SCAR 17S Recoil? - Compared to FNAR

[pezboy]

I've sure been going back and forth as to whether I need to save up and get a SCAR-H or go ahead and get a FNAR...I'm leaning towards the FNAR for more practical/hunting purposes. I've never fired either one, but if there was a MAJOR difference in felt recoil then I might lean towards the SCAR...

What other benifits are there that make the SCAR a gun that will cost me over twice as much? I really want to be talked in to getting a SCAR, lol!!!

Well, the 17 is a better fighting gun and the FNAR is a better hunting rifle. If you are planning on putting an optic and night vision on your rifle the SCAR will be better. If you just want a standard rifle with a scope, the FNAR will be better and cheaper.
Dustin

[Thermallator]

I was fortunate to shoot the SCAR 17 in vegas during FNH writers shoot. That was 2 years ago this February.

It's definitely a thumper. I do not have a 'recent' comparison to make in my mind to another .308 combat rifle other than the old HK clone Cetme (or is the HK a clone of Cetme .. who knows). In between the two, I'd say that the SCAR has much less tendency to climb on full auto - but having said that - any more than a 3 round burst and you are going to shoot clouds.

No matter what, .308 auto fire requires a bipod. (IMHO)

On semi: if SCAR 16 is kitten than 17 is a lion. Still, manageable. For a 180lb man like myself, I'd find it too much gun for urban engagement. The muzzle flash and report are much more extensive than the 16. Perhaps the lethality of the weapon is much higher than .223 but you have to take into consideration repeat hit probability.

But I digress. I am comparing apples and oranges - the 17 is as tamed as a .308 is going to get, reliable, ergonomic and from a reputable manufacturer. For the .308 afiscionados - the SCAR 17 can't be beat. With some surplus ammo and practice, I bet any competent shooter would be able to shoot it 90% as well as the 16. And when you consider what you are sending down range, that's still 3x better than .223.

-TH

[Accomplice]

I was fortunate to shoot the SCAR 17 in vegas during FNH writers shoot. That was 2 years ago this February.

It's definitely a thumper. I do not have a 'recent' comparison to make in my mind to another .308 combat rifle other than the old HK clone Cetme (or is the HK a clone of Cetme .. who knows). In between the two, I'd say that the SCAR has much less tendency to climb on full auto - but having said that - any more than a 3 round burst and you are going to shoot clouds.

No matter what, .308 auto fire requires a bipod. (IMHO)

On semi: if SCAR 16 is kitten than 17 is a lion. Still, manageable. For a 180lb man like myself, I'd find it too much gun for urban engagement. The muzzle flash and report are much more extensive than the 16. Perhaps the lethality of the weapon is much higher than .223 but you have to take into consideration repeat hit probability.

But I digress. I am comparing apples and oranges - the 17 is as tamed as a .308 is going to get, reliable, ergonomic and from a reputable manufacturer. For the .308 afiscionados - the SCAR 17 can't be beat. With some surplus ammo and practice, I bet any competent shooter would be able to shoot it 90% as well as the 16. And when you consider what you are sending down range, that's still 3x better than .223.

-TH

It looks like FN is selling the civilian SCAR-H with a similar muzzle brake as the one on the SCAR-L. That should reduce muzzle hop a bunch a recoil also. The gun you shot a couple years ago had the long flash hider on it, right? Should be a big difference on the new set up.

[joshua79109]

I'll be meeting up with a buddy soon that has lots of time on the SCAR-H.

He's going to use my FNAR and try to compare, but by the time he uses the FNAR it will have been about 6 weeks since he last used the SCAR-H, so it might not be a good comparison.

If he feels like he can make a decent comparison I'll post back.

My friend that has a good amount of time on the SCAR- H used my FNAR to attempt to give an opinion.

He said that the FNAR felt like it had less felt recoil than the SCAR-H, but he did say that the SCAR-H has very little muzzle flip for a 308. He only used the SCAR-H with the brake that came on it.

Just to be clear, it had been a few months since he had used the SCAR-H - so it was not a side by side comparison.

He did say that the SCAR-H will make your shoulder a little sore, but that it was easy to get use to. He's 5'9" and 190 lbs.

He plans to buy the SCAR 17s.

[Thermallator]

I was fortunate to shoot the SCAR 17 in vegas during FNH writers shoot. That was 2 years ago this February.

It's definitely a thumper. I do not have a 'recent' comparison to make in my mind to another .308 combat rifle other than the old HK clone Cetme (or is the HK a clone of Cetme .. who knows). In between the two, I'd say that the SCAR has much less tendency to climb on full auto - but having said that - any more than a 3 round burst and you are going to shoot clouds.

No matter what, .308 auto fire requires a bipod. (IMHO)

On semi: if SCAR 16 is kitten than 17 is a lion. Still, manageable. For a 180lb man like myself, I'd find it too much gun for urban engagement. The muzzle flash and report are much more extensive than the 16. Perhaps the lethality of the weapon is much higher than .223 but you have to take into consideration repeat hit probability.

But I digress. I am comparing apples and oranges - the 17 is as tamed as a .308 is going to get, reliable, ergonomic and from a reputable manufacturer. For the .308 afiscionados - the SCAR 17 can't be beat. With some surplus ammo and practice, I bet any competent shooter would be able to shoot it 90% as well as the 16. And when you consider what you are sending down range, that's still 3x better than .223.

-TH

It looks like FN is selling the civilian SCAR-H with a similar muzzle brake as the one on the SCAR-L. That should reduce muzzle hop a bunch a recoil also. The gun you shot a couple years ago had the long flash hider on it, right? Should be a big difference on the new set up.

Yes, it was the long one. We tore the rifle apart after the shoot. It had about 2 rounds through it after that particular day. The bolt carrier looked like Mother Theresa bathed it for Christening.

I did shoot the FNAR and IMHO - the SCAR 'seems' to deliver more rearward thwack. Not sure if it's because of the shorter barrels or pistol grip or heavier bolt. I do not have any imperial metrics on the weight of the bolt/carrier on both of the firearms, but I would bet that the bolt carrier on the 17 is heavier to reduce the cyclic rate and ensure lock dwell, thus producing the tommy gun effect.

Now, if one in 3 of our soldiers carries one ......


-TH

[Pachinko Pistola]

My friend's AR-10 with a suppressor on it has practically zero recoil. So buy a suppressor and you'll be all set.

My 16S with suppressor is like shooting a .22. Both in terms of sound and recoil.