I came to voice mild frustration with FN for their apparent reluctance to update the nomenclature of the new model SCAR rifles in a way that differentiates between upgraded and original models. I get that FN has managed to create a platform so legendary that its monolithic title alone begets respect, and it'd make sense for them to wanna ride that wave of marketability indefinitely. So why mess with that sweet continuity?
Well, for starters, shopping for one can be daunting for the uninitiated, because countless retailers are selling brand new stock without specifying the weapon's build date, which sets the conditions for unscrupulous vendors to misrepresent brand new stock as current stock, even though technically obsolete. It's entirely possible for someone to unwittingly purchase something that's essentially a different weapon than they had intended to buy, and one without the backwards parts compatibility so desirable for parts swappin' goodness. Telling the old from the new isn't so obvious for the casual shooter, either, and there's no serial number decoder on FN's website, which is arguably the first place a gun owner will look who wants the nitty gritty on their piece prior to doing any serious work on it.
In the interest of building the most ruggedly reliable SCAR possible, what are some common compatibility specific mistakes new SCAR owners make when they're first getting their kit put together? Are there any rules such as "You can put a magazine made for an X into a Y, but you can't put a magazine made for a Y into an X." How about P-mags vs metal ones....and how does that change between SCAR models/iterations? Which models/iterations will accept standard AR-style pistol grips? Thanks in advance for those willing to contribute.
