Saw my first SCAR yesterday.

[Pond, James Pond]

Whilst at the range yesterday, testing some rifle loads, I chatted to some guys who are in the Defence League (sort of like a volunteer regiment for citizens who are not professional soldiers).

I noticed one gun set down on the table as they practiced seated shots at 100m. It was the buttstock shape that caught my eye first for some reason and sure enough it was what I suspected: an FN Scar from FN USA.

We spoke about it a bit and it seems it was probably one of few than 10 in the country. I can only imagine the hoops the buy had to jump through to get one into the country as a private buyer, as no one sells FN, as far as I know!!

It looked very cool in desert tan and was much smaller than I had expected. Not small, just smaller.

There was also a CZ 858 (VZ58 to you lot) and the guy extolled its virtues saying how accurate it was. He also claimed that it shot out to 500m! I was a little skeptical of that, but who knows. Either way, I looked suitably impressed, nodding my approval!

All in all, the Scar was cool. I'd have loved to have a shot or 10 or even hold it, but I think it was too precious to be handed around to unknown individuals!!

On the plus side, I was given about 45 .308 cases to use for reloading. They may not be Norma, but I can load some lighter practice loads in them, perhaps...

[Willie Lowman]

The first SCAR I saw with my own eyes, I bought.

Of course they have that switch on the gas system for use with a suppressor so I got one of those too... Can't let that switch go to waste, can I?




You guys are allowed suppressors in your part of the world, aren't you Pond?

Was the SCAR you saw a 5.56 or 7.62?

[SHE3PDOG]

I'm jealous, and if it makes you feel any better, I still haven't seen one in person here in the states. I'm in CA though, so even if I did see it, there is no way I could afford the ridiculous prices that people here want for them.

[Pond, James Pond]

You guys are allowed suppressors in your part of the world, aren't you Pond?

Provided the buyer is a sports-shooter, then yes. They are prohibited for hunting and general use.

there is no way I could afford the ridiculous prices that people here want for them.

Same here. I expect it cost in the region of €3-3500

[Palmetto-Pride]

I have handled a couple I wasn't to impressed with the polymer lower receiver, it just felt cheap and of low quality. It definitely didn't feel like a $3000+ rifle to me, but to each his own I guess.

[EdInk]

They are neat. However, I like my AR-15 and M1A better. The only polymer shell rifle I can say that really impresses me is the Tavor bull pup. Still not enough to replace hit AR-15 though.

[skizzums]

awesome guns, especially when 762 chambered, but i too dont see it being worth 3k+

after thinkng that over, i guess a good ar10 is about 2500$, so i guess maybe it is worth it being so lightweight and all, i have no quams with poly, it has served me well times over

[Willie Lowman]

I don't think they are worth $3000 either. Scarcity and political panic buying pushed the price up that high. I don't think they are worth anything over $2000.

The day I bought mine, the gun store had one in 7.62 for $2200 as well. At that time the 7.62 SCAR mags were near impossible to find. Higher priced ammo and unavailable proprietary mags for the 17s made the 16s an easy choice.

[marine6680]

The few times I have handled one, manually cycling the action, it has been very smooth. I was impressed with the smooth action and weight.

Not so impressed with the price.


In 7.62... how accurate is it? I can get a high precision AR in 7.62 for $3000... I can get a middle ground DMR version for $2000 or a little less.

So what do I get for the extra money? I know they need FN mags that can be expensive. Its a ground up piston system and is lighter, so that is good.

[loose_holster_dan]

love the vz58. milled receiver and dark finish on the furniture. mmm pretty. they go for close to $1k around here tho, and that's a bit steap for an AK IMO.

[marine6680]

I want me a vz58...

Had the chance to get two that had less than a magazine through them each, for a little of $1000...

The little lady didn't want to part with the cash... but she regrets that decision now.

[skizzums]

vz58?? they are about 500 bucks right now, i have one and love it, but a thousand bucks??? no way

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info....74e94b7bfef4d6

[Pond, James Pond]

to get two that had less than a magazine through them each, for a little of $1000...

I think Marine6680 meant that the $1000 would have bought two of the CZs.

[skizzums]

i see

[marine6680]

Yeah... 2

These were Czechpoint imports... before the craziness happened last year, they were $800 new.

[usp40compact]

@marine, Scar in 7.62 Nato is known for it's out of box super accuracy, lightweight, and light recoil for 7.62 nato. Barrel is FN cold-hammer forged too.

Not a sniper nor am bragging, but for me, using new/current production Serbian PRVI / PPU 145gr factory ammo and with factory iron sights, stock factory trigger:

- shooting offhand at 8" popper and 18" torso-size steel silhouette, @ 100, 150, and 200yd with 5-10 mi avg wind, I was ringing them easily and consistently.

