Ruger SFAR accuracy; keep or move on?

Jmccracken1214 · Jun 28, 2024

Picked this up used for a good deal, hoping if I changed the gas block to a superlative and rid the factory one that’s touching the rail, maybe I’d get lucky.

I usually run FGMm 168/175 as a base line through any 308 I get.

Here’s 2 groups at 100 of the 175, then 168.

I’m not impressed, but I’m also used to .5 or better groups.

For what it is, worth hanging on to or move onto something else known for better accuracy?

175:

168:

hlee · Jun 28, 2024

What are your goals for the rifle? Sub 2 moa for a light weight, short, handy, woods-walking AR in 308 win would be perfectly acceptable- to me- for a hunting gun. It would not be, however, for a PRS gun.

71firebird400 · Jun 28, 2024

.5 MOA groups out of a lightweight, inexpensive 308 gas gun is a completely unrealistic expectation.

Jsp556 · Jun 28, 2024

What do you really expect out of a $1k 308 AR?

hlee · Jun 28, 2024

Jsp556 said:
What do you really expect out of a $1k 308 AR?

My LR308 was just a bit over $1000 in 2012 when I bought it. Reliably sub moa with FGMM or Hornady Match. But, it has a 24” bull barrel and weighs in excess of 11 lbs naked; no scope, no mag, no nothing.

Ronws · Jun 28, 2024

hlee said:
My LR308 was just a bit over $1000 in 2012 when I bought it. Reliably sub moa with FGMM or Hornady Match. But, it has a 24” bull barrel and weighs in excess of 11 lbs naked; no scope, no mag, no nothing.

Hee Hee Haw Haw... he said naked.

hlee · Jun 28, 2024

Ronws said:
Hee Hee Haw Haw... he said naked.

Just means a rifle without accoutrements. You’re thinking about “nekkit.” That’s what you see in the motivational thread in the pit.

Ronws · Jun 28, 2024

hlee said:
Just means a rifle without accoutrements. You’re thinking about “nekkit.” That’s what you see in the motivational thread in the pit.

I know, I just had a Beavis and Butthead image in my mind.

Jmccracken1214 · Jun 28, 2024

Jsp556 said:
What do you really expect out of a $1k 308 AR?

I know but I’ve had psa rifles shoot better than this thing.
But they weigh twice as much. Even my damn Ruger Americans shoot amazing lol.

Lesson learned.

Jsp556 · Jun 28, 2024

hlee said:
My LR308 was just a bit over $1000 in 2012 when I bought it. Reliably sub moa with FGMM or Hornady Match. But, it has a 24” bull barrel and weighs in excess of 11 lbs naked; no scope, no mag, no nothing.

$1k in 2012 isn’t the same as $1k in 2024. Ruger doesn’t really have a track record of making accurate 308 gas guns. There’s a difference in a stainless bull barrel made from a Wilson blank and the thin melonite treated Ruger barrels. He said the factory gas block was touching the handguard, lol. That doesn’t scream precision.

I get your point though.

bfoosh006 · Jun 28, 2024

I wouldn't be very content with that accuracy from FGMM.

That said... how does it do with ball ammo or some or SP / hunting ammo ?

I really want the Ruger to become a respectably accurate SFAR.

Jmccracken1214 · Jun 28, 2024

bfoosh006 said:
I wouldn't be very content with that accuracy from FGMM.

That said... how does it do with ball ammo or some or SP / hunting ammo ?

I really want the Ruger to become a respectably accurate SFAR.

Ran some Hornady SP ammo and some federal and it was all about the same really. Kind of shocked me after the SP, that the FGMM grouped the same.

Ronws · Jun 29, 2024

Jmccracken1214 said:
Ran some Hornady SP ammo and some federal and it was all about the same really. Kind of shocked me after the SP, that the FGMM grouped the same.

Yeah, I think it is interesting that Federal can sometimes do better than Hornady with cartridges that Hornady developed. For example, the Federal ELD-X is getting better MV for some than the PH.

Jackal434 · Jun 29, 2024

Jmccracken1214 said:
Picked this up used for a good deal, hoping if I changed the gas block to a superlative and rid the factory one that’s touching the rail, maybe I’d get lucky.

I usually run FGMm 168/175 as a base line through any 308 I get.

Here’s 2 groups at 100 of the 175, then 168.

I’m not impressed, but I’m also used to .5 or better groups.

For what it is, worth hanging on to or move onto something else known for better accuracy?

175:
View attachment 8448246 View attachment 8448247

168:
View attachment 8448248 View attachment 8448250

You can have 2 of three attributes out of Lightweight, Accurate, and Inexpensive. For the price you solidly achieved two of the three, and for the price and weight pretty good accuracy. I have heard they have cycling issues. I have experienced the same with the POF Rogue, although it was corrected with a hydraulic buffer. Now I have some semi-auto 308/6.5CM s that are very lightweight and very accurate, but they definitely were not inexpensive.

Jmccracken1214 · Jun 29, 2024

Jackal434 said:
You can have 2 of three attributes out of Lightweight, Accurate, and Inexpensive. For the price you solidly achieved two of the three, and for the price and weight pretty good accuracy. I have heard they have cycling issues. I have experienced the same wit the POF Rogue, although it was corrected with a hydraulic buffer. Now I have some semi-auto 308/6.5CM s that are very lightweight and very accurate, but they definitely were not inexpensive.

I suppose you're correct.
For the $775 i paid, plus the $99 for the gas block, I guess for its role, it performs ok.

Just not as good as I had hoped.

MadDuner · Jun 29, 2024

Jmccracken1214 said:
I suppose you're correct.
For the $775 i paid, plus the $99 for the gas block, I guess for its role, it performs ok.

Just not as good as I had hoped.

I would recommend finding the ammo it likes.

krunchnik · Jun 29, 2024

MadDuner said:
I would recommend finding the ammo it likes.

View attachment 8448980

What he said-plus 100%-
Mine definitely has a preferential like to 168gr handloads -

Gtscotty · Jul 1, 2024

Just to verify, your new gas block is not contacting the rail right? Are you able to bleed off enough gas in bleed off mode or are you in restrictive mode? When I tried an SA gas block on a similar POF Rogue, I couldn't get the gas down enough in bleed off and had to go restrictive.

Are you used to larger caliber gas guns? IME they need a different technique and much firmer hold than something like a heavy PRS bolt gun (just bringing it up as this seems to be a surprise for some folks coming from heavy bolt guns).

You might also try Winchester Deer Season XP 150gr. Strangely enough, my SFAR loves this ammo and I've seen someone else state as much with their SFAR as well.

jwhjwh54 · Jul 2, 2024

my SFAR shoots federal fusions 165 and 180 really well. Just gotta find what it likes.

My gas block barely touches on one side and I reallllly want to dremel the hand guard and free up some space but it shoots good so I haven't done it yet but I know i should

krunchnik · Jul 3, 2024

jwhjwh54 said:
my SFAR shoots federal fusions 165 and 180 really well. Just gotta find what it likes.

My gas block barely touches on one side and I reallllly want to dremel the hand guard and free up some space but it shoots good so I haven't done it yet but I know i should

Same-Gas block barely misses the handguard but it shoots well-so why bother-

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