Range: 100 Yards
Case: LC 1x fired
Bullet: Sierra 165g HPBT
Powder: 43.0g IMR 4064
Primer: CCI LRP
COL: 2.750
Wind: 5-10 MPH with light rain
Rifle: SCAR 17S
Optic: Leupold MK6 1-6x
Had several instances of failure to lock back with two different magazines, other than that it functioned flawlessly. The best 5 shot group of the day below as well as a 10 shot group. I’m keen to blame the stock trigger for the shooting to the right, however, it is probably me.
Nice write up, with stock trigger and only 6x and not shooting from a lead sled, I’d say that’s pretty damn good.
I’m assuming that you were using OEM mags, but were they US or Belgian made mags?
OEM magazines and the only marking is: 04T04-0113
They could be Guatemalan for all I know.
That is the CAGE code for D&H Industries (followed by month and two-digit year of manufacture), which contracts mags for FNH-USA. The Belgian mags do not have markings, to the best of my knowledge. I’m sure someone will come along and correct me if I’m mistaken.
So Belgium mags are better than the D&H made mags? If so how the hell can you tell what you’re buying as they are both packaged the same?
In general, most mags you will find on the commercial market are D&H, including the one that ships with the SCAR. I have three Belgian mags that I picked up from Midwest Gun Works, which were apparently a .mil overrun (they had a limited supply that didn’t last long); I scored three 5.56 mags, as well.
I believe the consensus is that Belgian mags are preferred to D&H, but FNH-USA will warranty issues with the latter. I don’t want to use the term “better” because I don’t have enough experience with either to offer a technical comparison, and the last thing this site needs is unsubstantiated claims of superiority of one product over another (for that, there is TOS).
ETA: the surplus Belgian mags were new but not in any packaging. Generally, the Belgian mags should have no obvious markings. I will check mine tonight and see if I can find any obvious differences.
Perhaps the other poster who posed the question about mag type has additional information to bear in the subject. I believe that question was in reference to the few failures experienced by the OP.
+1 to this. Belgian mags seem better-ish in fit and feel, but it’s generally pretty close between the two, and it seems to vary from batch to batch.
The reason why I asked about manufacture, is that the early run of D&H mags were supposedly subpar, and most (but not all) were yanked from the market by FN. This is one of the reasons why SCAR 17S mags were unobtanium for quite some time. The 0113 code (if I’m reading it right) puts the date of manufacture well behind that batch. The only time I’ve ever had a failure to feed with any SCAR mag was with a 10rd mag I picked up during the height of the mag shortage. I was curious to see if it was from the same time frame/manufacture as that.
EDIT: FN Forms has a really good comparison between the FN and D&H made mags, but sadly, I can’t find it at the moment.
Well, I’ve never considered the magazine not locking back to be a 100% deal breaker. However, this appears not to be an isolated incident with my rifle. It appears quite common, based on some further reading.
This surprises me, as popular as this rifle is in some circles. Curious why the SCAR is apparently getting a free pass for this minor defect from some who would certainly call it a deal breaker if it were an Bushmaster AR?
I don’t recall having this issue on past trips to the range. I’m going to try different reloads and break out a couple more magazines to see if I can tell what is going on with mine.
It doesn’t appear Belgian magazines are readily available as a fix.
So, does the rifle not lock back with factory ammo? Perhaps it’s an ammunition issue and not a rifle or mag issue…
I wouldn’t say it is “quite common”. I’ve had problems with one of my 20+ magazines, hardly a high number. And to be perfectly honest, I’d rather have magazine issues over anything else. The solution is the easiest, just toss the bad mags.
I don’t shoot a lot of factory ammo. But, I am going to give that a try…I highly doubt my loads are at fault, as they lock back in a number of other rifles just dandy. They aren’t light loads by any means, nor are they pressure cookers. We’ll see, I have a number of magazines and only pulled two out at the range this time. It may just be a magazine issue. But they are practically new and definitely not abused in any way.
I had zero feeding or ejection issues, so I don’t think it is in any way related to gas…
The magazine well on my SCAR 17 lower module has no where near the play as this Youtube poster’s. I’ve had no failures at all in 2500 rounds with a dozen different magazines.
I fully agree. A few times I’ve seen people send their parts in and say X magazines dont work, your part sucks. Then you get the calipers out and the mag is 1.12" wide (as apposed to 1.08). It is quite often that people like to blame a $2500+ gun when they should be looking at the $20 magazine first.
What’s the verdict on Handl’s SCAR-17 lower that takes SR/DPMS/PMags?
Disclaimer- I have advised Handl Defense for quite some time now. I have the official title of director of weapons development there. So you know
#1 most of the negative press towards Handl Defense come from two sources #1 a site “owned” by a competitor who rev-engineered it #2 a small percentage of the second run of trigger modules produced in 2012. They have a 100% guarantee for manufactures defects, they are effectively non-existant.
#2 I have never seen a Handl Defense SCAR25 trigger module fail or interfere with any of the 8 steps of the cycle of function, ever. Tested in excess of the 2011 Spec sheet standards. Many videos of it working without issue, no videos of it not.
#3 Handl Defense platforms/ products have been seen by/ tested by : NSW director of testing, USASFC, SOCOM, and the guys at 37. This comes with several recommendations for adoption into the POR. We have changed more than one mind in the community about the platform.
#4 Benoit himself has seen our work and likes it.
#5 The trigger module is designed to work with SR25 pattern magazines. It is designed specifically to work magazines that fit the 3.08" x 1.08" parameters. There are some mags that have a slightly smaller tower. Drums that require a different magwell and have specific trigger modules that still work with the SR 25 mags.
#6 HD recommends the use of Lancer L7 7.62x51 magazines.
I hope this helps
I need to update this with the knowledge for everyone that SCAR thumb is far, far worse than Garand thumb.
I was shooting from a seated position and not paying enough attention to my grip. WHAM! Bleeding like a stuck pig.
Why is it worse than Garand thumb? - Because it gets you cycling back and on return to battery. Dang that hurt. I was bleeding out of both sides of my thumb.
I’m not blaming the rifle as it was clearly my fault, I just wanted to point out the difference between the two.
ETA: I use the apex charging handle so the surface area of contact is really flat and whacks you good.
That sucks!
I got lucky, as my uncle taught me to shoot with a Winchester Model 77.
It had a RCH too, so it’s been engrained since the first time I fired a rifle.