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So I know Ruger is not the first to do this. POF has 2 versions of AR15's chambered in .308, but their price point is out of reach for most people. Enter the Ruger SFAR at around $1200 currenty. So is it all hype? A fad? Or did Ruger actually make a good product at the price point? Here is my review after my first range day with it.
Unboxing:
Like many I saw plenty of reviews talking about how lightweight the SFAR is. 6.8 lbs before optics and ammo sounds great, but you really don't realize how light that is till you pick it up for the first time. I was amazed at the balance when I picked it up the first time.
Making my configuration:
So since the whole purpose behind this gun is a lightweight .308 I kept my furniture adds to a minimum. I added a Swampfox Tomahawk 1-8 and thier freedom mount, with a Strike industries short vertical grip. Weight in the configuration is 8.4 lbs
![Air gun Wood Trigger Machine gun Gun barrel]()
Compatability with AR15 parts:
The lower reciever is proprietary (larger mag well and the fire control group is shifted back) obviously, as is the bolt and bolt carrier. Everything else is from the trigger to the stock compatible with an AR15 from what I can tell. The upper reciever is the same size. I.E. the image below of the upper on an AR15 vise block
![Wood Gas Bumper Automotive exterior Hardwood]()
![Trigger Air gun Machine gun Wood Gun barrel]()
Funny features:
So there are a couple of funny items I noticed. First there are alot of vent holes to prevent over pressure! Not shown is the hole on the other side of the reciever and the 2 holes under the bolt carrier.
![Automotive tire Bumper Wood Automotive exterior Automotive wheel system]()
The endplate is PLASTIC! So you cant stake the castle nut (that is changing ASAP)
![Wood Shotgun Bumper Air gun Gun accessory]()
The charging handle is small, like the normal AR15 one
![Bicycle part Gas Wood Camera accessory Cameras & optics]()
Range day
For ammo I was using Aguila 150gr FMJ. I ran 80 rounds through to get a feel for the gun. I kept its AGB at setting 3, which is what they recommend for break in. I did play around with it at 2, but I didn't notice alot of difference in recoil between 2 and 3 with the ammo.
Sight in:
Since the scope came from another rifle, I was sighted in within the first 5 shots at 25 yards. I was a bit worried with the 2 chamber brake they call the "boomer" but I didn't get any complaints from the other shooters next to me.
Recoil:
Recoil is subjective to the shooter. I.E. when I first built my 6.8 SPC with no AGB and a 16" midlength the recoil from 100 rounds cause me pain in my shoulder for days. With that said the recoil on this was very manageable. It was more than my 5.56 and 6.8, but not by alot. I could easily see a 300-500 round day without any shoulder problems.
Trigger:
No changes needed here in my opinion. Its Rugers upgraded 2 stage trigger. A nice crisp break and fast reset. I was doing double taps so fast the range master thought I had a binary trigger and I had to prove it wasnt. It kept the rounds on an 8 inch target at 50 yards doing those standing.
![Art Font Circle Electronic device Recreation]()
Accuracy:
Its fairly accurate. I think I am just out of practice 😩. 100 yard shots were a bit scattered in the 2 to 3 MOA range, but I think that was me more than the rifle, given the results I got at 50. I was only using a wood block and a single sandbag. Getting zeroed for 100 only took 5 rounds again (5th was the bullseye).
![Rectangle Pattern Symmetry Recreation Composite material]()
![Rectangle Slope Triangle Grass Font]()
Unboxing:
Like many I saw plenty of reviews talking about how lightweight the SFAR is. 6.8 lbs before optics and ammo sounds great, but you really don't realize how light that is till you pick it up for the first time. I was amazed at the balance when I picked it up the first time.
Making my configuration:
So since the whole purpose behind this gun is a lightweight .308 I kept my furniture adds to a minimum. I added a Swampfox Tomahawk 1-8 and thier freedom mount, with a Strike industries short vertical grip. Weight in the configuration is 8.4 lbs
Compatability with AR15 parts:
The lower reciever is proprietary (larger mag well and the fire control group is shifted back) obviously, as is the bolt and bolt carrier. Everything else is from the trigger to the stock compatible with an AR15 from what I can tell. The upper reciever is the same size. I.E. the image below of the upper on an AR15 vise block
Funny features:
So there are a couple of funny items I noticed. First there are alot of vent holes to prevent over pressure! Not shown is the hole on the other side of the reciever and the 2 holes under the bolt carrier.
The endplate is PLASTIC! So you cant stake the castle nut (that is changing ASAP)
The charging handle is small, like the normal AR15 one
Range day
For ammo I was using Aguila 150gr FMJ. I ran 80 rounds through to get a feel for the gun. I kept its AGB at setting 3, which is what they recommend for break in. I did play around with it at 2, but I didn't notice alot of difference in recoil between 2 and 3 with the ammo.
Sight in:
Since the scope came from another rifle, I was sighted in within the first 5 shots at 25 yards. I was a bit worried with the 2 chamber brake they call the "boomer" but I didn't get any complaints from the other shooters next to me.
Recoil:
Recoil is subjective to the shooter. I.E. when I first built my 6.8 SPC with no AGB and a 16" midlength the recoil from 100 rounds cause me pain in my shoulder for days. With that said the recoil on this was very manageable. It was more than my 5.56 and 6.8, but not by alot. I could easily see a 300-500 round day without any shoulder problems.
Trigger:
No changes needed here in my opinion. Its Rugers upgraded 2 stage trigger. A nice crisp break and fast reset. I was doing double taps so fast the range master thought I had a binary trigger and I had to prove it wasnt. It kept the rounds on an 8 inch target at 50 yards doing those standing.
Accuracy:
Its fairly accurate. I think I am just out of practice 😩. 100 yard shots were a bit scattered in the 2 to 3 MOA range, but I think that was me more than the rifle, given the results I got at 50. I was only using a wood block and a single sandbag. Getting zeroed for 100 only took 5 rounds again (5th was the bullseye).
