Les Baer 308 Sniper

[Ogier Dudley]

The Upper receiver is also machined from the same 7075-T6-51 aluminum and also is a bit more robust than other 308 uppers out there and has a hexagon shape for added strength and stiffness. The design is a flat top style with the integral picatinny rail. Les Baer has a new SWAT model of this rifle that has a monolith rail along the top of the receiver all the way up to the end of the forward hand guard, but the Match version we reviewed here just had a standard rail that spans only the top of the upper receiver, which on an AR usually requires a forward offsetting scope base in order to get enough eye relief to use standard optics. The upper does have a brass deflector and dust cover but there is no forward assist. The charging handle is a standard size affair, and an enlarged T handle on it might be useful when using the rifle with optics, but during our tests the size or the charging handle posed no problems.

The Bolt carrier is a LBC chromed carrier with a LBC precision chromed bolt. The extractor is also a LBC extractor and is also chromed. The operation of the bolt and bolt carrier was smooth and we had no feed or extraction problems during all of our tests with the rifle. The operation of the rifle was flawless and provided confidence that it was going to operate as designed and with continued reliability.

The overall finish of the upper and lower is a matte black anodizing that has a nice uniform and even appearance and all of the parts seem to match well. The barrel is finished in a Dupont S matte black over the stainless steel which gives the entire rifle a matching matte black finish. The upper and lower receivers fit together with a very tight and precise fit, indicating tight tolerances. This is usually one of the more obvious indicators as to whether an AR rifle is going to shoot well or not. The fire selector switch, bolt release knob, and magazine release are normal size and in the standard location for an AR rifle. The trigger itself is a Geissele two stage trigger and is one of the better triggers we have experienced on an AR platform. The initial stage is fairly light with just a bit of mechanical interference being felt and the second stage is light and breaks nicely at 3.5 lbs with just a bit of over-travel. We would like a bit smoother take up on that initial stage, but besides that the trigger is very nice and a very good match up for the purpose of this rifle.

The buttstock is actually nothing to write home about on this particular version. This is the Les Baer standard Match rifle which comes with the generic A2 buttstock. It is not adjustable and the quality is good and frankly, there really is not much more to write about it. The same rifle is available with the Magpul fully adjustable buttstock and if we were ordering the rifle for tactical use for a deploying unit, the Magpul would probably be the way to go. But the clean lines and simple functionality of the fixed A2 buttstock does work fine and will provide many years of solid service on the rifle if one were to opt for the standard A2 buttstock.

As you can see the rifle will shoot sub .5 MOA when the shooter is on his game and shooting well. The trigger helps to allow the shooter to do the best they can and while if it were a bit lighter it might help even more, it is a nice compromise between safety in the field, and accuracy. The rifle did prefer the Federal GMM over the HSM 175gr, but I would recommend trying several different loads to find the sweet spot, especially if you are looking to shoot 175gr loads. The rifle digested and functioned flawlessly during all of our shooting tests.

After spending some time with the Les Baer .308 Semi-Auto Match rifle, we feel it would serve well in the capacity of a precision semi-auto sniper rifle. The accuracy is .5 MOA or better when the shooter is doing his or her part and the reliability and function is everything one expects. The $2980 price is on the high side when compared to other 308 AR rifles like the DPMS, Rock River and some others, so one would expect it to be of higher quality and perform better, which with our experience it seems to. There are always limitations, as we all know, to the AR design itself but Les Baer has done a nice job assembling a well sorted and capable long range semi-auto 308 rifle.

Les Baer's new .308 is the ultimate in semiauto accuracy. By David M. Fortier I have long felt that, correctly utilized, a semiautomatic rifle can provide a useful advantage for a sniper. Prior to the global war on terrorism, such a view was scorned by most, and I received my share of hate mail. In the last eight years or so, though, most have become less dogmatic and more open-minded toward precision "gas gun" rifles.

Today, many shooters with practical real-world experience prefer a semiautomatic over a bolt gun for use out to 800 meters. The reasons are relatively straightforward. A semiautomatic provides a faster follow-up shot; allows multiple targets to be engaged in a much shorter time frame; allows the rifle to be more effectively utilized in a fire-support role; is a more effective fighting rifle if push comes to shove; and the detachable magazine makes for quicker reloads.

