6 of the Best .308 Semi-Auto Rifles on the Market [2024]

A .308 semi-auto rifle can be used for hunting and is often seen in shooting competitions. It can even be used as a home defense weapon. They are fun to shoot and have many great platform options that satisfy all sorts of checkboxes. The best semi-automatic rifle is difficult to pin down. The best .308 rifle comes down to what you will use it for and how much you are willing to pay.

No matter what configuration your heart desires, there is a .308 for you. I got my feet wet hunting with a Remington 700 chambered in .308, and then I was hooked. Since then, I have shot plenty of .308 rifles and AR10s. You can really get a .308 for just about anything, so choosing the best option depends on what you want to use it for and your personal preferences with accessories. 

Here are our top .308 picks for just about every day of the week. If you’re looking on your own, make sure to read our .308 buyer’s guide as well.

Springfield Armory M1A – Best Overall

The Springfield M1A is the civilian version of the M14. The standard variant of this rifle is beautiful enough, with small odes to its predecessors in the form of garand-style iron sights and carefully distributed weight.

How your dominant hand fits into the stock swell creates a bit of a fulcrum during firing that is very old-school among rifles. The M1A’s action operates over the support hand rather than under your nose like you’ll find with an AR rifle, creating a different kind of balance most people aren’t used to, but in a good way. 

The extra weight helps with recoil mitigation and overall balance, which is why this is a good option for competition shooting and hunting.

The main variants of the M1A are the Match, SOCOM, and Scout Squad, and some could also consider the M21 Sniper as a variation. Each has certain characteristics. The standard M1A has a 22-inch barrel, the SOCOM has a 16-inch barrel, and the Scout features an 18-inch barrel.

The Match variations (National Match and Super Match) are built for shooting matches or competitions. The Super Match is more customizable than the pared-down National Match.

The SOCOM 16 and SOCOM II are similar, minus the Picatinny rails. The SOCOM 16 has a shorter top Picatinny rail than the SOCOM II. Both feature a special muzzle break to reduce the increased recoil brought on by a shorter barrel length than the standard M1A.

The M1A Scout Squad was traditionally marketed toward those in law enforcement. The Scout Squad can be purchased in wood and synthetic stock finishes and features a muzzle stabilizer and a forward-mounted optics base.

IWI Galil ACE Gen 2 7.62 x 51mm NATO – Best Battle Rifle

The IWI Galil ACE Gen 2 7.62 x 51 mm NATO (308 Win) is an accurate, reliable, tactile, and fun semi-automatic .308 to shoot. Built for mid-range engagement, the newest generation of the Galil ACE doesn’t disappoint in terms of quality.

The ACE took its inspiration from the Russian AK-47 and Finnish Valmet RK 62 and was originally made to replace the FN FAL. There have been many improvements between the first and second generations. 

Built to be a combat rifle, the ACE sports safety and magazine releases that are both ambidextrous, with the right-sided safety in a more familiar AK placement and the left sitting just above the pistol grip. The barrel comes in at a 16-inch standard length and has an AR-style grip with removable rail covers. Some shooters prefer to remove the rail covers and attach a bipod, forward grip, or other accessories.

The handguard, mag well, grip, and stock are all made of polymer-based materials to keep this battle rifle lightweight. The full-length Picatinny rail allows for multiple optics and accessories. The ACE also features a cold hammer forged barrel with chrome lining to stay stronger longer.

This semi-auto features a two-stage trigger that breaks at slightly below five pounds, creating a great opportunity for slow and controlled shots or rapid semi-automatic fire. The telescoping and folding AR-style stock allows the shooter to control the length of pull and now features a comfortable rubber recoil pad. The standard issue sights are also fully adjustable and have tritium inserts for low light conditions.

Another cool feature of the Galil ACE Gen 2 7.62 x 51mm NATO is that it can operate with the stock folded. The handguard doesn’t heat up, even under rapid fire, and recoil is fairly easy to control on this rifle. Of your choice of battle rifles, you can’t go wrong with the Galil ACE Gen 2. 

Palmetto State Armory Gen 3 PA10 – Best Budget AR-10

Let’s face it; not everyone has a few grand laying around to spend whenever they want a new gun. If you’re looking for something more on the budget-friendly side that is fun to practice longer-range drills with, this is your rifle.

The PSA PA10 is a great way to introduce yourself to an AR platform without sinking a small fortune’s worth of money all at once into one gun. The rifle itself is pretty accurate out of the box.

A few issues with the PA10 are that magazine loading can take a little extra elbow grease and that its lower takedown pins tend to be screwdriver and hammer tight. Despite it being a little tight putting magazines in, there’s usually not an issue with them dropping free.

The PA10 is probably best for bench or prone shooting. Most people would agree the gen 2 PA10s are over-gassed, but the gen 3 PA10 features options to adjust this gas block and fix that little problem easily with just a few turns.

This rifle is also reliable, considering its price point starts at less than one grand. Cheap target and match ammo runs through the PA10 without issue. For an introduction to the world of ARs and long-range shooting on the weekends, the PA10 is one of the better options on the market.

FN SCAR 17S – Best for Long-Distance Shooting

Spelled out, SCAR stands for Special Operations Combat Assault Rifle. This short-stroke gas piston .308 is a lightweight, adjustable, and reliable long-range rifle for those far away targets. There are plenty of aftermarket products to add to an already great rifle to make it your own.

The FN SCAR 17S comes in two configurations, the 17s with a 16.25-inch free-floating barrel and the 20s with a 20-inch barrel. A telescoping and folding stock makes this rifle the best for long-distance shooting and in combat situations as well.

