14 Best 308 Semi-Auto Rifles – 2024

Last updated January 24th 2024

Affiliate disclaimer: We earn a small part of the sale price when you buy through our links. You won’t pay anything extra and your purchase helps support the site. Click here for more details.

The Winners at a Glance

Image	Product	Detail	Price
	S&W M&P10	Overall Winner	Best Price
	Daniel Defense DD5	Best DMR/Hunter/ Long Range Battle rifle	Best Price
	PSA PA10	Best low budget rifle	Best Price
	Patriot Ordnance Factory Revolution	Best battle rifle/short range hunter	Best Price
	FN SCAR 17S	Best if you can justify the money	Best Price
	Springfield M1A SOCOM	Best steampunk rifle with muscle car vibes	Price

Intro

These are battle rifles in the truest sense, and they are also seriously popular hunting rifles.

Chassis rifles and hybrid precision rifles are all leaning more towards the Modern Sporting Rifle design. And they’re appearing more and more in target shooting competitions.

With a hog hunt, range shooting or even home defense, it is worth its weight in gold with the best 308 ammo. That’s good, because there is often a serious weight penalty to pay. A lightweight AR-10 is a rare find, but we’ve got a few…

Now, which is the best semi-auto 308 rifle for sale in 2024?

1. Smith & Wesson M&P10

• Price: $1,048.99
• Barrel length: 16 inch
• Total: 34
• Magazine capacity: 20+1
• Weight: 8lb

Best overall

This is the classic Colt M4 clone 308 Winchester AR-10 from Smith & Wesson. It’s the matte black rifle you pictured in your head when you clicked the link.

It is also 8.1lb without any of the fancy technology you find on more expensive fare here. Just simple, pared down polymer and steel with a Black Armonite finish.

You get a collapsible stock, some of them have M-Lok handguards, others have the classic Vietnam era forend. We prefer the more modern version with modern optics, a red dot sight and magnifier.

There’s nothing standout on this 308 Winchester semi auto rifle, except the price. But this is a good, budget friendly rifle that will do everything you want and the military and law enforcement need.

As an all-rounder, and even a big game hunting rifle up to 500 yards, though, this classic rifle is the one multitool you need. With this price tag, that’s good enough for the overall win for this 308 semi-automatic rifle.

2. Daniel Defense DD5 V4 308 Rifle

• Price: $2,835.99
• Barrel: 18 inch
• Total: 35.3-39″
• Weight: 8.6lb

Best Designated Marksman Rifle

The Daniel Defense DD5 is objectively as good as anything here, and on another day could be your overall winner.

This is slightly heavier than the lightest here, but so much more mainstream that we think it would win the popular vote.

Now the company makes great AR-15s that are consistently among the winners of our $2000 AR-15 and custom AR-15 categories. It also makes great sniper rifles and big battle rifles, as it turns out.

There are lots of 308 Winchester semi-automatic rifles the average soldier would rather take into battle than the contract-supplied hardware in their hands.

This civilian version is accurate, reliable and good over a long distance thanks to that 18 inch barrel and free floating handguard.

3. Palmetto State Armory Gen3 PA10

• Price: $839.99
• Barrel: 18 inch
• Weight: 8lb
• Capacity: 20+1

Best Budget Rifle

Palmetto State Armory makes cheap AR style Modern Sporting Rifles, and now pistols, that have established a cult like following with those that like a bargain.

You get a PSA patrol rifle at a great weight and forged aircraft-grade aluminum receivers. The BCG is Nitride coated, it’s a flat top upper receiver and full-length rail. An ambi charging handle too. On paper it’s good.

And for the money you spend, the Palmetto State Armory rifle gives outstanding bang for the buck, especially with the right daily deals. The PSA 308 rifle is still a great starter rifle that shouldn’t let you down and might be the best budget rifle among these semi autos.

PSA do a good line in DIY build kit, gun parts & accessories too, like lower receivers and complete upper receivers for a bttle rifle in numerous calibers.

