This text first appeared on AmmoLand Information on September 13, 2023, and seems right here now with contemporary updates.
Sure, I do know that declaring the FN SCAR 20s NRCH Rifle as excellent is each a daring assertion and one that may undoubtedly fire up the remark part like a freshly-kicked anthill. However hear me out; I’ve shot a whole bunch of various firearms in my profession, and with the doable exception of an Anschutz 22lr I shot at an occasion for the Winter Olympics a decade in the past, no different gun has made me really feel like such a reliable shooter.
Hell, I’d even go as far as to say it makes me really feel like a top-tier elite sniper.
Why?
Not due to the long-lasting look of the gun or its impeccable army file – however pure unadulterated efficiency. Efficiency so good, that it defied all my expectations and completely surpassed them. Even nonetheless, with the SCAR 20s’ excessive MSRP, it nonetheless begs the query, “Is it actually price it?”
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Let’s take a more in-depth look and discover out.
Earlier than I get into the small print of this legendary efficiency, it’s vital first to get a strong understanding of how the SCAR 20s NRCH works, what it’s, and what it isn’t.
For starters, the FN SCAR 20s is a short-stroke piston-driven semi-automatic rifle chambered in both .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. It feeds from a proprietary journal that’s basically a modified FAL journal, and manufacturing facility magazines for the gun can be found in 10 and 20-round capacities. (Each the 308 and 6.5 variations use the identical magazines, and share that journal with the SCAR 17s.) The SCAR consists of two halves pinned collectively not totally in contrast to an AR-15.
SCAR 20s NRCH Options
The higher contains a full-length, free-floated handguard constructed from extruded aluminum that’s so giant that it’s superb for mounting high-magnification precision optics with a clip-on NVG or thermal unit. On the very finish of the handguard is an ambidextrous twin sling loop that makes transporting the rifle within the area a lot simpler. (Good to not have to put in one as effectively.)
Underneath the handguard, the SCAR sports activities a 20-inch match-grade barrel with a 1:8-inch right-hand twist. That is superb for maximizing each velocity and stability to effortlessly dispatch targets past 1,000 yards.
This to-notch barrel additionally features a 5/8×24 threaded muzzle topped with an aggressive (and efficient) Surefire ProComp 762 muzzle brake. This two-port takes what little recoil the hefty gun has, and all however completely eliminates it.
Personally, I eliminated the manufacturing facility brake from the SCAR 20s, and changed it with a SilencerCo ASR two-port brake in order that I might connect my go-to suppressor – the SilencerCo Saker 762 ASR (supplied by SilencerShop.com)
And whereas the gun ran flawlessly with the Saker put in, make no mistake, high-velocity, big-bore caliber firearms are extra nice when suppressed, however are under no circumstances ‘quiet’. Nonetheless, it makes listening to distant impacts on metal targets a lot simpler – which I did an excessive amount of with this gun. However extra on that in a bit.
Behind the muzzle brake, the SCAR has an adjustable gasoline regulator that appears greater than just a little impressed by the FAL’s, although tremendously streamlined and far simpler to regulate. The system has three settings: 12 o’clock standard-setting, 10 o’clock suppressed setting (lowered gasoline strain to compensate for elevated backpressure of a suppressor), and 4 o’clock disassembly setting – although within the area you’ll solely ever use the primary two.
FN SCAR 20s NRCH Ergonomics
Persevering with backward, the handguard additionally options Picatinny rail segments on the three, six, and 9 o’clock positions. Why doesn’t it function M-Lok slots? Presumably, as a result of weight isn’t an element, and since the gun was initially designed for SOCOM, and the army isn’t precisely fast to undertake new know-how.
Simply behind the handguard, the SCAR 20s options an ambidextrous charging deal with that now with the Gen 2 fashions, doesn’t reciprocate. Personally, I really feel this can be a large enchancment to the gun’s ergonomics, because it permits shooters to chamber a spherical with out having to alter their taking pictures place whereas inclined.
Talking of ergonomics, behind the charging deal with the brand new SCAR consists of an ambi security and bolt-release which are like outsized clones of these discovered on an AR-15. So shooters aware of America’s favourite rifle will really feel proper at residence behind the FDE beast.
Beneath the controls, the SCAR ships with a superb Geissele ‘Tremendous SCAR’ Two-Stage Match set off. In testing, the set off’s second stage broke at a hair beneath two kilos! This set off is arguably the nicest SCAR set off available on the market – and the value displays that. If a shooter have been to buy one for his or her normal SCAR rifle, it might price greater than $300! So given the 20s’ excessive worth level, it’s a pleasant addition that helps soften the monetary blow of shopping for such a high-end machine.
Beneath the set off, the SCAR 20s NRCH options one of the comfy (and un-aesthetically pleasing) pistol grips accessible: the Hogue smooth over-molded finger-grooved grip. Usually, finger-grooved grips on any firearm are a blended bag; they both suit you like a glove, or the grooves are within the incorrect place and the grip feels awkward as hell. Fortunately, the smooth pliable nature of the fabric used within the grip’s development mitigates this, and any felt recoil transferred to the taking pictures hand.
