I'm looking to fulfill an open category for a long range (capable of 1 moa or less at 800+), multi purpose, semi auto rifle. Both are heavy so weight isn't really a factor. Before I get trounced, I'm going with SCAR not because it's the best in the world but because it's iconic and I just want to own one.
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SCAR 17 (DMR) OR SCAR 20
- Thread starter TexasCommander
- Start date
As long as you use an MOA scope and understand that Chili without beans is really spaghetti sauce, either SCAR will work just fine.
Kit Badger just posted a good long term review of the SCAR 20 including upgrades, accuracy, malfunctions, run and gun and hunting.
Assuming you are talking 6.5 in both otherwise it’s more apples to oranges.
By first Gen on the 20 I’m guessing you mean reciprocating CH, if so you may run into issues with pierced primers. That’s solved with a $300 upgrade to the “high pressure” bolt and firing pin.
The 17 DMR is really intriguing but there have been some people reporting accuracy issues. Normally I take things with a grain of salt and try to find out for myself but it seems to be fairly widespread. Enough that I passed on the $2999 deal PSA had over Christmas. Don’t know if it is a QC issue, something to do with the different barrel profile, or 4 vs 6 bolt trunnion. The 20s is a hammer and accuracy isn’t usually something people have issues with in either caliber.
My SCAR experience is limited to predominantly the 7.62 varieties of both. I have a 6.5 barrel for my 20s but haven invested in reloading components for 6.5 and also want to get the HP bolt and firing pin. I’ve put handful of factory rounds I’ve put through it and have no accuracy concerns.
I have shot the 20s a bunch with the 7.62 barrel and it’s been fantastic. 100% reliability and great accuracy with M118lr and my clone loads.
The only reason to chose a 17 DMR over the 20 is if weight and OAL is a concern. In your scenario it’s also NRCH on the 17 and RCH with the 20. I have the reciprocating on both and while I’d prefer to have the NRCH on the 17 it really isn’t a concern on the 20 given the extended upper and being used differently as a precision semi vs battle rifle/ dmr.
By first Gen on the 20 I’m guessing you mean reciprocating CH, if so you may run into issues with pierced primers. That’s solved with a $300 upgrade to the “high pressure” bolt and firing pin.
The 17 DMR is really intriguing but there have been some people reporting accuracy issues. Normally I take things with a grain of salt and try to find out for myself but it seems to be fairly widespread. Enough that I passed on the $2999 deal PSA had over Christmas. Don’t know if it is a QC issue, something to do with the different barrel profile, or 4 vs 6 bolt trunnion. The 20s is a hammer and accuracy isn’t usually something people have issues with in either caliber.
My SCAR experience is limited to predominantly the 7.62 varieties of both. I have a 6.5 barrel for my 20s but haven invested in reloading components for 6.5 and also want to get the HP bolt and firing pin. I’ve put handful of factory rounds I’ve put through it and have no accuracy concerns.
I have shot the 20s a bunch with the 7.62 barrel and it’s been fantastic. 100% reliability and great accuracy with M118lr and my clone loads.
The only reason to chose a 17 DMR over the 20 is if weight and OAL is a concern. In your scenario it’s also NRCH on the 17 and RCH with the 20. I have the reciprocating on both and while I’d prefer to have the NRCH on the 17 it really isn’t a concern on the 20 given the extended upper and being used differently as a precision semi vs battle rifle/ dmr.
FN 20s ( 308 ) is much smooth ( fast rapid succession of shot ) fast following shot ( tactical sniper fire support )
## special use with suppressor and low gas setting ##
## special use with suppressor and low gas setting ##
SCAR 20 cut to 16" was one of my favorite platforms ... until I met the Sig Spear-H ...
Now that my suppressor cleared I really want to cut down the 7.62 barrel. Only thing holding me back is deciding on what length. 16” seems like the easy choice but part of me wants to cut it down so the can is flush with the end of the rail ~14”
I thought I’d ditch the SCAR for Spear but Sig as a whole gives me pause and the bendy barrel/rail thing has me sitting on my hands for now.
It sits pretty flush at 16" ... not as much as a 14" cut would ...
My Spear-H doesn't go bendy ... not anymore than any other FF barrel/handguard option I've ran ... torque it to spec and you won't have issues...
I believe the bendy issue is on the sig spear lt 556, not the 308
Didn’t realize it was confined to the 5.56 guns. Either way I’ll wait on the Spear, the SCAR is a well proven legacy system. Sig has a habit of using the commercial market for beta testing and tends to have a short life cycle in their product line. Hopefully the .mil adoption of the Spear will put an end to that.
A variety of barrel assemblies readily available is what it would take for me to make the move.
Nice thing about the Spear-H ... the military did the beta for us this time around
... nice thing is the 308 model is so overbuilt for the .277 fury round that I doubt we will wear many things out at all outside of springs ...No doubt ... the SCAR is proven ...
I still can’t help but feel like if I bought one today they’d have a new version at SHOT next week.Nice thing about the Spear-H ... the military did the beta for us this time around
No doubt ... the SCAR is proven ...
I don’t really care about the .277, as a hand loaded super expensive factory ammo doesn’t appeal to me. What does are 308, 6.5, (maybe 6mm) barrels in a variety of lengths readily available for less than 1/2 the cost of a new rifle. If Sig can make that happen the 20 and 17 may start collecting dust.
I hear ya on Sig and new variants. How I felt with the P320 ...
Sig already is offering the 13" 308 barrel assembly ... it is $1499 direct from Sig ... I am sure 6.5CR will come ... the platform is primed for it in my opinion ...
I don't care about 277 Fury either but I am glad what we got as civis in .308 ... built around to handle the 277 fury ... its a pretty slick design if you ask me ...
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I wonder why FN never brought the SCAR-PR to the American market. The 16 inch with the standard 17 stock intrigues me.
That is what I had ... great setup ... I didn't care for the sniper stock myself and preferred to have a folder ...
The stock is an easy fix. The real question is why didn’t they bring all the barrel options.
| 308 Winchester Barrel length in inches versus Muzzle velocity in feet-per-second (ft/sec)Rifleshooter.com | ||||
| Barrel length | Winchester 147 FMJ | IMI Samson 7.62 150 FMJ | Federal 168 Gold Medal | Winchester 180 PP |
| 28 | 2965 | 2823 | 2706 | 2632 |
| 27 | 2962 | 2800 | 2697 | 2607 |
| 26 | 2955 | 2801 | 2673 | 2597 |
| 25 | 2917 | 2769 | 2659 | 2585 |
| 24 | 2909 | 2766 | 2635 | 2553 |
| 23 | 2877 | 2744 | 2618 | 2553 |
| 22 | 2837 | 2718 | 2597 | 2527 |
| 21 | 2807 | 2683 | 2580 | 2507 |
| 20 | 2804 | 2679 | 2565 | 2478 |
| 19 | 2757 | 2634 | 2532 | 2441 |
| 18 | 2739 | 2595 | 2523 | 2411 |
| 17 | 2707 | 2577 | 2481 | 2401 |
| 16.5 | 2682 | 2561 | 2466 | 2373 |
| AVG velocity loss fps/inch | 24.6 | 22.8 | 20.9 | 22.5 |
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