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View Full Version : A question about .308 Semi-autos reliability


imarangemaster
08-03-2014, 3:24 PM
For years I have read about the travails of .308 owners: AR10s of assorted flavors, few considered reliable, M1As with bad extractors, or failures to feed, SIGs that heed special treatment to work, or don't work at all, etc. I shopped for a .308 for several years, but was never happy with what I was reading. A weapon should work flawlessly out of the box, especially at the price one pays for a semi-auto 7.62x51!

Amazing that you never hear about these problems with proven military systems and their current civilian incarnations. First, the German marvel, the HK G3, currently available as HK91 and PTR91 (which have match grade US barrels). Second is the Belgian/British FN FAL/L1A1 available as DSA builds and a few other places.

My son and I bought PTR91A3Rs from Atlantic, and have never regretted it. He has a Redfield 4x12 Revenge, and I have a Redfield Revenge 3x9 with BDC. We haven't had a chance to shoot long range with them, but they have functioned flawless, and are deadly accurate at 100 yards. Taking them to Pala at the end of the month for distance.

I'm just saying..

dvs762
08-03-2014, 3:42 PM
do the PTR rifles use Surplus bolts and parts?

waawaaweenie
08-03-2014, 3:47 PM
I have a .308 AR and it has never even thought of misfiring or jamming

1CavScout
08-03-2014, 4:15 PM
do the PTR rifles use Surplus bolts and parts?

Most if not all surplus HK parts will work on the PTR's, but I believe all come with new factory parts now.

I have been shooting a lot of .308 lately with both my PTR91 and my SCAR, and both have been 100% reliable so far. If you buy the right rifle, it should be very reliable.

imarangemaster
08-03-2014, 4:48 PM
My understanding is that they make 100% of the parts in the US, though there is 100% interchangeability (within model limits). The fit and finish are awesome, and I even ran it dry for a mag to test it. The ammo is PMC 7.62.

I would have been happy with either an FAL or a 91 clone, but two factors swayed me: One, great reviews and a tremendous selection of varients on the PTR91, and I still had a stack of pre-ban 20 round G3 mags from when I sold wholesale in Shotgun News (before the internet).

section31
08-03-2014, 4:51 PM
Many 308 problems come from cheap ammo. I am looking at you CAVIM.

imarangemaster
08-03-2014, 4:54 PM
I had a Century CETME build years ago. When the .308 Steel case Wolf and Tula came out, I shot it in there. It ate ANY ammo I fed it: Steel cased Russian, surplus, factory .308, Lake City 7.62, etc. I never had a FTF or FTE.

Best sale
08-03-2014, 5:04 PM
Scar 17 here with nearly 2k rounds down the pipe. Only cleaned once, no misfiring, FTF or what have you. Basically no regret.

MrPlink
08-03-2014, 6:12 PM
Scar17 will run like a top.
Dsa and ptr should be gtg too

BigPimping
08-03-2014, 8:00 PM
I must score a PTR91. Yes, it is my lot in life.

CoopsDad
08-03-2014, 8:04 PM
I have a DPMS SASS that will eat anything loaded into the magazine. I've owned it for two years, it goes to the range regularly and it has never ftf'ed or fte'ed. My only complaint is that it's 15.5 lbs with scope and bipod.

CoopsDad
08-03-2014, 8:05 PM
That said, I want an FAL, too.

Arnelcheeze
08-03-2014, 9:45 PM
my Maten LR308 ran flawless, then sheared an extractor, replaced it with another DPMS extractor, had some issues double feeds and FTE. Replaced the extractor spring with a double unit from Sprinco, it runs like a champ once again. Probably will not run any CBC NATO ammo again.

TruEdge
08-03-2014, 9:57 PM
my Maten LR308 ran flawless, then sheared an extractor, replaced it with another DPMS extractor, had some issues double feeds and FTE. Replaced the extractor spring with a double unit from Sprinco, it runs like a champ once again. Probably will not run any CBC NATO ammo again.

What kind of BCG were you running?

Mssr. Eleganté
08-03-2014, 10:33 PM
Probably will not run any CBC NATO ammo again.

Weren't there a few years of CBC 7.62x51 (not NATO) from Brazil that were recalled by the distributor for blowing up several rifles? I think it was CBC 75 or CBC 76. The distributor went out of business because of the costs of the recall and the lawsuits.

dc2allday
08-03-2014, 10:35 PM
LRB m14sa?

TZL
08-04-2014, 1:44 AM
Scar17 runs like a champ and will make groups the PTR and FAL can only dream of....light for a 308 semi to boot !

Ptrs are good but weight, recoil and accuracy are the drawbacks

PTR is 2-3 MOA. And roller delay blowback is pretty stiff

Only true PSG1 is MOA, and that's like 16 lbs

I've never seen a FAL below two MOA, recoil a little softer than a PTR/g3 but far from a SCAR

Ronin2
08-04-2014, 2:52 AM
I have both a FN FAL and an HK91 and have NEVER had any kind of stoppage of any kind!:D

73Jim
08-04-2014, 6:45 AM
DPMS 308AR here without any issues. About a year old and 500 round, so still new. But I assume, like most machinery, 90% of the problems happen in the first or last 10% of its lifespan.

mt417
08-04-2014, 7:06 AM
No probs with my Springfield M1A or LaRue tOBR, shooting M118LR or Federal SMK/Hornady OTM.

russ69
08-04-2014, 7:06 AM
I have two M1As. My heavy barreled SuperMatch is my most used rifle because I competed with it for many years. Never once had any issues. I keep it maintained and only shoot my own match loads, it runs 100% for the last 30 plus years. I only have a few rounds through my new loaded model but so far I'm having no problems.

