I’ve lately been contemplating owning something other than 223 AR’s and have my eyes set on a .308 system. I know nothing about .308 rifles and would like you guys to help me pick one out. Its use would be meerly target rifle for range purposes, home defense, and just for the heck of owning something other than 223. I do want a reliable semi-auto system, no bolt gun. I’ve read mixed reviews about the M1A’s, so not sure about those. I would greatly apreciate you guy’s input.
Thanks in advance.
For a “battle rifle” I would get a FAL. The M1A/M14 platform seems to more customizable and is often used as a designated marksmen rifle.
Go into the “Other Assault Rifles” section and take a look around if you’re looking for something other than an AR-10 style platform.
There are lots of opinions on the 3 main legacy battle rifle systems (FN FAL, HK G3 type, M14 type), all three will perform well if properly built using in spec components.
Try doing a search for battle rifles, or main battle rifles.
For an AR-10 type, I have high hopes for the new LMT.
Obviously I am biaised toward our products…
The best 7.62mm 16" gun on the planet.
I don’t make that claim lightly 
uh… it’s tough to say much after that.
i’ll throw in a plug for the LMT MWS while i’m here. i’m sold on the MRP design.
and a little 500yd shooting with the MWS, an OBR and a REPR
And from the peanut gallery…I trust my FAL for any serious stuff. Its absolutely reliable. But, its also a 2 - 2 1/2" (100 yd) rifle. I wanted something more accurate that would fit my budget so I settled for a RRA Lar8 A4. Have been very satisfied thus far. Would I prefer an OBR or one of the others listed above? Sure. But my RRA and ACOG together cost less than one of the above rifles.
I have to face the reality of a limited budget and I do not have to stake my life on this rifle.
I would love something like an SR25 and the like, just dont want to go over $2,000 on this rifle. Whats the LMT gona be going for?
Any thoughts on the SCAR-H if anyone can find one?
Quit rubbing it in…I want one of those…oh wait! 
You’re going to have a hard time finding an AR-10 type for under $2K other than a DPMS based system.
AR10 carbines are going for around $1235.
If you are military/LE, call Kieslers. They have a great price on the LMT that is in your price range:D Mine should be here in a month.
FALs are perfect IMHO - just hard to make into MOA guns without a FF tube. I’ve had better luck with British L1A1s being another 1/2 MOA better across the board. The ones I built from quality parts would always do 1.5 MOA - MOA. Don’t know why. Wish I still had access to those parts now. But at <$1K for a metric FAL that’s a hard deal to beat. All about your budget I guess.
FAL Unstoppable and thus utterly reliable. Fun to shoot, light recoil, and adjustable gas system. 93 countries weren’t wrong.
RMD
Well, I’ll add my 2 cents and when it comes to a 308 battle rifle it better be Steel & Wood in my eyes,
but then thats just me !!! M1a’s are great rifles,they are accurate,reliable !!! They have great triggers,the best Iron sites devised by man,
AR style 308 rifles are great & probably more accurate out of the box than a Standard M1a,but its Black and has plastic on it,:rolleyes: !! FALs are awesome rifles also,I don’t like the sites & the triggers leave alot to be desired & then the Adjustable Gas system,its nice when you change ammo,but the M1a will shoot it up without adjusting anything . As you can see,I am pretty partial to the M1a,Hmmmm,just look at my name,LOL !!!
As stated these are just my opinions and I hope I didn’t offend anyone,the M1a is just “MY” first choice in a 308 battle Rifle,there are plenty of good ones out there !!!
KAC SR25 EMC or SCAR-H.
Nothing else comes close, unless your only success criteria is “launches 7.62 bullets”.
But to be on the forefront, you gotta pay.
Do yourself a favor and stay away from the current crop of PTR91’s. I had a PTR and also had numerous problems with it, including +2 rollers installed at factory, to cover up the fact that they had pressed the barrel in too far. The Pakistani made bolthead (POF marked) was not heat treated properly as was soft, resulting in rapid loss of gap between bolt carrier and bolt (.004 loss in1500rnds). Rifle was sent back to the factory once because I could’nt get it zero’ed at 100yds, I had almost no left windage adjustment left. They got most of the left windage back, but rear sight was off the left…They now have problems with the flutes in the barrels, not being cut deep enough, and now only reccommend using Fed. eagle ammo as this is about all that will cycle…Frankly,these could be good rifles, but they’re not,too many QC issues…The only .308 that’s has my interest would be a LMT…And the way things look, I don’t have to worry about buying one anytime soon…
To my mind, the big issue with the SCAR-H (and -L) is that parts are unavailable unless you’re in SOCOM. And a good friend of mine who is pretty involved with them in DoD has expressed to me on numerous occasions what a pain in the ass they are to service and maintain, and this particular person is in a position to know.
For these reasons, I decided against the SCAR-H…and I wanted one bad. That leaves the SR25EMC and the LMT MWS, IMO.
PTRs are not service-grade weapons, in my opinion. Nor are POF, DPMS, Rock River/Bushmaster BAR-10 or most of the FALs out there (DSA and original FN excepted). SA M1As are no longer a good choice (if you liked the M1A) now that they are out of original GI parts.
I know this is a shitstorm inducing statement, but I don’t care for the Armalites either, largely because on the VHS vs. Beta war of 7.62 magazines… they have now lost to the SR25 pattern magazine (which IMO is a good thing, since the M14 magazine is not optimum for a Stoner-pattern gun anyway).
The worthy 7.62 choices are shallow indeed at this point, though they’re getting better with the release of the LMT. It’s not proven like the SR25 (yet), but since its pedigree is so strongly SR25, I expect it will be similar.
QuietShootr;
You are 100% correct…When I sold my PTR, I took the money and I had Grant build me a AR…I yet to have a problem with it…I’ve now got something that’s a lightyear ahead of the PTR, in build quality and reliabilty…A lesson learned…
I would not expect this to be a permanent problem.