FN discontinuing the SCAR 16S ?

While searching around for a FDE16S I called GT Distributors and was told by a slaes rep that FN will no longer be making the 16S 5.56mm version anymore. They will continue to make the 7.62mm version though.

Is there any truth to this? And if its true, what does it mean for SCAR 16S owners?

The Mk16 is going away, only international orders will save it from the chopping block.

Do not know if the 16S is discontinued, but w/o the S/F version selling, it is a distinct possibility.

This should give some insight: Mk-16 phased out for Mk-17 conversion kit

The 5.56 / .223 is a varmint cartridge. I will hang on to my Noveske DI guns for target shooting and predator hunting. After nearly 40 years - change is happening . . . again . . .

Tell that to the tens of thousands of dead motherfuckers the cartridge has killed over the last 50+ years.

5.56mm isn't going anywhere. It's a practical general purpose combat cartridge for 95% of combat operations. 7.62 is useful for the 200-500m distances seen more frequently in A-stan.

As for the 16s.... I'd be VERY surprised if FNH stopped selling the commercial 16S. Unless you want to use the 7.62x51mm cartridge, the 16S is a more practical gun for most users. And it's cheaper.

If FN comes out with a version with a common receiver, then maybe THAT version could replace the 16S.... but they'd have to supply the conversion kits commercially.

For now, I doubt that, but I'd personally like to see it. The SCAR is favorite platform for sure.

I am waiting for clarification..

The new FNH customer service/technical team is a pile of shit.. Was on hold for an hour seeking an answer today and couldn't get through..

The hoops FN-USA has to go through to sell the SCAR's in the US is ridiculous. Complete guns have to be disassembled, then shipped over here, then re-assembled as semi auto only versions.

If they were building the gun stateside and could sell it at a street price of $1500 or so I don't know why anyone would buy another AR-15. Basic Sig 556's, which are all US made, don't sell for much over a grand, and you know FN has the manufacturing capabilities here that Sig does. Domestic production would also mean separate barrel assemblies, my biggest hangup in buying a SCAR.

Unless you hear it from FN it doesn't mean anything. The 16 has been a commercial success, why would they stop selling a gun that certainly outsells the FS2000 and FNAR? .mil decision has nothing to do with commercial sales and the odds of FN releasing to the public a conversion kit that would in effect nullify one of their more successful commercial products are slim to none.

Agreed, calling the 5.56 a varmit cartridge is a little careless. The idea behind 5.56 is the ability to carry more ammo into a combat situation without weighing you down.

Not to mention that 5.56, hell 9mm too, can be extremely effective. Our military is cursed with substandard ammunition, but that seems be being worked on with mk262 variants, and marine SOST ammo. Etc.

5.56 with a proper bullet can be extremely deadly

FWIW...........the LE rep at the NTOA conference mentioned an individual officer program coming out on the 5.56 semi auto rifles.

Yup. And to be fair, The New M855A1 and Mk318 are the first military rounds designed since experts have really understood the wounding mechanism of the 5.56mm cartridge.

That's not true. Some components are made in the U.S. and shipped to Herstal, Belgium. The rifle is assembled there, in a semi-automatic configuration. A pin in installed in the magwell to prevent mags from being inserted. This allows the rifle to be imported to teh U.S., since in this configuration it's incapable of accepting a detachable magazine. FNH USA then grinds the pin down and supplies a U.S. made magazine to push the U.S. part count over the top. They then sell it to you.

Kind of ridiculous doing it that way? Yeah. The law is an ass. But they still sell 'em like hot cakes.

Yeah, I read all the articles and it sounds like the original plan is off. But it sounds like they didn't sell many MK16s to the Military anyway. In fact, I suspect they've sold a lot more SCAR 16s to the commercial market then they have mk16s to the Military.

I'm sure they are outselling the ACR. So, I suspect they will keep selling the SCAR 16, but who knows. If it looks like its going to be discontinued I'll sell mine and buy a second SCAR 17s.

PM me if that happens, I'll buy another SCAR 16s off of you =P

I believe it's just the military not purchasing the 16s. Commercial production is continuing on.

I believe it's just the military not purchasing the 16s. Commercial production is continuing on.

I stand corrected. I remember hearing the process from one of the FN tech guys but couldn't remember if it was a 922(r) or (o) issue. He did state that barrel assembles (which are made in Belgium) are considered by the ATF to be MG barrels, and because of the barrel ban on 'non sporting' rifles that they couldn't be imported without being part of a whole, import compliant, weapon.

WTFE. The ATF administering the GCA and NFA remind me of a line from Archer. "Idiots, doing idiot things, because they're idiots.."

Haha, Archer reference FTW. Good job.

Was the SCAR developed by taxpayer money?

FNH USA has no plans to discontinue production of the civilian model SCAR 16S.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet.

USSA-1

Partially. The initial submission was on FN's dime. Once the contract was awarded, much of subsquent development was paid for with taxpayer funds. Data rights are usually spelled out in the contract (as in, what belongs to the Government, and what belongs to the the Contractor).

Thanks USSA-1.. I already miss Bob Ailes, as these new guys seem to be ghosts.

What happened to Bob???

101

He and most of his team "got retired" from what I've heard

Not may details other than they don't work for FNH anymore

Thanks for chiming in.... no suprise here. It's a fantastic rifle.

Kind of sucks, Bob was the man. These new guys lack all possible knowledge about the Scar.....I'm suprised they have heard of it.
People are better off posting questions here.

Seems to be the trend.
Once you get a good customer base and a faithful following the company shit-cans you and then tries to play "pick up the pieces".

Could this be for the SCAR or another weapon?

http://www.defense.gov/Contracts/Contract.aspx?ContractID=4641

FN Manufacturing, L.L.C., Columbia, S.C., was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for a maximum $14,411,000 for automatic weapon receiver component. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. The date of performance completion is June 30, 2017. The Defense Logistics Agency Land, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (SPRDL-12-D-0001).

Automatic receiver component could be SCAR H conversion kits?

Or it could be for MG parts

I know, right? Oh look our CSR's actually get shit done and help people remain customers let's fire em..

I only have 1 FN product at this point in time. I've called customer service 4 times since Bob left and sent at least 4 emails, none of which were answered or replied to, and it's not helping me ease into buying more FN products. I sold an FNX partially because of it.

Sounds like FNH is taking the HK appraoch to customer service for civilians

Yeah, hold your breath on that, too. In April I talked to Bucky after I called Bill, the FN LE Training guru, who is a friend of mine. I was told that the LEO program for the SCAR was going to roll out "in a few weeks". Needless to say that didn't pan out. I picked up my 16S from the local FFL that my department deals with and he gave me a deal, but there was no play from FN. The local SO SWAT was gonna order 30 16's with the short barrel and thay were gonna pay 2200 each I was told. That deal never went forward either.

Considering the piece of shit that FNH calls an owner's manual for the SCAR, I'm not surprised.

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