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Old March 3, 2014, 02:31 AM   #1
BluRidgDav
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What is the lightest weight 7.62x51/.308Win semi-auto?

Looking for the lightest weight 7.62x51/.308Win semi-auto rifle/carbine out there?
I thought it would be an AR-platform due to the use of aluminum and plastic parts.
But so far, the Remington 750 Synthetic Carbine is winning @ only 7.25 pounds.
The lightest AR-style that I've found is the S&W M&P-10 @ 7.71 pounds.

Is there anything else lighter???

Thanx, Dave.
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Old March 3, 2014, 05:59 AM   #2
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FN SCAR MK17 CQC is listed at 7.7lb
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Old March 3, 2014, 10:07 AM   #3
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I have an M14 that tips the scales at 8.1 lbs.
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Old March 3, 2014, 11:05 AM   #4
Jimro
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Browning BAR Lightweight Stalker, advetised weight 7lbs 2 ozs.

That is a whole 2 ounces lighter than the Rem 750 :P

If weight is a concern, why not go bolt action?

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Old March 3, 2014, 04:33 PM   #5
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SCAR is the lightest I know of.
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Old March 3, 2014, 05:32 PM   #6
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Browning BAR short track stalker is listed at 6 lb 10 oz
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Old March 4, 2014, 01:01 AM   #7
BluRidgDav
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Stopped by a very well stocked LGS today, and got to handle quite a few carbines.

SCAR - definitely the lightest of the military style rifles with a lot of advanced features
But for $3,000 - I could hire a gun bearer for a few hunts!

S&W M&P-10 - lighter, but, quite a bit longer than the others
That 18" barrel and extra long FS make it a a full "hand" taller.

Armalite AR-10 - same LW barrel profile as the M&P, but, only 16" with regular A2 FS
While the specs say it's 7.9 lbs, it feels the same as the S&W, maybe less?

No Remington 750's or Browning BAR lightweights were available.

The reason I'm looking at semi-autos is to better manage recoil.

Then I picked up a Ruger American Compact in .308 @ only 6 pounds and under $400 !!! WOW, what's a little recoil !!!
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Old March 4, 2014, 12:07 PM   #8
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The easiest way to dampen the recoil is with weight.

But there's no free lunch. Also, a few ounces difference in weight will not make a significant difference in the felt recoil. How the rifle fits you plays a bigger part than a few ounces of weight.

Now, when you start getting up to differences of a half pound (or more) it is much more apparent to most people.

There is no free lunch. Light guns carry easily, but kick hardest. Heavy rifles have softer feeling recoil, but take more effort to carry, & hold, etc.

Semi autos shoot "softer" because they tend to be heavier than other repeaters, and because semi auto action changes the way you feel the recoil.

FYI, the Remington 742 carbine (.30-06 or .308) listed in the 1978 Gun Digest as having overall weight of 6 3/4lbs. Also sold for $257 and change, back then. Probably the same weight today, but I'd expect the price to be a bit different, if you can find one.

Is that light enough?
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Old March 4, 2014, 12:38 PM   #9
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If you want light then a bolt is the way to go. There are lots of ways to reduce recoil but most of them add at least a little weight.

Magnaporting can reduce the recoil a fair amount. That is the only thing I can think of that does not add weight and actually may remove about 1/10th of an OZ

But this comes at a cost. The muzzle blast will be louder to your ear.


If it was me I would but a recoil reducing pad and a suppressor on it. That should knock out a lot of the recoil.
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Old March 4, 2014, 03:40 PM   #10
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The new DPMS GII runs 7.25 pounds.

http://dpms-gii.com/full.html
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Old March 5, 2014, 11:08 PM   #11
Willie Lowman
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Quote:
The reason I'm looking at semi-autos is to better manage recoil.
Buy the SCAR 17 and don't look back.

Fire one and you'll understand.
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Old March 6, 2014, 08:57 AM   #12
Jimro
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The difference between a 6.9 lb and a 7.25 lb rifle is less than a decent hamburger.

Get the rifle that feels best to you based on how it shoulders, handles, and cheek weld.

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Old March 6, 2014, 05:09 PM   #13
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If I were or able to hunt with a semi auto .308 I would probably buy the S&W because its a decent gun.... at a decent price.. and decently light (a compromise all things considered)

If weight is your primary concern, like others have said, bolt gun is the way to go.

