Ruger SFAR 308 first impressions

[Okanogan]

I've been pretty happy with the Sig Tango 1-10x MSR I put on mine. For the money the rifle costs and with an expected accuracy around 1 MOA, you'll probably want a scope that isn't too expensive, bulky, or heavy. Vortex probably has some other choices that might make sense for you. Getting the rifle scoped up will give you a better chance to see its potential. I've had mine out in the woods several times now and have no additional complaints. Changing out the charging handle though was a good move. (Something you may not notice as much until you get a scope mounted.)

 

[MoGunsBro]

Thanks Okanogan. What's the range the MSR has a good picture? How does it do past 200 yards? I saw a review that the Tango 1-10x MSR couldn't achieve crystal focus past 200 yards (target looks fuzzy, blurred), but not sure if that's a lemen or user error.

 

[Okanogan]

I've looked through it out to 300 yds and don't have any complaints. It doesn't have parallax adjustment though and I was surprised I had to adjust the diopter focus initially when using it at longer distance on 10x. I have not adjusted it since.
With a 16inch barrel I'm not looking to hunt past 200 yds with mine. I have much better options. If you plan to go past 300 with your setup, I would probably consider another scope. My vortex 3x15 lht would be a good choice but it costs rwice the MSR.

 

[JGrelle]

I recently picked up a new Ruger SFAR 16 inch barrel 308 and am posting some first impressions for anyone else who might be considering one. As background, I picked it up for a woods gun for western MT that would have the capability to take deer, black bear and maybe elk that roam beyond the back yard. Because it is also grizzly country, I wanted a semi-auto for potential defense situations. I wanted something different than the long range first focal plane scope setups in the safe.

I mounted a Sig Sauer Tango MSR 1x10 on the SFAR and took it to the range for the first time yesterday. I shot Norma 150 gr factory fmj target ammo and my own hand loads of 150 gr sst over 44.5 gr Varget. The barrel break-in went much easier than I expected with less copper fouling than I've experienced with my Bartlein barrel equipped rifles. The SFAR's 100 yd accuracy met my expectations with the factory ammo averaging about 1.5 MAO and my hand loads performing a little better at just over 1 MOA. The rifle cycled properly with no problems with the adjustable gas block on the #2 setting. Unsuppressed, the SD for my handloads was running in single digits.

After 25 rounds +/- I switched over to using a Dominus suppressor with the gas block on the #1 setting. The rifle continued to function flawlessly with my handloads. My SD increased with the suppressor and my muzzle velocity went up 40 fps. My groups improved slightly and tended toward two touching with the third flyer making the overall result still about 1 MOA.

I expected to hate the rifle's stock trigger. It has some short initial pretravel that I don't like but then breaks crisply with a trigger pull that doesn't feel heavy. I'm picky about my triggers so I will still change it out for a Trigger tech but the factory trigger is good enough that I'll wait for them to go on sale so I don't spend 1/4 the price of the rifle on an aftermarket trigger.

The rifle looks very much like an AR15 and nobody at the range thought it was a AR10. With the smaller receiver it won't take my AR10 bore guide for cleaning. I used a 300 BO bore guide instead but it was looser than a normal bore guide fit up.

Overall, I am happy that the rifle/ scope combination seems to meet my goals for a fairly light and compact woods autoloader.

I'm seriously considering getting the 20" version, but will wait a while to see what bugs in it pop up if any.

 

[MoGunsBro]

Ya I think that's smart… that was my plan but for $1000 I just couldn't wait, plus knowing if the house / senate goes more democrat - may be my last chance to own a semi 308.

Good luck on your decision.

I've seen posts where people put 500+ rounds thru SFAR - 1 guy got the barrel so hot it melted magpul hand guard - no issues. But I worry about the BCG / gas key. Doesn't look robust - so it's blind faith the metal is really strong enough.

I was just about to buy the Sig 716i when the SFAR came out - waited a month to watch / read reviews.

Sig 716i is proven - heavier, no adjustable gas block, proprietary hand guard, heavy trigger. 16" barrel (I prefer 18-20" for 308).

 

[Mr. Magoo]

Thanks for the review. Looks good so far.

Hope these prove to hold up long term. Following for updates..

 

[Okanogan]

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/...far-a-big-surprise-in-a-small-package-review/

 

[tnbndr]

I just picked one of these up in the 16" version for carrying in the woods of Northern Wisconsin after reading this review and a lot of research. I needed something light to carry all day on deer drives.
With an Eotech site it weighs in at 7lbs7oz which is comparable to my AR15 300 AAC. Changed out the break to a Silencerco ASR as I have a Chimera 300. With that muzzle break and the Chimera installed I am at 9lbs5oz, which is pushing heavy but I have the suppressor so why not use it?!! Any other AR10 I would be pushing 12lbs or more.
I am going to try the Eotech as I had it laying around but I still may scope it later with a low power 1.5x5 Leupold or similar.
Have not shot it yet, just bought and set up. It's cool here in WI and I like to be comfortable when sighting in.

 

[jasonprox700]

I've been kicking around selling my G2 and grabbing one of these. My G2 has done a heck of a job taking deer and has been a joy to carry and use. I like he Ruger for commonality (and the fact that parts should be readily available).

 

[Okanogan]

I like he Ruger for commonality (and the fact that parts should be readily available).

Just be aware that not everything is milspec. I was able to drop in a Triggertech AR trigger and an AR15 oversized charging handle (Gissele?) with no problem. Bolt carriers and some other parts aren't going to be compatible. For my purposes, everything I felt needed upgrading was an easy change. The only thing I would highly recommend changing is the charging handle.

 

[tnbndr]

"Just be aware that not everything is milspec"

May want to watch this video


I changed the safety and charging handle without issue. Other parts I will leave for now, until I shoot it. The trigger doesn't seem bad dry firing, we will see with live rounds. It is a hunting rifle so I don't want it too light.

 

[tnbndr]

Has anyone found and installed an aftermarket buttstock with an adjustable cheek riser on one of these rifles.
MagPul says theres will not work on these.

 

[rpol98]

Has anyone found and installed an aftermarket buttstock with an adjustable cheek riser on one of these rifles.
MagPul says theirs will not work on these.

I'm guessing that because the 308 cartridge is longer than 5.56, charging handle has more travel, and buttstocks designed for AR-15 5.56 CH travel won't allow the SFAR CH to come back far enough to engage the bolt catch. just my guess. But I'm wrong more often than right, so I'm told.

Maybe the recently-released B5 precision butt stock, designed for the AR-10. Cheekpiece is shorter to accommodate the added 308 CH travel. They have 3 versions, for different cheekpiece length/position: AR-15, AR-10, and then something else.

 

[Okanogan]

Ruger says the rifle comes with a Magpul SOE SL stock. According to Magpul, it is offered in Commercial and Milespec sizes for the two commonly available sizes of buffer tubes. If you can determine which size the SFAR has, it would seem probable that you could get an aftermarket stock to replace the factory stock.

One note of caution, the SFAR owner's manual states in red print that the buffer tube and spring are proprietary and should not be replaced with non-Ruger factory parts. I haven't tried to compare it closely with my other platforms to determine what exactly is different and I didn't find any information details when searching the internet.

If you research it enough to find out what works, I'd be interested in your findings even though I have no current plans to change out my stock.