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In Part 2 of our in-depth range review of the Ruger SFAR .308, we complete the manufacturer's recommended 200-round break-in and continue to assess the rifle's performance at greater distances. The Classic Firearms team also explores different options for accessories and upgrades to unlock the SFAR's full potential.
Last week, Classic Firearms kicked off our range review and build series on the Ruger SFAR .308 by sharing our initial impressions after firing 70 rounds with the rifle. The SFAR was pleasant to shoot with minimal felt recoil despite its small, lightweight frame and delivered impressive accuracy throughout the day. However, we did experience a few malfunctions.
Specs
Spent shells were always ejected between each shot, but occasionally the bolt wouldn't cycle completely and a round would get stuck between the breech and the bolt carrier group. Even though these failures to feed were the only malfunctions during an otherwise flawless range session, they were frequent enough to frustrate our attempts at achieving a proper zero with our newly mounted optic.
For our next outing, we decided to allocate 130 rounds of ammunition to complete Ruger's recommended 200-round break-in period with the rifle. This would enable us to ascertain whether the SFAR would improve with time or would continue to jam sporadically without making expensive, time-consuming modifications to the gun.
With the SFAR freshly cleaned and lubricated, we loaded three 20-round PMAGs with PMC .308 147gr FMJ and Federal PowerShok 150gr Soft Point ammunition before holding on our target fifty yards downrange. The first magazine ran without issue, but by the end of the third mag we'd had our first failure to feed. We unloaded and mortared the rifle to clear the malfunction before loading up 70 more rounds of Federal 150gr ammo.
Our next malfunction occurred halfway through the fifth magazine and was far easier to clear than previous jams because the round was already about 85 percent chambered (presenting a less awkward angle with less force required to extract the round) . After that, we experienced two more failures to feed during the sixth mag - though interestingly, these FTFs seemed to happen at random instead of back to back as they had during our first shots.
After crossing the 200-round threshold, we fired one mag with 10 more rounds of Federal and one mag with 10 rounds of Hornady .308 168gr BTHP Match. The Federal ran flawlessly, but we had one last failure to feed with the Hornady Match ammo before the end of our shoot. In total, we fired 150 rounds of mixed ammo on the second gas setting for an overall round count of 220, and we averaged 1-2 malfunctions every other mag.
This was a huge improvement over our first range session with the SFAR, which leads us to conclude that there is some truth to the break-in requirement for some SFAR rifles. In our opinion, this is similar to getting a handgun that is sprung too tightly; you either break it down, clean it, run it hard, and repeat until the problem goes away or you swap out the affected parts to achieve the desired performance.
If you enjoy shooting long guns, the break-in period for the Ruger SFAR probably doesn't sound that bad, and that's because it really isn't. One afternoon at the range helped loosen up the action significantly, while all that was required of us was sending rounds downrange and clearing the occasional malfunction. This rifle is incredibly accurate and has a softer recoil impulse than you might expect given its lightweight profile.
We shot consistently tight groups at 50 yards, often stacking hits on top of hits until the center of the target was more or less shredded. Overall, the SFAR delivers on two fronts, offering the powerful punch of the .308 / 7.62 NATO cartridge in a slim and accurate package.
Since we continued to experience malfunctions with various ammo on multiple gas settings, it may be necessary to upgrade the gas block or replace the gas system altogether. This type of failure to feed could also be caused by the buffer assembly or the bolt carrier group, so it will likely require some trial and error on our part to pinpoint the issue.
The next step is to contact Ruger's customer service department and inquire about replacement parts while we attempt to isolate the failure point. In the interim, the SFAR build will continue unabated - here's a sneak peek at some of the accessories the Classic Firearms team has selected.
Magpul's MBUS Pro canted flip-up sights provide a cost-effective backup optics system should our primary rifle scope fail while at the range or in the field. Plus, these melonite steel sights go nicely with the Magpul MOS grip and SL stock that come standard on all SFAR rifles from the factory.
For enhanced stability when shooting prone or from a rest, we can deploy the spring-loaded Harris bipod at a moment's notice. This model is compatible with M-LOK handguards and offers a reasonable degree of adjustment without adding too much weight or bulk to the rifle.
Streamlight offers solid lights at an amazing price point, making the ProTac HL-X Pro the perfect choice to mount on our Ruger SFAR build. And of course, we'll also be running a pressure switch to facilitate seamless operation while maintaining a proper grip with our support hand.
While the SFAR is significantly lighter than other AR-10 rifles, it still has a bit of heft to it. The Vickers adjustable two-point sling from the folks at Blue Force Gear does an excellent job of distributing weight evenly, and the padding enhances comfort when carrying the rifle for extended periods.
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This is a rifle we really want to like because it clearly has the potential to be a great shooter. Ruger's SFAR is lightweight and maneuverable, is capable of delivering sub-MOA groups, and is lots of fun to shoot. Unfortunately, the one drawback we've encountered during our time with the gun happens to be pretty significant: its reliability is somewhat questionable.
In all fairness to the SFAR, we hadn't cleaned it prior to our first range trip; however, we did field strip and clean it before completing the manufacturer's recommended break-in period for this blog. Performance has improved dramatically since then, but experiencing a failure to feed every other magazine is still not ideal. Overall, this is one major drawback for an otherwise excellent rifle that shoots well and has minimal felt recoil.
A few adjustments could make the SFAR run flawlessly, but that remains to be seen. We will continue to assess the gun's performance after a complete disassembly and cleaning, during which our team will try to determine the cause of the persistent failures to feed. This should help us decide if we need to upgrade the rifle's internal parts as well.
In the next installment of our range review and build series, we'll report our findings after contacting Ruger and will share any fixes with you. We will also compare the 16" and 20" variants of the SFAR to determine if one model is better than the other, as well as to gauge if our build can outperform a stock rifle. For more great battle rifle content, be sure to check out our video on the best battle rifles available for purchase in 2024.
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