The First FN SCAR

by
posted on November 10, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
KeefeReportSCAR1.jpg

I was filming an episode of American Rifleman Television at the offices of FN USA recently, when they broke out one of the most important American military rifles of the past 25 years: the very first SCAR Light. The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) required a 7.62x51 mm selective-fire rifle that would give them increased range and knockdown power. The engineers at Fabrique Nationale in Herstal, Belgium, responded with the gun that would become the Special Operations Command Combat Assault Rifle, the SCAR in both 7.62 and 5.56. The rifle shown here was the 5.56 rifle fabricated by FN and sent to SOCOM. It has fired literally tens of thousands of rounds, and it performed so well that the gun was adopted by SOCOM. Though there are no active SCAR Light contracts, it remains an important part of the SCAR family.

FN's engineers were very proud of the futuristic F2000. They thought it was the modern solution for infantry soldiers on the battlefield. But the operators in SOCOM wanted something more akin to a conventional infantry rifle. What they wanted was the SCAR. Because of this prototype and its 7.62 brethren, U.S. SOCOM troops and Army Rangers have one of the most effective rifles ever produced.

One of the best feature of the SCAR is its piston system, which changed little from the prototype

On the prototype, you can clearly see how the final folding and collapsible buttstock would look and function on the SCAR.

The prototype of the SCAR shows the reciprocating operating handle and ambidextrous selector switch as incorporated in the design adopted by SOCOM.

American Rifleman's Mark Keefe was able to handle the original prototype of the rifle that would become the SCAR Heavy. This rifle was submitted to SOCOM and was extensively tested.

Latest

Taurus GX2
Taurus GX2

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Trijicon Releases Green-Dot RMR

For the first time, the Trijicon RMR will now be available with a green aiming dot, providing some benefits to shooters with astigmatism and red-green color blindness.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 15, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.