I like FN. I do not like the FN SCAR. But I like the FN SCAR 20S. A lot. People are complex that way.
The FN SCAR 20S is the latest in a long and fabled line of battle rifles. FN can rightly call themselves “The World’s Most Battle Proven Firearms.” It was only a few years ago that the British Army finally moved away from the positively ancient FN Hi-Power/GP35 as their standard sidearm. Talk about iconic military firearms. Meanwhile, the US military still uses multiple FN rifles and machine guns in its line-up of standard issue equipment, and has for decades.
Unlike many other companies, FN and their FN America subsidiary has also been consistent in releasing legally available firearms originally marketed to the military to the civilian customer. Think of them as commercial versions of the military’s arms including the USSOCOM. The FN SCAR 20S Precision Rifle is the latest in a long line of eagerly awaited rifles from the legendary manufacturer.
If you’re familiar with the SCAR 17S, the 20S Precision Rifle is going to look pretty familiar. Giant sections of rail cover 360 degrees around the hand guard, ending in twin, sturdy sling mounts.
All of the controls are ambidextrous, or can be converted to either side of the gun, including the reciprocating charging handle. Just like the 17S, if you grip the gun at the magazine well or just in front of it, you won’t likely do it again after you’ve pulled that trigger even a single time. That charging handle slamming back against your thumb will learn ya!
The major differences between the SCAR 17S and the 20S are all right out in the open.
For the color-scheme of the 20S, FN has fully committed. For those of you who liked the previous “tactical peanut butter” palette of the SCAR, the 20S takes it to 11. Welcome to “tactical banana split.”
We’re talking a giant chunk of flat yellow-ish, some caramel, at least a couple shades of chocolate, and brown. I think there’s four shades of black on this gun, too. Whereas the mismatched color scheme of the SCAR series was odd before, taking it to this level is downright impressive.
The 20S features a 20-inch heavy profile barrel with a 1:12 twist. How do you know the twist rate? It says so, right on the barrel. For those of you on the nerdier end of the spectrum, like me, that’s very helpful.
A flip through Brian Litz’s Ballistic Coefficient and Stability data shows us that a 1:12 twist rate will stabilize a 175gr Sierra Match King bullet even under the worst-case scenario with a Miller Stability Factor of 1.48. In other words, even if you’re at sea level with 0% humidity, it’s wicked cold out, and your bullet is only leaving the barrel at 2,600fps, the round will spin just fine. If you ever actually find yourself in that situation, I recommend you pick up your rifle and leave.
However, bullet shape plays a big role in stability. Bullet weight is the biggest determinant of bullet shape. That is, a light bullet will necessarily be a short one, and heavy bullet a long one. Still, there’s a lot to play around with there. For instance, even though it’s much lighter, that same 20S 1:12 barrel will only stabilize the Lapua 155gr Scenar bullet under the most ideal conditions. The moral of this story: know your bullet.
The trigger announces is presence with a tiny G. Nope, that’s not for “gansta” although it should be. The Geissele 2 Stage “Super SCAR” trigger is straight OG. Like Smith Barney, Geissele made their reputation for consistent quality the old fashion way…they earned it. As advertised, there’s a bit of pre travel, followed by a clean break at just over 3 lbs. It’s a great trigger on any gun. Yes, the Geissele Super SCAR trigger is outstanding.
I like a heavy barrel and a good trigger and Lord, I love a banana split, but the buttstock is the biggest improvement on the gun. The fixed position stock easily adjusts for both comb height and length of pull. The SCAR 17’s stock was never comfortable for me. This one feels entirely different.
I had a few different people shoot it, some familiar with the SCAR and some not, and every single person could get comfortable behind the gun.
That goes double for sustained fire. For those familiar with the AR-10 platform, the SCAR has a very different recoil profile. That’s true for both the direct impingement and other short-stroke gas piston rifles. A 7th Special Forces Group team member I spoke to described it best. He said the SCAR 17 “felt like it was trying to tear itself apart every time you started pouring rounds out.”
The 20S, on the other hand, feels rock solid, especially in fast fire. That may be partially because of its weight. At over 11 lbs. empty, she’s a hefty girl. Throw on a scope, a bipod, and insert a magazine and the rifle quickly hits 13lbs. But that doesn’t completely explain how well this rifle performs in fast fire.
And perform it does. Transitioning from target to target when shooting off a tripod or from the prone was a breeze. This gun likes to be shot. The muzzle moves very little, and the outstanding geometry of the stock allows the shooter to easily align the gun to their body and keep it there.
