Best .223 battle rifle?
- Thread starter Farmer17
- Start date
akviper
Member
Opinions are worth what you pay for them so here are my recommendations. In 5.56mm, Noveske, Colt, BCM, and LMT. These guns are the champs in the week long training sessions where thousands if rounds go down range. If you want a range toy most any AR will do but if you want a reliable rugged self defense gun pay the extra few bucks for one of the previously mentioned guns.
If you want a 308 it's pretty hard to beat a quality FN FAL. I owned an H&K91, FAL, and M1A. I kept my FAL and sold the others.
If you want a 308 it's pretty hard to beat a quality FN FAL. I owned an H&K91, FAL, and M1A. I kept my FAL and sold the others.
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Lee in Quartzsite
Member
Shot this last Friday with my stock Mini-14 @ 100 yards from a bench rest using my reloads.
michael thornton
Member
untill i get a 50 cal bmg the 3 223s i have will have to do!
I'll take 100% reliability over target accuracy any day. The newer Mini 14's are somewhat more accurate than many earlier models due largely to a heavier barrel contour.
GatorFarmer
Member
Oy ve.
First off... There are not going to be any military style rifles with .223 chambers. Even old Colts that are marked .223 actually have 5.56mm NATO chambers. And no, they are not the same.
FN makes the M16A3/4 rifles in service and some M4 carbines, Colt makes most of the carbines. Other rifles are currently in service, some like the HK416 are in 5.56, some are in 7.62 such as the ScarH that Marsoc just adopted.
A Mini14 is a sporting rifle. I've had three or four, still have one. They are not made to military specs and are not as survivable as ARs made to milspec. Parts are not tested to the same level of QC. They are not meant for combat.
If you're saving your pennies for something, the SCAR series looks promising. Personally, I'd wait for the H models to become commercially available.
Despite some problems with the M4 carbines, they've been quite popular. Army marksmanship training is actually pretty good these days and first class optics are fielded. There may have been some problems with GI Green tip out of short barrels, but new ammo has come along to solve this problem.
Colt has some new gas piston guns and such coming out, including a gun with a quick change barrel meant to be essentially a light weight replacement for an M249. There is also a series of 18" barrel AR subvariants to bridge the carbine/rifle gap. In terms of things available, these are rather neat.
In terms of what you can go out and buy right now? Shrug. Colt 6920 and get some good optics for it. As close as you are going to get to an issue M4.
The Izzies dumped their Galils. Century brought the parts, hence the sporters. What did they get instead? M4 carbines.
First off... There are not going to be any military style rifles with .223 chambers. Even old Colts that are marked .223 actually have 5.56mm NATO chambers. And no, they are not the same.
FN makes the M16A3/4 rifles in service and some M4 carbines, Colt makes most of the carbines. Other rifles are currently in service, some like the HK416 are in 5.56, some are in 7.62 such as the ScarH that Marsoc just adopted.
A Mini14 is a sporting rifle. I've had three or four, still have one. They are not made to military specs and are not as survivable as ARs made to milspec. Parts are not tested to the same level of QC. They are not meant for combat.
If you're saving your pennies for something, the SCAR series looks promising. Personally, I'd wait for the H models to become commercially available.
Despite some problems with the M4 carbines, they've been quite popular. Army marksmanship training is actually pretty good these days and first class optics are fielded. There may have been some problems with GI Green tip out of short barrels, but new ammo has come along to solve this problem.
Colt has some new gas piston guns and such coming out, including a gun with a quick change barrel meant to be essentially a light weight replacement for an M249. There is also a series of 18" barrel AR subvariants to bridge the carbine/rifle gap. In terms of things available, these are rather neat.
In terms of what you can go out and buy right now? Shrug. Colt 6920 and get some good optics for it. As close as you are going to get to an issue M4.
The Izzies dumped their Galils. Century brought the parts, hence the sporters. What did they get instead? M4 carbines.
LVSteve
Member
Can you blame them? When all was said and done with the Galil, they had an intermediate caliber weapon that weighed almost the same as a FAL. Oops.
