I’m thinking about buying a 8-year-old KAC SR-25. Here’s one thread I’ve read to try to get up to speed: https://www.m4carbine.net/archive/index.php/t-514.html
Should I assume that vintage is going to be a “tight tolerances” rifle, and not super reliable? Everything I’ve read recently makes the SR sound GTG, and I don’t want to buy a safe queen.
Do you have more info on the configuration of the SR-25 your considering?
Whats the price?
The older ones can be a little more finicky, but they are still shooters. I would treat more like a good precision bolt gun setup, where you keep the round counts down per session, clean it more often, etc; nothing crazy, just take care of it.
As an alternative, the newer EMRs can be had for good prices NIB and they have very good reliability. I have a LW Match that I shoot nothing but suppressed with, I’m at 3500 rounds now, and have had very good reliability with it.
I personally don’t “collect” rifles, I shoot them. When I stop shooting them and usually sell them and buy something else. I love my SR-25’s, and I do shoot them very often.
It has a 20" unthreaded barrel, and the asking price is just over $2,000. I hesitate as I write that, since I know there are a few other great options for “just” another $500. Based on the possibility of it being “finicky,” and the well-established customer service if I buy new from GAP or Larue, maybe that answers my question. Other thoughts are of course appreciated…as I slowly back away from the table…
It sounds like it has a Mk11 barrel. Does it have a FF RAS and the rail gas block with slots for a suppressor?
I think you really have to ask yourself what you want to get.
If you:
a) Really want an SR-25, then the price sounds like a great way to pick up a SR-25. I can’t imagine that rifle as being “finicky” as long as you do reasonable maintenance and care for it.
b) Are looking for the cheapest way to get into a quality 308 AR, then this still sounds like a good deal.
c) Are looking for a brand new 308 AR, but don’t want to spend $4000 on a NIB SR-25, then you may want to consider looking at the OBR, GAP or LMT.
I don’t have a whole lot of experience with GAP AR-10’s, but don’t expect them to be a whole lot better than the SR-25 when it comes to being run hard. I would expect you to have to take the same care with one that you would need for the older SR-25.
Based on what you have said, I’m just guessing you are looking to get into decent 308 AR, reguardless of brand. In this case, I would just get the best rifle for the budget I had, and I always prefer new rifles to used ones. I wouldn’t; however, count out customer service from KAC. They have been outstanding for me.
Good luck to you, whatever route you go, but that is a great price for the SR-25. Depending on the exact model, I would be all over it.
Thanks. Great perspective. I can’t tell from the pics if the GB has slots, but it does have FF HG of some sort. I can tell some mods have been made (grip, stock), but hopefully not to extent of swapping BCG or some other craziness. Do you know off the top of your head where I can see pics of any KAC proprietary bits (e.g. BCG) at which I should look closely?
ETA: oh, and you’re spot on about my motivation…
If you want, send me the pics and the S/N if you have it and I can let you know exactly what the rifle is.