By Jake Moore via wideopenspaces.com
Want to know some history on three badass foreign battle rifles? You got it. In 2003, United States Special Operations Command sanctioned the approval for a battle rifle that was as versatile and effective as the U.S. Special Forces operators that wielded them. Manufactured in Herstal, Belgium, the FN SCAR or Special Forces Combat Assault Rifle is exactly what the name implies and then some . . .
This “GLOCK” of the assault rifle world was tailored to fit the specific requirements proposed by U.S. Special Forces. The SCAR is rugged, accurate, and reliable; capable of one MOA with a maximum effective range of 800 meters. It’s available in 7.62×51 NATO with a 20-round magazine, or 30 rounds of 5.56X45 NATO, as well as assorted barrel lengths ranging from seven inches on out to 20 inches.
Precision manufactured in the heart of Germany, the HK 417 is a semi-auto .308 (7.62x51NATO) that boasts excellent marks for accuracy and reliability, capable of 1.3 MOA from a 12-inch barrel and sub-MOA groups through a 20-inch barrel. It has a magazine capacity of 20 rounds and can effectively engage targets well beyond 800 meters.
This rifle is being fielded by U.S. Special Forces operators and is in very close competition with the SCAR for the title of best modern universal battle rifle. The ergonomics and features are similar to the classic M4 or M16 making this weapon feel very familiar to the U.S. soldier. It is also highly customizable but, unlike its M4 counterpart, the 417 utilizes a piston system rather than direct gas impingement which allows the 417 to operate cooler and much cleaner. You can find the HK 417 under its civilian alias MR762 for somewhere close to $4,500 dollars.
The ACE 52 is a 7.62×51 battle rifle developed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries in Ramat HaSharon, Israel. The ACE 52’s predecessor, the GALIL, was modeled after the fabled Kalashnikov AK-47 design known for its legendary reliability and has since been upgraded to fit the growing needs of the Israeli military.
The rifle is lightweight with manageable recoil for a .308, and is highly customizable with the addition of a MIL-STD-1913 rail system. It is available in a host of different barrel lengths including the 20-inch sniper variant capable of sub MOA accuracy. The ACE 52 has an effective range of 800 meters and can hold 25 rounds in the magazine surpassing the normal 20-round capacity of the HK 417 and SCAR-H which is much appreciated by the soldier in combat. The rifle comes in black and is priced around $2,800 dollars.
These three weapons systems are at the forefront of modern firearms innovation and are currently being fielded by militaries around the globe.