Ruger released a new small frame (POF competitor) 308 for under $1300 with either a 16 or 20" barrel. Guessing the bolts are inconel or a slight variation thereof. Looks interesting at that price point and will be interested in seeing real world reviews. Being a POF Revolution DI owner there are few items on the Ruger I don't like as much but for the price, might be a great option if accuracy and QC are decent.
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Ruger SFAR small frame 308, 6.8 pounds
- Thread starter Ape_Factory
- Start date
Interested. I've had a weird hankering for a shorter 308 for a while, but I can't get over the receiver size, the lack of easy parts compatibility if I build my own, or the price for a gun I really won't shoot much. This pretty much solves all that. Just gotta buy the 20" and get the barrel chopped.
If they’ll sell their barrel extensions then I’m interested.
Anyone know if handguard is proprietary?
Anyone know if handguard is proprietary?
You’re gonna want that excess gas away from your face when that thing blows up.
More like a Rogue in terms of component selection/quality with the addition of an adjustable gas block.
I wonder if Ruger has the name and staying power to make this stick. DPMS Gii didn’t stick. The POF revolution is cool, but who’s got one? A small frame, light weight, semi auto 308 checks a lot of boxes. But, there’s still a lot of questions…
Curious too.
Be nice to see a standard followed for the small frame AR-308. So uppers, lowers, hand guards, barrel extensions, bolts and barrels (parts in general) would garner some aftermarket support. Like Ar-15’s. Instead of the wide variations seen in the Ar-10/Ar-308.
If this has parts commonality with the revolution/rouge. That would be awesome!
Be nice to see a standard followed for the small frame AR-308. So uppers, lowers, hand guards, barrel extensions, bolts and barrels (parts in general) would garner some aftermarket support. Like Ar-15’s. Instead of the wide variations seen in the Ar-10/Ar-308.
If this has parts commonality with the revolution/rouge. That would be awesome!
I don't think Inconel would be a great choice for this application, they mentioned it being a higher nickel steel, I'm guessing something along the lines of AerMet 100, which is supposedly what POF uses.
I'm pretty excited for this rifle, definitely going to pick one up. I've got a bunch of .308 components laying around, and have had a hankering for another small frame .308 since I sold my Rogue. The Ruger SFAR looks like the same concept as the Rogue, and that sleek little rifle ruined large frame ARs for me. The only thing I'd change is to go with an intermediate gas system instead of mid-length for can use, but since it comes with what looks like a decent AGB design, I think I can make it work for me.
There are already a few on GB for $999, and a guy on ARFCOM mentioned seeing one for $900 somewhere. That's a pretty killer deal for something like this if it's halfway decent.
Question is, is this off the DPMS small frame or POF even smaller small frame? I would venture to guess it is DPMS ( not that it is a bad thing) small frame as Ruger purchased Marlin. Just a guess. Looking forward to replacing my last small frame 308.
Not a 308 semi kinda guy but was just offered a trade on a Sig 716i. Sounded interesting to just Test the water. looks like Sig already revamped the gun once and might even drop it from the line so I am hesitant. Ruger track record of standing behind their builds for warranty and proprietary parts availability is a big plus. How do these compare? Should I pass and just wait for a Ruger?
Hard pass. Sigs support of product after production sucks. I have some sig products but have been burned with a 220 9mm and getting mags. Finally sold it as sig does not support it in the US
If it runs well, it might make a good little ranch rifle or pig gun. I don’t see anyone taking them to precision matches, but they might be at home in the back of a side-by-side.
at that price I'd look for one to abuse and see how it runs
I’ll wait for the one coming out in 6.5 creedmoor… will follow test experience post for feedback first.
I’m waiting for upper/lower receiver sets to build one.
Don’t need any more guns, but that has never stopped me before.
Don’t need any more guns, but that has never stopped me before.
Yea that's what I'd do.
I hate the way mid length 308s run.
Even in the videos the 16" looks rough.
Surprised they didn't just use rifle length for the 16" with a generous port since they're already setup with an agb.
I guess they expect their target audience to use weak steel and milsurp 7.62 ammo to which I can't relate.
Just watched the video. Yeah that looks pretty snappy.
I hate mid gas 16" 5.56's, I'm pretty sure I'd really hate a mid 308...
How short do you think you can go on a .308 with a RLGS? I do prefer longer gas systems, but would want to keep a compact .308 in the 16"-17" range. Seems like that might be a bit short on dwell time with a RLGS? I wish they had gone intermediate on the 16", but there are a lot of other things right with this rifle, so I'm thinking about just putting up with the MLGS.
Nah, lot's of RLGS 16" 308's out there. Even some in military service.
I've had intermediate and rifle length 16" 308 barrels, albeit just on budget aero receivers running JP scs in various configs as well as a couple slash heavies and standard rifle buffets.
IME rifle length is great on a 16".
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the 16" SR25 rifle length?
Again, I have no interest in milsurp or steel case, but for standard 308 loads (and even lightweight 110 and 125 grain varmint loads) I see no downside to rifle length.
