.308/7.62 Compact Rifle and most common mags

[bgoldber]

I felt this would be a good place to start while I begin to save for my next purchase. Here is my question and I'd like to start the debate as such...

I am looking for a rifle in .308/7.62x51. I'd like this for target but also possibly SHTF/Security. What are some good options in a Bolt action or a Semi-Auto that is lightweight and handy (read: Short). I'd entertain either bolt or auto, but my biggest requirement is that I'd prefer detachable magazines that would be fairly easy to come by. This leads me to my second question...

What are the most common magazines for .308? What would I be most likely to encounter in a post-apocalyptic/brave new world?

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. I'd like to hear what you have personal experience with good or bad.

[damndave]

Lightweight and 308 generally don't go hand in hand. AR308 rifles are generally pretty heavy. As for a bolt rifle, the Remington 700 SPS Tactical is pretty sweet. You can always add bottom metal if you need/want a detachable mag.

With your requirements, the M1A Scout fits the bill nicely.

[EBR Works]

M1a Socom or Scout Squad.

[Lone_Gunman]

Have you looked at a Ruger Scout rifle?

[Vepr 54R]

M1a Socom or Scout Squad.

I second the M1A, plus the old milsurp M14 magazines will work with the M1A

[tiechshlime]

Ruger gunsight scout

[Cadre]

FAL!

[bgoldber]

Lightweight was why i was considering a bolt over semi auto.

I've shot the M1A SOCOM (not recently) and remember loving it, but I shot it from a rest because it was simply too heavy to maintain a good sight picture. I can't imagine carrying it around all day.

The Ruger Gunsight Scout looks nice, but are the mags readily available? Are they some kind of STANAG format? I feel like if i was going that route i'd just get the Mossberg MVP Predator and use M16 mags.

I saw someone was selling a Steyr Scout for 2200, If i had the money right now I'd snatch it up. I'm just wondering, if the .308 has such great reach wouldn't you be squandering it's potential by using a low power optic for short range shots?

[TRICKSTER]

These both come in 308.

[bomb_on_bus]

M1A socom 16 would be a good bet. For a bolt gun you could get a Remington 700 hunter with a light weight profile barrel and take the barrel down to the 30 inch over all length. IIRC you could get one under 7 pounds.

The Henry survival AR7 would be something what your looking for but alas its a .22lr. I haven't tried my googlefoo to find a .308 version but odds are theres something similiar

[m03]

SCAR 17S

[jeffrice6]

Mini 30 7.62

[FMJBT]

It can be done with a 308 AR platform. I had a very similar goal in mind when I built this:



Overall length when collapsed is around 32" IIRC. Weight is about 10 pounds as pictured. It's a very easy rifle to carry, not much worse than a standard issue M-16, but much more capable. The 2.5-10X32 scope allows decent close range performance when dialed down, and at max power allows the rifle to stretch out to 1000 yards or more. Granted, shooting a 16" barrel at 1000 yards will require some specially made ammo, but that's the case with nearly all 308's. For mine, I've discovered that heavy 190 grain match hollow points pushed with Hodgedon CFE-223 work extremely well at ranges that border on ridiculous considering the short barrel.

I'm not sure how common 308 Pmags will be during or after a SHTF event, but they are certainly more common than most mags adapted for use in bolt action rifles. Just to be safe, I'm going to continue stockpiling them until SHTF

[Powerkraut]

Kel-tec makes a bullpup .308 that takes FAL mags, I've hear good reviews from it. Probably not CA compliant though. For a bolt gun detachable mags are pretty pointless, much better to get a milsurp with a stripper clip guide and pack your rounds on those. The ruger scout is a joke, M77 with proprietary mags (why oh why not use M14 mags?!) and you basically pay $300-$400 than what the gun is practically worth. Steyer and Savage make better scouts, still proprietary mags though.

30-06 is just as common as .308 here in the US of A. My suggestion is pick up a sporterized Springfield 1903. With stripper clips you should be able to load 5+5 almost as fast as 10, you save weight on mags, and you don't have a big donkey-dick hanging off the bottom of your rifle to snap on crap or prevent you from shooting prone. If you have a hardon for .308 get an IDF mauser. Alternatively you could buy almost any .308 bolt gun out there, my preference is the Savage 11/111.

[sigstroker]

Worldwide the FAL mag is probably the most popular. In the U.S. the M14 mag is the most popular, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are actually more FAL mags in the country. In the good old days you could buy unused surplus FAL mags by the crate for two bucks each.

I know what your objective is. You are barking up the wrong tree. There was never a "standard" .308 magazine, and there is nothing anywhere near as ubiquitous as the M16 magazine.