If a guy wanted a simi-auto in 308 to be used for hunting with a scope, which rifle to choose?

I know very little about what is available today that is considered really reliable, and easy to work with, such as scope mounting, good trigger, and easy to fix if something goes amuck. So I'm asking for opinions. Hopefully you will share your basis for your opinion.

KB

Though I own a Remington in 30-06 I'd recommend a Browning BAR.

Though in Alaska I'd give serious consideration to either a 30-06 or 300MAg in the same rifle.

If this is a TARGET rifle rather than a "meat" rifle
I'd switch gears and recommend either an M1A or one of the AR10 Clones

AD

If money is no object then the JP LRP is one to look at. The M1-A with the 18" barrel is a rugged choice as well.

If they were still widely avialable the H&K 91 would be my personal choice.

If you are considering more of a Sporting type of rifle The Browning would be my first pick, followed by the Remington.

Love my BAR. Mine is the model before the short trac and has syn stock, 20" barrel, 1-3x weaver in see through mounts and I changed out the stock sites for williams fire sites. Really nice handling for our brushy deer season. Shoots great with most any ammo at 1.25" and same point of impact. Never had a jam and I use normal dies...not small based dies.

I like the HK 770. Hard to find and a little pricy. but they shoot good and are light recoiling IMO. Make a good hog gun.

Which rifle would probably depend on what kind of hunting you intend to do. If you'll be doing a lot of climbing, you might want a lighter one. In Alaska, where it will be exposed to a lot of precipitation, you'll probably want a composite stock and stainless steel barrel.

As for being easily repaired, I don't think one is better than another. You need to go for something that's unlikely to break in the first place and that parts are readily available for.

I would probably go for an M1A though the BAR is very nice. I had a Remington 742 that shot VERY well but that particular model has problems with the bolt rails so the lifespan of it was relatively short.

There are a couple of scope mounting systems for the M1A. The SOCOM II, for instance has a Picatinny rail that makes for easy and secure mounting of optics and has a short barrel (16 inches).

The other M1As have a scope mount that screws into the side of the receiver and is easily put on and taken off. This means if you had a scope malfunction you could remove it and use the iron sights. The downside to it is that, after it is first applied, it tends to loosen after the first 2 or 3 shots and needs to be tightened some more after which it stays securely in place; if you aren't aware of this little idiosyncrasy, your shots could be way off target.

I probably won't be using a simi-auto in Alaska, but it's for down south hunting deer and hogs.

Just looking at what's on gunbroker, I see such as a Valmet Hunter, the FN AR, Benelli R1, AR 10, M1A, just to name a few.

Somehow I like the looks of the FN AR (hopefully I got that right)

I have no idea what a JP LRP is, so I don't know how to research it.

KB

742 carbine with 2x7 Burris short mag.

Kabluwy

Try www.jprifles.com

I would get an 18 to 20" bbl for hunting.

The one I fired shot 5 shot groups under one inch with 3 different factory loads at 100 yards.

I have shot remingtons and brownings mostly.The lightest and most accurate for me has always been the model 100 winchester.There are plenty of them in 308.

DPMS Panther/Remington R-25. Rugged, reliable, adaptable ergonomics, easy to scope. Plenty of armourers out there willing to work on them.

I take out my wife's H&K 770 on the occasion I want to play with a semi '08. It is a sweet and well used package.

I have 2 r1 benellis in 300 mag and realy like them accurate and nice to shoot one is for sale as well.

I have no first hand experience with the R1 Benelli, but just based on what I know about the Mfg in general, it seems that it would be a great and durable sporting rifle. Seems that everything they make is high quality.

I just think that something in a relaible 308 simi-auto has to be the optimum one rifle sporter. Benelli makes a barrel in 308, but of course why not the 300 WM, especially in the R1 ?

But I also I like the idea of a 308 with a 20" barrel, and the R1 could be easily had that way, as well as others.

KB

For me it's the BAR all the way!

Get an Armalite AR-10, if you can find one.

I've started using one for texas deer and hogs. I've modified mine with a free-float tube and an ARFX stock. The weight is perfect and it's a real versatile gun.