Lastly, on the rear of the gun, the SCAR 20s NRCH options a superb aluminum PRS-style inventory. The inventory is adjustable for length-of-pull, comb peak and incorporates a backside Picatinny rail for attaching a monopod. In testing, this inventory was comfy for shooters of principally all sizes. Together with shorter shooters like me (5’9″) and my six-foot-tall spotter. Principally, this inventory might be adjusted to suit you flawlessly until your title is Andre the Big or Peter Dinklage.
Now that we all know all the things concerning the SCAR 20’s operation, let’s get to its efficiency.
SCAR Reliability
We’ll begin issues off with reliability. In spite of everything, if the gun doesn’t run price a rattling, it doesn’t matter how exact it’s.
My testing with the SCAR was restricted to 300 rounds of match-grade 6.5 Creedmoor from Hornady. I’d have put extra rounds by means of the gun, however the price of match 6.5 ammo is at the moment absurd. So though I solely fired 300 rounds of ammo by means of the gun, the full ammunition price was just a little over $650. However, should you can afford this beast of a rifle, you’ll be able to afford the ammo too. If not, it might be sensible to start out investing in a reloading setup ASAP.
Regardless, the SCAR 20s proved flawlessly dependable throughout all 300 rounds of ammo fired. 200 have been fired with the rifle in inventory configuration, whereas the final 100 have been shot with a SilencerCo Saker ASR 762 sound suppressor hooked up. In the middle of this overview, the SCAR was by no means cleared. Not previous to taking pictures and never after. Regardless of this, the SCAR 20s NRCH by no means encountered a single malfunction in anyway – even when fired from a really sandy taking pictures place that launched tremendous sand particles into the motion.
When it comes to reliability amongst precision semi-automatic rifles, the SCAR 20s is actually peerless.
Accuracy: Is the SCAR 20s NRCH a True PRS?
Right here’s the kicker: everybody is aware of that semi-automatic precision rifles – particularly piston-driven ones – can’t maintain a candle to the accuracy of a high-end bolt-action precision rifle system.
Besides the SCAR 20s proves that this definitely isn’t all the time the case.
At 100 yards, the SCAR 20s NRCH was able to making a single ragged gap in a normal NRA scaled rifle goal. However this offered an issue for me; I can’t actually precisely measure a bunch dimension if it measures .264 inches AKA the diameter of a 6.5 Creedmoor bullet. So I needed to stretch the gun’s legs out to 400 yards to get a measurable group and an thought of the gun’s true capabilities.
The consequence? Three very spectacular teams.
The worst group of the bunch measured 2.8 inches, whereas one of the best was an unbelievable 2.24 inches! Which means the gun was grouping only a hair over 0.5 MOA with Hornady 140gr ELO match ammo – very very spectacular.
Although I’ve to present credit score the place it’s due. I didn’t simply run some outdated deer-rifle scope with Chinese language rings. I as an alternative determined to go for broke and mount the brand new Gen 3 Vortex Razor HD 6-36×56 mounted to a pair of uber-pricey Spuhr monolithic rings. And though you would possibly scoff at the price of these two equipment, the rest would have felt like placing spare tires on a McClaren F1 supercar.
In reality, the one misses of the day have been 100% brought on by barrel mirage once I put in my Saker suppressor and not using a wrap. However that’s a limitation of my potential to correctly see a goal and never a mirrored image of the gun’s efficiency.
However this can be a true long-range rifle, 400 yards is nothing. So I took the rifle out to a pal’s property and engaged human-torso metal targets at 750 yards – and the SCAR 20s make brief work of each single one in all them. A lot so, I used to be in a position to ship a second bullet at a goal earlier than I might really hear the affect of the primary!
Go forward, shut this window, apologize to your spouse, and purchase one. If that sentence above doesn’t impress the hell out of you, nothing will.
I’d prefer to inform you that the rationale I used to be in a position to make these pseudo-double-taps at 750 was as a result of I’m the best marksman who ever lived, however in actuality, it’s 90% the gun and its ammo. All I did was line up the optic and squeeze the set off.
FN SCAR 20s NRCH – Value it?
Make no mistake, the SCAR 20s is a really costly firearm. With an MSRP of $4,829.00, the SCAR 20s NRCH is effectively past the monetary attain of the vast majority of shooters. However though it’s costly, the SCAR 20’s efficiency, heritage and the truth that no different gun presents the identical options and AK-47-like reliability put the FDE beast in a league of its personal.
Sure, there are many different rifles available on the market able to participating targets at 1,000 yards, however none of them are as dependable, soft-shooting, or sturdy because the SCAR 20s NRCH. Though it pains me to confess, high-quality, high-performance precision machines all the time include an equally excessive price ticket.
Purchase This Rifle, Optic, and Equipment Right here:
About Jim Grant
Jim is a contract author, editor, and videographer for dozens of publications who loves something and all the things weapons. Whereas keen on trendy army firearms and their civilian counterparts, he holds a particular place in his coronary heart for the best battle implement ever devised and different WW2 rifles. When he’s not reviewing weapons or taking pictures for enjoyable and competitors, Jim might be discovered climbing and searching together with his spouse Kimberly, and their canine Peanut within the South Carolina low nation.
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