acr vs. scar

J

jsmythe

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Minuteman
Feb 5, 2011
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Nashville, TN, USA
#1
Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of the pros and cons of the Bushmaster ACR and the FNH SCAR?
I have read numerous articles and reviews of both guns and I am finding it difficult to choose between the two guns.
 
#3
Re: acr vs. scar

Pros of the SCAR: Vetted in combat, lighter by about a pound. Many ancillary/3rd party parts/upgrades available.

Cons of the SCAR: Reciprocating charging handle, weak/flimsy feeling stock known to shear off at the lugs, does the same thing as an M4 with little improvement, piston design aside. Compatible only with USGI mags and end user modified PMAGs; will be compatible with upcoming. PMAG M3s.

Pros of the ACR: Greater/sleeker ergonomics, with more options in that area as far as the stock and handguards/rails go. Non-reciprocating charging handle. Solid construction, feels built like a tank. Compatible with market available USGI pattern mags and PMAGs.

Cons of the ACR: No fielding whatsoever offers no testament to its overall combat capacity. Unnecessary M4 profile barrel currently offered only in 1/9 twist, although 1/7 twist barrel options are supposed to be available eventually. Flimsy barrel ratchet system. Remington "2.0" improvements to rail handguard, stock, and barrel assembly not known to be available anytime soon. Not many 3rd party/ancillary after market parts available.

Pros of both: Next gen construction and design built from the ground up.

Cons of both: Hard to or next to impossible to acquire spare internal parts. Companies known for difficult to outright crappy customer service and support. Caliber and barrel conversion kits nowhere to be seen on the horizon.
 
#7
Re: acr vs. scar

I own both, I like both. The ACR has zero issues with pmags, my SCAR is picky. Both are quite accurate, both have never jammed, both eat everything I have put into them, both are stupid easy to clean.

I agree with everything Tim says in these videos, if you have not seen them he does a great job of a fair comparison.

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E623_4bDAwE"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E623_4bDAwE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
 
#8
Re: acr vs. scar

IMO the scar is really solid but the acr will be a multi caliber gun and that along with the quality and ergonomics puts it slightly ahead. Both great guns.
 
#9
Re: acr vs. scar

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Snake Plissken</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd assume 5.56 since he's comparing it to the ACR, of which the 308 version never came to fruition. </div></div>

Thanks for the clarification. Learning everyday.
 
#10
Re: acr vs. scar

I was trying to choose between the 2 as well, but the overall specs of the SCAR won me over I prefer the 1/7 barrel, and like that there are actually spare parts available now.
 
#12
Re: acr vs. scar

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Snake Plissken</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pros of the SCAR: Vetted in combat, lighter by about a pound. Many ancillary/3rd party parts/upgrades available.

Cons of the SCAR: Reciprocating charging handle, weak/flimsy feeling stock known to shear off at the lugs, does the same thing as an M4 with little improvement, piston design aside. Compatible only with USGI mags and end user modified PMAGs; will be compatible with upcoming. PMAG M3s.

Pros of the ACR: Greater/sleeker ergonomics, with more options in that area as far as the stock and handguards/rails go. Non-reciprocating charging handle. Solid construction, feels built like a tank. Compatible with market available USGI pattern mags and PMAGs.

Cons of the ACR: No fielding whatsoever offers no testament to its overall combat capacity. Unnecessary M4 profile barrel currently offered only in 1/9 twist, although 1/7 twist barrel options are supposed to be available eventually. Flimsy barrel ratchet system. Remington "2.0" improvements to rail handguard, stock, and barrel assembly not known to be available anytime soon. Not many 3rd party/ancillary after market parts available.

Pros of both: Next gen construction and design built from the ground up.

Cons of both: Hard to or next to impossible to acquire spare internal parts. Companies known for difficult to outright crappy customer service and support. Caliber and barrel conversion kits nowhere to be seen on the horizon. </div></div>


Hate to say it, but I've had my ACR 2 years and still hear these empty promises for barrel options and caliber conversions, the hand guard from Remington is not available to civilians and no plans to change that (called 5x to confirm it) and lastly, it's probably another vaporware item for future drooling is a folding charging handle.
So, unless someone starts doing aftermarket options, the Remington ACR upgrades don't apply to the BMI civilianized ACR.
 
