6 Best Battle Rifles [2024]: Rifles You Can Stake Your Life On

Police sirens fill the air, and news reporters inform everyone that Martial Law is now in full effect. The National Guard is moving around your city as reports of terrorist attacks across the nation are happening, and more are imminent.

When you need first responder help on a typical day, they are only a phone call and 20 minutes away. In this situation, the cell towers are out, and no one is coming to save you.

Even the potential for situations like that to arise should be enough motivation to ensure you have the best battle rifle on the market and a stockpile of food, ammo, and water for months.

You must be prepared to fight for your life if the bad guys come knocking, and nothing does that better than a full-power .308 Winchester rifle.

But which one will you choose? The Aero Precision M5E1 is my top option due to its performance compared to its cost, but I also appreciate the lightweight and ruggedness of the LaRue PredatOBR.

We’ve shot, tested, and run dozens of AR-10s through the dirt to find you a battle rifle on which you can stake your life.

No matter what price point you’re shopping with, we can find you just the right one. Let’s dive into this list of the best battle rifles so you can be ready if and when the time comes.

What Is A Battle Rifle?

Much like its name suggests, a battle rifle is meant for fighting against a well-equipped enemy force that may be using body armor and other types of protection, where the 7.62×51 NATO round is beneficial.

As such, all of these rifles are chambered in 7.62×51 (.308 Winchester), a “full-power” caliber that has better takedown capabilities than your standard 5.56×45.

These aren’t your typical defensive firearms. Battle rifles are meant to be the ones you grab when it’s time to truly defend your and your family’s life.

Battle rifles:

• Use detachable magazines
• Typically semi-automatic
• Use “full-sized” calibers like .308.

Battle rifles are essentially heavier and more powerful AR-15s.

To save money and ensure you get the best rifle for your needs, we’ll review our top picks for the best battle rifles and essential considerations before buying one.

Which one will you choose?

Why .308 Winchester?

Stopping power is the primary reason for the famous .308 Winchester.

Usually, the round that most of us find synonymous with battle is the 5.56×45 since that is what our military uses in combat. 

But, the 5.56×45 is an intermediate rifle cartridge. This means that it is stronger than a handgun round but lacks the muzzle energy of a full-powered cartridge. The 7.62×39, which is what an AK-47 fires, is also an intermediate cartridge.

Taking a step up, a 7.62×51, or .308 Winchester, is a full-power cartridge with more recoil, weight, and way more firepower. As for muzzle energy, 7.62×51 has almost double the 7.62×39, with an average of 2,550 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.

Image	Product	Price
	Best Overall – Aero Precision M5E1	Check Price
	Best Value – Palmetto State Armory PA-10	Check Price
	Best Truck Battle Rifle – LaRue PredatOBR	Check Price
	Best High-End – LMT MARS-H	Check Price
	Best Classic Battle Rifle – PTR91	Check Price
	Runner Up – Sig Sauer 716i Tread	Check Price

Best Overall – Aero Precision M5E1

Specifications

Pros & Cons

I first got my hands on the M5E1 at my local gun store in 2022. At the time, a friend was searching for an AR-10, and he wound up buying one on the spot.

It was a tank. And for the price, it was a steal.

Once you pick it up, it’s easy to tell that you’re holding a battle rifle. With full-length Picatinny up top and M-Lok on three sides, there is ample room for attachments.

The cost-to-quality ratio sets the M5E1 apart from other rifles. It makes for a great platform to build upon and perfect. I wish these rifles were battle-ready out of the box, but there are small changes like a charging handle, trigger, and maybe a barrel.

I’ve seen many shooters use the lower and buy a more quality upper, but the forged 7075-T6 Aluminum upper is an excellent place to start.

And that’s the reason why I put the M5E1 as the best overall battle rifle on the market.

Aside from having to put it together, the M5E1 is the best bang for your buck battle rifle on the market. With minimal changes in parts, I’ve seen the M5E1 hold its own against much more expensive rifles.

Am I saying it outperformed them? No. However, there were no issues with feeding or accuracy.

For some odd reason,  Aero Precision hasn’t made it available fully built on their website. Maybe one day.

Best Value – Palmetto State Armory PA-10

Specifications

Pros & Cons

It’s hard to beat PSA rifles when it comes to value.

My first experience with the PA-10 was during a training event behind Mt. Rainier. We shot it for hours, and none of us had any issues. It was run hard, banged against trees, and dropped on the ground, and never once did the PA-10 miss a beat.

It’s exceptionally durable, but it’s also the downfall of the rifle. Due to the thickness, the upper or lower receiver may not be compatible with one from another gun.

Just look how much overhang the PA-10 has with an M5E1 lower.

That could leave you with limited options. Thus, I don’t recommend it if you want to change the upper down the road.

The extra thickness also makes it heavier. PSA states 10 lbs, which makes it the heaviest on this list.

Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum is the material used on the upper and lower receivers. The stainless steel barrel and nickel boron trigger group put this AR-10 in a DMR (designated marksman rifle) category, especially considering the weight.

It also has a nitrided gas tube to hedge against the high heat of the .308 round.

I don’t recommend it for a run-and-gun battle rifle because it will weigh you down, and ten pounds will feel like 20 after a few miles.

But for the price you pay and the quality you get, the PA-10 is almost impossible to beat, especially if you plan on leaving it as-is and adding attachments.

Best Truck Battle Rifle – LaRue PredatOBR

Specifications

Pros & Cons

I came across the LaRue PredatOBR while gathering firearms for the best truck gun article but passed up on it due to how heavy it was.

On the range, it shoots like a dream. It’s smooth, and I’m sure it’s thanks to the chrome-finished bolt carrier group. It doesn’t feel harsh when using the charging handle like other AR-10s.

The most notable feature of the PredatOBR is how it gets broken down. The handguard is held to the upper receiver by QD levers, which house a barrel nut that releases the barrel and gas tube when spun off.

No tools are required, making this a perfect option for keeping a battle rifle in your truck or a backpack. This is the only battle rifle on the market that offers this much portability.

It also features Picatinny rails on all four sides, giving you more rigidity in the handguard area and more space for mounting optics and accessories.

The PredatOBR is machined from billet aluminum, and the barrel is capable of 0.5 MOA, which is near perfect for those unfamiliar.

The result is an ultra-durable and portable battle rifle ready for any challenge.

Here’s a video from Firearms Depot with the PredatOBR in a general-purpose rifle (GPR) configuration.

Best High-End – LMT MARS-H

Specifications

Pros & Cons

High-end battle rifles often mean high-end pricing. That’s why the MARS-H sat unbought at my FFL for about seven months. It wasn’t until the owner bought it that we saw what it could do.

They are high-quality duty rifles built for rugged use. The heft of the MARS-H is what you imagined a firearm would feel like as a kid. The upper receiver is fully monolithic, milled from one solid piece of aerospace aluminum forging.

Forging aluminum makes for better durability over billet, so I recommend the MARS-H as the top-of-the-line battle rifle if you can afford it.

When you move around with the rifle, the quality of the MARS-H is unmatched. It’s not just sturdy but also provides consistent accuracy. But that’s an everyday occurrence with LMT barrels.

It also has plenty of M-LOK and Picatinny space and upgraded furniture. It better for the price!

The MARS-H may be the best option if you’re looking for a battle rifle that will never disappoint you.

Best Classic Battle Rifle – PTR91

Specifications

Pros & Cons

The PTR91 was another battle rifle that sat on the shelf at my local FFL for a while. It was on sale for $1,600 and sat next to the LMT MARS-H I mentioned above.

Since no one bought it, they used it on the range for those with a membership.

Guess who has a membership?

My first impressions of the PTR91 were nostalgic. It is heavy, with no Picatinny space or an adjustable stock, just a big piece of equipment. The extended 18-inch barrel and H&K traditional iron sights, stamped metal material, and plastic handguards scream the 1960s and are an excellent addition for anyone who loves the classics.

The roller-delayed blowback action of the PTR91 makes it one of the most reliable firearms on this list. I’ve never experienced a malfunction with it, but it does buck like a horse.

The best part of the PTR91 is that it can use steel-cased ammunition, unlike the other battle rifles mentioned before. Since steel-cased ammo is more affordable, it allows you to train more and is easier to stockpile.

But this battle rifle is more for fun on the range than modern combat. There are better options; this one just scratches your classic battle rifle itch.

And if that’s what you’re after, what can be better than a G3 clone?

Runner Up – Sig Sauer 716i Tread

Specifications

Pros & Cons

I still remember the day we picked up the 716i Tread. I say we because my buddy Colin purchased it a week prior, the same day I bought my BCM Recce. Not an hour after we took our rifles home, we were behind Mt. Rainier, testing them.

I’ve spent my whole adult life shooting the 5.56×45 round, so I focused more on Colin’s Tread.

The 716i Tread felt sturdy, as I expected a battle rifle to feel. Ambidextrous controls were a surprise on a gun that cost under $2,000, and the 16-inch barrel made the whole package easily controllable.

We spent about 1,100 rounds of .308 that day, and the 716i cycled through every single one. We even shot 50 rounds of steel ammo since we heard that’s what the Indian Army shoots through its issued Treads—no issues were had with the steel ammo either.

Sig built the Tread to handle steel-cased ammo by beefing up the brass deflector. It has a steel insert to increase rigidity. This means you can comfortably shoot steel-cased ammo through your tread without worrying as much as you would with other rifles.

