My son says I need an AR. My question...why?

[mbliss57]

I have an AR15 just to have one and for plinking but I think the .30 cal platforms , Ak47, MINI 30, AR10 are better all around rifles for combat. I used the M16A1 in the Army so I have a little experience with that platform.

 

[brentb636]

One of my sons called yesterday to tell me that "we" need to pick up a couple of AR15's. I asked why. His response was to the effect that he's afraid a time is going to come when, due to whatever may be, we'll no longer be able to purchase them and he wanted to make sure he had one before you couldn't buy them anymore. And he thought it would be prudent for his old man to have one, too.

Okay, help me out here, folks. I'm not a real fan of "black rifles" for some reason, and I've never been real impressed with the 5.56 or .223 round. Also, they just look too "Star Wars" for me.

Give me some reasons why you think a person should have an AR. I think if I were prone to get a semi-automatic rifle of that nature, I'd probably opt for something more like the Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. But, that's just me.

Remember, I'm just an old guy that still carries a lever action rifle in his pickup truck.

Okay...I'm ready. Educate me. Thanks.

Well, I'm not here to educate you, I'll be 69 in another month and don't like the AR's either. I spent 3 years in the Army during Vietnam and didn't like the M16 . SO, Just last month, I bought a Ruger Mini-30 Ranch rifle. It wasn't as cheap as an AR, and shoots the heavier 7.62x39 ammo ( and not the cheap stuff, either, Geko or Fiocchi, or maybe PPU) . Nonetheless , I spent $795 all told for a mini-30 with 2 20 round magazines, and IT is a very rifle. I already have 3 SKS C&R rifles , so I'm familiar with how pleasant the cartridge is to shoot, and limits to it's accuracy ( about 200 yards is top, I'd say , which is better than I can do , anyway ) . Get a mini-14 would be my advice ( the ammo is slightly cheaper than better grade mini-30) but I prefer the heavier ammo of the mini-30 . A lot like shooting a 30-30, with similar specs.

 

[brentb636]

A few years ago Maryland's governor Matrin O'malley decided to outlaw the evil black guns.
Until then I never thought about an AR15 but had to get one because Maryland liberal democrats said I couldn't.
Bought a Colt HBAR AR15 (5.56) and put an Aimpoint red dot on it. Turns out I really like it and enjoy shooting at the range. More of a "fun" shoot compared to the target shooting with a scoped bolt action rifle.

Also I can see where an AR15 would be very effective perimeter home defense for those thar can't handle the recoil of a shotgun.


I bought one and am very glad I did.

I cut down a Mossberg 500, 20 gauge , to 19" and it makes a dandy home defense weapon. Using #3 buckshot it maintains about a 15" pattern out to about 50' . It blasts thru 3/4" plywood at that range, and recoil is not much at all. I can shoot it one handed from the hip like a pistol, and I'm almost 69 years old. I wouldn't get a rifle to do the job of a shotgun. My SKS would be a better choice than an AR, IMHO .

 

[JWH321]

I didn't have one either. I had a lever action 30-30, a whole bunch of pistols and revolvers, a shotgun, and a Ruger 10-22.

I got intrigued by the idea that I could build it myself. So I bought the parts and built one. It has turned out to be a fair little gun. It's as accurate as I am, and it's reliable as a hammer. It is an unbelievable hoot to shoot. It's just fun. It seems to open holes in targets before I recover from the noise it makes. It's relatively cheap to shoot (bought any 30-30 stuff lately?). I can reload it's ammo, and I can take it apart and revise/upgrade/screw it up about 47 million ways. Parts are inexpensive and available almost everywhere. It has just added a whole new dimension to this hobby. I have no earthly need for an AR. I have it because I like it. And I like it more all the time. They'll probably ban them for sure now. As long as they don't ban mini-skirts, I'll survive.