Researching for my first AR15 :)

[Pandaz3]

I carried a M14 in WWVietnam, very nasty conditions with no problems other than the stock. I love Walnut and Linseed oil, but I would have a synthetic stock on any rifle seeing extended time afield. I also had a M16 replacement for it. We had a ton of teething pains with that. Mine worked as I was always cleaning my rifle, ammo, and magazines. That means stripping them all, inspecting and wiping each round. I carried 19 sometimes 21, 20 round magazines, 6-8 frags, 4 smokes. and a Big Boy Medical Aid Kit. I had a 50 cal can with extra med supplies (Med kit moisture resistant, Ammo can water proof) Try humping that load along with C's and 6 canteens and extra Any ways I only carried 7 M-14 mags when using it. I would take the 14 back though, I trusted it, no choice with the 16.

The 16's problems slowly dissipated and then they brought out the 16A1 and things were back on track.

 

[JRuby]

So at

If you think that M14s are so great, look up videos on how quickly they stop working when wet or muddy. The action is too open to the elements. The bolt handle and your palm are the forward assist.

For the OP, ask yourself what you really want to do with your rifle and make your purchase. I have several ARs for different tasks. The one I use to hunt coyotes and plink at steel out to 800 yards has a 20 inch HBAR barrel with a free floating handguard and bipod. It weighs 11 pounds field ready. My house rifle has a 14.5 inch Govt. profile barrel with a colapsible stock and is much lighter and handier at 7 1/2 pounds. Two rifles for completely different tasks.

800 yards exactly how much energy do you think thst bullet has? Any bet that its a small amount compared to a 7.62*51. To me a ar15 is a substandard long range rifle in 5
56. IMHO

 

[No_Regerts]

So at
800 yards exactly how much energy do you think thst bullet has? Any bet that its a small amount compared to a 7.62*51. To me a ar15 is a substandard long range rifle in 5
56. IMHO

Enough energy to clank steel. I wasn't praising the 5.56 in that paragraph so much as saying that if the goal was to plink at long range, a rifle could be built to do so.

Yes, 7.62x51 has greater terminal ballistics at that range. External ballistics of the 75gr A-Max are pretty good for your average long range plinker with less cost and recoil because the goal is to get the bullet there, not necessarily to kill anything.

 

[No_Regerts]

That being said, if I had to kill anything at 800 yards, I wouldn't use 7.62x51 either. I would have gone to a magnum once I got past 400 yards.

 

[JRuby]

Most ARs dont shoot 75 grain bullets very well. A rock will clang steel. I will stick with a 308 over 200 yards in comparison to the wimpy 556.IMHO.

 

[No_Regerts]

Most ARs dont shoot 75 grain bullets very well. A rock will clang steel. I will stick with a 308 over 200 yards in comparison to the wimpy 556.IMHO.

You'd have to have a Remington Ultra Magnum Sling Shot to get to a rock 800 yards.

 

[JRuby]

Others have shot a lot further than that accurately enough to get the job done with a 308 cant say that about the little 556.

 

[Boboclown]

For the OP, ask yourself what you really want to do with your rifle and make your purchase. I have several ARs for different tasks. The one I use to hunt coyotes and plink at steel out to 800 yards has a 20 inch HBAR barrel with a free floating handguard and bipod. It weighs 11 pounds field ready. My house rifle has a 14.5 inch Govt. profile barrel with a colapsible stock and is much lighter and handier at 7 1/2 pounds. Two rifles for completely different tasks.

Yeesh, my AR with a 16 inch barrel is close to the weight of your 20 inch with HBAR. O.O

 

[No_Regerts]

What do you got on that thing?

 

[Boboclown]

Scope, bi-pod, and a sling, with extra weight in the stock to balance the weight.

 

[No_Regerts]

Mine just has a free floating G10 handguard, bipod, scope and standard A2 stock. Pretty bare bones but makes for a great coyote rifle and plinker.

 

[Boboclown]

Sounds like a fun AR to shoot. I use mine to plink and hunt whitetail with.

 

[footballplaya98311]

Wow this thread took off!! Glad everyone seems to be having good conversations
My purpose would be self defense and medium range plinking. I'm not trying to shoot too far yet. Something I could use if SHTF and my pistol won't be enough. Thanks again everyone for all the input and info!

 

[Boboclown]

If it is for self defense and medium range plinking then I'd recommend a 16 inch barrel. 14.5 if you can get the tax stamp for a SBR.

 

[Who The F R U]

Hello all! I'm doing research for my first AR purchase. Most likely in 5.56/.223. I want to spend no more than $1200. I have very little experience with rifles. Someone recommended one made by Thunder Technology based outta Portland. Any one heard of them? For under $700 it seems like a decent deal. I don't wanna buy used nor am I sure I want to build one from scratch. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks

Mega machine makes nice stuff and they are local...

BTW: I had a beat to $heet Colt M16a1 over stamped A2 in basic (1994) that could hit E types out to 600.

Even with the wind was blowing like a bastard across Sill.

You don't need all the fancy BS to hit just practice, And good ammo.

 

[U8395279]

Wow this thread took off!!

That is because just about everyone in America now owns an AR-15.

Well, almost everyone. There are some exceptions, such as Michael Bloomberg, for example:




.

 

[U8395279]

If it is for self defense and medium range plinking then I'd recommend a 16 inch barrel. 14.5 if you can get the tax stamp for a SBR.

You are aware, I hope, that the 5.56mm cartridge was originally designed to be shot in a 20 inch barrel?

.

 

[lazerblazer]

You are aware, I hope, that the 5.56mm cartridge was originally designed to be shot in a 20 inch barrel?

.

Which is why they now have modern projectiles/cartridges for the more common shorter bbls out there. Mk 262 mod 1 comes to mind.

 

[asiparks]

CDNN has POF's for $1099 at the mo. I think it's cheap because the engraving on the receiver is a bit OTT.
Solid rifles though.

<broken link removed>

 

[U8395279]

Which is why they now have modern projectiles/cartridges for the more common shorter bbls out there. Mk 262 mod 1 comes to mind.

That is still a 5.56mm round. If one really must insist on going with a short barrel, then the 300 AAC Blackout seems like the most appropriate choice to me.

.