FN SCAR Rifle Review

Hey Folks,

Ken here again with another awesome weapon review. This time we are going to focus on one of my personal favorites (and a gun that is on most people’s bucket list) – the FNH SCAR series. Now, I know these rifles can be a bit pricey. With the 17S(308) model demanding an MSRP of $3,399 and the 16(5.56) also being upwards of $3k, you might ask why I would review something that most people would never buy.

The answer is that a lot of people do buy them, as they can be found for much lower prices. For instance, you can get them a lot cheaper at your local gun stores, or for an insanely low price if you are a member of CCRT. Also, the rifles are just plain amazing. Everyone who has ever shot mine has ended up buying one. But enough about that. Let’s get into the meat of all this and talk about the rifle itself.

SCAR Features:

Created by FNH, the SCAR platform was designed for modern warfare use by our elite special forces. The weapon system boasts some pretty amazing features, most of which are not found on your average, factory-built rifle.

Every SCAR built by FNH features:

• Ambi controls
• Reciprocating charging handle
• Foldable buttstock for vehicle transport
• Flip-up sights that are tool-less adjustable
• Adjustable piston system for shooting suppressed or unsuppressed
• Standard 1913 picatinny rails found in the 3,6,9, and 12 o’clock positions
• Quick change barrel
• Adjustable length of pull and cheek weld, and
• Factory muzzle brake

There are a lot of things I love about this rifle. Upon picking up the weapon, the first thing I noticed was how light it is. Stock weight on the 17S is a mere 8lbs, and slightly less on the 16. Accuracy with match grade ammo will yield 1 MOA results – not the most accurate, but more than acceptable for a battle rifle. Both the 16 and 17S come standard with a 16″ barrel. There is a 20″ 17 model slated to be released to the public in the late fall, but as of now it’s only available to our SOCOM community. (Don’t worry – there will be a write up on that one as well.) With a top rail length of 16.5 inches, mounting accessories is made quite easy. No need for cantilever scope mounts (which cost more) to mount your favorite piece of glass. The piston system keeps most of the carbon out of the chamber and expels gases out of the front. For those of us who are shooting suppressed, this is a nice change over the AR platform, which generally produces large amounts of gas near the shooter’s face while a suppressor is attached. Disassembly is also a breeze. The lower receiver is attached by one take down pin, and everything either slides off or out when disassembling.

Downsides to the SCAR:

As with most things, there are some elements that could be better. Let’s start with the trigger. There is no polite way to say it – it sucks. Not like doing-your-homework sucks, like Chicago-Cubs-baseball sucks. It’s awful. For a battle rifle, I suppose it’s OK, but I am a hardworking Joe Citizen, and I paid a lot of good money for this thing. It should really have a nicer trigger on it! Damn you, FN!! There is a fix, however. Geissele makes a product called the Super SCAR Trigger. Yes, it’s pricey (not for you CCRT members though!), but it’s worth every penny

One of the other things that I feel was designed poorly is the charging handle. I like the fact that it reciprocates; I dislike the fact it sticks straight out. If you value your knuckles like I do, you will hate the factory handle. Due to its angle, everytime you charge the rifle, your knuckles will get caught on your optics mount. Once again, fret not – there is a fix. Companies like GG&G, Impact Weapons Components, and Apex Tactical all make a charging handle that is bent down at an angle.

No QD points is my next complaint. While there are factory sling points attached to both sides of the rifle, those of us who use QD slings find the lack of them slightly annoying. Kinetic Development Group has the answer to that (thank God).

Last but not least (this one doesn’t really bother me, because I am an optics snob), the SCAR platform is notorious for destroying cheap optics. There is a lot of reciprocating mass in the upper receiver along with four points of recoil contact. These rifles will eat cheap glass for lunch. Those of you who like to dump a ton of money on a nice rifle and then stick an $80 sightmark on it will be replacing a lot of sightmarks.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, these rifles have come to be my favorites in my collection. The pros definitely outweigh the cons, and the cons were all pretty easy to fix. I have had both my 16 and 17S through multiple training courses and competitive 3-gun matches. Neither one has ever let me down, and they are a joy to shoot. Through over a year of evaluation, in every type of weather, I have found the SCAR series to be reliable, accurate, and easy to maintain, and I would recommend one to any shooter looking to put a tier-one level package in their collection.

Now stop reading this, and get out and train! As always, keep it safe and keep it fun.

Ken Elmore

Owner Midwest Rifle Works