-hanko
08-04-2014, 8:37 AM
I have both a FN FAL and an HK91 and have NEVER had any kind of stoppage of any kind!:D
I have double-digit FAL's...since they were designed as battle rifles from the gitgo they do tend to eat anything and not burp. :D

Overall average accuracy is around 2-3 moa, a bit better with a SUIT or other glass installed. Definitely good for minute-of-human.

As to M1A's aka semi-auto M14 clones...unless you can buy an older Springfield which uses USGI parts, I think you're FAR better off with a Norinco or Polytech, or an LRB if you can afford the tariff.

Without the lifetime warranty, Springfield would have been bankrupt years ago.

NO reason I can see for oem extractors breaking in a battle rifle. Problem now is that since Springfield is out of USGI parts now, only God knows from where they source the parts, and the issue is reflected in warranty claims.:mad:

imarangemaster
08-04-2014, 8:58 AM
I had an Argentine FAL in the 90s and loved it. It ate anything, and was about 2 MOA. I had a Springfield Armory NM with a Match barrel and an ART-IV scope. Even at that, the best it did was about 2 MOA. Unlike the G3 mags I had from selling, I never had a stock of FAL or M1A mags to speak of. So when It came to FAL or PTR91, it was an easy choice. At $1100, it was WELL below M1A, AR10, or FAL prices. Plus.....it was readily available.

The PTR should at least do 2MOA if not a little better. The Redfield Revenge scopes are under appreciated. I have the 3x9 "Dial N Shoot" with BDC.

kotton
08-04-2014, 10:23 AM
I must score a PTR91. Yes, it is my lot in life.

Mines about ready to go up for sale. I can give you the 9er fan discount.

NHP1127
08-04-2014, 11:18 AM
Reliable AR 10 Style? LMT MWS

tjg
08-04-2014, 12:40 PM
I have a few .308's. The ones I didn't mess with (changed the barrel on one, changed the BCG on another) ran fine. I messed up the ones I modified at first but now they run great.

My SCAR has been very reliable. ~1500 shots, no problems, and very accurate.

JMP
08-04-2014, 1:19 PM
Show me a DI AR-15 (5.56 NATO), and I'll show you a semiautomatic rifle in .308 Winchester that is at least as reliable. AR-15s are friggin jamming machines.

Arnelcheeze
08-04-2014, 1:42 PM
What kind of BCG were you running?

its a chrome DPMS BCG

Dhena81
08-04-2014, 2:36 PM
Show me a DI AR-15 (5.56 NATO), and I'll show you a semiautomatic rifle in .308 Winchester that is at least as reliable. AR-15s are friggin jamming machines.

LOL @ the :troll:

You probably have no knowledge of the AR-15 to begin with your opinion is worth what was payed.


The HK G3 are considered some of the most reliable rifles ever produced. Sure you can't speed reload like your being featured in a Magpul video :D but you don't need to. Recoil impulse is subjective and overstated IMO maybe some people need to get out and shoot one for themselves before they regurgitate internet beta banter or check their roller gap.

I've been wanting to get a MWS for some time and the reviews I've read have all been favorable. It's one of only a few AR10/LR308 platforms I know of that has been subjected to military testing and fielding.

Then there's the Scar 17 there's really nothing to say about it other than its been my pleasure to own and shoot one. Those damn Belgium's made a fine rifle that has been thoroughly revised and field tested in some harsh conditions by some bad @$$ MF'ers.

beardog308
08-04-2014, 2:56 PM
I've had three FTE with my PTR. All on the same day using PMC. Three out of a hundred rounds that day. That was sometime last week. Round count is around 1000 and the rifle was clean. No problems yesterday with the same ammo. Still, my favorite in the safe.

Dhena81
08-04-2014, 3:32 PM
I've had three FTE with my PTR. All on the same day using PMC. Three out of a hundred rounds that day. That was sometime last week. Round count is around 1000 and the rifle was clean. No problems yesterday with the same ammo. Still, my favorite in the safe.

Is it a GI model? When was it made?

jdben92883
08-04-2014, 3:42 PM
Had an HK91 quite a while ago and it ate everything. I currently have a SCAR17 that is probably my all-time favorite .308. Also have an AR-10 and an POF .308. Haven't really had any issues with any of them.

The popularity of .308 AR's has grown considerably over the past couple years so it would make sense that you'd hear of more "issues" with them. More inexperienced shooters shooting more guns = more complaints.

timbo399
08-04-2014, 4:04 PM
Springfield M1A Scout was my first rifle 6 years ago and only have shot milsurp from various countries and never has choked on me once. SCAR 17 for 2 years and not one failure to fire either.

beardog308
08-04-2014, 6:42 PM
Is it a GI model? When was it made?

It is the GI model. Picked it up new from Turners around eight months ago.

nate76239
08-04-2014, 7:15 PM
I also have the PTR91 GI model bought June last year, no problems so far. When I broke down for cleaning it's the dirtiest rifle I've used. The internal part called the locking piece that fits in the bolt is a HK stamped part. I see them now under $1000 a few times recently.

Grumpyoldretiredcop
08-04-2014, 7:46 PM
FWIW, my Springfield Armory M1A has been perfectly reliable. It came to me equipped with a TRW bolt and milspec extractor, so it may not be a valid sample. I'm waiting to see how my new DPMS Panther treats me.