Like the title asks, have the new .308 gas guns killed the SPR in 5.56? With the new crop of extremely accurate and RELIABLE .308’s it almost seems like a no brainer.
Personally, I haven’t pulled my 18" 5.56 SPR setup since I started shooting .308 on a regular basis. If I am going to be shooting from 400-600+ it just seems like the right choice and the cost is almost the same as 69gr or 77gr SMK’s.
Generally when I am shooting at distance I am shooting off the deck, so weight is a non factor and if it was my SCAR 17 is as light as its 5.56 SPR counterpart. I also generally run 20 rounders with my SPR so capacity is also the same.
Just curious what others thought or if they had found themselves grabbing .308’s more than in the past.
I doubt it has “killed” it, however, I just picked up a 308 instead of another 5.56. I’m finding ammo for it pretty easily also. I don’t plan on stocking as much 7.62 as I do 5.56 since I don’t plan on shooting it as much.
It’s a only a no brainier if your using a 16" .308 kitted perfectly out for precision/LR shooting…that way you have a rifle truly compact/light enough to compete with the much more nimble 5.56 LP rifles.
Even at 18", .308 ARs become much more static…and therefore simply can’t replicate the SPR program rifle’s portability requirements. While you do indeed get more range with a 18" .308 over a 18" 5.56…you start paying the full premium for that added range at any length over 16".
More of my opinion on this subject can be found in another thread that might interest you.
Having shot my SPR, and Recce alongside my MWS on close to maybe a dozen occasions, I can say for certain that no rifle will ever replace a 5.56 SPR/Recce in my stable. A .308 is so much more taxing on the shooter as well, my SPR puts me to sleep while shooting behind it prone.
So three out of the first three posters who were considering a 5.56 SPRish builds, have all scrapped 5.56 in favor of .308. Interesting.
What was it that made all three of you to choose .308, instead of 5.56, or any of the other calibers available in todays market?
What was it about the current market of .308’s that made you confident that you would get a rifle that was accurate enough for precision work, but also rock solid reliable / dependable?
What is different about todays guns vs the .308 Battle Rifles of the past.
I’m going to let things settle down price-wise but I had been eying a .308 as my next purchase instead of a 5.56. I must admit to being a slight caliber snob… if a 9mm/5.56 will get it done a .45/3.08 will get it done with style.
Actually I haven’t scrapped that idea of a 5.56, I just postponed it. I had always wanted a 308 for LR shooting & deer hunting, it just wasn’t real high on my priority list. Then with the current situation, I couldn’t get parts; so when a 308 became available, I jumped on it. I’m not sure how accurate or reliable it yet. I’ve only ran a couple of mags through it just to make sure it cycles properly.
To me it comes down to performance at distance.
No 5.56 is giving you much at distances past 300 meters, and I would prefer to keep everything inside 200 meters with 5.56, especially as barrel lengths drop below 16".
Absolutely, if something is out in the open, with decent ammo and a GI quality (or better) barrel, if you stick a bullet where it matters, you are going to get effect on target. However, replace that 5.56 round with a 7.62 and you are probably going to get better result, especially if there are barriers. The reduced wind effect of 7.62 and higher ballistic coefficients make it easier to predict flight path at longer ranges.
I have stretched 5.56 out to stupid distances, but not out of choice or preference for that performance envelope.
At this point in time I have little interest in 5.56 guns with barrels longer than 16" or with 7.62 guns that aren’t semi-auto.
The whole point of the AR (to me) is a compact, light, nimble weapon that overcomes cartridge inadequacy with the ability to deliver multiple rapid shots and modularity to be tailored to purpose.
As stated above it’s a question of distance. I live in the country but the range I could shoot is 300 yards or less. I thought hard about a .308 but settled on building a 20" barreled 5.56 rifle. I couldn’t justify to myself the need for a .308. That is not saying I don’t want or will not get one. 77 grain HP rounds are good for any of my shooting and I will frequently load 69 and even 55 grain for the ranges I shoot at. I know a 20" isn’t technically a SPR but I also couldn’t justify the 2 inch shorter barrel. I’ll take all the velocity I can get.
I have a carbine for up close work anyways. I could even carry the carbine upper as opposed to both AR’s if trouble came to my doorstep, however unlikely that may be. We do have black bear and mountain lions have even been sighted around my parts. By the way, I do need a 30 round magazine, taking a chance with a bear or mountain lion is something I don’t care to do. At some point I will get a .308 but for now I can’t afford it, nor could I find the ammo or reloading components to feed it.
The 18" barrel was never optimal and was merely a compromise between the two organizations that wanted a precision 5.56 mm rifle–one requesting a 16" and the other a 20".
The phenomenal 5.56 handguard options of the last year or so have yet to move to 308 guns. Would be nice to see.
Couldn’t agree more. A part of me thinks 14.5 5.56 would actually be King if not for NFA. As it stands 16" barrel options are better IMO, it’s hard to find 14.5 in profiles other than LW.
16" is quite a good length in 5.56 mm from a terminal ballistics perspective; it is my preferred 5.56 mm length unless running a carbine with a dedicated suppressor.
I went the AR because I know the platform so well. Pmags are cheap and plentiful. .308 is really hard hitting. The current stock of rifles are hybrid precision and battle rifle. Great reports on reliability and dependability. If I need barrier penetration, .308. If I want a harder hitting mid-to-long range, .308.
Plenty of optic options that can serve for close up CBQ type or mid-range battle accurate.
I am hoping the familiarity of the platform gets me more .308 trigger time than my bolt, which I rarely use despite my nice setup.
I know I’ve finally decided to take the 308 plunge. One reason is because I have been using SR-25’s for a couple of years now and trust them, the other reason is simple: “windshields”.