I'm just a hobiest though so the whole over gassed for reliability thing isn't for me.
Having an ar-15 sized BCG, the recoil impulse is going to be like an ar-15.
It doesn’t have the heavy bcg of a normal ar-10.
It doesn’t have the heavy bcg of a normal ar-10.
Yea I guess that kinda makes sense except for the part where the powder charge is near double and the projectile is 2-3 times as heavy
So will it choke when it gets dirty? Carrier bounce an issue?
According to ruger’s and DD’s published specs, a DD5V3 is 5/8” shorter.
The ruger is cheaper if that’s a factor in one’s purchase decisions.
Light bolt guns shooting 150+ grain bullets are always easy on the shoulder. Lol.Yea I guess that kinda makes sense except for the part where the powder charge is near double and the projectile is 2-3 times as heavy
It does come with a brake.
I am talking about the cycling recoil impulse ... mis typed.Yea I guess that kinda makes sense except for the part where the powder charge is near double and the projectile is 2-3 times as heavy
All good.Yea I figured I'm just senselessly being a punk
Would be fun to run one and see.
After putting about 6k rounds through a pof rev in the last year, shooting other large frames, its very noticeable. Hearing people mention the mid length vs rifle, just wanted to point out the difference in bcg mass. Imo its the biggest plus.
Short, but not terribly comparable in function to a DI AR. The work to cycle the action is extracted from the tapped off gases in an M1 by a long stroke piston/op rod only a few inches from the gas port and transferred back to the action mechanically. You're not relying on a pressure pulse traveling down 15" of tube to the action and acting directly in an internal piston for function like you are in an AR.
I've had a bunch of different cartridge, barrel and DI gas system length combos, just not 16" RLGS .308 so I was curious sounds like it works well though, so that might be the direction I go instead of the 16"... Although I do like the handguard on the 16" version better, and I wonder if the 20" has a heavier barrel contour. It doesn't seem like you'd get a half pound from 4" extra of barrel.
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Well dang, just noticed this and I agree. Next predicament, buy the 16" and see about a custom barrel using the original extension, or buy the 20", cut it down and hope for some aftermarket handguard compatibility...
The light weight looks nice. My current AR10 platform is the Colt AR901, and it is over 8 pounds.
Plus Colt quit making it because they hate their customers, and spare parts are not attainable anymore. Glad I stocked up when I did! So I’d like to retire the Colt to the collection category.
Was looking at the Armalite AR 10 16” Defensive Sporting Rifle, but the Ruger is a pound lighter and a couple hundred bucks cheaper.
I honestly believe everyone should have an AR 10. 308 is way mo’ better at turning cover into concealment.
Plus Colt quit making it because they hate their customers, and spare parts are not attainable anymore. Glad I stocked up when I did! So I’d like to retire the Colt to the collection category.
Was looking at the Armalite AR 10 16” Defensive Sporting Rifle, but the Ruger is a pound lighter and a couple hundred bucks cheaper.
I honestly believe everyone should have an AR 10. 308 is way mo’ better at turning cover into concealment.
Got to put hands on one of these today. I wasn’t impressed. If I’d known they were going to let me field strip it, I’d have brought dial calipers. Tape measure was all they had in the shop.
It’s light. The handguard felt cheap. Gas block had minimal clearance. The barrel extension has to be proprietary. The bolt will almost fit in an ar15 barrel extension. It almost looks like a Grendel bolt. Firing pin has to be titanium, it weighs nothing. Pics aren’t loading right. I’ll post more later.
It’s light. The handguard felt cheap. Gas block had minimal clearance. The barrel extension has to be proprietary. The bolt will almost fit in an ar15 barrel extension. It almost looks like a Grendel bolt. Firing pin has to be titanium, it weighs nothing. Pics aren’t loading right. I’ll post more later.
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The handguard was flimsy. It flexed enough to contact the gas block.
From what I could tell in the shop lighting, the barrel nut looked to be about an inch long. It looked like an ar15 handguard would fit. Without disassembly, I couldn’t tell.
Barrel was stamped 7.62Nato/308win
Bcg was interesting. Seemed to be melonited with a chrome bore. Gas key was melonite as well. Vents on bottom of the bcg. Carrier got really thin at 5&7 o’clock.
Barrel extension was vented on each side.
Measurements were taken starting at the 1 inch mark. The shop started getting busy so I put it back together so the staff could work.
From what I could tell in the shop lighting, the barrel nut looked to be about an inch long. It looked like an ar15 handguard would fit. Without disassembly, I couldn’t tell.
Barrel was stamped 7.62Nato/308win
Bcg was interesting. Seemed to be melonited with a chrome bore. Gas key was melonite as well. Vents on bottom of the bcg. Carrier got really thin at 5&7 o’clock.
Barrel extension was vented on each side.
Measurements were taken starting at the 1 inch mark. The shop started getting busy so I put it back together so the staff could work.
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