I have a Kimber Mountain Ascent .308 Win that weighs 4Lbs & 13oz. Comes with Tally light weight alloy base/rings. Topped with an 8oz Leupold, it is a dream to carry. Recoil isn't that bad but it has a squishy recoil pad and the barrel has a brake.
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Old March 6, 2014, 06:49 PM   #14
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My friend put a muzzle brake on his FAL. Made recoil tolerable.
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Old March 6, 2014, 07:01 PM   #15
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I don't think it'll matter too much like everyone else is saying. .308 doesn't whack new too hard in semi or bolt, but how you hold the gun will dictate how bruised your shoulder gets. A brake, depending on the type, could make a huge difference. Those Ruger scouts look set up about perfect for bolt and any AR10 should also be set up just about perfect for your needs. I'd stick with a DPMS for the variety of parts and cheaper magazines and just general lower cost.
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Old March 6, 2014, 09:05 PM   #16
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BAR Shorttrak lightweight stalker topped
with a Leupold 2-7 lightweight scope--ideal.
I loved mine so much I sold it. I still have my boot prints
on my trousers' seat.
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Old March 6, 2014, 09:43 PM   #17
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boys fear/dread recoil.....men do not give it a second thought
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Old March 7, 2014, 08:10 AM   #18
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I don't believe fear or dread were ever mentioned here.

I've had the opportunity to heft quite a few .308 ARs, between a couple iterations of the DPMS, S&W, KAC, Ruger, and Armalite. They do carry more weight than your standard AR. The lightest IIRC were either the DPMS Sportical in .308 or the S&W.

But both of those would have been trumped by an old 7400 synthetic carbine a high school friend of mine owned. Much more trim and definitely lighter than the rest.

If I may ask, why .308? And why Semi? Don't get me wrong, great caliber (I own 2), but it would help knowing what is driving those 2 concerns, as there might be other options to mitigate your concerns.
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Old March 7, 2014, 02:02 PM   #19
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OP is sort of fighting two things. Says he wants a Semi for the recoil reduction, yet wants the lightest gun possible.
Semi's tend to be heavier than bolt actions. Heavier guns reduce recoil more.
But you want a light gun, which will give you more recoil.
.308 really isn't a kicker, so I don't really understand the problem, with recoil in the first place, personally. I don't think a semi-auto is going to reduce recoil that much if you compare equal weight rifles.

IMO probably just better of with a fairly light bolt gun, and a muzzle brake, unless the semi-auto is needed for purposes, other than 'reducing recoil'
Do you 'need' the .308? The .243 win has plenty of power, and less recoil than .308
The only practical advantages of the .308 are popular (possibly cheaper) ammo, due to it's availability, and certain loads make the .308 a better cartridge if you plan on regularly hunting game larger than deer. The .243 shoots faster and flatter and recoils less, but generally has slightly shorter barrel life, due to being more overbore.

Last edited by JD0x0; March 7, 2014 at 02:09 PM.
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Old March 8, 2014, 09:07 PM   #20
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It's not as light as the scar, but look at the sig 716 patrol. It's 9 pounds and a very good gun for the price.
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Old March 9, 2014, 04:21 PM   #21
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FOr the difference in price of the bolts and light semi-autos you can get one heck of a recoil pad or even a pneumatic recoil reducer for the rifle and still stay under the weight. Not sure how the recoil reducers work with scoped rifles. I know a couple scoped 50 cals have been designed with them.
Light scout rifle with pneumatic recoil reducer... Make it in a super magnum 6.5 and I might buy one.
Besides, you'll have something to talk about.
Don't get stuck in the box.
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Old March 9, 2014, 08:56 PM   #22
dvdcrr
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My scoped MP10 feels just a tad lighter than my unscoped std. M1a.
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Old March 9, 2014, 08:59 PM   #23
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Keltec rfb is very light.
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Old March 9, 2014, 09:49 PM   #24
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As others have stated the SCAR 17 is about the lightest modern semi-auto 308 out there. I got mine over an AR10 due to my desire to shoot offhand (hate the bench). The only problem I see with it is the 16" barrel. If it were `8" it would be perfect.
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Old March 9, 2014, 09:54 PM   #25
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This is a dpms oracle with a nikon prostaff and magpul moe stock and troy battle rail. Tips the scale at 9.2 empty without magazine.

Shot 110 rounds through it friday and shoulder feels fine and I'm 185lbs 6'4''. I wouldn't worry about the recoil of the .308 in any platform.

If you don't need fast follow up shots, get a bolt gun all the way. The savage 110 is unbeatable with good glass and trigger work for the money.

Last edited by nadrepadre; March 9, 2014 at 10:01 PM.
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