Ruger SFAR After My Fix - Success!

We’re back… Post fix after the gas key issue, and approximately 115 more rounds down range with no issues!

The Ruger Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle (SFAR) has an interesting history. Following a recent trend to downsize the 308 Main Battle Rifle (think AR-10, SCAR, etc.) to an AR-15 size, Ruger released the SFAR to the market. Buyers either LOVE IT, or HATE IT, depending on what they experience from the range sessions. Issues I’ve seen online are:

• Over gassed, broken cases, dented cases, erratic behavior
• Failure to eject/extract/feed
• Gas Block coming loose, or being loose
• Accuracy problems (likely from handguard hitting the gas block, creating bad harmonics, etc.)

My experience has been a little different, but then, I have a post-fix, post-visit to Ruger rifle. Let’s recap:

• Traded for the Ruger SFAR – original owner disclosed this SFAR had been returned to Ruger due to feeding/gas issues. Ruger replaced the barrel, gas block/tube, handguard, and bolt carrier group. Original owner then fired 170 rounds through the rifle post/fix
• I took the SFAR to the range for my first time shooting it, fired 100 trouble free rounds
• During the second trip, the SFAR started failing to eject cases and basically became a single-shot rifle roughly 20-30 rounds into the session. I removed the bolt carrier group to find that the gas key was loose and that I could move it quite a bit. I tightened the fastener as tight as I could with an Allen Key and fired 15 more trouble free rounds
• Brought home, called Ruger Customer Support who told me to ship the rifle back. I didn’t want to do that, so I requested approval to Loctite (Red Gel), torque to spec, and stake the gas key (factory staking was weak, not really metal to metal). Ruger approved, I did the work
• This trip, approximately 115 trouble free rounds fired. Post range session, inspected gas key, all is well, ZERO movement

Accuracy tested with an inexpensive Cabela’s Covenant 5 Optic, 5-25x56 power SFP. Not top of the line whatsoever, and it was a very windy day. My ammo is all handloads with mixed headstamps, factor 2nd or pulled bullets, and Powder seconds (in this case, Ramshot Tac and H335 for the last session). Based on these factors, I am 100% satisfied with the accuracy of this rifle.

Let’s see how long this holds