7Jun/1121
LWRCI REPR .308 Review
After quite a bit of time at the range and in the field, here's my review of the LWRCI REPR. I found a lot of things to like and a few to not like.
Photo from the 600 yard match, where I used the REPR along with Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr.
June 7th, 2011 - 16:53
My respect for a very candid review. I am not in the market for this rifle at all, but I was impressed with how honest you were the the issues that you had objections to.
June 7th, 2011 - 19:11
thanks for the great review! I was actually thinking of buying the REPR but after you’re review I’m going to look into other options. You mentioned you had fired several .308 semi auto precision rifles recently. Can i ask which ones stood out to you?
June 7th, 2011 - 20:26
The SCAR-17S.
June 7th, 2011 - 20:36
Неплохо
June 7th, 2011 - 20:38
Очень хорошо
June 7th, 2011 - 21:36
Great review, thank you for your honesty in the assessment!
I also noted you mentioning firing other 308s lately. Of those, which controlled recoil best?
June 7th, 2011 - 21:40
I’d have to say the SCAR-17S, though it did have the PWS FSC30. The PTR and CETME do quite well, but they have many other issues that…hold them back.
June 7th, 2011 - 22:22
Good eval. Everyone that I had shoot it also commented on the recoil being on the heavy side. I never noticed the forward assist issue or even knew that was a feature. When I was at LWRCi, we did talk about how the charging hand sticks out and I know that is on their radar. I think there are plans for one that can be folded down and will allow it to sit flatter when you have it slung up. I am working on getting an OBR soon, so we might be able to do a comparison. I really think the only production rifles in this price range are the OBR, REPR, and the LMT with most standard AR-10 gas guns on the cheaper side and the custom guns near or just above that price.
June 7th, 2011 - 22:48
A folding charging handle for the REPR would be neat.
So would an OBR or LMT MWS comparison. The Noveske N6 is also in this price range but doesn’t get talked about very often.
June 8th, 2011 - 08:56
This is why you have one of the best firearm’s blog on the net. Excellent work, integrity and honesty is such a lost commodity in the world but that’s what you get here. Keep up the good work!!!
June 8th, 2011 - 11:26
Good review. One minor thing, you mispronounced Geissele.
To here the man himself pronounce it, check out http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gearscout/page/2/
June 8th, 2011 - 11:47
I was using the German pronounciation:
http://www.ammoland.com/2011/04/18/geissele-automatics/
June 9th, 2011 - 09:46
+1 to the honesty. Hope to see more stuff headed your way for similar reviews.
June 11th, 2011 - 17:07
Lets see more of that SMLE next to you
June 11th, 2011 - 18:09
Full review will be published…sometime.
June 14th, 2011 - 22:27
Cool! It was quite a Tactical Weapon in it’s day
June 11th, 2011 - 21:12
Re: Heavy Felt Recoil. You mentioned the lighter (3.4 oz) buffer in the REPR. Wouldn’t the standard weight rifle buffer (5.2 oz) help tame the felt recoil?
June 11th, 2011 - 21:22
There are two schools of thought on this. One says that lightening the reciprocating mass will reduce recoil. The other says that increasing the reciprocating mass will reduce recoil. Both can have an effect and both depend on factors outside the weight of the reciprocating mass, but this can also affect function.
I cannot say which would be more effective in this case without a lot more testing. I would think that they (LWRC) have done quite a bit of R&D by this point and feel that this is the best reciprocating mass, that is, one that balances recoil and function.
July 21st, 2011 - 11:26
Great review Doc,
I have REPR 16″, iron sights, ~2300 rounds from match to discount ammo over the past 14mos, primarily 168gr match, fired in all conditions but hot/humid at 25-800yd ranges in various terrain, all non-combat. Zero malfunctions, only problem encountered, FTF, due to sub-par ammo on a few occasions. Different folks choose different “go-to” wpn for different reasons. Reliability and accuracy, especially in extreme cold/icy weather, is a strong combo. It is a tad heavy if one is accustomed to carrying M4/equiv 5.56, and seems light/compact if you have humped a FAL (another proven weapon for the cold). No change in ops characteristics when wpn is hot. Charging handle is like an unwanted metal thumb on the hike if you carry it towards the body, but it works and is simple. LWRC didn’t skimp on iron with this weapon and perhaps “old school”, but when the snow/sleet starts falling and the weapon is kept outside in the cold, it is ready to go and not subject to failure of plastic parts designed for lightweight/warm climes, 4hr SWAT mission profiles, or poor quality metal breakages/wear. I’ve been to Liege though not to SC facility in the US and while very impressed with FN, I’d like to see someone take the well-built SCARH and the REPR and in particular other wpns developed over the past decade with IQ and AF in mind to the arctic, in January, and see what happens….maybe different than the outcomes in the enviro test chambers surrounded by GS-types and contractors or the subarctic rifle ranges in Fairbanks. Then again, maybe the arctic is best left to the Scandis, Canadians, and particularly Russians who claim most of it and actively train their forces in it, summer and winter.
October 30th, 2011 - 02:07
Can you do a review on the LMT .308?
October 30th, 2011 - 03:47
I wouldn’t mind that – have a lot of other stuff to review right now, though.