By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
Just for the record, Ruger’s SFAR (for “Small Frame Autoloading Rifle) isn’t a smaller frame version of the AR 15, it’s an AR-15-size rifle firing the .308 Winchester cartridge in contrast to the usual AR 10 platform.
The result is a rifle that handles nicely and offers a great all around choice for hunting medium game. I appreciate the superior ergonomics of the AR-15. My favorite rifles are AR-types ranging from .22 caliber rifles, .223 Remington, and larger calibers including the rifle covered in this report.
There is nothing wrong with a good bolt action or lever action rifle. Some enjoy hunting with a single shot rifle. This is all just fine. There is no defensive imperative in the hunting rifle. Just the same, I have come to appreciate the handling of the AR for target shooting and hunting as well as defense. There is a lot of crossover there and the type fits most body types well.
Ruger engaged in high level engineering to manufacture the SFAR. The result is a lightweight but robust rifle. Weight with an empty magazine is 6.8 pounds. This is lighter than an AR-10-type including Ruger’s previous offering, the SR 762. Ruger has managed to offer an affordable rifle at just less than one thousand dollars’ average price.
There has been the usual early bird price gouging but don’t fall for it. The rifle is shipping in good numbers.
The Ruger SFAR features a nicely contoured adjustable stock, an aluminum M-LOK forend, Ruger’s 452 custom grade trigger, and an adjustable gas block. This gas block is a feature of many .308 self-loading rifles. I left my example set at the factory default.
The gas block may be adjusted for lighter loads and for suppressor use. Gas operation may even be cut off completely and the rifle cycled manually.
Ruger offers two versions of the SFAR rifle. One features a 16.1-inch barrel and another a 20-inch tube. The rifle uses the readily available SR25-type magazine from MagPul. It features a well-designed muzzle brake, which may be responsible for the rifle’s light apparent recoil. In this rifle, recoil is modest for the power of the cartridge. Subjectively the push is less than most .308 bolt-action rifles. Recoil is similar to the .30-30 Winchester-class rifle. Ruger’s 452 trigger has long been available as an aftermarket addition for all AR-15 rifles. It is a simple drop in cartridge type trigger. This trigger is standard with the SFAR. The SFAR rifle’s action breaks at a clean 4.0 pounds slightly lighter than specified by the manufacturer.
Field stripping the rifle showed good build quality and attention to detail. Fit and finish are good without internal tool marks. The specially designed SFAR bolt is compact with a bolt head that tapers, necessary for such a compact design.
Twin venting openings are a unique safety feature. The bolt release and safety are one hundred per cent AR for rapid handling, while the magazine is not difficult to load. I thumbed 20 FMJ handloads into the magazine for the initial firing.
I noticed that more effort is needed to rack the bolt with this rifle than other AR-type rifles. This is in common with most .30-caliber AR-10 rifles because a stronger buffer spring is necessary to handle the greater recoil of the .308 Winchester round.
I originally mounted a Vortex Strikefire II red dot for evaluation. I am very happy with this optic for use to 100 yards or a little more, and accuracy has been excellent. Rapid acquisition is the name of the game with a red dot. Both eyes open and good accuracy with the dot set on the smallest setting and faster acquisition with a larger dot.
I test fired the rifle with a good mix of factory ammunition including Federal, Fiocchi, Hornady and Winchester. Results have been excellent. Firing at 50 yards, it isn’t difficult to fire a three-shot group of 1- to 1.2 inches with quality ammunition. The SFAR liked everything I fed it.
For deer and/or wild boar, 150-grain loads are my usual choice, and out of the test gun, all of these did well, especially the Fiocchi 150-grain SST. Heavier bullets such as the 168-grain loads may prove a shade more accurate.
Firing at 100 yards proved the Vortex and Ruger combination are plenty accurate. Most three-shot groups were smaller than two inches and some were in the 1.5-inch range; excellent for a red dot sight. I have obtained a SIG Buckmaster hunting scope and will explore further accuracy testing.
I am certain the Ruger SFAR is a credible addition to the AR world. Lightweight, reliable, accurate and hard hitting this is my favorite .308 caliber AR. It is worth the money and certainly worth the effort to master this rifle.
Specifications:
Model: SFAR (Small Frame Autoloading Rifle)
Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger
Caliber: .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO
Barrel Length: 16.1 inch
Twist: 1-10 inch, right hand twist
OAL: 34 to 37.25 inch.
Length of pull: 11 to 14.25 in.
Weight: 6.8 pounds with magazine
