Have a local gun show coming up this weekend and it's time to get something capable of shooting .223 as a back up to the M&P15 OR I already have.

Trying to hedge my bets against any legislation that may or may not come down the road, do I:

A) Get another M&P15 or

B) Look at something like a Remington 700 SPS Tactical .223 (that I can eventually do upgrades on)

Thanks in advance for any feedback, positives or negatives.

I'd go for the M&P 15 but the Ruger Mini 14 might also be worth looking at.

Assuming ( you know what they say about assuming) you have only one rifle that fires 223 from AR mags I would get a second, with a parts kit, optics, etc. It will serve as a hedge against negative legislation, provide immediate back up and always could be used for, sale/ trade. Prices are at pre-panic levels if you look around. The used market is still high. Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

Stay with the AR. Having a pair is a good idea. Mags are the same, etc. No need to learn two platforms.

A bolt action .223 is, unless you are doing varmint type shooting, as useless as "tits on a boar" for defense shooting. If you need bolt action accuracy, get a .308.

If you're purchasing due to fear of legislation, I haven't seen anyone come out against a bolt action rifle.

As far as the AR, one is non, two is one. Grab another but consider a variation. Maybe something with a mid length gas system and 1:7 twist rate. Maybe something in a pinned 14.5" barrel config. There are a ton of options.

MSAR STG-556

I actually got my first AR (mp15T) for my "backup" platform...i had already modded my hk sl8-1 to accept AR mags and wanted to get another rifle kinda for the same reason you are searching. Very happy with the hk, but modding is much more costly, time consuming, and dificult since theres nowhere near the amount of aftermarket accessories for the sl8/g36 crowd...i agree with the mini-14 suggestion or a second AR...good luck!

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part-time ninja...

A buddy of mine has that Remmy in 22-250 and its nice. Personally, I prefer the Savage 10 series. They are like a bolt action AR...Lots of aftermarket doodads are they are shooters! Mossberg makes the MVP. They take AR mags and I hear good things about em but don't have any personal experience. If you already have an AR why not try a bolt? JMO

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James

How about a back up .223 upper and a oh say .308 upper. Or a .22lr upper?

Thanks all for the feedback. Think my best solution is going to be another AR and a bolt action. Main reason I'm still wanting a bolt action .223 is that it doesn't have a detach mag and it's a "standard" rifle. (Just in case...)

I do like a bolt, esp for those long, high bc bullets. 1:7 twist would help too.

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James