4. Patriot Ordnance Factory Revolution DI

• Price: $2,734.99
• Barrel Length: 16.5 inch
• Total Length: 35.3-39 inch
• Weight: 6.81lb

Best Battle Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory Revolution DI is easily one of the lightest and highest quality rifles here.

POF make some of the best AR-15s on the market and this POF Revolution AR10 is simply a bigger version that weighs in at a super impressive 6.8lb. that’s a 5.56 NATO rifle weight honestly.

You can switch out the upper for a gas piston system that is slightly heavier, but the Direct impingement POF Revolution is the one you want if you’re going in to battle in the USA.

With the best optics, red dot sights, rifle scopes etc up top, it’s an absolute machine with sub-MOA accuracy guaranteed.

If it was slightly cheaper, the POF Revolution could be our overall winner in this best 308 semi -auto rifle contest.

5. Ruger SFAR

• Price: $1,055.99
• Barrel: 16.1
• Weight: 6.8lb

You can order a Ruger SFAR with a 16 inch up to a 20″ barrel. So it’s a great CQB, a DMR or something in between.

This Small Frame Autoloading rifle comes top tier accessories, like a DLC coated titanium fiiring pin and dual ejectors, a chrome moly barrel with 5R rifling and more.

6. Christensen Arms CA-10 DMR

• Price: $1,889.99
• Barrel: 18″
• Total: 39″
• Capacity: 20+1
• Weight: 7.1lb

Best Custom Rifle

The Christensen Arms CA-10 DMR could be the best custom AR-10 in 2024.

You even get a choice of colors: Burnt Bronze, Tungsten Grey and Matte Black Cerakote finish. They even have barrel options for your Designated Marksman Rifle, with an 18, 20 or 24 inch barrel.

Also, It’s a Great 308 Rifle

This is the complete AR-10. It’s light enough to shoulder all day and yet capable of delivering all that top rated 308 punch. It will probably match the range of most full on sniper rifles too, in a layman’s hands.

That barrel is CF-wrapped steel, the handguard is carbon fiber too and the end result is a sublime piece of balanced engineering that is good for long range shooting and big game hunting.

We love these 308 Winchester semi auto rifles. And you might too.

7. Rock River Arms LAR-8 X-1

• Price: $1,696.99
• Barrel: 18 inch
• Weight: 9.5lb

Law enforcement and competition special

This Rock River Arms Designated Marksman Rifle promises sub-MOA performance out the box.

If you want a simple barrel patrol rifle, go for the M4. This is the long-range rifle that gives you options for home defense, target shooting and some hunting scenarios.

That weight is a bitch and you’d really have to be a committed hunter or professional sniper to shoulder 9.5lb on a hike. It’s a bench top shooting range specialist, though, and they’re important too.

Also, this is a 308 Winchester semi automatic rifle with a mid-length gas system that United States law enforcement and military rely on each and every day for long range shooting. That counts too.

8. Sig Sauer 716i Tread Snakebite

• Price: $1.899.99
• Barrel: 16 inch
• Total: 39.5 inch
• Weight: 8.5lb

Solid mid-range contender

The Sig Sauer 716i Tread is a grown up version of one of the best AR-15s on the market.

Now chambered in 308 Winchester Magnum with a similar mid-length gas system and 6 position adjustable stock, the Sig Sauer 716i Tread semi auto rifle comes with a heavy barrel, a free float handguard with an M-LOK rail system, and three prong muzzle devices.

These are complete rifles for folks that just want to load and shoot. No fettling required. everything from the pistol grip to the trigger guard and ambidextrous magazine release is ‘good enough’ for targets and North American game. Especially with high quality optics/scopes.

So that’s why these semi automatic rifles are best sellers and favorites for the shooting range.