That’s why I put the Tread as the best runner-up battle rifle. It eats steel casings, comes with ambidextrous controls, and is sturdy out of the box. The only parts I recommend changing are the trigger, since Sig put a mil-spec in there that is neither smooth nor crisp, and the charging handle, which is non-ambidextrous and flimsy.

The Sig Sauer 716i Tread could be the best overall battle rifle, but proprietary components make it a hard-to-modify platform.

But if you can get around that, the 716i Tread is one of the best battle rifles money can buy, and I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

This list is meant for those looking for a firearm that goes farther and hits heavier than the normal 5.56×45. As I mentioned, battle rifles are meant for combat.

They also do an excellent job with self-defense in the home. But, still, they are primarily meant for fighting against an enemy with body armor.

Battle rifles are often heavier than average AR-15s by a couple of pounds. Those pounds add up quickly.

So, if you’re looking for a firearm that will turn level 4 armor into Swiss cheese, here you go.

When choosing the top picks for the best battle rifles, we aimed for affordability, overall performance, availability, and modularity.

We conducted tons of hands-on testing indoors and outdoors at the pit in Greenwater, Washington, and I also sought feedback from other shooters when compiling this list.

Except for two rifles on this list, they all can be bought for under $1,600 if you look around. They had to be reliable, typically capable of shooting 1,000 rounds without more than two or three minor malfunctions (flat range, regular shooting), and not present any accuracy issues after sustained fire.

They also had to be easy to find. There are no discontinued firearms that would be impossible to purchase recommended on this list.

How To Choose A Battle Rifle?

Choosing an AR-10 all boils down to purpose. What are you going to use it for?

This will dictate the quality you require from your battle rifle. If you plan on taking it behind the woods and running it through the mud or training with it frequently so you have the know-how when the time comes, you should buy a higher-tier battle rifle like an LMT or simply build one to your specifications.

If you want a battle rifle for keeping in your truck, using it as a “get home” rifle, or just a general purpose rifle that does it all, you can save money on the gun you buy.

In that case, it’s safe to go with an M5E1, PSA PA-10, Sig Sauer 716i Tread, etc. Those rifles can still get the job done but are less expensive.

On the other hand, types of uses also come into play. You will want a longer barrel to take advantage of the .308 Winchester’s range capabilities, where weight becomes less of a factor.

But if you want a battle rifle that you’re more likely to move around houses and rooms with, you should consider a rifle with a shorter barrel and lighter weight, making it more maneuverable.

If you can’t figure out a purpose, a general-purpose battle rifle that balances all aspects is a great route.

In my experience, when you buy an AR-10 from the store, you’re either going to spend more money than you need to or you’re going to get a rifle that you’ll have to modify.

The best way to get the battle rifle you want is to build it. It sounds like a monumental task. But I promise you it’s not.

You can buy and assemble all the necessary parts in under two hours. You’ll also learn more about how your firearm works in the process.

The best part of building your rifle is choosing what parts go in the gun. This can be tricky since most manufacturers use proprietary parts, so here’s a video from AT3 explaining what parts work with what.

After you grasp that, you can set your standards for your rifle and build accordingly.

The advantages of a battle rifle lie in the amount of power you get in a relatively small but highly usable package.

The full-power caliber gives you more stopping power up close and over longer distances than smaller calibers like the 5.56×45 and 7.62×39.

As you can see from the chart above, the .308 Winchester carries 2,367 ft. lbs of energy at 100 yards.

While this chart shows that 62-grain 5.56×45 doesn’t even come out of the muzzle with that much energy. The .308 Winchester offers over 100% more energy at 100 yards than the 5.56×45.

Since most firefights between two opposing forces (in this case, you and the enemy) happen within 100 yards, the .308 Winchester offers more stopping power. Not much needs to be shot more than once with a .308 Winchester.

The round is also easier to find in stores. For example, if I go to my local Walmart, I can find multiple .308 Winchester offerings. But I won’t find any 5.56×45 unless I’m at a gun store.

The available ammo and increased power for the size are why battle rifles are a solid choice.

Battle rifles thrive, of course, in combat situations.

But the best part about .308 Winchester is its general purpose. In a life-or-death situation, the .308 offers more bang for your buck. It can typically take down both deer and two-legged creatures with one shot.

In essence, you can use it for everything.

Many battle rifles were considered for this article.

I thought of putting the Knight’s Armament SR-15 on this list, but it’s often out of stock, and pricy. But if you can find one, and you can afford it, buy it.

It’s the gold standard for battle rifles and has seen more action than a Michael Bay film. You can’t go wrong with it if you’re looking for an end-of-the-world battle rifle.

The picks on this list offer the best of what the battle rifle category can provide when balancing affordability, availability, and reliability.

With the options on this list, you can pick up a quality rifle and have money left over for training, ammo, and attachments.

Spending all your money on a rifle and not having money to afford all the other essential things can leave you ill-prepared. Pick up a gun from this list, get training, and be prepared for when the time comes.

Be good and take care.