Special forces Combat Assault Rifle: SCAR 16S

The author firing with the buttstock folded

The author firing in the standard configuration

The author's SCAR and Jeep Rubicon

From another angle

The author with his SCAR 16S at the range

Welcome all to the first installment of It Goes "Bang!" I will be writing in with updates hopefully every week or so with news, reviews, praises, gripes, tips or anything having to do with the world of shooting and firearms.

For our first foray today I figured I'd start out with a good old-fashioned review. And what better to start something like this than with a beauty like Fabrique National's Special Forces Combat Assault Rifle, or better known by its acronym, the SCAR.

Fabrique National is originally a Belgian company. It's US branch is one of the major manufacturers for weapons for the US military, making most of the machine guns our troops use. The SCAR was developed completly from scratch for US Special Forces operators, and is currently in service with some of our elite units right now. It comes in two versions; The SCAR-L (light) MK16 chambered in the NATO 5.56 and the SCAR-H (Heavy) MK17 chambered in the 7.62 NATO.

FN recently started making civilian versions of the SCAR, the 16S and the 17S, corresponding to thier military versions, the MK16 and MK17 respectively. The only difference between the military and civilian rifles is the civil models lack the full-auto capability of the military versions. Aside from this, the rifles are identical to thier military counterparts.

I was lucky enough this week to be contacted by one of my distributors, telling me that he had a SCAR 16S for sale. For many people, there is a waiting list three miles long for a SCAR rifle. The rifle only went on the market at the end of 2008, and the last I heard if you wanted one, you had better be prepared to wait a year or two for it. I had added the SCAR to my wish list with my distributor earlier this year, thinking it was a pipe dream at best. So when I received this call, I jupmed on the opportunity to own one of these coveted rifles quicker than a Trekkie at the chance for a Leonard Nimoy autograph. I ordered it and two days later, I received a plain brown box labelled "SCAR GUN BOX" on the outside. Like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, I opened the box, eagerly anticipating wrapping my hands on that dealy peice of cold blue steel. I got it out of the box and the first thing I notice is how light the gun is. Fully loaded the SCAR 16S weighs 7.5 pounds, a full two pounds lighter than its M4 counterpart that I spent so much time carrying during my time in the Infantry.

On top of its light weight, the SCAR has many user friendly features, most of which are listed on the SCAR's website in its product video here at: http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF054&gid=FNG006&mid=FNM0152#

It has so many, in fact, that I'm not going to actually list all of them, this blog is long enough anyway. First is the folding buttstock, something not possible on the M4 rifles. This folds the collapsable buttstock to the right side of the weapon, but still keeping it clear of the brass defelctor, so the weapon can be fired in this configuration. It has full rails for accesories and optics. It also comes with flip up front and rear sights, both of which have windage and elevation adjustment. That was nice for someone like me who is such a strong left side shooter, I've cranked my peepsights on other rifles so far left that they won't move anymore and I have to use that ol' "Kentucky Windage" to hit what I was aiming at. The sights are not an after thought like the Masada or the various piston AR's out there, they are integral to the weapon. The charging handle can be moved to either side of the weapon, facilitating left or right handed shooters. In fact, the whole weapon is made for ambidexterity, with safety controls and sling hardpoints on both sides of the weapon. This was nice for a southpaw like myself.

When I got my SCAR out to the range, I set up my military standard 25 meter zeroing targets, and got fixed in. The first three rounds came out like a dream. I have shot a lot of 5.56 in my time with the military and afterwards, and the 5.56 is not a round that is not known for its tremendous kick. The M4 does have a recoil, but it is easily manegable. The SCAR eliminates even the little kick the regular 5.56 rifle has. If I hadn't known better, I would have sworn that I was shooting a 9mm luger carbine or a light .22 rimfire rifle. Every round, aimed with my EOTech or the iron sights, stacked one on top of another in dime sized groupings. I got it zeroed to 25 meters, but I found that the rifle is accurate to a fault. What was just a minor deviation to the right at 25 meters was exacerbated to a 5 inch deviation at 100 meters. The groupings were always consistent, but additional adjusment was necessary. I worked my zero out to 300 meters, then started to have some fun. I went through tactical drills, reloads, and basically just having fun for the rest of the day. The rifle is good for at least out to 300 meters. That was the farthest the range I was at went out to. and shot consistantly at any distance. I even folded the buttstock in and was able to consitently hit a 12x6 inch metal plate that was positioned at the 50 meter distance. The rifle hit the mark every time.

I only noticed two faults with the rifle. First the more important; my polymer Magpul PMAGS do not work so well in the SCAR. When loaded and inserted to the rifle with bolt open, if you try to close it by pulling back on the bolt and releasing, the bolt will not go forward, you have to press the bolt release lever on the side. They also tend not to lock the bolt back when emptied. I had no problems with the standard metal mags I used. The second fault was my one point sling tends to pop the buttstock out of place when its folded in the side position due to the placement of the left handed sling hardpoint. All in all, minor concerns, at best.

In short, the SCAR is the finest assault rifle I've ever fired. It is easy and intuitive to use and sublimely accurate. It has little to no recoil and can be shot accurately without having it in your shoulder. I fully approve and recommend this rifle to anybody, assuming you can get your hands on one. Find your local gun nut and make nicey nicey, its well worth the invite to the range.

I'm going to sign off now, but I'll be back with more posts, updates, news, and reviews. Safe shooting everyone!