Out of the box, it is a really good looking weapon. I like the fact that it is all earth tone and doesn’t require much if anything in the way of additional painting to get it ready to go into the field. The SCAR 16S ships with one 30 round aluminum magazine painted in FDE, a trigger lock, and owners manual.
Getting the rifle set up for use was pretty straightforward with the exception of sling mounting. As a guy who touches slings every day for a living, it would appear as if there was little thought put into attaching the sling to the weapon. I don’t like using HK Style hooks for mounting and would prefer a simple 1.25” loop at the front and at the rear or even push button sockets at the front and rear. I used the horizontal loop on the buttstock and added one of our RMFL adapters to the rail section at the front. This set up works and keeps the front hand from trying to drift back towards the reciprocating charging handle. Lights, lasers, Aimpoint, etc. were all attached without issue with the exception that your optic base really should have rounded corners so that it doesn’t interfere when charging the rifle. I used a file to take the edge of my Larue LT660 mount on the leading corner of the left hand side. I also added a rail ladder on the top rail in that stretch for the same reason. I don’t care for the full hood over the folding front sight, but I understand why it was done that way. In the up position, the sight really clutters the field of view in the optic (I guess that’s why it is a folding sight…). The rear sight is a work of art although I wish the detents for the adjustment knobs were a little more positive. The folding stock locks up solidly and is very adjustable for comfortable shooting.
I took it out to group it and zero the optic and found that I was barely on paper. I had to adjust up 50 clicks on the T-1 to get it on target. Windage was pretty close. With the T-1 I shot a ~1” group at 50 meters from magazine monopod prone and at 100 I was easily able to hit the 6” plate from the same position. This part is important as I have already sent off the Form 1 and plan to chop the barrel down to the 10” CQC length as soon as it’s approved. Due to the tapered bore design of the hammer forged barrel I want to find out if there is an appreciable accuracy loss after the cut job.
Reliability was perfect; on par with what one should expect from the most heavily developed small arm in the history of man. The gun runs and runs and my only complaint in this department is that PMAGs and ARC mags don’t drop free. I plan on using some sanding sticks in the mag well to try and fix that as I have a LOT of PMAGs these days and it would be a shame not to use them. I fired exactly 448 rounds over 3 hours including 60 rounds in the suppressed setting with my Gemtech G5 attached. As mentioned, no malfunctions of any kind occurred.
The carbine has a peculiar recoil impulse that is neither good nor bad, but just different from an M4; almost as though it recoils in 2 stages. The operating components weigh about 50% more than the same parts pulled from an M4 and that may be part of it. As mentioned accuracy was excellent for a semi-automatic military grade rifle. I really like the 45 degree throw of the selector. It was fast and positive in its engagement. At some point before shooting the SCAR I installed the Magpul SCAR Selector and it is a notable improvement over the factory paddle style lever. The reciprocating charging handle is a non-issue. If you are a magwell hold kind of guy, shame on you, but you may have issue with it. I am finding I prefer it over the rear mounted T handle of the M4 for two main reasons. The first is that malfunction clearance, should they occur, is MUCH easier and more positive. The second is that you have a visual indicator when the bolt is locked to the rear on an empty magazine.
All in all, I am somewhat enamored with my new blaster. I think it makes some notable improvements over the M4 and other modern weapons. I plan on running it in all the shooting courses I attend this year and see what shakes loose.
Bevel job on the Aimpoint
Group is right at 1 inch center to center. Without the flyer it’s under ¾”.
Enjoying the spring weather.
