Do I need an AR15?

I never had an interest in an AR-15 but given the present situation in this country with a gun ban for semi auto assault rifles looming sooner or later do I need one? Should I buy an at-15 just to have one? It's a AR-15 vs another handgun?
What would you do?

They are a great platform. Everyone should have one.
 
I never had an interest in an AR-15 but given the present situation in this country with a gun ban for semi auto assault rifles looming sooner or later do I need one? Should I buy an at-15 just to have one? It's a AR-15 vs another handgun?
What would you do?

Everybody needs America's Rifle IMO.
Buy an AR lower and keep an eye on PSA (Palmetto State Armory) rifle kits.

Just last week things were almost semi normal and you could find a nice carbine or mid length gas system 16 inch bbl for $469 with free shipping.

This week demand jumped and all that is gone and we are back to $650 for a Kit. While not the $299.00 prices of a basic kit in the salad days of 2019 it is still not what it'll be if we get another AWB. I lived the first one and acquired my AR back in 94 just beating the deadline.

My AR is appropriately neutered with fixed stock, no flash suppressor, Magazine lock or paddle fin pistol grip. 10 round magazines, I still wouldn't trade it for a lever action or most anything else.


I live with the screwed up ultra restrictive California gun laws and fear the current party in power will ram our laws down the throat of the rest of the country.
I already can't buy ammo from out of state. It must be in person, in state, with full background check and a form and my signature for each caliber and round count.

Bob 459
 
Last edited:
I also had no interest in the AR having shot a friends rifle and being annoyed by the sproing noise of the buffer spring preferring the feel and look of steel and walnut. However when I retired and had money I put one together for the hell of it using the nice Seekins lower and upper in 300blkout with a second cmmg dedicated upper in .22. I've shot the .22lr a bunch. About this time the pcc became a item so I explored building a .45 version finally settling on a dedicated greasegun mag lower built by CNC Enterprises, a dpms upper and Olympic Arms bcg and bbl to build my version of a pcc. I also put in paperwork to sbr it. I added a forward charging handle never liking the ar charger. Turned out great. I eliminated the buffer spring noise by using a flat spring. I've since built a couple more .45 pcc's with the last being a pistol using the new cmmg rotary bolt system instead of the blowback. Also turned out great. The AR is ok [as a pcc, imo].
 

Attachments

  • 03D44886-3E17-4A4E-8C4D-3775DE00FC96.jpg
    03D44886-3E17-4A4E-8C4D-3775DE00FC96.jpg
    77.8 KB · Views: 70
  • B89046D2-114B-4E91-939B-3EF001450A60.jpg
    B89046D2-114B-4E91-939B-3EF001450A60.jpg
    61.1 KB · Views: 64
  • 4F5C1485-AAFE-47CA-B9B9-8ACC0A23D679.jpg
    4F5C1485-AAFE-47CA-B9B9-8ACC0A23D679.jpg
    55.8 KB · Views: 63
Last edited:
As always, there is a considerable amount of handwringing on a post like this.

However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

1) I could be wrong, but I doubt that we will see a full "turn them in" ban. Probably closer, if it comes to pass, like the '94 "ban" except probably without a sunset clause. Even that would surprise me right now due to the (without getting political) number of Senators from the South and West, regardless of party, who know that voting for this would be the kiss of death for their careers. (I have written the House off, at this point, as a waste of space.)

2) Even if the worst happens, there aren't enough LEO's (assuming they are willing to violate their oaths) to kick down all the doors and seize all the weapons. There are millions of us. If the "war on drugs" is an absolute failure, think about what a law enforcement nightmare depriving Americans of their rights would be.

3) Even if it comes to that, there aren't enough jail cells to contain us. Once again we have the strength of numbers.

As a result, enjoy your freedom, maintain vigilance, and keep your powder dry.
 
As Sistema1927 said, only you can make that decision. That being said, however, I'll tell you what one of my sons told me when he decided to get one a little over five years ago.

