If you’re looking for a lightweight .308 semi-auto that can take down game and still handle like your AR-15, the Ruger SFAR might just be your next go-to AR-10. I recently used mine on a three-day hog hunt at the Y Bar Ranch in McMullen County, Texas. We were primarily hunting at night—from about 5:30 PM to 1:30 AM—so everything about the gear had to be dialed in. Long nights, heavy brush, and the expectation that when I pull the trigger, the gun goes bang every single time.
This rifle didn’t just perform—it proved why defending the right to own semi-automatic firearms matters. The Ruger SFAR is a prime example of the type of firearm anti-gun politicians want to ban. In fact, because of Colorado’s recently passed SB-003, rifles like this one will be effectively banned without jumping through countless hoops. That’s right—legislators in Colorado have decided that the same rifle I used responsibly and effectively for hunting feral hogs in Texas has no place in the hands of law-abiding citizens.
And now, the threat is growing nationwide.
In fact, Senator Mark Kelly just introduced the “GOSAFE Act,” which would go even further than Colorado’s ban. This federal legislation would outlaw nearly every modern semi-automatic rifle, including the very rifle I used on this hunt. The bill is written so broadly that if your firearm uses a detachable magazine and has any modern features, it’s likely to be banned. It’s a Trojan Horse for mass disarmament disguised as “reasonable regulation.” And if we don’t fight back now, there won’t be anything left to defend.
Let me be clear: the Second Amendment isn’t about hunting — it never has been. It’s about freedom, plain and simple. It’s about the right of the people to keep and bear arms—not just bolt actions, not just pump shotguns, and not just grandpa’s lever gun. It’s about having access to the same tools that give citizens a fighting chance against tyranny, crime, and lawlessness.
The anti-gun Left wants to use hunting as a political smokescreen—”Sure, you can keep your rifle for deer, just not for defense.” But this rifle was used for hunting, and that didn’t stop Colorado Democrats from banning it. The truth is, they’re not stopping at so-called “assault weapons.” They’re coming after everything.
Let’s get into it.
The Ruger SFAR in .308 is a bit of a unicorn. It delivers the ballistic performance of a .308 Win while maintaining a surprisingly compact platform. It’s roughly the same footprint as a standard AR-15, but with the knockdown power you’d expect from a heavier battle rifle. And that’s what immediately caught my attention. When initially planning for this hunt, I was practicing with a reasonably high-end DPMS-style AR-10. However, for a hog hunting rifle, I quickly realized I didn’t want to lug around a heavy, full-sized AR-10 through thick brush and uneven terrain, loading in and out of trucks to reach our hunting blinds.
The SFAR delivered in that regard. Even with a thermal optic, suppressor, and a few other needed accessories attached, it felt very manageable.
Now, out of the box, the SFAR comes as a perfectly capable rifle. But like most rifles, it’s a blank canvas for anyone who knows exactly what they want, and with it accepting AR-15 accessories, in most cases, I knew I had some upgrades I wanted to add to make it damn near perfect for my upcoming trip. A few of the things I changed are:
- Rail Upgrade: One of my biggest gripes with the factory build was the handguard. The included rail didn’t offer a full-length picatinny rail on top, which I needed to mount my Steiner DBAL A2.
So, I swapped it out for a Geissele MK8. That change alone significantly improved the utility and feel of the rifle. However, surprisingly, it did alter the rifle’s functionality, which I will detail later in this article.
- Suppressor Setup: I ditched the stock muzzle device in favor of running my Dead Air Nomad 30 suppressor. This suppressor has been a workhorse for me, and it paired beautifully with the SFAR. Very little back pressure and gas to the face, at least once I got the gas system tuned correctly. Additionally, I was really impressed that it only slightly altered my point of impact compared to shooting without the can.
- Charging and Controls: I added a Radian Raptor-SD charging handle and Radian Talon safety selector. They’re not just “Gucci” parts—they make a real difference. The SD charging handle, in particular, helped vent gases away from my face while suppressed and allowed me to charge the weapon, due to its long arms and ambidextrous design, with a big thermal mounted over where the charging handle is located.
- Trigger: The stock trigger wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t for me. It felt squishy, and the reset was weaker than I normally like. I upgraded to a Single-Stage TriggerTech Diamond, and the difference was night and day. Crisp break, clean reset—made precision shots at distance out to 300 yards feel surgical.
- Furniture: I also upgraded the stock and grip to B5 Systems. The Magpul furniture that was on the gun was perfectly fine, and most people would be okay with it on their rifle. But I like the look and feel of B5 (which is what I run on most all of my AR-style weapons), so I changed that out. Of course, I had to use a black multi-camo to give the rifle a little more flair.
- Lighting: For illumination, I used a SureFire Infrared Scout Light Pro. It’s a modern take on the old Vampire series and offers both white light and infrared light modes. That made it perfect for running under NODs and gave me total control over visibility, no matter what environment I was in.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the gas system.