#15
Re: acr vs. scar

the acr uses modified ar15 barrels, if you really want a 1/7 you can get it to work with some work. The scar is extremely light, the acr is somewhat of a pig.

remington doesnt support the civilian side of the market whatsoever, which is a shame because they could sell a bunch of acr's if they applied their upgrades to it and put it on the shelf for 1500. that being said the remington upgrades are really nice. the rail alone sheds 8 oz's to the enhanced rail
IMG_4586.jpg
 
#17
Re: acr vs. scar

i found it on gunbroker a while back. i paid a premium for it, but its 1 of 3 i know of in civilian hands and now discontinued thanks to the v2 acr

its actually a coyote one, but since my sbr was black i had to paint it to match, i can strip the paint without hurting the origional coyote tan which is a plus
 
#24
Re: acr vs. scar

Love the SCAR. I traded an LWRC and my Glock 17/31 for one. I've run 3k rounds thru the SCAR without cleaning it and it still runs like a champ with out any flaws or hiccups.

Bushy (Yet again) screwed the pooch on something that could have been a great tool. Let the dealers keep the ACR.

REALLY looking forward to the Tavor when it hits the market.
 
#26
Re: acr vs. scar

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JelloStorm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">AR does the same thing at a fraction of the cost. I'll never really need a piston upper since I'm not ever going to be in combat short of home defense. </div></div>

And even if you were a well built DI gun would serve you just fine.
 
#28
Re: acr vs. scar

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SNIPERS4DUMMIES</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Damn you bigdog2003, dangle the carrot in front of us
wink.gif


How's the weight distribution with that (-8) oz? </div></div>

lol my bad, the weight is more rearward than factory, suppressed it balances about where the barrel nut would be, unsuppressed it moves back about an inch to the front side of the magazine.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Andy T</div><div class="ubbcode-body">SCAR is combat proven. ACR isn't.</div></div>

while i agree that the scar is combat proven, the acr is being deployed by the military too-just not ours.
the polish grom started using the 10.5" remington acr's recently, so we'll see how they hold up.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JB Gleason</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is the black ACR rare or are y'all just referring to the hand guard on the rifle in the picture? </div></div>

kinda both, thats the first civilian 10.5" sbr acr that i know of. since bm has dropped the ball on releasing barrel sets i decided not to wait for them and did my own. The rail is also extremely rare, now that there is a v2 acr the rail is discontinued. Remington has no plans to release it to civilians.
 
#30
Re: acr vs. scar

I was looking into both of these rifles and ultimately settled on the scar 16s. Both rifles are excellent in my eyes and it is hard to go wrong. I have a SCAR and am super happy with it. The reciprocating handle bothers some people, but it doesn't bother me one bit, I just moved it to the right side of the rifle incase I want to grip the rifle at the mag well so it wont hit my thumb. You can also use the charging handle as a forward assist in a pinch.
 
#31
Re: acr vs. scar

there is actually a pretty good video by travis haley about running the scar16 that is pretty good. travis is one of the few guys running courses that puts out pretty solid stuff.
 
#34
Re: acr vs. scar

Owned both in 5.56/.223, sold them both.

Not a fan of either.

Bought a POF 14.5 .308 and the same rifle in 5.56.

The Scar may be combat proven, however it just feels cheap and "plasticky". Not glock "plasticky", felt like cheap harbor freight plastic. I dont know how to technically explain that, so will just leave it at that. Also, my Scar "pinged" when fired, probably completely normal just drove me nuts.

The ACR was neat, yet heavy as mentioned above. However I was lucky to get one early and the offer I took on it was ridiculous. So away it went, no real complaints however I just didnt see it being anything greater then what was already available from POF, LWRC, Knights, LMT, Noveske or alike.
 