9. Armalite AR10 .308 Tactical

• Price: $1,875.99
• Barrel: 16 inch
• Total: 39.5 inch
• Weight: 8.4lb

The original, but no longer the best

Armalite will forever remain intertwined with the AR-15 and AR-10 centerfire rifle. And none of these Modern Sporting Rifles would have happened without it. So, in a way, Armalite started this whole thing.

That doesn’t really matter now. What does matter is that this is a high quality rifle and the customer service team has been working overtime to keep stock flowing in 2024.

You can order a Flat Dark Earth rifle, too, of course.

10. FN SCAR 17S

• Price: $3,849.99
• Barrel: 17 inch
• Total Length: 28.5- inch
• Capacity: 20+1
• Weight: 8lb

If you’re looking for the ultimate 308 battle rifle, well the FN SCAR 17S could make a legitimate claim to that title. This is a US Military service weapon, minus full auto.

You have to admit, that’s kind of badass in itself.

This is a short-stroke, gas piston operated rifle and the Scar 17S comes in .308 Win.

Some people need to be careful with these long guns. This battle rifle can turn into an addiction that leads to an FN SCAR 20S sniper rifle with a 20 inch barrel for long range shooting. Check the full buyer’s guide. It’s pretty amazing.

If you’re nodding along, you probably already know that today is about to get expensive.

That’s because of the creamy smooth short stroke gas piston system and chrome lined barrel in this fully ambidextrous rifle.

It’s also one of the most famous and instantly recognizable rifles on the planet thanks to that unique synthetic stock.

Get a SCAR 17S, battle rifle and a matching FN SCAR 20S long distance precision rifle and you should never need to buy more 308 semi auto rifles. You will, but you won’t need them…

11. Springfield Armory M1A

• Price: $1,718.99
• Barrel: 18 inch
• Total: 44.3 inch
• Weight: 8.8lb

The Springfield Armory M1A is an oddity in this company, if not a complete wildcard.

I mean it’s not an AR-10 like the Springfield Armory Saint Victor, but it basically matches the numbers of anything else here and comes with a detachable box magazine. So yeah.

It also comes in a variety of specs based roughly on the old M1 Garand from World War II.

From the old school scout rifle to the Springfield M1A Loaded precision shooter and SOCOM battle rifle, there’s a Springfield Armory M1A for every occasion.

Pretty useful thing huh?

The Springfield M1A Loaded comes with a composite stock with a forward-mounted optical sight base. That’s a rail up front, and folding iron sights. Just in case you’re a time traveler from the last century and like a very old school precision rifle.

Springfield M1A SOCOM is Nuts

Now you can get a wide variety of different Springfield M1A finishes, including the ever so slightly batshit nuts Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM semi automatic rifles.

That’s like a steampunk AR-15 and, aesthetically at least, this version of the Springfield M1A is one of our favorite rifles on sale in 2024.

It’s not technically the best battle rifle, by any stretch of the imagination. But the SOCOM is guaranteed to make you smile every time you flip up the iron sights on that Picatinny rail.

Is this a valid comparison? Yeah, actually it is.

There are a range of new editions all the time, as well as California legal rifles. So check here for a general M1A search that should show you everything you can actually buy right now and any daily deals.

• Buy a Springfield M1A rifle here.

11. IWI Galil Ace Gen 2

• Price: $2,149.99
• Caliber: 308 Winchester
• Barrel: 16 inch
• Weight: 8.75lb
• Capacity: 20+1

The Russian influence is clear to see in this hybrid rifle that looks something like the lovechild of an AK pistol and an AR-15. It’s awkward, but we like the IWI Galil Ace Gen 2.

Is this Galil Ace Gen 2 different enough? Definitely for a place on this board and we do kind of like this rifle in other calibers. You can order a Galil Ace Gen 2 in 7.62×39 and that really feels like its natural habitat.

Of course you can get a Galil Ace Gen 2 in 5.56 NATO, too. But the Galil Ace is much more of a left-field choice in that caliber.

