, and all is good. Same experience with my M1 Garand.
I can't speak for all .308 or .30-06 hunting ammo, but I would never use it w/o and adjustable plug.

 

[jack the toad]

Only recall seeing one bent op rod and it was on an M1 in 06. The shooter wasn't sure what did it as he had shot an assortment of mixed ammo consisting of current sporting rounds and various surplus as well as M2 Ball, but that is what we surmised.
I've used both the adjustable (shuster) gas plug as well as the non-adjustable but vented plug, which with my limited experience, is what I prefer and have never had any op rod problems from whatever ammo I ran through an M1.
Still have the original plug in my M1A but since having a small cache of 7.62 NATO, that's all it sees.

 

[SVT28]

My preferred 308/7.62 platform is this Russian made Saiga. It has been fully converted, and a VLTOR stock was added to reduce recoil. There is a Texas Weapon Systems flat top dust cover installed with a Redfield 4-16x in a 1 piece Burris PEPR mount. I've also installed a CNC tri-rail with Harris Bipiod.

The saiga has never had a malfunction and I've shot every round you can find through it. It will consistently ring gongs out to 300 yds with steel surplus. Other than the weight, I don't think you can find a better all purpose 308/7.62.

SVT28

 

[DWalt]

+1
Only recall seeing one bent op rod and it was on an M1 in 06. The shooter wasn't sure what did it as he had shot an assortment of mixed ammo consisting of current sporting rounds and various surplus as well as M2 Ball, but that is what we surmised.

With the M1 Garand, the cause of bent op rods is using a too-slow propellant, such as IMR 4831. The pressure curve is elongated, and at the gas port, the pressure is too high, exerting too much force on the op rod resulting in bending. The M1 was designed around the use of moderately fast burning powders, with IMR 3031 and IMR 4895, and nothing slower than IMR 4320, being the best choices, which will not cause any op rod problems. 150 grain factory ammo should be OK in an M1, but I would not use any factory heavy bullet loads, certainly nothing heavier than 180 grains.

 

[Dennis]

M1A and DEWALT got it right.

 

[keithherrington]

Owned them all, shot them all...

and this is the one I've settled on for the long haul. It's a DSA Congo Para. For a battle rifle it's very accurate with the right ammo (L2A2 and Australian) and more than accurate enough with all Govt' ball ammo that I've tried (Lake City, Hirt, DAG, MEN, Portuguese, and South African). With careful shopping you can find something similar for what your budget can support.

 

[Drm50]

Since $1000 is your budget , which puts you out of match grade
battle rifles, the Browning BAR wold be your best bet, they will
shoot with any of the entry grade battle rifles and you can buy
inexpensive scope mounts for them. But, if you have your heart
on a 20shooter that weighs 9 lbs. it may not be your cup of tea.
I've had M1a, H&K & FN in 308, these were all good rifles if that
is the type you want. In the Sporters I have had Rem 742s, in
several cals, Win 100s, and Brn BARs. Never had much luck with
Rem line, jams and inaccurate. Win 100 was a big step up, no
issues and good accuracy. Then one guy in our deer crew bought
a BAR, and by the next season about all us upgraded to them and
have never looked back. No problems, accurate, and slick actions.
This sporter info is based on actual use deer hunting. The only
BARs I have owned were 308s, one of our guys has a 338 and
it functions just as well as the 308s.

 

[A10]

I've owmed a couple of semiauto .308s. I really (REALLY) like my Springfield Scout Squad. Not overly heavy, plenty accurate, and just plain handy. Its also the softest shooting .308 I've ever experienced.

I have a buddy that shoots long range sniper competitions, and he built a custom AR platform. I had a DPMS LR308, and it was a tack driver. Heavy gun though...