FN SCAR 17s

[darwins]

The article in the most recent Rifleman magazine about the SCAR 17s was interesting. What intrigued me the most was a remark about the "common" receiver or more specifically a comment about being able to replace the barrel, bolt, firing pin, trigger assembly and magazine to change caliber from 7.62NATO to 5.56NATO. A rifle that could shoot both of those calibers would be very interesting to me. However, The FNH-USA website makes no mention of such caliber conversion kits, etc. Are there other references to such capability around?

[KChen986]

To change the caliber, you would likely need a new bolt, a new lower receiver, and a new barrel.

The SCAR light and SCAR-H share many, many parts. However, AFAIK, it is not a "true" caliber change platform. To date, the only system out there that remotely approaches 7.62/5.56 quick-change capability is the Colt SP901, but you'd need a new upper receiver for that (the magazine well has a 7.62 to 5.56 adapter).

[darwins]

In the article, it claims that FN developed what they termed a "common" receiver for the 17s which would accommodate both the 5.56 and 7.62 and, of course, a myriad of other calibers.

[Jim243]

I don't know about the FN, but you can convert any AR with a new Upper including a new bolt assembley. Vola' your 5.56 is now a .308 or 6.5 or 6.8 or even a 243.

They all use the same lowre.

Jim

[darwins]

Actually, I think I am confusing two related, but different articles in the same issue of "American Rifleman".

One article discussed the civilian 17s, the other discussed the military Mk17.

Here is what it says about the Mk17: "SOCOM and FNH are presently developing the FN MK17 SCAR-H “common receiver,” which takes the MK17 to the next level of modularity, past its quick-change barrel function. The MK17 common receiver will be capable of accepting a 5.56 mm conversion kit, consisting of a trigger module, bolt, firing pin, magazine and barrel."

So, I was just confused. But I hope this "common receiver" makes it to the commercial marketplace in a civilian form.

[MikeGoob]

I distinctly remember a 'Future Weapons' episode where they played with the SCAR and right there on the table, swapped out the components to make a 7.62 rifle from a 5.56

[SR420]

I recently read on another forum that the US NAVY has dropped any and all plans to use 17s.
Can anyone confirm this?

[KChen986]

Jim243, your .308 magazine won't feed through a 5.56 lower.

The upper receivers are the same, but the lowers, barrels, and bolts aren't. A SCAR16 lower won't be able to take a SCAR17 .308 magazine.