+1 You need to try a quality AR rifle before giving up completely.
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I really like my SCAR and I've put a lot of rounds through it.
I believe the SCAR would serve your needs.
With that said. If I had to choose one carbine between my favorite AR or the SCAR I would still take the AR. The AR is just so easy to get parts for and those parts cost so much less. As an example I still can't buy an extra bolt for my SCAR and there are plenty of other good examples.
I'm not attempting to beat up the SCAR, I really do like mine. There are still some things I can't buy for it that I can for my ARs and the things I can buy for the SCAR are, on average, expensive compared to the AR.
I'd have a SCAR, I'd just have a good AR first.
Now in 308 I believe it is much easier to justify the SCAR over the AR platform (just my opinion).
It never pays to buy cheap because in the long run it will probably cost you more in the end. I think a first tier AR should be first and if you want a SCAR later that would be awesome. I know that a SCAR is in my future but there are other guns ahead of it that I would like to get.
If you don't mind me asking, what brand of AR did you begin with? Don't want to turn this into a brand war but it would solidify a person's argument for or against certain companies.
The first AR I ever laid hands on was my issued M16A2 at OCS. That thing had been beat to hell and all the parking had long since been scrubbed off the metal bits by years of incessant cleaning. It rusted easily and the parts rattled. I was issued two worn-out magazines and told not to slam them into the mag well too hard. Trying to shoot blanks through that thing resulted in a continuous string of double feeds, stuck bolts and short strokes. I came to know tap-rack-bang quite well. It didn't instill confidence in me for the weapon system.
Years later when I became interested in military-style carbines, I knew what I wanted and that was a SCAR. Which turned into an ACR because of its quick-change barrel and forward-located bolt catch, then an XCR when it looked like the ACR would not be around anytime soon if ever. I thought, I'm not messing around with that dirty, unreliable AR thing. I'm getting the latest and greatest.
My first carbine was an AR and now I wouldn't have it any other way. I saved myself a lot of money and hassle.
A few weeks ago I was at the rifle range blowing some rounds through my 6.8mm AR. A few lanes down was an older guy shooting a SIG 556, and two lanes further down was a younger guy with an XCR. I hefted the XCR, and while it was sweet to shoot, that thing was HEAVY. He picked up my pencil-barreled AR and marveled at how much lighter it was.
Moral of the story: Don't give up on the AR just yet. Especially if it's your only rifle. Done right, it will serve you just as well as any of the others, and better in some ways.
With that buttstock that allows AR buttstocks to be attached, and extended rails now out, I'd probably get the SCAR. It's a good weapon system and SOCOM not going with it is a logistic issue. With that said, I've got a AR that I pieced together that's pretty much a Crane issued MK18 Mod1 and I won't be selling it for the little gains the SCAR gets you.
I would go Tier 1 before going scar 16s.
If I had a choice between a Reaper and a 17s, I would go Scar.