Selection of a Battle Rifle and Initial Configuration of a Battle Rifle

Before we begin with reducing the weight of a battle rifle, we need to define it. A Battle Rifle can be basically defined as a semi-automatic rifle chambered in a cartridge of .308 Winchester or bigger.

Battle Rifle Selection

I personally prefer either an SR-25, M110  or other AR  type battle rifle that uses Magpul .308 PMAGs or an HK-91/PTR-91 type rifle simply because of the parts and magazine availability in the United States.

It is my opinion that the FN-FAL and the M-14 rifles have really been superseded by the rise of AR platform rifles in .308 Winchester on the US firearms market.

There is still a niche for the PTR-91 and HK-91 rifles simply because the platform is not really ammo sensitive and the magazines are reliable and inexpensive.

HK-91, G3, or PTR-91 Rifles

English: HK41 Rifle. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• Decide on what the rifle’s mission or job requirements are.
  • What distance are you likely to use it at?
  • Under what circumstances may you need to deploy the gun?
  • About short barrel lengths on a .308
    • If you need something for very short range use, remember that the PDW barrel length significantly reduce the velocity and terminal performance of a .308 bullet.
• Handguard
  • Do you need to mount any forward grips on the hand guard?
  • Do you need to mount any flashlights on the hand guard?
  • Here are the weights (measured in ounces) for the available hand guards and stocks for the PTR-91
    • From http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-long-gun-talk/106129-weight-hk91-g3-forearms-2.html

    • Butt Stocks (all w/backplate & recoil rod/spring and standard buffer – where applicable):
      46.5 – SR9 thumbhole (Rare)
      33.9 – HK new retractable convex (Sliding Stock)
      33.2 – Choate folder (I’ve had a good experience with this stock)
      26.4 – Tapco T6 4-pos – US (I checked Tapco’s site and this one doesn’t seem to be available anymore)
      25.6 – ACE folder – US (ACE may have a somewhat extended waiting time)
      25.4 – HK light-green A2
      24.8 – FMP green A2
      24.2 – Wood stock
      22.9 – PTR black A2 stock – US
      just the backplate w/rod and spring is around 8.5
      just the standard buffer is about 4.1
      just the MSG90 buffer is 6.5Handguards:
      13.8 – HK wide new
      13.1 – HK wide old
      12.5 – Wide black vented
      12.3 – SR9
      10.7 – PTR Aluminum – US (Most common on PTR-91 rifles)
      7.1 – HK slim w/heat shield (Easily found on www.hkparts.net)
      5.9 – HK wood
      4.5 – PTR slim w/o heat shield – US

SR-25/AR-10 Pattern Rifles

From http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_121/413443_.html

Magazines 

There are primarily two magazines styles for the .308 rifles, the original Armalite-Fairchild magazines used in the original AR-10s, then picked up by the KAC SR-25 (henceforth called the SR-25 Type) and the Modern Armalite AR-10 type which is a modified M-14 magazine. It should be pointed out RRA (and formerly Bushmaster) make rifles that use FAL magazines, and CMMG has a lower which uses G3 magazines.

• Armalite AR-10 type (used by Armalite, Noveske, Eagle Arms, Georgia Precision; capacities: 5, 10, 20, 25)

• SR-25 Type

(used by DPMS, KAC, LaRue, POF, LWRC, JP Rifles, 1950s Armalites, Remington, Fulton-Armory; capacities: 4, 10, 19, 20)

• FAL Magzines (Metric or Inch pattern; used by Bushmaster, RRA; capacities: 5, 10, 20, 30)

• G3 Magazines (CMMG .308 Lower)

• One thing to also remember about .308 ARs is that there is not yet a specification that they all generally adhere to.
  • Be sure to do your research first on lower receiver to upper receiver compatibility.
  • There is a lot of great information here http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_121/413443_.html
• Configure separate upper receivers for long distance use and CQB use.
  • Long distance use uppers are going to be heavier because of the longer barrel that may also be a bull barrel.
  • Short distance use uppers should be as lightweight as possible.

 

Related articles

• CMMG announcing Mk3 CBR .308 carbine (guns.com)
• What Makes A Bad AR? Let’s Look At Battle Rifle Company (thefirearmblog.com)
• Battle Rifle Breakdown (fromthetrenchesworldreport.com)
• Gun Review: Ruger SR-762 (thetruthaboutguns.com)
• CMMG Mk3 CBR (Carbine Battle Rifle) (thefirearmblog.com)
• DADDY LIKE: Israel’s IWI Tavor Battle Rifle (directorblue.blogspot.com)
• Today’s Armalite AR-10 Battle Rifle – Gun Review (fromthetrenchesworldreport.com)
• CMMG’s New .308 Mk3 CBR (gunmartblog.com)
• The SAWs that never WAS: Part 4, H&K XM262 (weaponsman.com)
• Tell me again… (theboysgirl.wordpress.com)

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Tagged with: .308 Winchester, AR-10, AR-15, armalite, Battle Rifle, CMMG, firearms, FN FAL, Georgia, gun control, Guns, rifle, rifles, Tapco, United States, Winchester
Posted in Rifles