I want to like the HCAR. I took a look at one earlier today and first reaction is hey, this is cool. But then I got thinking about it, and things started to bug me.
Don’t get me wrong… I’m a fan of the Browning BAR. It’s awesome American History, and I’d LOVE to own one of Semi-Autos. But to modernize the BAR and make it something different just doesn’t do anything for me… and really it kinda irritates me.
It’s an expensive gun. And if you wanted something firing a .30 cal projectile, and save a little money, and get what is going to ultimately be a better rifle for the application of tactics… a SCAR 17.
“Oh but, Ogre, these are .30-06’s!”
Uh huh… So? Can you still buy cases of cheap .30-06 ammo? Not really. Which means you are going to be buying them in little boxes of 20 like regular hunting cartridges, and most likely paying a premium for them now.
The difference between .30-06 and .308, outside of case dimensions… is about only about 100 FPS. Let’s grab two comparable loads from Hornady.
Here’s the .308. And here’s the .30-06 loaded with the same bullet.
The difference is negligible. Feel free to go through Hornady’s online catalog and compare rounds with the same bullets and see for yourself.
Anything you shoot with them, aint feeling the difference. The .30-06 is not giving you any practical advantage that you could utilize in a tactical situation. In fact, it’s going to be a disadvantage because with the .30-06 you are dealing with a longer case, requiring a longer box magazine, which means more bulk in your kit, which means maybe you can’t carry as many mags. Small difference in length could mean big difference in load out. Maybe. Say… Does anyone make a chest rig that can carry .30-06 magazines? Molly Pouches? Huh.
If I want the nostalgia of packing a BAR – oh and I do – I’d pack the classic version.
Now what these cats should do if they want to take the BAR and make it “Tactical”. Make it “Retro Tactical”. Ahem… allow me to fire up my awesome Photoshop Skills… and… Presto!
Here you go… A BAR Carbine. Recognizable as a BAR, but in a handier format for tactical applications… Lighter, Usable, and Classic Cool. And if they wanted to really make it handier – make it in .308.
THAT is what the HCAR should be. Not that Tan Pistol-Gripped, AR stocked monstrosity. EDIT: Thanks to Leon for reminding me! I just re-invented the Colt Monitor.
That’s what they should be making… Colt Monitor Replicas.