SCAR 17 CQC....why or why not?

[Leuthas]

Look at the numbers for velocity between 13.5 and 16.5 inch. Its surprisingly negligible with 155gr amax and 150gr interlock loads - less than 100fps in 3 inches.

And the 17 doesn't have issues with eating quality optics, despite the frequency of the claim.

[BooneGA]

Not made up yet lol. Just saying if it did it, I would do a chop/pin instead of going the NFA route for another $1000 to for an extra inch taken off the barrel.

I'd love to hear from guys who have real world experience with a SCAR 17 CQC. At what distance does the round teeter out and loose enough energy to take down a deer for example? I know many are fielded in the GWOT in the CQC setup.

I shot a guy at around 400m this last trip. Wasn't a clean kill (snap shot though a thermal - but he wasnt happy about it). I had zero issues hitting man sized targets out to 700m with the 13" barrel.

I did some muzzle velocity testing with different loads - see below.

16” Scar

M118LR

AVG – 2504
SD – 22.1
Max – 2531
Min – 2476

MK316

AVG – 2532
SD – 13.8
Max – 2552
Min – 2518

M80 Ball

AVG – 2606
SD – 27.3
Max – 2651
Min - 2583


13” Scar

M118LR

AVG – 2424
SD – 8.6
Max – 2432
Min – 2410

MK316

AVG – 2442
SD – 6.3
Max – 2449
Min – 2434

M80 Ball

AVG – 2527
SD – 16.7
Max – 2549
Min - 2512

The average velocity loss over all of the loads was only 83 FPS.

Rick

[Tspeis]

I have had my Scar 17 a while now. Love it. Recently got my Sandman S which I intended to run on my 17. With the stock barrel, it is quite long and a little front heavy. I'm seriously considering sending my barrel to Marvin Pitts or PMM to have it cut down and the FH pinned to 16in OAL. This will make for a much handier rifle with the suppressor. I run a TA11E on my 17s as a battle rifle. I don't get why guys put these big scopes on a 17s. You can get better accuracy with another platform. The SCAR 17 is a friggin battle rifle to me so I want to run it like one suppressed. I realize I will have to mess with the gas jets a bit.

My reservations are the loss in velocity. And how much punch the round will have at a distance. Idon't intend to really ever take shots past 600 yards for sure, and nothing past 300 yards hunting.

I'm looking for some help deciding from guys who have real world expirience with a SCAR 17 CQC at the range, GWOT, and hunting in the states. Thanks in advance!

A lot has changed in ten years with regards to short 308's. A few things worth considering. MOST rifle rounds, regardless of caliber, will generally exhibit the same terminal performance when impacting targets beyond 300 meters (enter, yaw, exit). I see the Hornady ELD-X and similar offerings are said to upset in tissue as far as 800 yards, but I have no first hand data to support that.

Inside 300, my primary concern would be terminal performance. Beyond that, it's a matter of hit probability. From a 13" gun, load selection will obviously be limited, but there are some loads coming that will definitely make it a viable option. Your 1:12" twist is the limiting factor in my opinion. If it were me, I'd want a 1:8" twist and optimized loads. For punching paper, there are high BC bullets you can take advantage of with a fast twist, even in a short barrel. In sea level conditions, JBM shows a 160 gr Warner Flatline (.585 G1 BC) staying supersonic past 1,000 yards using a 12" barrel MV. One upcoming load in particular will be designed specifically around 12" - 16" gas guns. I'm told it has shown consistent terminal effects (both FBI spec barrier and unobstructed) from 0-300 and retains better velocity out to 1,200 yards than the 168 gr Gold Dot.

If you're going to go 13", I'd drop the extra coin on a new barrel altogether and see if you can source one with a 1:8" twist to make up for the loss in velocity. I think with the right setup, you could stretch a short gun pretty far.


Tspeis

[Fox33]

/\/\/\/\/\/\ this /\/\/\/\/\/\

[Sensei]

How does one get a 1:8 twist barrel for a SCAR-17?

[Leuthas]

How does one get a 1:8 twist barrel for a SCAR-17?

There are shops that'll make custom SCAR barrels these days. I was looking at a 1:10 for my 17 last year, before I ditched the platform.

I hope the popularity of the SCAR continues to grow, because it seriously needs aftermarket support.

[Sensei]

I know that Hi Desert Dog was advertising aftermarket barrels, but those of us familiar with the platform do not trust that particular shop for aftermarket accessories. Perhaps others are doing it, but not advertising it? Personally, Marvin Pitts is the only person that I'd trust to do serious work on the platform.

[Leuthas]

I know that Hi Desert Dog was advertising aftermarket barrels, but those of us familiar with the platform do not trust that particular shop for aftermarket accessories. Perhaps others are doing it, but not advertising it? Personally, Marvin Pitts is the only person that I'd trust to do serious work on the platform.

HDD is a no go. I tried dealing with them at one point and I could barely discern they were even in business.

[caporider]

I shot a guy at around 400m this last trip. Wasn't a clean kill (snap shot though a thermal - but he wasnt happy about it). I had zero issues hitting man sized targets out to 700m with the 13" barrel.

I did some muzzle velocity testing with different loads - see below.

16” Scar

M118LR

AVG – 2504
SD – 22.1
Max – 2531
Min – 2476

MK316

AVG – 2532
SD – 13.8
Max – 2552
Min – 2518

M80 Ball

AVG – 2606
SD – 27.3
Max – 2651
Min - 2583


13” Scar

M118LR

AVG – 2424
SD – 8.6
Max – 2432
Min – 2410

MK316

AVG – 2442
SD – 6.3
Max – 2449
Min – 2434

M80 Ball

AVG – 2527
SD – 16.7
Max – 2549
Min - 2512

The average velocity loss over all of the loads was only 83 FPS.

Rick

Great info - thank you.

[diving dave]

Interesting stuff. On a side note, who has played around with the gas jets? I have a 17s and a 16s, both using AAC cans. I havent had any issues, but I keep seeing to cut down on wear and tear to replace the jet...