With Geissele Super Scar trigger installed and on bipod or rest, you can hit 6" round steel plates @ 200yd once you find adjust for wind, etc. and that's with factory iron sights.

[usp40compact]

Perceived value and cost of Scar 17 is relative to each shooter's need/want. Besides being one of the lightest in weight and in recoiling 7.62 nato semi out there, is the ambi controls like mag release and safety, simple field stripping, piston operated, monolithic rail, folding stock, etc. worth it to you? Only you can answer that if/when you can test fire one.

If you can find one in FDE below $2600-2800, decent price. Thats what I paid for my FDE, last July. There was one local to me in Nov 2012 for $2200 in black, and I didn't buy due to scarcity of mags.

Nib mags can be had for $28-32 in both black and FDE if you are patient and keep looking. (I know they retail for $35-42+ from most dealers).

[usp40compact]

High-end Direct Impingement 308 ARs like LMT 308 and Larue's are already costing $2800-3k on avg w/ Larue going for much higher than that, depending on model. Piston 308 AR like LWRC REPR is already $3300+ and you cannot fold the stock.

How accurate is Scar 17? Per ARFcom member under username TJ43's post on 8/21/2013:

"I was at a long-range shooting competition early this year. The first shot was 1000 yards, cold bore, at a Larue silhouette target. There were appox. 24 entrants with guns ranging from Accuracy International AWs, to Larue OBRs, to all manner of tricked out 700s and AR-10s. Only one person made the 1000 yard shot--she was shooting a SCAR 17 (she is also a regular in this forum)."

[marine6680]

I would need more sources about long range accuracy than just one claim.

Also at 1000 yards, the shooter has more to do with a hit than the rifle. Good ammo and rifle are nothing without a good shooter, but a good shooter can turn out the best a less than ideal rifle or ammo can do.

If the SCAR can hold sub MOA consistently with an off the shelf, then sure... But if not...

If the SCAR can only hold as good accuracy as a $2000 AR pattern, then the extra money may not be worth it to some. If it holds as well as a $3000+ AR pattern, then yes, I see a reason to choose it.

[HKFan9]

I have shot the SCAR's and I was always unimpressed with them. I have $2000+ AR's so its not the price tag either.

For the money in .308 I would probably opt for this.

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-precis...n-gap-10-.html

Video of it at 1000 yards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoH0IytAFXw

Obviously that is more a percision build, if you were looking for a closer range battle rifle... I don't need the thing to be a tack driver, I shot the Sig 716 very well when their reps brought it for us to play with it. I would save the money and get the Sig for something closer range, or get the GAP-10 for longer range..

To each his own I suppose.

[HKGuns]

The SCAR17 I handled felt cheap in my hands and none of the parts I looked at looked very well engineered. That is a $12-1500 rifle with a $3000 price tag.

[Justice06RR]

The SCAR17 I handled felt cheap in my hands and none of the parts I looked at looked very well engineered. That is a $12-1500 rifle with a $3000 price tag.

Interesting... is it because you are a HK fan??

I love both HK and FN. Both are out of my price range for rifles such as a G36 or SCAR. If I had the funds I would buy them both.

As far as the price of the SCAR17, they are expensive but it is justified. There are only a select few rifles who are in the same league with the same design i.e. G36 and ACR.

The SCAR is a very good and reliable rifle that is used by Special Forces around the world. It is not your average AR15 or AK47. Thus the price.

[Justice06RR]

I have seen a SCAR many times, but have not had the pleasure to shoot one unfortunately. I will have to sell almost all of my long guns in order to afford one

But if I come accross a good amount of $$ in the future, I will buy a SCAR for sure

[HKFan9]

As far as the price of the SCAR17, they are expensive but it is justified. There are only a select few rifles who are in the same league with the same design i.e. G36 and ACR.

Where to begin...

The g36 is a full auto weapon, we are referring to a semi auto SCAR variant. The best one could hope for in the US for a G36 is a converted HK SL8. I have held and shot them, the G36 to me is awkward at best.

As far as the ACR.. I almost bought one at one point because I loved the ergo's of it... but all things being fair it is really a over priced mediocre gun at best. It still does not sell very well for Bushmaster so they rarely build them. I was told a very long waiting time when I tried to even order one with my pro-staff form and this was pre-panic mode.

Also the SCAR 17 is a 7.62x51 or .308... the ACR and G36 are 5.56.

I have shot both the SCAR's on the range with the FNH guys, along side the FNAR and all their handguns. They shoot great, but still at the end of the day I find them uncomfortable. For the price they bring in... not saying they are a bad gun... but I think there are better guns to be had.

Don't let my forum name fool you.. I am a proud FiveseveN owner, as well as a former PS90 owner.