The pistol grip is a slightly over-sized Hogue rubber model with finger groves. I’m not a fan of this type of grip, but many others are. I find that these kinds of grips on precision guns encourage the shooter to muscle the gun into place instead of allowing a natural point of aim and proper body alignment to do the trick. But on a combat-oriented firearm, getting a grip on the gun for fast movement off-hand has a pretty important place.
The SCAR is a short-stroke gas piston operated rifle. I much prefer a piston gun over a direct impingement one, especially if it’s going to be suppressed. Suppressed guns get filthy dirty, and they get super hot. If your rounds out are onsies and twosies, no big deal. If they are 10 and 20 at a time, that makes a really big deal.
I spoke with qualified snipers in 5th, 7th, and 10th Special Forces groups, as well as Navy SEAL snipers. Each one of them told me the same thing. They all preferred a semi-automatic gun to a bolt gun. Much of the reason was purely rate of fire, and rate of fire on moving targets. It’s been my experience that, once the first of your opponents is shot, they are pretty much all moving targets.
Keeping the desire for a high rate or precision fire in mind, the SCAR 20S Precision Rifle continues to use their proven short-stroke piston system. It works perfectly.
In the three weeks or so I had the rifle, I’ve shot at least 1,000 rounds through it, with a couple hundred of those suppressed. The only time I ever had any issue was running a light round suppressed with the piston at the 12 o’clock “unsupressed” position. Putting it back in the proper 10 o’clock “suppressed” position and even the 125gr Hornady reduced recoil rounds ran like a champ.
I cleaned the gun thoroughly before I shot it, but never again for the entire review period. I shot it with the single (seriously, one?) supplied 10-round magazine as well as 20-round magazines from a SCAR 17S. I shot it in the rain and in the sun. This gun was pretty popular at The Range at Austin, and a lot of people got their hands on it. It never had a single issue of any kind with anyone. The SCAR is known for its reliability, and the 20S Precision Rifle is no exception.
FN promises minute of angle accuracy from the SCAR 20S. Twenty years ago that would have been a high bar for an auto-loader. In 2018, it’s not any more. In fact, I’ve reviewed quite a few auto-loading rifles that will shoot 1 MOA or better. Fortunately, the SCAR 20S clears the bar easily, and bests it handily.
I shot several commercial loads through the 20S, and not a single one of them above 150grains shot as bad as 1MOA. IMI’s 175gr BTSP round averaged 3/4-inch five-round groups over four-shot strings. Black Hills 175gr Match did the exact same. Match grade ammo definitely shines in this rifle.
These are standard military 7.62 NATO long-range rounds, and I’m sure they’re the bullet these guns were built around. I shot several hunting rounds from Hornady, Federal, and Nosler, and they all scored around the 3/4-inch mark. The only round to hit 1 MOA, and it hit it dead on, was that 125gr Hornady Custom Light reduced recoil round.
All accuracy testing was done seated with a Caldwell Stinger Shooting rest at 100 yards using a custom US Optics scope at 10 power magnification.
I’ve asked around and talked to quite a few qualified snipers. Not one of them had shot, much less deployed with the US military’s FN SCAR Mk 20 SSR. No one knew that “SSR” stood for “Sniper Support Rifle”. One 10th group sniper told me that sounded like a marketing gimmick.
I had to agree. After all, I’ve been “sniper support” many times, and my rifle was the M4 I was issued. On the other hand, several had used the 17S, although with widely varied opinions of the rifle and never in a “sniper” capacity.
I asked two SEALs and two current Green Beret buddies to shoot the 20S. The 18 series soldiers gave me quality feedback and the SEALs handed the gun back smelling like hair gel. But like everyone else who shot the rifle, they were all impressed.
If you think the SCAR 17S is too heavy, and I do, don’t even think about humping this rifle around. But this rifle isn’t designed for the same role. It’s designed for a lot more sitting and laying the prone, and a lot less walking. That sounds like my kind of fighting.
The real elephant in the room, beyond the jumbo weight of the gun is the price tag. FN puts a painful price on a rifle that’s a pleasure to shoot, with an MSRP of $4,499. In case you thought that was a misprint, that’s two fours followed by two nines with a big ol’ dollar sign right in front…and no decimals to be found.
Believe it or not, that price is actually in line with the competition. That’s if you narrow down those competitors to semi-automatic ambidextrous 7.62 NATO caliber precision rifles carried by current Special Operations personnel in ongoing conflicts and available on the civilian market.