The short-stroke gas piston system helps to minimize recoil, and the adjustable stock and cheek piece positions allow for comfort for any sized person. The barrel twist is a 1:12 RH, which is respectable in terms of this realm of firearms.

If we want to get into the nitty-gritty, this is technically the SCAR-H (H is for heavy). Another variation called the SCAR-L (L is for light) is chambered in the lighter caliber 5.56. This legendary rifle ships with folding iron sights but also boasts a full-length Picatinny rail to add whatever optics your heart desires.

If you’re looking to add a 1,000-yard rifle to your collection, I’d seriously consider spending the extra cash for an FN SCAR 17s.

IWI Tavor 7 – Best Bullpup Style

The IWI Tavor 7 is trending as a popular bullpup-style semi-auto rifle chambered in .308 Win.

The bullpup style of this rifle sets the ammunition behind the trigger compared to in front of the trigger. This sets up a different balance point and distribution of weight but allows for a shorter overall length while retaining a typical-sized barrel. The Tavor 7 comes in a 16.5-inch barrel, and its overall length is still shorter than folding-stock ARs.

While the manual states the Tavor 7 is chambered for 7.62 x 51 NATO ammunition, .308 Win has been run through this rifle safely. An adjustable regulator allows the shooter to help this puppy handle changing pressures and conditions.

Built for combat, many opt for a 1-6x optic mount to test and tune accuracy, and with over 14 inches of top rail, there’s room to spare. For a budget-friendly option, I’m a fan of the Primary Arms 1-6x optic.

A significantly different feature of the IWI Tavor 7 is its single-stage trigger. While still smooth and crisp, most .308 Win semi-autos are built with two-stage triggers. An additional learning curve for this particular rifle may be how the recoil travels. Because it’s a bullpup style, the recoil naturally will want to flip the barrel up and stock down. Fortunately, this isn’t hard to handle, but it may throw you off for the first few rounds.

Wilson Combat .308 Winchester Tactical Hunter 

Wilson Combat is a custom firearms company in the United States, originally founded in 1977 that specializes in custom 1911 handguns, tactical long guns, and accessories. The Tactical Hunter semi-automatic .308 is a high-end piece of art built for the job of a hunting rifle or a long-range plinker.

The threaded barrel allows it to shoot easily under suppression, and, at just over seven pounds, it is a very lightweight rifle option. The barrel itself is button rifled and threaded for match-grade operation. The Wilson M-LOK rail is designed to be used and abused, and if Wilson Combat puts it on a gun, you best believe it’ll live up to their high expectations.

The downside to this particular rifle is that it’s expensive. The base price is around $3,300, which may not be in most people’s price range. However, having a Wilson Combat rifle in your collection may be worth it.

This rifle is great as a hunting rifle or just for target shooting. In terms of semi-auto rifles, it’s pretty much the cream of the crop without too many downsides. One complaint that could come up is that many people prefer to hunt with a bolt action .308 compared to a semi-automatic rifle.

The action is as smooth as you can imagine with Wilson’s premium bolt carrier assembly, and this rifle has incredible craftsmanship. For those that want the best of the best and something that’s pretty to boot, I’d highly recommend the Wilson Combat Tactical Hunter.

Knowing how to find the perfect .308 semi-automatic rifle can be a daunting task. It is important to first decide what you want to do with your new rifle and what its job will be. Picking a rifle for hunting versus competition shooting can lead down completely different rabbit holes.

Above all else, make sure before you pull out a loud .308 at the range, invest in quality hearing protection. Hearing loss is no fun for anyone.

Price & Quality

It’s no secret that you get what you pay for with firearms. On this list, you will find a wide range of prices, but my best advice is to buy the most expensive one you can afford if you want the best quality. You don’t have to buy the most expensive thing out there, but if you want to regularly use a high quality AR10 style rifle, a $2,000 base price will be on the low side.

Choosing the Right Stock

Considering what special features you may want may seal the deal between two great choices of rifles. Taller people may find they benefit more from a telescopic and adjustable stock for comfort, and others like the control it gives them over the length of pull of the trigger.

Some people really value an adjustable, comfortable cheek rest, while others could take it or leave it. A folding stock can come in handy with storage and transport or just be a super fun aspect you want to show off to friends.

Optics Capability

Even optic options matter. If you’re someone that loves challenging yourself with iron sights and isn’t much for mounting a bunch of accessories on a rifle, maybe look into an option that doesn’t put so much emphasis on attachment points or has Picatinny rails all around. That may save you a few dollars at the counter. 

Caliber: 7.62 x 51mm NATO vs. .308 Win

Something small but important to consider when choosing your rifle is what caliber the manufacturer chambered the gun to run. Technically, 7.62 x 51mm NATO is a military (military surplus for civilians) round and has slight variations from the .308 Win. 

They are the same size, but the difference in chamber pressure could cause some serious damage if your rifle isn’t made for it. Always check with the manufacturer’s recommendations and specs when thinking of trying “interchangeable” ammunition.

Overall, you can’t go wrong with a classic Springfield Armory M1A for a solid entry-level .308 Win semi-automatic rifle. All around, it is a classic and quality firearm. 

For the best tactical option with some pretty cool features, the Galil ACE Gen 2 is hard to beat. If you’re more of a bullpup person, consider the highly-touted Tavor 7.

Remember to consider what you want to do with your gun, what you can and can’t live without, and make sure you’re comfortable with your shooting platform before taking it out to the range yourself.