Well, it's tax refund time and a new rifle is in order. As I thought I knew what I wanted, when it comes down to laying the cash down on the table, reality sets in and the alternatives you've disregarded get renewed interest.
I had thought I had my mind made up on an M1A Scout Squad as I already have a standard M1A, .308 ammo and M1A magazines and I can readily get a new one for $1,600.
I have been looking for a general purpose smallish rifle that could fill most perceptible niches well, such as deer/hog hunting, shtf scenarios, range gun, general defense gun, etc. etc.
I have had this annoying infatuation with the 6.8spc cartridge for some time now and have been wanting a rifle in that caliber for awhile, but as ammo is so much more expensive than .308 I disregarded it.
I have always held the AR rifles in disregard, between being in .223, a caliber I have no use for and being a direct impingement gas system, a system I'm not fond of, I disregarded the AR design unless it had a gas piston and was chambered in 6.8spc. However AR's with gas pistons make them prohibitively expensive.
My primary interest in a 6.8 piston AR was the XCR rifle, but at nearly $2K I just can't justify it. In my previous searches of AR rifles in 6.8 I found that I prefer Rock River Arms Mid-Lengths in 6.8. For under $1K I could have a handy smallish rifle in a potent caliber that could fill the niche I need, I just need to get over my reservations of the direct impingement gas system.
So, I've narrowed my choices down to two contenders, an M1A Scout Squad in .308 or a RRA Middy in 6.8spc.
So what do you guys think? The money saved going with the RRA could go towards getting a few magazines and ammo. Also the RRA Mid is 2lbs lighter and 4" shorter than the M1A Scout Squad making it truly a handier little rifle.
I had thought I had my mind made up on an M1A Scout Squad as I already have a standard M1A, .308 ammo and M1A magazines and I can readily get a new one for $1,600.
I have been looking for a general purpose smallish rifle that could fill most perceptible niches well, such as deer/hog hunting, shtf scenarios, range gun, general defense gun, etc. etc.
I have had this annoying infatuation with the 6.8spc cartridge for some time now and have been wanting a rifle in that caliber for awhile, but as ammo is so much more expensive than .308 I disregarded it.
I have always held the AR rifles in disregard, between being in .223, a caliber I have no use for and being a direct impingement gas system, a system I'm not fond of, I disregarded the AR design unless it had a gas piston and was chambered in 6.8spc. However AR's with gas pistons make them prohibitively expensive.
My primary interest in a 6.8 piston AR was the XCR rifle, but at nearly $2K I just can't justify it. In my previous searches of AR rifles in 6.8 I found that I prefer Rock River Arms Mid-Lengths in 6.8. For under $1K I could have a handy smallish rifle in a potent caliber that could fill the niche I need, I just need to get over my reservations of the direct impingement gas system.
So, I've narrowed my choices down to two contenders, an M1A Scout Squad in .308 or a RRA Middy in 6.8spc.
So what do you guys think? The money saved going with the RRA could go towards getting a few magazines and ammo. Also the RRA Mid is 2lbs lighter and 4" shorter than the M1A Scout Squad making it truly a handier little rifle.
