Ok, here is my unvarnished assessment of the SCAR 17S based on 18 months of ownership. The rifle seems very light and is well balanced for the addition of an optic that complements the 7.62 NATO round ballistics. It shoots very smoothly with less felt recoil than any rifle of the same caliber that I've fired. The build quality is deceiving, the rifle has a polymer stock which seems loose a little rattle, but it has held up well for me and I find it comfortable. The upper receiver is really stout and carries a heavy bolt carrier that rides is a very ridged receiver. I've yet to have ANY malfunction, not a single one. The accuracy is good for a battle rifle once you find the appropriate cartridge. I like the American Eagle M1A round which is a 168 Grain NATO round. This is a good compromise round between cost and accuracy since this is a battle rifle not a bench bunny. Now some of the weaker points of this rifle. First, the trigger stinks on toast. It is nearly impossible to shoot consistent groups at any distance with the stock trigger. It takes so much work to get a decent grouping you end up cursing. The sling attachment points are another problem, they look fine until you begin using them. They are aluminum and the holes are too small so they tend to bind and gouge the attachment points pretty quickly. The folding stock latch is not a very well designed latch and can be broken. What to do? Well, I love the rifle (I have a SCAR 16S too), and the strengths far outweigh the shortcomings of the SCAR 17S. FIRST THING (not the second thing or the third thing), GET A Geissele SUPER SCAR trigger. This is the single best upgrade you can do. Before you get optics or anything else, your shooting will improve immediately. Second, find a good quality variable optic. A red-dot is stupid on this rifle. I think a 1-6X is a good way to go. I'm currently using a NF 2.5-10, but if I had it to do over I'd get a 1-6X. Third, you'll love this rifle.

Not without modification there is a lower made by handl defense that accepts pmags and other mags of that style

Does anyone out there know if a Magpul PMAG would fit the FN SCAR 17s. I knew I should have bought more magazines when I got the gun. Now I'm stuck with only 6 and that's not enough for me.

Yes...the FNH SCAR 17S is the best 7.62mm NATO in my collection, howeveer, you can't buy any additional magazines for it...anywhere, on the net, or in gun-stores. The only people producing them are FNH and they say sometime in June or July 2013, maybe!

Picked a 17S up this weekend w/ extra mags (finally). Running an Eotech 552, FPG (gangsta grip) and snap sling. All I can say is it deserves better glass- its an incredible weapon.

The problem is that USSOCOM isn't in the position to order very many of the SCARs, both Light and Heavy. This keeps the price up for everybody. Can't wait to get my hands on one, though!

I need one of these

I bought one when they first came out. Around $3000, kida pricy but i have had 4 FALs so i figured why not. It is more complicated to field strip than the FAL but is also twice as accurate. Wish it had a folding charging handle and accepted FAL mags but all in all, im exceptionally pleased.

This gun can shoot!! The recoil is way less than any other platform. the accuracy will blow your mind. Looks like my FAL and my hk 91 will be spending alot of time in the safe.

this will soon be gracing my collection, price be danged!!

Between this and the reviewed optic the American Rifleman Golden Bullet winning setup is at $7300 MSRP (not counting any forward grips/bipod or additional accessories). The tactical rifle crowd realizes mil-spec is pricey but this is really out of the league for most readers/members.

I liked the article about the new SCAR 17S. But was wondering what scope you put on it. It says Leupold but I can't find it in any Leupold literature, website, or catalog. Could you let us know what it is. Thanks, Mike

@Bart, I was able to pick up a 17S in December of 2010 for just under $3000. The gas system is a short stroke gas piston, very reliable and very clean after a long day at the range.

What is FN doing? Why not make the rifle accept a metric FAL magazine? Secondly give us civvies the same flash hider as Uncle. How many other internal changes has FN put into this overpriced?

Great weapon. Specs are equivalent albeit shorter barrel than mine. The price though... $1200 more?!?! Think I will stick to my MSG-91.

What a peice of art I will take two one for me and one for my wife!!!!

I think he has browser issues. I'm not sure it's a problem with zooming in or out. You most likely need to update your browser or make sure the one you're using is compatible. I use Firefox and IE 8 and both pull up the site just fine.

An absurd price

I got to experience the SCAR-H in its military version at my last job so I can say that even going full auto with this it was not out of control. Like any new weapon it had its growing pains but all in all a great weapon system! Maintaining it was a breeze. Field strip in 30 seconds, swapping a barrel in well less than the 5 mins quoted. Too bad the asking price is still to rich for me, I would love to have one of the civilian versions, guess my M1A will have to do until/unless these come down in price.

Guy, If you're using firefox, press ctrl-0(zero) and it will reset your broweser's zoom. If you're using internet explorer, go to the View menu, then to "Zoom" and select 100%. If you're zoom is higher than 100% the issue you are seeing will happen on a great deal of websites.

Iam interested in the gas operating system. Is it the old ar style or ak style to make it really reliable

Mr. Lewis, I may have missed the point, but you can increase the size of the text on any page you're viewing by pressing the ctrl key, shift key and "+/=" key at the same time...

Very nice. Have to agree for my civilian use, i'll stick with my FN FAL IZZY.

america frist keeper safe and sound

I would enjoy this and many other articles I assume to be very informative if you could stop the habit of running the text from white to black background without changing the font color. Even in the print magazine, the use of low contrast characters on black backgrounds is very irritating and terribly inconsiderate of those of your members and readers who, like myself, no longer enjoy the visual acuity we had twenty or so years ago.

The SCAR 17 is what the M-14 should have been. I wish we would have had them when I was a Marine in Viet Nam

Just a little to rich for my blood.

Nice, but at the suggested price I'll stick to my FN FAL.