Do I Need an EBR?

Joined
Jan 23, 2004
Messages
5,717
Reaction score
12,977
Location
GA
I don't really want one, but I must need one, I guess. Everybody else has one, and my main gun guy from the NAPA told me at church this morning that the frenzy is suddenly back on. He said that yesterday was just like a Saturday in the middle of deer season, and what people were buying again was AR style rifles.

I feel really well prepared with a couple of SKS rifles and a couple of pistol caliber carbines and thousands of rounds for them, but I just must be thinking wrong. Maybe I'll start shopping ARs next week. (I really doubt it, though.)

If this frenzy starts back, I am going to have to rent some space to store ammo. I don't know where to put any more.
 
Register to hide this ad
It's the Hunt!

Yeah, I decided that I needed another one. A real M4 style with collapsible stock, short barrel, etc. Never mind that I haven't shot the old Colt A2 style in 10 years. It's a safe space hog.

But it was fun hunting for it. Doing all the research, finding the best price, and finally making the purchase. Now it sits also, still in the box, waiting for something, I don't know what. And I'm already thinking about buying and MP-15 22!

But it was fun buying it!
 
redlevel: If your happy with "a couple of SKS rifles and pistol caliber carbines" then I wouldn't worry about the ongoing AR buying frenzy!
I recently sold my last Colt AR carbine for a Lee-Enfield, a Moisin Nagant, and a Mauser 98! Why, because I like these old bolt guns that shoot a serious caliber, plus I allready have an M1 rifle and carbine the latter serves as my EBR and I'm happy with it!
Thing is if your proficient with what you have then there's no need to "keep up with Jones" so to speak. Now if your just wanting to buy another rifle then go for it.
But for me I have more faith in heavy caliber rifles for an individuals use rather than a small hi-velocity round that works in numbers, plus I can reach out beyond 500 yards if need be and penetrate barriers.
It's up to you redlevel, but I don't buy into the hype or go with the crowd on this! Dale
 
Last edited:
Back in the '90s I was having some problems with some people I thought I might need to shoot, so I bought a used Eagle lower and 20" and 16" A2 uppers. I mostly keep the 16" upper on it. Every time I'd go to a gun show, I'd look for deals on thirty round magazines and buy one or two. I found a good deal on GI ball and bought a couple of ammo cans worth.

I never had to use it, but my "friends" knew I had it and was more than willing to use it. They were no-shows.
 
I can't remember if it was on this forum but someone posted a link about a policemen getting shot by an AR15 4 times and he was still able to shoot the legs out from under the perp. This was at close range. Not impressed with the knockdown power of a .223.
 
Last edited:
I have one, but it's only a .22... cheaper to shoot and still fulfills my EBR needs at least for the moment!

m1600.jpg
 
I'd like to find a 1960's up to mid-1970's untouched Colt Sporter...but I don't want to pay more than $500...

I'm still looking for some reason.

When did semi-autos hit the civilian market anyway? I'm not up on EBR's...mainly because I think they are priced more than the value I see in them at the moment. I'd trade a good chicken dinner for one- like they do for an AK in most of the world. ;)

I'm with CP1969- I think I'd better use out of a M1 carbine, or just stick with my lever carbines in pistol calibers.
I have wanted an M1A- but with walnut...but that's a bit more firepower.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't mind having an old M1 Carbine, just to plink with. Could (and should) have picked one up years ago when they were practically giving the things away, but didn't.
 
Listen up. One of the most important rules of gun buying is to go against the grain. Don't buy the popular guns when everyone else is doing it. You'll only pay high prices due to competition. The same for ammo. Store it, but don't buy when everyone else is 3 deep at the ammo counters.

If you really want an EBR, buy one from your buddy who needs money for a house payment, child support payments, or whatever. Trust me. I'm the old coot who was buying RMs when they were often for sale at sub-$1000 prices. Everybody thought (knew) I was a fool. Same for the prewar K22s.

Now go back to school. Buy low, sell high. Don't follow fads.
 
Listen up. One of the most important rules of gun buying is to go against the grain. Don't buy the popular guns when everyone else is doing it. You'll only pay high prices due to competition. The same for ammo. Store it, but don't buy when everyone else is 3 deep at the ammo counters.

If you really want an EBR, buy one from your buddy who needs money for a house payment, child support payments, or whatever. Trust me. I'm the old coot who was buying RMs when they were often for sale at sub-$1000 prices. Everybody thought (knew) I was a fool. Same for the prewar K22s.

Now go back to school. Buy low, sell high. Don't follow fads.

Those are some seriously sage words. I have also bought less popular stuff at great prices that I could have sold several times over at twice the price. My problem is that having hunted down a collectible, I am very reluctant to sell.

If you want an EBR, get one now. Prices have softened a lot since the post POTUS election frenzy. AR15s and AKs of all types are back to sensible prices. The ones that have firmed up lately are AR10s, M1As, FALs and .308 Saigas. Maybe word got around that the next release of zombies were going to be really hard to put down.
 
Well, I went and done it.

Monday, I didn't own an EBR and had no idea of acquiring one.
Twenty-four hours later, I was the proud (I guess) owner of a dpms Panther Arms AR15, NIB/unfired, five good magazines, a myriad of cleaning kits, extra spring kits, hard cases and soft cases, and a couple hundred rounds of ammo.

I got it in trade, one of those offers you can't refuse, and according to a young friend who is an AR enthusiast, I am in it for probably less than one-third of retail price.

I don't know whether to shoot it or trade it. Right now, I am leaning strongly toward shooting. I really believe it could be "a hoot to shoot," so to speak. Also, no more than I have in it, I could keep it and shoot it for a year or two, then sell/trade it and still come out handsomely.

Where is the best place to order bulk ammo?
 
Everybody has a personal preference. I hope you enjoy the new EBR! There was a comment made based on heresay about terminal performance of the 5.56/.223. Horsehockeypucks. I guarantee you do not want to be on the wrong end of the round fired by a marksman. Kept me alive through a year in scenic SE Asia. This is my civilian version and I'll stake my life on it. It is an older Olympic/SGW CAR with a polished chamber and custom trigger, couple other goodies too. Oh, I have ZOMBIE ammo, cans of it.:D
floodingMini14AR15005.jpg
 
Last edited:
Two things: It's all in the balance and "never" run out of ammo!;)
 
Rimfired,
Only thing I would change on your rig would be to go to a 16" barrel. My first was a 10 with the long flashhider and it patterned fairly well. Next on was a 16" with the short flashider and it would put all the holes together. Got to noticing on other rifles and all of the Long flashiders affected the accuracy. Not that it matters to most folks but why shoot 5moa when a small change can put you to 1moa.
Larry
 
Point well taken Oldiron. This is my close quarters, under 100 yd ebr. It prints under 2" at 100. Good enough for me.
For reach out and touch someone at greater distance I have
an alternate.
 
Back
Top