8thring
Member
- Joined
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.223 vs 308
got a valmet 76 with folding stock on closeout in the early eighties; paid less than $400 great gun;to bad they are out of business. still partial to the dsa fal carbine in 308; short powerful without a lot of weight
got a valmet 76 with folding stock on closeout in the early eighties; paid less than $400 great gun;to bad they are out of business. still partial to the dsa fal carbine in 308; short powerful without a lot of weight
Badkarma 1
US Veteran
Colt SP1
While I humped the M-4 and came to like it, in a close range fight (under 150 yards) I'll take an AK any day!
That said, I've always liked the Vietnam issue "black rifle" the M-16! And I wish Colt or somebody reputable would build a clone of it! 20 inch barrel 1-12 twist (1-9 if you just gotta shoot the heavy stuff) and M-193 ball ammo! It's light, has enough barrel to get up to speed and just looks HOT!
While I humped the M-4 and came to like it, in a close range fight (under 150 yards) I'll take an AK any day!
That said, I've always liked the Vietnam issue "black rifle" the M-16! And I wish Colt or somebody reputable would build a clone of it! 20 inch barrel 1-12 twist (1-9 if you just gotta shoot the heavy stuff) and M-193 ball ammo! It's light, has enough barrel to get up to speed and just looks HOT!
Agreed. I would add Daniel Defense and probably CMMG.
LouisianaJoe
Member
I use my AR for target shooting. (It does have a 24" varmint upper).
If I ever need to protect my family I will reach for the AK.
For long range protection, I will reach for my Remington 700 Police.
Colt SP1 mentioned a barrel with a 1-12 twist. I have a Contender Super 14 in .223 that has a 1-12 twist. It likes 40gr bullets better than 55gr. If you think about it, it has a longer barrel than the military M-4.
If I ever need to protect my family I will reach for the AK.
For long range protection, I will reach for my Remington 700 Police.
Colt SP1 mentioned a barrel with a 1-12 twist. I have a Contender Super 14 in .223 that has a 1-12 twist. It likes 40gr bullets better than 55gr. If you think about it, it has a longer barrel than the military M-4.
safearm
US Veteran
The only AR-15s I have still have today are Bushmaster and Colt. I've had other makes, and even a number of Mini-14s, but they have never been as reliable, or accurate, as the Bushmaster (XM-15M4A3) or Colt (Match HBAR).
This is almost a useless discussion. The M4 does whatever a 5.56 can do.
The HK is a nice rifle, but it is pointless. I still I wish I had one.
The HK is a nice rifle, but it is pointless. I still I wish I had one.
kenpofan
US Veteran
IMHO...
Battle Rifles are .30 cal.
Battle Rifles are .30 cal.
kraigwy
US Veteran
Since the M16A1 saved my hide more then once I ow an loyalty to it.
Now if I ever had to do it again I'd go the A2 route. I like the sights better and the faster twist. I also like the 20 in barrel.
I have an SP1, (A1 clone) and an A2 with a White Oak Service Rifle Upper.
WOA is about the best there is for HP and 1000 yard Service Rifle Matches, using 77 & 80 grn SMKs.
To all those nay sayers regarding the battle rifle defination:
A battle rifle is a rifle carried into battle, regardless of your likes or dislikes of the AR, its a friggin battle rifle.
Now if I ever had to do it again I'd go the A2 route. I like the sights better and the faster twist. I also like the 20 in barrel.
I have an SP1, (A1 clone) and an A2 with a White Oak Service Rifle Upper.
WOA is about the best there is for HP and 1000 yard Service Rifle Matches, using 77 & 80 grn SMKs.
To all those nay sayers regarding the battle rifle defination:
A battle rifle is a rifle carried into battle, regardless of your likes or dislikes of the AR, its a friggin battle rifle.
LVSteve
Member
I have to agree, because regardless of the type of battle, nobody volunteers to be shot with 5.56, never mind 7.62 or 30-06.
rdcl
Member
Stoner 63.
Russ
Russ