FN has, in a way I don’t fully accept, made a SCAR I really want. Yes, it’s still heavy and it’s still ugly as sin and it has a little bar slamming back and forth on the side of it every time you shoot.
But now it fits. It still shoots forever, just now, even more accurately. Where it really shines is when you start wanting to put fast rounds out far away. There, the 20S Precision Rifle absolutely shines like no other SCAR I’ve ever shot.
If you’re an FN SCAR lover, the 20S is your next fling. If you aren’t, well, she may very well be the one you settle down with.
Specifications: FN SCAR 20S Precision Rifle
Caliber: 7.62x51mm
Operation: Short-stroke gas piston
Mag Capacity: 10 Rd.
Barrel Length: 20″
Overall Length: 40.6″ – 42.5″
Weight: 11.2 lbs.
Receiver: Hard-anodized monolithic aluminum
MIL-STD-1913 accessory rails at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions
Barrel: Cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined,free-floating barrel with muzzle device
Trigger: Geissele® “Super SCAR”
Stock: adjustable for LOP and comb height; Adjustable cheekpiece
Grip: Hogue® rubber pistol grip with finger grooves
Operating Controls: Ambidextrous safety lever and magazine release
Charging handle may be mounted on right or left side
Magazine: 1 10 round (optional 20)
MSRP: $4,499
Ratings (out of five stars):
Style and Appearance * *
Tactical banana split. Some love it. To each his or her own.
Customization * * * *
Lots of rails. Rails everywhere. As for the rest of it, the whole point of buying this rifle is that it is exactly as it is.
Reliability * * * * *
Runs and runs and runs. Clean or dirty. Can on the end or not. Any shooter, any round and a SCAR .308 magazine. It runs.
Accuracy * * * * *
Consistent 3/4-inch MOA with a 10X scope and several different brands of ammunition.
Overall * * * * 1/2
The only thing I can justifiably take points off for here is the weight. Even if I narrowly define the competition, it’s still heavy compared to other offerings. To only provide a single 10-round magazine with a semi-automatic rifle at this price point is just wrong. Beyond that, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the beauty of this gun is that it shoots tiny groups far away and it does it really fast. Put one round out at a time in slow fire and this rifle won’t impress you. But start putting them out of the barrel and onto targets faster than you ever thought you could, and then maybe that ludicrous price tag won’t seem so crazy after all.
I want one, especially given it has that 200 inch barrel. : ) Great review!
Found a typo:
“The 20S features a 200-inch heavier profile barrel with a 1:12 twist.”
If it is a 200-inch barrel, that may help justify its price.
… and some of the weight.
The special anti aircraft version comes with 200 inch pipe.
The SCAR 17s is too heavy? By what standard? Yes, its way too heavy for a BB gun or a 22lr. But it is a 308. Its not bad for a 308.
I would definitely want a 20s though. Even if it ways as much as my Tacoma I can finally say that I own a gun with a 200 inch barrel.
Heavy as compared to other semi-automatic 7.62NATO caliber service rifles.
The SCAR 17 is under 8 lbs… heavy compared to other service rifles?? What?
The M14 was 10, G3 was 9-10, and FAL was just under 10. More modern? Okay… like the 417 at 8.5-10.5 depending on configuration? So I suppose you mean the AR-10, which was 7.25-9, right?
The whole reason I sold off 10-12k worth of M14 and FAL stuff was that the SCAR 17S offered the same performance at a lighter weight (and less upkeep). The fact that the 17S practically ends up cleaner than it started after a range day is just a plus.
“Heavy as compared to other semi-automatic 7.62NATO caliber service rifles.”
Such as? There are a few AR-10s just under (but are those configurations fielded by an army?), but what else?
Sorry, but on this particular point (weight) there isn’t much of a case against the SCAR. Yes, some guys load them down with 10lbs of accessories. But that is not the SCAR’s fault.
The SCAR-H is only about half a pound lighter than 60 year old wood and steel service rifles, like the G3 and the FAL. Both of those have longer barrels than the SCAR-H, they do not have any rails or optics mounts, that’s the base model stripped guns. And the G3 is select fire. When we compare the SCAR-H with the more popularly used SR25, in the same barrel length, we see that’s its’ about half a pound heavier. If we compare it to other more seldom fielded rifles, like the LaRue OSR/OBR, then the SCAR-H is heavier by a pound or more.
The other person replying is flat out wrong on several points.
FN FALs are way heavier than SCAR 17s’s.
The lightest Larue OBR is 9.5 lbs, about 1 lb heavier than a 17s.
