B&T APC308 Rifle Shows Swiss Quality

You may have noticed a trend toward larger calibers in the world of tactical sporting rifles. If you can go bigger without beating up your shoulder, why not?

That's the draw of the B&T APC308, so when one came in through our We Buy Guns program, there was no way I was passing up a chance to see how it ran.

Table of Contents

Video Review
Design
The Trigger
On the Range
Pros and Cons
Summary

Video Review

Design

Swiss manufacturer B&T is mainly known for suppressors, but the quality and design of B&T’s lineup of APC firearms are also impressive. It seems clear the APC308 is designed to compete against rifles like the FN SCAR 17S or SIG Sauer MCX Spear. Chambered in .308 Winchester, the APC308 is a modern tactical rifle with lots of features and amenities. The piston-driven rifle has a monolithic upper and a hydraulic buffer system.

APC308 rifle on shooting range — The APC308 lives in the same realm as battle rifles like the FN SCAR 17S and SIG's MCX Spear. (All photos: Zach Buth/Guns.com)

This certified used B&T features a Surefire Warcomp, which helps mitigate recoil and kill flash. The 16-inch barrel uses an adjustable gas system to tune the rifle for suppressed or unsuppressed shooting – not surprising, considering B&T’s expertise in suppressors.

gas block on APC308 — There's an adjustable gas system, not a surprise coming from B&T.

muzzle brake on APC308 — This used rifle has a Surefire Warcomp on the muzzle.

The monolithic upper features M-LOK mounting slots on the side of the handguard as well as Picatinny rails on the top and bottom. Moving back on the upper receiver, there is a slim captured non-reciprocating charging handle.

Normally I would say I am against folded charging handles, as I find them difficult to operate under stress because they are easy to miss. This is one of the better retained charging handles I have used. The mechanism is extremely light and easy to fold out as you grab it, and the hydraulic recoil system is smooth when racking the bolt back.

APC308 rifle — Note the M-LOK slots and Pic rails on the handguard.

The lower receiver is a typical APC design and is completely ambidextrous. One of the great things about the APC line is that controls are in the same position regardless of the gun’s caliber, size, or style. There is a bolt release below the ejection port, a magazine release below that, and a safety with similar placement to that of the AR-15. The rifle feeds from AR-10-pattern magazines, and I used a mix of Magpul P-mags and some Hexmags.

The Trigger

The trigger on the APC308 is one of its best features. It is so frustrating to spend a considerable amount on a rifle just to drop a few hundred more on a quality trigger. That’s not an issue here.

trigger and controls on APC308 — The trigger is outstanding, and controls are fully ambidextrous. Even the folding charging handle is reversible for lefties.

This trigger has zero takeup. It has a clear wall, a clean break, and a short reset with no extra takeup, so you are right back on the wall. Kudos to B&T for matching the internal quality of the trigger to the quality of the rifle’s build. I do think several other companies could take notes on this.

adjustable folding stock on APC308 — The fully adjustable stock also folds to the side.

The rifle’s stock has a familiar aesthetic, giving off the same UGG Boot vibes as that of the SCAR. The stock is adjustable for length of pull and cheek weld height, and it folds to the side for more compact storage.

Overall, the APC308 is comfortable, modern, and intuitive. The rifle is fairly light for a .308, weighing around 8.5 pounds unloaded. Again, for a full-powered rifle cartridge, it’s a rather light and sleek design with modern influence for accessories and shooting styles.

On the Range

So, it looks good, it feels good, but most importantly: how does it shoot? One strong opinion I have held for a long time is that the SCAR 17S sets the standard for tactical .308 rifles. The recoil is so manageable that you would think you were shooting an AK in 7.62x39mm. Most of that has to do with the muzzle device, but the recoil system is also extremely important if you’re trying to mute the push of a full-power rifle cartridge.

shooting the APC308 — The APC308 was enjoyable to shoot, nearly matching the soft recoil of the FN SCAR – not an easy feat, in my book.

I can honestly say that the APC308 was probably the closest that any rifle has gotten to the recoil of the SCAR. It’s still a little jumpy, but pleasant to shoot. When the trigger is as good as B&T’s, you want to have good recoil management because you don’t want a huge spread when shooting drills. In that department, it didn’t feel like you had to strap in for a ride. The rifle was very controllable during shooting sequences.

SIG Sauer Romeo5 red dot mounted on APC308 — A SIG Romeo5 red dot came with this used rifle.

The most important aspect is accuracy. Rifles like this are optimized for LPVOs and magnified optics, but I just ran a little SIG Sauer Romeo red dot that came with this used rifle. I was impressed with the practical accuracy with the Romeo5. I’m not going to say if the rifle is sub-MOA or not, since I didn’t throw a scope on and shoot match-quality ammo.

But at 100 yards with a red dot shooting from a fixed support, I had nothing to complain about. When shooting drills, it was pretty easy to maintain solid A-zone hits for the most part.

target shot with .308 ammo — Not bad for 100 yards with only a red dot.

I cannot say enough good things about the trigger. It is so smooth and quick to get to the next shot. The hydraulic buffer system makes it easy to get back on target for the follow-up shot, and the controls are familiar and easy to manipulate. My only regret is not having a B&T can to see how the rifle ran suppressed.

Pros and Cons

I put about 600 rounds through the rifle – certainly not enough to make this an in-depth review. But the rifle ran flawlessly and showed the quality expected from Swiss manufacturing. Shooting .308 can be a chore, depending on the platform. After short shooting sessions of rapid drills, it can be easy to dread the recoil and continued shooting. That was not the case with the APC308, and I can honestly say it was a joy to shoot.

I’ve had a lot of good things to say about this rifle, but I will make two gripes about the handguard design, considering this is a pricey rifle.

When a rifle has a 16-inch barrel, I would prefer to see the handguard extend farther toward the muzzle. Considering all the accessories people run these days – flashlights, IR, grips, backup iron sights, etc. – the design limits the space for mounting and can hamper your support grip, especially if shooting offhand.

Additionally, there is no integrated QD sling mount. Every tactical rifle should have integrated sling mounts, as a sling should be one of the first accessories added to any serious tactical rifle.

Pros:

Light recoil
Lightweight build for a battle rifle
Adjustable gas system
Modular
Accepts standard pattern, non-proprietary magazines

Cons:

Price puts it out of reach for some
Handguard is too short
Lack of integrated sling mounts

Summary

I have become a big B&T fan over the past few years and can attest to the company’s quality manufacturing. The APC308 is an excellent design that’s more than capable of matching the competition. With the added power and range over smaller intermediate calibers, it’s strong choice for hunting game, bench shooting, or tactical applications.

That said, the harsh reality is that an expensive rifle doesn’t make you a good shooter. You need to dry fire, run through drills, hit the range, and master the craft. Well built firearms can help improve skill, but you have to work on your skill regardless. So, grab some ammo, keep your powder dry, and exercise that Second Amendment right.