There’s just a real spartan military vibe here with the Galil Ace, from the chunky black synthetic stock to the flash hider. It’s a tactical rifle, rather than a long range points shooter.

If you see one available then buy that gun online, immediately. You won’t regret it and your Galil Ace will give you many hours of joy when you buy a gun online.

Honorable Mentions

If you want to get really weird then the Zastava M77 offers an AK-47 layout for your stainless steel 308 heavy barrel long guns. Because reasons.

And we’re properly on the fence with the American Defense Mfg UIC10. Again, maybe that will come soon… As for the US Marine Corps, they use a custom rifle developed from the Knights Armament SR-25, that we just haven’t seen on sale for a while and military units round the world use the SA58 FAL.

You’ll need to contact Knights Armament direct and ask them to sell you a gun and the SA58 FAL is an assault rifle, so forget that one.

You could buy a Savage MSR, though.

Best Place for AR-10 Parts and Accessories

You can upgrade more or less every part of your 308 with the likes of an Aero Precision cold hammer forged barrel or bolt carrier groups and adjustable gas blocks.

The steel barrel is one of the easiest upgrades. It will yield the best results if you opt for the likes of Aero Precision and fit it well to a good basic upper receiver. Maybe a new gas block, it depends on the gun deals.

A National Match grade steel barrel will turn most 308 rifles into a sniper. All of the upper receiver options here are a good start.

Although some are obviously better than others, and some are so good that an Aero Precision steel barrel would be a downgrade. Just treat them to National Match grade ammo instead.

A gas block, new front sight and chromed bolt carrier groups could all find their way into your shipping cart before long. But if that happens, then you have some kind of love affair going with your 308. So it’s all good, right? Then you can get started on optics, sights, hearing protection and all that jazz.

Gun parts and accessories are everywhere, from the likes of Grey Ghost Precision, and more for long guns and short barrel rifles. Where do you get yours? It’s a free world, but we have some suggestions. We also helped you with searches and direct links to save you time.

• Primary Arms – Wide selection of spares and accessories.

Bolt Action Rifle

Look at the Sig Cross, Ruger American and Ruger Precision 308 Win, bolt action rifle choices too. Although that is much heavier and really isn’t meant to be shouldered all day.

But with the right ammo the Ruger Precision 308 Win bolt action rifle does come with a 700 yard effective range. So there’s that…

The Ruger American bolt action rifle is much cheaper. And it comes with a threaded barrel for a muzzle brake and a slightly adjustable trigger.

There are plenty of bolt action rifles on the market with offers and gun deals. Pump action shotguns are getting cheaper too.

You can have a Savage Axis bolt action rifle for just a few hundred dollars and head out hunting with a simple rifle.

That Savage Axis bolt action rifle in 308 form is a total legend and one of the top rifles in our best 308 rifles list and best hunting rifles list. So yeah, we’re down with the Savage Axis bolt action rifle.

A lever action rifle can be fun too. So can a break action single shot rifle, or a bolt action single shot rifle. We have a lot of single shot rifles. So yeah get a bolt action single shot break action too.

What About a Concealed Carry While You’re Here?

If you’re the kind of person to want one of these hardcore rifles, you know you need a proper handgun to go with them at the best gun store online.

Now that might be a 1911 on your hip, or a concealed carry 9mm subcompact in an IWB holster. It could be Sig P320 Compact Tactical 9mm pistols. So if you want a concealed carry pistol, handguns, rifles & shotguns, or handgun parts, try here:

Where to Buy Ammo

You can find specialist hunting rifle ammo for deer hunting, moose or predatory game.

If you’re looking for rifle ammo, handgun ammo, shotgun ammo, rimfire ammo, 9mm ammo, 45 ACP ammo,, ammo storage and bulk ammo deals, have a look here.

• Firearms Depot – Rifle ammo and handgun ammo, shotgun ammo, bulk ammo, ammo storage, ammo cans, 45 ACP ammo, and gun safes.