SCAR 17s vs. SIG 716 & 516

AR/M4 Beyond 5.56/.223
1

so I’m kinda new to rifles, I bought a Colt 6920 & AMD-65. Bought the Colt before the election, bought the AK before Sandy Hook. Got em both because I saw what was coming. Just started making money in July when I started residency (I’m a physician), albeit not making the “big bucks”, but I budget well.

My eye has always been on a nice .308 but as we know they’re expensive. So, by the time prices come back pre-panic levels in 6 months to a year I’d like to pick a .308 up. I love the feel of the SCAR, however I’ve invested heavily in Pmags (around 80 of the 20LR) so if I buy a SCAR I’d have to get one of the aftermarket lowers (Handl, Stryker or Cavalry assuming the latter 2 are available).

Anyway, looking at price, a SCAR 17s would be approximately the same price as a SIG 716 & 516. This is why I posed the question this way. I’ve held both, I like both, only thing I dislike about the sig is it is significantly heavier than the scar. Reading reviews, seems recoil is better with the scars as well and the scar reputation from testing with barrels rated to 30k rounds is something to consider. So my question is, what would you rather have (SCAR 17s with lower that fits pmags vs. SIG 716 & 516) and why?

2

SCAR over the Sig. Congrats on the 6920.

3

SCAR. hands down.

Is the piston a must ? For suppressor use ?

4

You can also dremel down the Pmags a little bit to get them to feed properly in the SCAR.

5

Piston is not a must, but suppressor is a possibility. Down the road, unless we lose rights I’d love to get a Noveske SBR .300 blk with a supressor to go with it, but I haven’t went through any of the steps to set up a trust for the NFA items, so it would be down the road.

6

The SCAR and the Sig may be similarily price at the moment, but that will change. I wanted a 308 semi last year and picked up a Sig 716 right before Sandy Hook. The Sig was almost a grand less than Scar 17. The SCARs I saw were priced around $2600 to $2700 and the Sig I got I paid $1699 before tax. I really like my Sig 716, but there are a lot of detractors here of the Sig piston platform, mainly because of the rail on it. The prices will come down on both of them shortly, more so for the Sig but I think magazines availability will still be an issue with SCAR. If you go the SCAR route I think you will have zero problems selling your PMAG stash off, especially now.

7

Sig 516 is not .308.

8

Of those, I’d get the SCAR H. I bought one right when they first were available and it was a hell of a rifle. I still prefer the KAC by a small margin, but the SCAR does everything I need for less.

Currently, I’m thinking aout a LaRue PredatOBR, but that’s not till next year if I do.

Having said that, SCAR mags were available at a reasonable price before the recent events. I don’t know about anyone else, but I look at 308’s a bit different and don’t need as many mags as I do for 5.56 rifle’s. A dozen SCAR H mags and I’m more than good to go for my style of shooting semi auto 308’s. I typically use them in more of a hunting or semi precision role and my rate of fire is a bit lower.

When I say hunting, I’m talking about hogs or coyote. On hogs, we usually get RIS up on them and shoot as many as possible, so it’s not like I use it like a bolt gun, just to be clear.

My point is that while the mags may be a bit more expensive than 308 PMAGs, I tend not to buy as many as I would 5.56 and once I get over the initial purchase, I’ve never needed to replace them due to wear like 5.56 mags. While I’d still pick one up here and there, I never felt the need for more. Had I used it for carbine courses, that may have been different, but I didn’t.

Just thought I’d throw that out there…

I’ll add that I was surprised by the accuracy of the SCAR H. It was far more accurate than I expected. I don’t know exactly why, and it was likely me getting used to the rifle, but my after a couple hundred rounds, I found I was far more capable with the rifle than when it was new. When I bought it, I had about 400 to 500 rounds through a friends H in about a two month period or so and had a high round count on my SCAR 16. So, it wasn’t like I was completely new to the gun.

Enjoy whatever you get buddy. 7.62 semi autos can really be an enjoyable rifle to own.

9

You need to do some heavy sanding, not just dremeling. It can work, but its not recommended due to how thin it makes the mag walls. They bulge quite a bit.

