Most reliable semi auto .308 rifle?

There is no practical reliability difference between the M1 and M14. The only practical difference is the gas system, and both systems work reliably.

with the added bonus that the garand has after expending 8 rounds... that "pling" is priceless :)


updated the picture also ;)

ZwyoLPY.jpg


I wish I had access to garbage/cheapo .308 rounds to test the ak action in the valmet...
 
Last edited:
The last trial conducted of the Post-WW2 Western Battle Rifles was likely that of the South African Army in 1960. The winner was the FN FAL, followed closely by the Artillerie Intrichtingen (Armalite) AR10, then the HK G3 in third place. The M14 was apparently not included in the SA trial for any number of reasons, not the least of which were an international arms embargo and a prickly relationship with the USA. In any case, the FN FAL was considered the most reliable Battle Rifle at that time. Since then, the only real new developments have been in regards to the AR10. The further development undertaken by Knights Armament, the reborn Armalite Ltd, HK and others, have made the modern Direct-Impingement .308 AR pattern the most reliable (and accurate), semi-auto, military .308 in the world. This is evidenced by the US adoption of the Stoner SR25 and the more recent (2010) British acceptance of the LMT MWS as their Sharpshooter Rifle, the L129A1. The HK G28 (another .308 AR system) has more recently (2017) been adopted as the US Army's new Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS), the M110A1 rifle. There is no refuting the military dominance of the .308 AR within Western militaries as an intermediate-range sharpshooter/Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR).

The M14, in contrast, was pressed back into service as a stop-gap DMR only until sufficient SR25s could be fielded. Then it was passed on to the fledgling post-Saddam Iraqi Army... poor buggers. The accurized M14s, while capable of good accuracy and reliability, are very maintenance-heavy and in need of Armourer-level servicing on a much more frequent basis than the more modern, modular systems such as the Stoner rifle or LMT MWS.
 
The last trial conducted of the Post-WW2 Western Battle Rifles was likely that of the South African Army in 1960. The winner was the FN FAL, followed closely by the Artillerie Intrichtingen (Armalite) AR10, then the HK G3 in third place. The M14 was apparently not included in the SA trial for any number of reasons, not the least of which were an international arms embargo and a prickly relationship with the USA. In any case, the FN FAL was considered the most reliable Battle Rifle at that time. Since then, the only real new developments have been in regards to the AR10. The further development undertaken by Knights Armament, the reborn Armalite Ltd, HK and others, have made the modern Direct-Impingement .308 AR pattern the most reliable (and accurate), semi-auto, military .308 in the world. This is evidenced by the US adoption of the Stoner SR25 and the more recent (2010) British acceptance of the LMT MWS as their Sharpshooter Rifle, the L129A1. The HK G28 (another .308 AR system) has more recently (2017) been adopted as the US Army's new Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS), the M110A1 rifle. There is no refuting the military dominance of the .308 AR within Western militaries as an intermediate-range sharpshooter/Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR).

The M14, in contrast, was pressed back into service as a stop-gap DMR only until sufficient SR25s could be fielded. Then it was passed on to the fledgling post-Saddam Iraqi Army... poor buggers. The accurized M14s, while capable of good accuracy and reliability, are very maintenance-heavy and in need of Armourer-level servicing on a much more frequent basis than the more modern, modular systems such as the Stoner rifle or LMT MWS.

The Iraqi army likely has some M14 rifles, no doubt. But the us army and navy (and other branches?) Still has the M14 and variants as an official issue arm. The m39 EBR and Mk14ModX rifles are still in service and still being overhauled at Crane NSWC and Rock Island.

I saw the R&O line in person earlier this year.

Are there ar10 variants that are better than m14's at a good many tasks? Likely yes. But the M14 is not retired and given to the INA, at least not totally anyhow.

And despite the bcl102 and similar guns being on the market, they are not ar10's in my view. Not as well made, not as reliable, and not worth my hard earned cash at this stage. If I could carry a real ar10 on the back 40, I would.
 
A properly built 102. You can get them under 8lbs.

No need to settle for some old archaic weapons:)

Oddly enough, my original, Sudanese AR10 with a fluted barrel weighed in at 7.5 lbs unloaded. My current Portuguese Variant weighs in at 8.3 lbs. There is nothing archaic about the original AR10s, so stop being an age-hater! Just because she's 58 yrs old doesn't mean she's not still a "goer"!!


30ac9vk.jpg
 
Oddly enough, my original, Sudanese AR10 with a fluted barrel weighed in at 7.5 lbs unloaded. My current Portuguese Variant weighs in at 8.3 lbs. There is nothing archaic about the original AR10s, so stop being an age-hater! Just because she's 58 yrs old doesn't mean she's not still a "goer"!!


30ac9vk.jpg

Plus this will run circles around any NEA/BCL rifle
 
HK PSG-1.

Seriously......#### I dunno. Any that I've shot in the past and could recommend are prohib now.


Save your nickels and buy a Valmet M-78.

Or buy a nice bolt-action rifle with a good scope and roll your own ammo.
 
If we could own FALs I would be one happy camper. Add a suppressor in the mix and I would be the happiest fella on earth. Good thing I have a buddy in NZ I can visit to get my fix soon.
 
I think now that the Stag-10 is out, there isn't much of a debate anymore. That's likely the best all around 308 Semi Auto that you can purchase in Canada.
 
Between the few platforms I've owned, my XCR M was crazy reliable and accurate( regret selling it) but I'm now trying out the bcl 102 im about 250 rounds through it in total( so no real test yet) so far so good and loke my xcr it likes the heavvier weight projectiles
 
That is a very nice rifle. My Browning BAR has never ever jammed, hunting or at the range.

Older or newer browning BAR. Lighter than all the quasi military derivative stuff, proven reliable and accurate. I'm all for awesome black rifles, but when hunting I like to Fudd it up!! If you call this Fuddish:

ZThHocF.jpg
 
Win 100 SA carbine .308 ... (mate to the Win 88) fast as you can pull the trigger ... light to carry ... nice bush rifle

X2! I have a Winchester Mod.100 in excellent condition. It is finicky regarding ammo, but I've found a handload that gives me good "minute of deer" accuracy. The new BAR's may be lighter than the old ones. They were a nice and reliable rifle, but heavy. I've heard a lot of complaints about the Remingtons and the bad design that beats up the receivers. Another thing to bear in mind is that military rifles were designed for sustained fire. Most, if not all, hunting rifles should be allowed to cool down between relays. Personally, when I'm doing load trials, I'll shoot one or two 5 shots groups and allow the rifle to cool down while I shoot another rifle.
 
I carried one when I was a reservist. I hated it.


...but yeah, I'd buy one in a heart beat if I could :p


C1/C2 were great weapons, but never as good as they are remembered. I have no experience with the BLC 102, or Stag 10, but in my opinion the AR design is superior. I just recently picked up an M-305, a design I prefer over the FAL as well.

Unfortunately the point is moot...
 
Back
Top Bottom