So, today is my birthday and I snuck out of work for an extended lunch to go to the range. I really wanted to see if the SCAR was really more controllable than an AR as I've heard the internet commandos say. I haven't really been able to wring the SCAR out as right after I got it, I've been travelling internationally for work a lot. The one time I got to shoot it, it certainly didn't feel that much different than my AR. Also, I thought I'd pit it against my MSAR AUG-clone. It has always felt very handy and controllable.
As you can see, I'm no high-speed-low-drag operator...just a regular guy shooter. In fact, from the size of my jeans, you can see I'm fairly high drag. Also, for Michigan, it is HOT today...90 deg and 90% humidity. I know that doesn't seem like much to you Southern boys but remember, we break out the shorts and t-shirts here when it gets above 45 degrees.
Well, take a look at the videos. I haven't edited them to get a back to back comparison. Also, my AUG started reverting to its old tricks of not locking back on an empty mag, so not a full test. The basic test was...start loaded round in chamber, 3 in mag, safety on. Fire 2 hammer pairs, reload, 2 hammer pairs. Here's what I learned:
- The SCAR didn't "feel" more controllable...in fact, just the opposite. Not sure if that is familiarity or just the big bolt carrier slamming back and forth
- The AR felt easier to fire hammer pairs but I think that is driven mostly by the trigger...I've got a RRA 2 stage match trigger in it
- The SCAR actually kept a much tighter group. I was very surprised by this so I repeatered the test several times...sure enough, my shots were much more tightly clustered. At this range (7 yards) I think that is nothing to do with accuracy. Probably more driven by the PWS comp on the SCAR and the piston system
- The unofficial time on my stopwatch is pretty equal between the SCAR and AR...but the SCAR seems slower
- You can see how slow the AUG is...a couple of seconds slower but I think that mostly has to do with the BHO acting up vesus the rigle. The groups for the AUG were almost as tight as SCAR...confirming that it is a handy controllable rifle
- Which do I like best? Don't know yet...I'm not selling my ARs anytime soon
SCAR videoAR videoAUG video