Ruger’s inclusion of an adjustable gas block is a big plus. That said, it wasn’t exactly convenient once I upgraded to the MK8 rail and mounted the suppressor. To make adjustments, I had to take the suppressor off and remove the rail—an absolute chore when you’re already in the field or trying to tune on the fly – I learned this the first night of our three-night hunt. Once dialed in, the gas issues mostly resolved themselves, but it did take some trial and error. First night out, I had inconsistent cycling issues that almost made me regret bringing it. But after tuning it the next day, performance stabilized. Still, I wish Ruger would redesign this with easier access for field adjustments using after-market rails, even just a key you could stick down the rail would have been a huge plus on the rifle.
This thing performs. I was running AAC 150-grain Soft Point .308 ammunition, and the rifle handled everything from close-quarters pigs under 15 yards to those hanging back near 300 yards. Fast follow-ups were smooth, and the rifle maintained accuracy far better than I expected from such a lightweight .308 platform.
Recoil was there, obviously—it’s still a .308—but it was very manageable, especially with the suppressor soaking up some of the impulse. The ergonomics helped too. Between the Geissele rail and my upgraded trigger, I felt like I had total control over the rifle at every distance.
Now let’s talk glass—or rather, heat.
I was running the RIX STORM S6 thermal optic exclusively on this hunt, and I can confidently say, for the money, it’s one of the best out-of-the-box thermals I’ve used.
- Image Quality: With a 640-resolution core, the image was crystal clear. I could pick out pigs hiding behind brush and distinguish between large hogs and smaller critters with ease.
- Battery Life: The optic lasted about 4 hours on a single charge, but it came with two batteries. Swapping was quick, and I never felt like I was going to get left in the dark.
- Ease of Use: Mounted via the included QD mount, it went on my rifle in seconds and held zero flawlessly. Onboard recording worked perfectly, and I didn’t experience a single freeze, glitch, or hiccup.
This optic performed so well that I almost forgot I wasn’t shooting during daylight. Between the clarity and ease of mounting, it made scanning, tracking, and engaging targets at night simple. It’s definitely a piece of kit that punches far above its weight. I’d recommend it to any serious hunter or shooter looking for a thermal at a surprisingly affordable cost.
Before I even pulled the trigger, spotting hogs was the name of the game – some nights, that was a bigger game than killing those pesky porkers. I ran dual-tube AB NIGHT VISION ARNVG L3 Unfilmed White Phosphor goggles to scan fields and tree lines.
The contrast and clarity these gave me in the darkest conditions were unmatched. Once a hog was located, I’d transition to the thermal on my rifle for positive ID and engagement. That combo—ARNVGs for scanning, RIX thermal for shooting—was brutally effective. I will likely provide a full review of these NODs in the future.
The Ruger SFAR isn’t perfect out of the box, but it is very close. Access to the gas system needs a redesign, especially for shooters planning to upgrade their handguard. The factory trigger is a little underwhelming, and the rail setup will be a dealbreaker for anyone relying on top-mounted accessories like lasers or light activation switches.
But all of that is fixable—and I fixed it. Once I added the parts I needed, this rifle became a beast.
It’s lightweight, accurate, hard-hitting, and surprisingly easy to carry around—even with a thermal, laser, light, and suppressor attached. It handled everything I threw at it during the hunt and came out the other side, earning a spot in my permanent arsenal.
If you’re in the market for a do-it-all .308 that doesn’t weigh a ton or cost a fortune, the SFAR is worth a serious look. Just be ready to tweak a few things to get it exactly where you want it. And if you pair it with the RIX STORM S6? You’re in for one hell of a night hunt.
This setup delivered—plain and simple.
Would I run it again for hogs? Without question. Would I change anything else? Probably not.
It’s not just a rifle that works. It’s a rifle that works my way—and that makes all the difference.
Take Action Now to Protect Your Rights
The GOSAFE Act is one of the most dangerous anti-gun proposals we’ve seen in years. Introduced by Senator Mark Kelly, it aims to outlaw nearly every semi-automatic firearm in circulation, including the exact kind of rifle I used for this hunt. If this bill becomes law, your AR-15, AR-10, your Ruger SFAR, and practically every modern semi-automatic rifle would be considered contraband.
This bill isn’t just about banning guns—it’s about criminalizing gun ownership. It’s a direct assault on the Second Amendment and everything it stands for.
We can’t sit back and let it happen.
Join the fight to stop the GOSAFE Act in its tracks. Sign the National Association for Gun Rights petition today, and we’ll hand-deliver it to your Congressman at our expense. Show Washington D.C that gun owners will not be disarmed.
Sign your petition to STOP the GOSAFE Act now!
About the Author
Taylor Rhodes is the Director of Communications at the National Association for Gun Rights. A seasoned political strategist and unapologetic defender of the Second Amendment, Taylor has led high-impact campaigns at both the state and national levels. He lives in Hoover, Alabama, with his wife, Madison, and enjoys bourbon, golf, and collecting firearms—especially his 12.5” Geissele Super Duty.
Read the full article here