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A rugged yet lightweight AR-platform battle rifle chambered in .308 / 7.62 NATO seems almost too good to be true. But is it? That's what we're going to determine once and for all throughout this range review / build series on the Ruger SFAR rifle.
Ruger's SFAR (Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle) has recently become a hot topic in online forums and the comments under gun review videos. It is essentially an AR-10 chambered in .308 / 7.62 NATO, yet it is closer in size and weight to a standard AR-15 rifle. Many shooters are excited by the prospect of an expanding lineup of heavy hitting, easy to carry battle rifles.
Specs
Despite its popularity, the SFAR is not without its detractors. Several prominent guntubers have experienced malfunctions (primarily feeding problems) due to the rifle's 4-setting adjustable gas system. According to Ruger, the second setting should be the sweet spot for firing unsuppressed while using standard ammunition - this was not the case for these reviewers, at least not at first.
An initial 200-round break-in period seems to have remedied some of the early problems captured on camera, while an updated gas block from Ruger will reportedly enhance reliability whether or not the shooter has actually experienced issues with cycling. The SFAR may simply be an instance of a firearm that sometimes needs a little extra TLC, because many individuals report having great success with their rifles right out of the gate.
Today's blog is the first in a series of range reviews in which the Classic Firearms team will endeavor to prove conclusively if the Ruger SFAR is worth picking up in 2024. We bought a 16-inch barrel Ruger SFAR with our own money and will evaluate the rifle's performance as we break it in, while also building the SFAR out with our favorite optic and accessories.
At each stage, we will provide a comprehensive range report on the SFAR's reliability and precision, with a detailed accounting of any problems the team encounters along the way. Our goal as always is to be as transparent as possible, so that you can make an informed purchasing decision.
Each rifle ships with one 20-round PMAG, an instruction manual, and a trigger lock. The box is Ruger's standard white cardboard, with foam inserts to protect the gun and hold the PMAG securely in place during transit. After unboxing the SFAR, we mounted a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 LPVO with the BDC3 reticle using Leupold scope rings and hit the range.
For the Ruger SFAR's inaugural range outing, we loaded 60 rounds of PMC .308 147gr FMJ and 10 rounds of Hornady .308 168gr BTHP Match ammo in PMAGs. A grid target was placed at approximately 25 yards and utilizing the shooting bench as an improvised rest, we began the process of dialing in a rough zero for the Strike Eagle LPVO.
The trigger pull was smooth and crisp, about what you'd expect from an intermediate single-stage AR fire control group. In terms of recoil, the SFAR shoots about as comfortably as any other AR-10 model despite its considerably smaller frame and lighter weight. Our first magazine fed flawlessly and we were able to get a few decent groups, even as we were adjusting the scope for windage and elevation. Halfway through the second mag however, we encountered our first of several malfunctions.
After firing approximately 30 rounds on the second gas setting, we had a failure to feed. The bolt cycled and a spent casing was ejected, but the next round was caught halfway between the breech and the bolt carrier group. We had to unload and mortar the SFAR in order to clear the malfunction before we could continue breaking in the rifle.
This malfunction occurred a few more times as we switched to our third mag of PMC 147gr FMJ, so we bumped the gas to the third setting for the remainder of the shoot. After that, we did not experience another FTF until we loaded our last magazine with 10 rounds of Hornady 168gr BTHP Match, at which point we reverted to mortaring the rifle in between each shot. The SFAR surprisingly did worse with the Hornady 168gr than the standard PMC 147gr .308 ammo, even on the higher gas setting.
Reliability issues notwithstanding, the Ruger SFAR was surprisingly pleasant to shoot and controlled extremely well during our time behind the trigger. We were also impressed with its accuracy, although the SFAR has yet to be pushed anywhere close to its maximum effective range. Having sighted in the rifle, our next step will be to achieve a more precise zero and make some shots at longer distances.
We look forward to seeing what this rifle can do out past 100 yards. The SFAR delivered increasingly small groupings and may even be capable of sub-MOA performance in the right hands. For example, below is the last frame of our grid target, with the shots in / on the red representing our final three shots as we got dialed in with the Strike Eagle.
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Despite experiencing several malfunctions, the Classic Firearms team has elected to withhold final judgement until the SFAR's 200-round break-in period is complete (130 rounds to go!) This rifle has the potential to be great if we are able to properly diagnose and remedy the cause of the aforementioned feeding issues, or if they go away once the rifle is broken in. For now, the SFAR has been field stripped for a thorough cleaning and all critical parts have been lubricated.
The Ruger SFAR shoots incredibly well when the gun cycles properly, so our hope is that it continues to loosen up as we fire more rounds and try different magazine / ammo combinations. However, if we determine the gas system is indeed the culprit, we'll break out the tools and start working on a fix that will improve reliability.
In the next installment, we'll complete the rest of our break-in period and continue building out the SFAR with a bipod, sling, and backup irons. Want even more precision shooting content to tide you over for the interim? Be sure to check out Season 1 of our Bolt Action Build Series to find out which bolt gun (and which shooter) is best.
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