10

SCAR 17 hands down. The magazines are getting much easier to find. Lots of polymer ones becoming available too.

The handl receiver has had major hiccups and has left a lot of folks unhappy. There is someone else in the process of making a much better one. FNH has a forum that has major info on the 17 and 16 respectively. I frequent the site often as I have them both.

The SCAR platform .308 is IMHO the end all battle rifle. Lightweight, powerful, ergonomic, easy to clean, simple, modular, reliable, and accurate as hell. Over 5,000 rounds in mine without issue. Absolutely love it.

11

I think he knows that. Seems pretty thorough.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

12

What is the issue with the piston/rail? I kinda like the quad rail on it, I know a lot don’t, I’ve held it, perhaps they could have shaved some weight off, but it is what it is I know it’s heavy vs. the SCAR no illusions over that, the SCAR 17 felt very light in my hands.

Yes sir, I’m well aware. I posed the question in this format because pre-panic prices (and presumably prices 6-12 months from now) will basically be a Sig 716 + 516 = 1 SCAR 17 in price approximately… So the question is one of, which is the better value?

Thanks for the heads up with Handl. I actually see that there have been some comlaints with scratches to pmags and bolt holding open with 1 round left in the mag and mag catching it prematurely now that I’ve researched it. Seems that lower requires a special made magazine catch, but the company has decided that not only will they not make a mag catch to go with the lower, they jacked the price up from $300 to $400… Not sure how that works, but hey it’s their product and their rep.

Regarding the better lower, I assume you’re referring to the SEAL by Stryker Enterprises (Sgt. Stryker). The problem with that lower is, it does not exist and from the last time I’ve checked that Forum, I believe Stryker stated it was a long ways out still with a long wait list already, but without a doubt it will be a quality prodcut if it’s anything like the EACH, which the SCAR owners who have one love. I think MAC did a youtube review on it and liked it a lot.

If I remember correctly I think I read something on there were Stryker was selling OEM lowers that were modified to fit stock PMAGs and/or offering to modify your existing lower to fit PMAGs, do you know if this is correct and if this is still the case? If not, I think I’d problably have to purchase OEM mags, something I was trying to avoid, I like the idea of having 1 universal mag per rifle caliber, something about that gives me a warm and fuzzy and a negative I’ll have to consider that will add to an already expensive rifle.

I saw a long youtube video on that after reading about this on here, good on the guys doing that, I guess it is a solution for some, but a dealbreaker for me. I don’t want to weaken my mags and either limit those mags to just the SCAR or have them wobbly as hell in other potential (AR-10 pattern) rifles I might buy in the future and possibly cause a hiccup in those rifles.

13

[QUOTE=PatrioticDisorder;1593891]What is the issue with the piston/rail? I kinda like the quad rail on it, I know a lot don’t, I’ve held it, perhaps they could have shaved some weight off, but it is what it is I know it’s heavy vs. the SCAR no illusions over that, the SCAR 17 felt very light in my hands.

Most who don’t like it say it is to short. I would agree that a longer rail or a longer handguard would have been better, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

14

PD, I’m not sure on the modification of the 17’s factory lower. I’ve just left mine be and have acquired several factory mags. This is the only .308 I have, so I’ve no need to look elsewhere.

I’ll probably get a bolt action .308 for my next rifle purchase. A Rem Tac 700 or something of the sort. If the ballista becomes what it is supposed to, I may go that route and have the .338 lapua and .308 conversion.

Back on track, once you get a SCAR 17, you’ll find the others wanting…

15

Very true. It is my favorite rifle, hands down.

16

I E-mailed Stryker about it, I know he’s swamped, we’ll see what the response is. If he’s still making the lowers, I’ll be purchasing one.

17

It’s still in development and he won’t give an ETA since it depends on so many factors. I’m on the list for one and depending on the magazine situation might switch over with 20/25rd PMAG LRs, but I have 20 FN OEM mags and 3 Thermolds (gonna mod them for hunting ammunition limits).

18

Not the SEAL, the OEM modified lowers that accept pmags.

19

Recommend the SCAR on this one…yeah, I have one. Helluva rifle.

20

I know he offered them awhile back, but don’t know if he’s doing that anymore.