#36
Re: acr vs. scar

I did this debate a while back, I did a ton of research too. My conclusion, I bought a scar. Both a good rifles,nthere is one major thing that made my mind up. There is an x factor, hold both and it becomes clear. The Scar is so well balanced it feels like it is much lighter even though its not. I think the acr has better features but the Scar is the better built gun. Mine shoots just a hair under MOA with non match ammo. I have yet to fire it with match grade (never found a need). The Scar takes down very easy and aside from my benelli M4, its the easiest gun to clean. Nothing like an AR. Recoil, is less than an AR. The Iron sights are so good it took me over a year to glass it because I was so content shooting it with Iron sights. I dont like the charging handle, great for reloads but its in the way more than its not. The lower can't except after market AR grips, only mil spec. The barrel is easily removed but requires a torque wrench and torque bits. Overall, I still like the acr but its just not enough to justify the purchse if you have an AR. the Scar however, is.
 
#37
Re: acr vs. scar

Never bought the ACR because it felt like 2 AK's zip tied together with a brick hung off the front. Bought the SCAR and the SR15 E-3. The timer and targets for all the drills I ran told me time and again I shot the SCAR faster and more accurately than everything else. I kept the SCAR. But i would not be heart broken if I had to run a teir 1 AR either.
 
#38
Re: acr vs. scar

I had an FN SCAR 16S and I too sold it and got a KAC SR-15 E3 Taupe... The SCAR was an accurate system but the trigger was rough, the piston got really hot and that heat transferred into the hand guards. Rapid fire pretty much required either gloves or a vertical grip. "Strike 3" was the fact that the SCAR would not take P-Mags so out it went. Rolling with the Stoner rifle now and not looking back
 
#39
Re: acr vs. scar

I've only handled the 2 rifles being discussed, but my immediate observations were that the ACR felt very front-heavy, and the SCAR has 'FNH' written on it.
 
#40
Re: acr vs. scar

I own an ACR and have fired the SCAR numerous times. Both are fine battle rifles! The reason I didn't swap over to the SCAR is because of the reciprocating charging handle. Both platforms are accurate, both triggers are pretty good. The cool thing about the ACR is the trigger is essentially an AR trigger, so you can change the springs out and changed trigger weight for $7.00.

Another poster said that the SCAR is battle tested and the ACR has not been battle tested. That is incorrect. The ACR has been utilized by operators in theatre. The reason they have not been talking about it is because the unit is not aloud to publicly discuss it. I personally know that the ACR is "battle tested as well".

Also a poster mentioned about how parts for the ACR are not offered like they should be from Remington that is absolutely true...


Another reason the the SCAR is in the military line-up is that they have some of the largest military contracts in US history. The make the .50 cal machine gun, the M240, and the M249 SAW.

Any more questions about the SCAR or ACR, I would be happy to answer via PM.

Also Massood can definitely probably help you out since he was the designer of the Masada (ACR)...
 
#41
Re: acr vs. scar

The SCAR gets my vote..The only problem I have with them is lack of replacement parts on the market..Mine runs like a sewing machine...They do take some adjusment if your used to an AR but the controls are very familiar...I added a pic of mine cause what is a thread witout pics..

Scar 16,USO SN4 1-4 Larue SPR 1.5,Docter Mini Burkett 45* mount

S8000007.jpg
 
#42
ACR Enhanced Black

If anyone on this thread is looking for an ACR Enhanced in black I have mine for sale. Downsizing the collection a bit. I'm in Cincinnati Ohio. Feel free to give me a call.

Eric 513-675-3994

cramey74 said:
The SCAR gets my vote..The only problem I have with them is lack of replacement parts on the market..Mine runs like a sewing machine...They do take some adjusment if your used to an AR but the controls are very familiar...I added a pic of mine cause what is a thread witout pics..

Scar 16,USO SN4 1-4 Larue SPR 1.5,Docter Mini Burkett 45* mount

S8000007.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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