That sounds like a load of crap. Most .308 service rifles were 1 or 2 pounds heavier than the SCAR, and the only ones I can think of that FEEL lighter are the Kel Tec RFB and the Desert Tech MDR, neither of which are actual service rifles or actually lighter.
Maybe he was just referring to the 20S… but when you put it toe to toe with just about everything else in a DMR configuration, the SCAR platform just always shakes out to about 1-2 lb lighter (or FAR lighter than the EBR-chassis M14s the army was using, which is the most modern example I can think of that isn’t an AR-10).
When you compare it to AR-10 style rifles, you’re still looking at somewhere between 1 lb of weight savings to roughly equal… especially if you’re considering the massive M110 suppressor that is usually used (it weights exactly 2 lb!).
Unless one of your favorite past-times is cleaning your rifles, I couldn’t imagine anyone preferring a DI gun over a short-stroke gas piston, all other things being equal.
That price is nuts to me. I built an AR-10 that shoots similarly, suppressed and open, for a fraction of that price. Ambidextrous is cool and all, but not at that price, sorry.
The Scar 17 (308 chambered) series is a fantastic series of guns. The down fall is price and magazine prices. FN does this on everything they make, barring their standard FNS/FNX series of handguns. Why is a mostly polymer gun $1500+? P90, Fiveseven, SCAR, FNX45 Tac, all fantastic guns, but completely and utterly overpriced. I want one of all of those mentioned, but the price tags are a massive deterrent for me.
I did email FN a couple years back and asked why a PS90, being 75% polymer, costs so much. Their response was “it’s imported”. They are the, 3rd biggest manufacturer in the country? (Maybe second, behind Rem and Sig?) They can’t make one here for $750? All of those guns at half the cost, I’ll convert everything I own to FN. The 509 Tac is $900+? Come on.
It has to do with the company and import/export laws. i was talking to a FN rep a year ago and they said the reason for the five seven not having an ambi mag release was due to our import laws. for the price, it probably has to do with the shit load of permits they have to abide by since they are an exporter (these are EU laws). and the Herstel company is making a lot of money from this, so they probably don’t want to change to manufacturing in the US
SR25 > SCAR, albeit price about the same!
NO SHIT!!!!
JWT
The weight is a few ounces heavier than original FAL with 20 rounds and it was designed in late 1940’s.
Australian Army still uses Browning pistol Mk3. There was talk of Glocks in 2016 but bureaucracy wanted “real” safety. Contract was signed in August for similar Sig to USA but none delivered yet. Some special forces do use regular Glock 19 primarily as off duty weapon in Afghanistan etc.
“Put one round out at a time in slow fire and this rifle won’t impress you. But start putting them out of the barrel and onto targets faster than you ever thought you could, and then maybe that ludicrous price tag won’t seem so crazy after all.”
That’s how any high end, quality firearm justify it’s price tag
What’s a 1/2 to 3/4 MOA AR-10 cost these days, $2000?
exactly. its just another “look at me PLEASE” toy for man-boys
As a question to John W. Taylor, what causes this to be superior, or at least more desirable than a AR10? I have no experience with any of the SCAR models and very limited experience with the AR10 ( I have a Stag arms Model 10L in 6.5Creedmoor) so I’m curious if I’m missing something obvious.
Partly ergonomics, partly recoil. I have shot a scar 17 (actually a full auto one) and it felt better than my ar-15. it felt easier to hold, access to everything right at my hands on either side, and it had lower recoil then my ar (it has also been the only 308 i have shot, so idk if it was the factory brake on it or the ammo and the brake). i also have a deep hatred of the ar charging handle, i find it very awkward to use especially if im aiming (i can’t really come up with a situation where this would happen in a fight though). I wouldn’t get a scar 16 (the 556/223 version) over an ar, i would get a scar 17 over any ar based platform.
The benefit in the SCAR system is the adjustable gas piston and ambi controls.
That piston system results in exteme reliability when shooting sustained supressed fire, when compared to a DI gun. It really does make a difference, if that is the objective. IF.
If you aren’t left handed I question the value of ambi controls, and I prefer not to have them on my guns.
I do, however, very much prefer a piston AR over a DI gun.
Thank you JWT, I appreciate your time. I think that for me the SCAR has capabilities that I wouldn’t really be able to use.
Sooo whats this pew pew do that a quality AR10 can’t do?
Physics question:
Surely the piston is much heavier than a bullet. So if the gas pushes the piston backwards would that be enough to cause zero or negative recoil? How heavy would the piston need to be to make this a recoilless rifle?
