When I reviewed the SCAR 17s, one of the major complaints I had was about the magazine. Its a proprietary design, and as such makes buying spare mags both expensive and difficult. Thankfully, a company called Handl Defense has come up with a new aluminum lower receiver or the SCAR 17S that takes regular PMAGs, and can be shipped straight to your door. You heard me right — a lower that can be shipped to your door.
The observant readers may remember that the SCAR platform makes the upper receiver the serialized part (and therefore the actual “gun”), while the AR-15 makes the lower the serialized part. Nifty, eh?
From the manufacturer’s website:
Handl Defense introduces the SCAR25, The first major upgrade for the FN SCAR-H platform. Made from billet 7075 T6 aluminum. We have completely re-engineered this lower receiver the way it should have been done it the first time. We have specifically designed the magazine well to be compatible with the readily available and combat proven SR-25, and M110 magazines, including the widely used MAGPUL P-MAG 20 in .308. We redesigned the grip tang to accept all M16/M4 compatible grips such as the Magpul and ERGO grips. We re-contoured the arch above the grip to accommodate gloved and smaller hands better reach to the fire controls.
While taking PMAGs and other standard AR-10 magazines is a great benefit in and of itself, having an aluminum receiver instead of the plastic one that comes with the gun is another big improvement. The lightweight yet sturdy material means that the gun not only weighs less, but you’ll be less scared of melting your gun to your hand.
Current list price is set at about $300, or 10% of the cost of the original firearm. And from where I’m sitting that’s a great investment — especially if you already had the money to throw around to buy the thing in the first place.
[h/t reader Dan]
So the aluminum is actually lighter than the polymer? Interesting.
Saw that too.
Makes me wish I had 3 grand laying around for a brand new SCAR + this fancy new lower… a man can dream, though.
I checked out the specs on Handl’s site. They say the lower is lighter “with a full combat load out”.
They threw 9 standard FN mags and the polymer lower on a scale and came up with more weight than 9 PMAGs and and their aluminum lower.
Somebody at Handl is taking lessons from the people who come up with the unemployment numbers.
OK . So I got 300 I can throw around ,considering what a Scar costs I have wanted one since they were available . At a gun show a couple years back they had one for about $4000. . I see them now for about $28oo-3000. So can an upper be had and what do they run?
“So can an upper be had and what do they run?”
——
This is currently the most important question on TTAG, IMHO.
I guess this qualifies for The Third Kind Of Cool Award
That’s truly cool.
A question: What lower parts kit does this take?
Standard FNH parts kit for the SCAR, no modifications required.
Strange economics. $300 to enable you to buy a $15 magazine.
Assuming pre-hysteria prices, I think the proprietary were~65, so 65-15=50
The thing pays for itself after six mags. That is a pretty good return.
Hey Nick — You tested out my SCAR 17 back in January. Thanks for this information. I just purchased one. And I really look forward to trying it out and customizing my SCAR. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
guntruth@me.com SVP.
How long before the FN lawyers go after them?
I know nothing about the SCAR so forgive me if this is a stupid question:
Will an AR upper fit on a SCAR lower?
So for only $360, I have a slightly heavier SCAR and four magazines.
Or if I order FNH mags from Brownells and spend the same money, I have a SCAR, nine magazines, and a happy meal.
Oh-kay…
Yeah, but would you rather shoot 9 FNH magazines or 4 PMAG’s? After playing around with both, I’d rather have one PMAG than ever have to deal with FNH magazines again.
And I really like the ability to take any AR pistol grip as an accessory.
This changes the game on the scar 17s as far as I’m concerned. If they had any sense they will re-engineer the Scar to follow suit. Perhaps an uptick in sales will give a head-up.
This Christian Louboutin (Christian Louboutin) Sweet Charity little bag, very mini, just about the same size with the palm of your hand, and was able to upgrade immediately due to the excellent design make modeling!
Hmmm
Doesn’t anybody think it is odd that rather than ramp up manufacture ofa very very simple item (20 round magazines which have been in production in one form or another for edd half a century or more) someone instead replaces a $60 part at retail and puts in a $350 part that requires disassembly of half the weapon. It also requires that you junk your often considerable investment in FNH SCAR magazines and purchase an entire new set. Clearly just to break even requires a huge investment. All this just to replace magazines. I realize that it takes time to purchase the factory mags but with a little time and persistence they can be had for about $40. Why didn’t someone just approach one of the companies all ready manufacturing magazines and enlist them to produce SCAR Mags?