It was shortly before the 2016 presidential election. As he said, "I'm just afraid if this election happens to go a certain way, they're going to tell me I can't have one...and when someone tells me I can't have something, I want it all the more."

That is exactly what got me to buy one.
 
While self-defense is probably the first thing the AR is suitable for it is becoming commonly accepted for hunting and target shooting.

Here in Kansas I frequently have talked to hunters that use the AR for deer. Optics and selecting the right bullet make it a good choice for hunting. The AR is a good choice on hogs and 'yotes. With the out-of-control wild hog population the rapid fire ability of the AR makes it a great choice when thinning out groups of hogs.

The AR is a fun rifle to use when chasing the same bullet hole on a shooting range.

A AR and 10 loaded 30 round magazines can be easily stored in a zippered nylon rifle case that has five magazine pockets on the outside is a lot of readily firepower whether it is for self-defense, a hunting trip or to the shooting range.

As pointed out just pushing two pins allows to the user to change calibers making a totally different rifle.
 
I've been a victim of the AR-15 curiosity bug for years. I enjoy shooting them from time to time and I've always been impressed with their accuracy and "shootability," if not so much with their power - even with the loads using heavy bullets. An AR-10 might be more to my liking than the 15, but the are not nearly as handy. :rolleyes:

I can't imagine why any serious gun hobbyist wouldn't want one, but then a lot of people own different guns that I've never bothered to purchase. From my perspective, even though I don't need one in the sense that mine stands around in a rack with magazine loaded, ready to go at a moment's notice, I enjoy shooting AR-15s and I see no LOGICAL reason at all why .gov should be worried about me owning them. If they are worried, then I wonder just why... ? If they're just using my God-given rights as a vehicle to grandstand for votes, then a pox on them! :rolleyes: :mad:
 
If you can find one at a fair price, sure, go ahead and get it.

No one here knows what the current Administration has in store for us, no one here knows if current ownership of certain guns are being grandfathered in or not.

But the fact that someone from the Admin is asking SCOTUS for forceful confiscations worries me.
 
Last edited:
S&W is a big tent, from antique firearms to the latest handguns/rifles/shotguns for collecting, target shooting and self defense. Bottom line the anties hate all firearms no matter what they look like or their purpose. They are going after the low hanging fruit right now but intend to strip the tree of every last firearm everyone of you own, far as they are concerned there are no good guns. You are sadly mistaken if you think they will stop at AR15s/AK47s.
 
Last edited:
Bill - Have you ever shot one? Did you like it? If you just plain want one, get one.

But, I think knowing your handgun likes, you might actually enjoy a lever action carbine in .41 or .44 mag. Maybe a nice, polished SS Marlin 1894 to go with your SS rugers and nickel S&W's?

And put me down as another who sees these pistol caliber lever actions as an underrated weapon that flies under the radar.

Me? I own both, simply because I enjoy owning and shooting a variety of guns.

Larry
 
I have a stripped lower in the safe, just because. Honestly I'm not a big fan of ARs or the 223.
I see a Ruger AR556 pistol with SBA brace was used in the latest "incident" shall we say. Expect the ATF to rule that these are in fact stocks so adios to those unless registered as SBRs.
 
Last edited:
It sounds like you really aren't interested in one. I wasn't either but bought one because Diane Feinstein said I shouldn't have one. Split the difference and get a nice 38/357 lever action. I kind of wish I had.

I have a few semi-auto rifles but no AR-15. I have a 44 Inland and a Mini-14. Never was interested in an AR-15. I bought the Mini because of WA laws that were going into effect about 2 years ago which made it substantially harder to buy a semi-auto rifle.

I've had the 44 Inland for a long time but I consider that a relic and not a SD rifle. I've totally rebuilt it but it's only about 95% reliable.

If I had it to do over I would just buy a lever rifle and skip the semi-auto. There may be a time in the not too distant future that my Mini-14 may become contraband or need to be registered, so what do I do with it if that happens, bury it in the back yard? I'll watch the legislation and if the storm clouds gather I'll sell it.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top