“recoilless” does not mean what you think it means.
I think the eleven pounds of iron, factors in higher than the action cycling. Just a guess but I bet 80% weight and 20% cycling. Unless the metered exhaust is mixed in there for a few percent
“The moral of this story: know your bullet.”
Amen to that, brother. After a few decades of reloading, I find that more and more important. And having guys like Mr. Litz going all sciency on the subject, it helps a heap!
Amen
LGS has one for sale that they put a nice Leupold scope on and some other goodies.
$5400 total out the door. I was tempted but can’t justify it.
I love me some FNH… have 4 of them in my stable. But, $4500?? Add a good scope, and now we’re closing in on $7k. Yowza. I’m gonna pass, not that I have much choice. But, even with a choice… pass.
So it’s a SCAR, with an FNAR barrel (1:12 chromed heavy), that is as accurate as an FNAR, weighs slightly more, and costs at least 4X as much?
And while there are muzzle threads, I assume the warranty still doesn’t cover suppressed use?
Welp, I know where my tax return is going…
I received an email from an LE distributor advertising these for around $3900. Still not cheap, but with the stock 17s selling for $3k it’s not unreasonable. Just adding the Geissele trigger is $300 and an extended rail for the 17s is a few hundred more.
Personally I’m hoping the CZ Bren 2 in .308 arrives here soon at $2k or less. It has a similar layout to the 17s without the reciprocating charging handle.
What is the material of that adaptor for the stock to lower receiver connection? Is it alloy or polymer? If alloy, what does that say about the supposed KDG stock adaptor issue for the 17S?
Sounds like a winner, except for that reciprocating CH and the 11# stripped weight. Add an optic of similar pedigree (~3#), a 20-round mag, a DBAL/PEQ, a WML and, heaven forbid, a Clip-on NV/Thermal and you’re going to need a support crew just to hump that beast around.
A 20# rifle is punishment.
I own all 3 current civilian production SCAR platform weapons. I also own SR-25 (newest rendition) and many other AR platform rifles and pistols.
At the end of the day, there is just something about the SCAR that puts a smile on my face. The 20, IMHO, is not necessary for my location or needs. Fortunately, my career allows for wants along with needs. With that being said, In order I vote 17, 20 then 16. In a SHTF situation, the wife would be behind the 20 and myself manning the 17.
As far as price, well I bought a limited edition and took one for the team. I wish I would have waited for second releases. In hindsight, the only items of worth to me was the trigger and book.
What is Sr-25. Is that a Ruger AR chambered for 6.5 or something?
Disregard. I looked it up. Direct impingement and piston are two different animals though.
What would be the Scar 20s competition in semi-automatic 7.62 NATO caliber precision rifles segment carried by current Special Operations personnel in ongoing conflicts and available on the civilian market?
SCAR full throttle I think? Same shit more brass flying
I’m getting one for sure. Thanks for the write up.
The 17s is better
So what can you say about the scar 20s compared side by side to an old Springfield M21? open sights to 300meters.
No fkng way. What kind of open sights?? Lordy. You must be Steve Austin. I can shoot well. ..but You should plink (I use that term fast and loosely) golf balls at a hundred yards through a ghost ring on a FN-FAL heavy barrel. That’s what making memories is all about
Well, I’m so intrigued with this weapon that I would consider selling a kidney for it. I have never owned it shot a scar. I’ve fondled couple though. I’m a fan of the heavy barrel myself and I have the heavy FNAR which has nine pounds of barrel, and it shoots like I’m rolling in my big Cadillac. The recoil is a non factor in my opinion because it is all soaked up and target acquisition is sweet. But the FNAR is a little too civilized for my taste. I’m all about the scar 20s now. I wasn’t sure about it because the last time I went shopping around, the 17s was the one for me. I have recently stroked each at my local retailers (heavy 20 and a light 17). The 17 is too light but I could own it for $1100 less. I always have thought that when you see the msrp of a weapon in the info, you could expect retail price to be around 15% less plus tax. I’m looking at one with a price tag of $4499. Was the msrp you quoted two years old already? Probably explains it when you figure inflation and the fact that Nazis are running around everywhere lately. I can hardly find ammo in eastern Iowa. I’m hoarding .177 pellets for my kids to practice with because the noisy rounds are so, so, precious. It really sucks not being able to blow through a hundred rounds whenever I want. But anyway, that’s a very encouraging review you have done, and it sounds like the 20s is meant to be my third wife, er , make that new concubine. Concarbine! Thanks. The trigger is really sweet eh. Damn.
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