First Look: Ruger Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle

Ruger has just launched the Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle or SFAR, a new line of .308/7.62 ARs with receivers the same size as standard 5.56 models.

While ARs chambered for full-size cartridges are very popular, they come at a cost of being larger and heavier than standard 5.56 NATO models. In an attempt to provide shooters with a smaller and lighter .308/7.62 AR, Ruger has just introduced the Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle or SFAR. Available with two different barrel lengths, SFARs feature receivers that are approximately the same size as those of standard AR-15s.

The Ruger Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle is available with two barrel lengths initially—16-inch and 20-inch—but the two models are otherwise virtually identical. Thanks to the reduced receiver size, the 16-inch model weighs only 6.8 pounds when unloaded. That’s almost two pounds lighter than the similar 16-inch AR-10 model offered by Armalite. Regardless of the barrel length selected, both barrels are cold hammer-forged, nitrided and threaded 5/8”-24.

Another key feature of the Ruger Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle is its adjustable gas system. Manually regulated using the included wrench, the system has four gas settings to ensure reliable and efficient function whether the rifle is dirty, clean, suppressed or unsuppressed. The system will also help to dampen felt recoil, further aided by the included 2-port Boomer muzzle brake. The rifle-length gas system found on the 20-inch model will likely be even softer-shooting than the 16-inch model’s mid-length gas as well. Both SFAR models also include a 15-inch railed M-LOK handguard, Magpul furniture and a Ruger Elite 452 2-stage trigger.

Ben Parker, Lead Design Engineer for the Ruger SFAR, said this about the new rifles:

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Over the course of this rifle’s development, we fired hundreds of thousands of rounds to assess and enhance real-world performance and wear…The proprietary design and material selection of the bolt and barrel extension help deliver a rugged, reliable, and safe rifle that we are proud to call a Ruger.

Ruger’s Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle has a lot to offer the AR-10 market, providing a smaller and lighter option for those interested in using a .308/7.62 AR for anything from hunting to running and gunning. The 16-inch and 20-inch models are both available now and share an MSRP of $1,229.

For more information, please visit ruger.com.

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