Is the semiautomatic system perfect? No, but rifles have been steadily improving. In the old days here in the western world, you had three basic types of modified infantry rifles to choose from. Now there are more options than ever.

The latest entry into this growing market is Les Baer's new .308 Ultimate Match Rifle. This is a handsome AR-10 type rifle sure to carve a name for itself due to one simple reason: its shocking accuracy.

I am admittedly more than a bit jaded when it comes to new rifle designs. But my jaw dropped, hit the floor and rolled under my reloading bench when I peered at the 10-shot test target included with my review rifle. While I was trying to compose myself, I noted my Sako TRG-22 sweating nervously as it hid in the corner. A 10-shot group measuring a scant 0.3 inch will have that effect.

While Les Baer Custom is best known for its high-quality 1911 pistols, the company has also been stirring things up a bit with its ARs, which come with a 1/2 m.o.a. accuracy guarantee. Stop and ponder that for a moment--an autoloader that's guaranteed to shoot half-minute right out of the box. The firm backs up that claim by including a test target with each rifle sporting two five-shot groups fired by Les Baer himself.

I am a bit more familiar with Les Baer ARs than most writers as I used one of his .223 Remington Ultimate National Matches in NRA Highpower. This particular rifle would consistently post half-minute five-shot groups with factory ammunition at 200 yards prone with sling and iron sights. If that is not impressive enough, Shawn McKenna recently set the Camp Perry civilian Service Rifle record using a Les Baer Service Rifle.

Over the years, I've found Les Baer's ARs to be not only extremely accurate but also monotonously reliable. One season, as a test, I shot thousands of rounds through a Les Baer in practice and competition without cleaning the rifle. It never failed.

I attribute the quality and performance of his rifles directly to the man behind the name and the quality of the people he has working for him. Les is a straightforward, no-nonsense kind of man with a very competitive personality.

In years past he raced a Pro 5.0 Mustang. Powershifting 2,200 horsepower of supercharged Ford Windsor at 9,600 rpm, he pushed his 'Stang down the quarter-mile in the low seven-second range, reaching speeds of 198 mph. Lots of people race, but he did it successfully.

Why do I mention this? It requires extreme attention to detail to build a car and engine that run consistently and competitively at these speeds. It also requires extraordinary attention to detail to build semiautomatic rifles, day in and day out, that shoot to this level, and without a doubt Les also has an excellent crew operating behind the scenes--carefully putting these rifles together.

But what about this new piece? In addition to his .223 Remington rifles, Les offers .204 Ruger, 6x45 and his .264 LBC. All of these are built on an AR-15 size platform. To offer a .308 Winchester required moving to a larger AR-10 style upper and lower receiver.

Both upper and lower are machined from 7075-T6-51 billet aluminum and then fitted by hand. The upper receiver is a heavy-wall piece that provides extra strength and rigidity for supporting the medium-weight match barrel.

Machined into the top is a Mil Std 1913 rail for mounting optics or iron sights. A proper dust cover is fitted along with a brass deflector, but there is no forward assist. The end result is a beefy upper receiver with handsome good looks.

Mated to the front of the upper receiver is one of Les Baer Custom's 24-inch benchrest-grade 416R stainless steel match barrels. It sports cut rifling and a 1:10 twist that stabilizes a diverse range of projectile weights and lengths.

The barrel is 0.86 inch in diameter at the muzzle and finished with a carefully cut target crown. It sports a satin black Dupont S coating. The barrel features a Les Baer steel gas blocks, which is locked in place with two lock screws and features a 1913 rail on top.

Surrounding the barrel is one of Les Baer's machined aluminum free-float handguards. This is bead blasted prior to being anodized, which gives it a bit of texture. A chromed Les Baer bolt carrier assembly rides inside the upper.

"We worked with Wolff regarding the action spring to enhance reliability," Les said. "After extensive testing we also decided to go with a high-grade nylon buffer instead of a traditional type. This reduces felt recoil yet lasts just as long."

One important choice Les had to make when developing this rifle was how to feed it. In my opinion he made the right choice by selecting SR-25/M110/DPMS pattern magazines. This design is based upon the original 1950s-vintage ArmaLite AR-10 magazine dimensions. Current military-issue KAC SR-25/M110 sniper rifles use this magazine type, as do many commercial models such as DPMS--which ensures ready availability of magazines.

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