I Was Planning To Ask About AR15's, but...

[Kotar]

I have been researching AR15's, and I've followed both the recent thread and read through some of the archives for opinions and information.

But, perhaps I should as a different question.

Perhaps I should ask if an AR15 or something else is the right weapon to research and purchase.

I want something that can be used for home defense and could also be used for longer range target use and/or hunting. I would lean more toward a firearm that will be fun at the range and not overly complex or expensive to maintain. I have a couple years experience with handguns, but very little experience with rifles, so I do not have a good overview of all of my options. Also, I am not likely to step up to the challenge of building anything at this point, but I am a fairly fast learner and am not afraid of maintenance.

If you could recommend one firearm for my purposes, what would it be?

Kotar

[OakRidgeStars]

If you could recommend one firearm for my purposes, what would it be?
Kotar

An AR-15 would be your best all-around rifle for HD, hunting, targets. Companies such as Sterling Arsenal could build a good multi-purpose rifle that would fill all of those needs.

[jrswanson1]

Define longer range target use. If you're talking 1000 yard shooting, get an AR and learn how to reload. Out to 200 yards and hunting? Saiga .308.

Jim

[M1A4ME]

The "usual" caliber for AR15's is .223 Remington (or 5.56X45). That caliber didn't use to be legal for deer hunting in VA. You can get AR15's in other calibers that are larger diameter and heavier bullets - but most are not easy to find ammo for or as easy to reload for as the .223.

Its not too tough to build your own AR15. I've built several. Its almost habit forming as you want to keep changing a few things on the next one to closer to perfection. I think its what they call BRD (or black rifle disease).

There are lots of things to take into account when building your own, or even when buying one. Either way you'll find that some rifles shoot better than others even when they have the same twist rate in the barrel and are shooting the same ammo.

Good luck with your quest. Oh, if you get one in .223 you can still varmint hunt with it and you can buy a .22 conversion kit for it so you can get in lots of cheap short range (50 yds. or less) target practice with your AR15.

[clayinva]

I am in pretty much the same boat as the OP; have handguns both semi-automatic and revolvers, but know next to nothing about rifles. What kind of price range are we talking about?

I am intrigued by the possibility of building one but am definitely not all that 'handy'. Is it worth it cost-wise? How much are the necesssary tools?

Looking at them for pretty much the same purposes - paper-hunting at the range and zombie defense if 'The Walking Dead' turns out to be a documentary.

What are the pluses/minuses of an AR-15 vs an AK variant?

Advice and opinions much appreciated!

[jrswanson1]

What are the pluses/minuses of an AR-15 vs an AK variant?

Both work, both have their proponents. The problem with AKs in the US is they're either neutered or cost over $1K. You can get a decent AR for under $1K, but the really inexpensive ones are cheap for a reason. If you want to shoot something that will get you consistent hits past 200 yards, get an AR. If you want a low maintenance rifle that can make hits out to 200 yards, get the AK. I have both, but for zombie invasions, I'll stick with a Mini-14 with Ruger or steel Promags.

Jim

[clayinva]

[for zombie invasions, I'll stick with a Mini-14 with Ruger or steel Promags.

I was thinking about the Ruger - partially because all the options around ARs and AKs make my head hurt
My concern was whether they are proprietary to the extent their handguns are - from what I understand, a lot of their handgun parts are not made available to the public, and only Ruger can make most repairs...is that the case with the Mini-14s? And can you get reliable aftermarket magazines for them?

[Kotar]

If you could recommend one firearm for my purposes, what would it be?
Kotar

An AR-15 would be your best all-around rifle for HD, hunting, targets. Companies such as Sterling Arsenal could build a good multi-purpose rifle that would fill all of those needs.

The next day I have free I plan to head to a store and see what else I can learn. I appreciate Sterling Arsenal for their sponsorship of VGOF and their provision of a great-looking firearm for the current contest, but it is a long way from Winchester.

What options are there for those of us on the western side of the Blue Ridge?

K

[jrswanson1]

[for zombie invasions, I'll stick with a Mini-14 with Ruger or steel Promags.

I was thinking about the Ruger - partially because all the options around ARs and AKs make my head hurt
My concern was whether they are proprietary to the extent their handguns are - from what I understand, a lot of their handgun parts are not made available to the public, and only Ruger can make most repairs...is that the case with the Mini-14s? And can you get reliable aftermarket magazines for them?

Aftermarket mags? ProMag steel. Don't get their plastic mags, they suck. Anything else other than Ruger or ProMag steel is a crapshoot. As for proprietary parts, I've heard of two Mini-14s having to be repaired. One was severely abused, and the other was an AC-556, which is the select fire Mini-14. Ruger makes bullet proof guns.

Jim

[clayinva]

I've heard of two Mini-14s having to be repaired. One was severely abused, and the other was an AC-556, which is the select fire Mini-14. Ruger makes bullet proof guns.

Jim

Good to know, I will check them out. I have a Ruger 9mm, and it is boringly reliable and accurate, but I was not sure about their long guns.

Thanks for the info.

[clayinva]

Have been doing a bit more research, and seen favorable comments about Saiga rifles also. They appear to be less costly than the Ruger, and may have more options. All other things being equal, I prefer to buy American, but if there is a couple hundred dollars difference in price I can be swayed.

I think I am down to one of these two. Anyone here have experience with both the Mini-14 and comparable Saigas? Any recommendations for dealers carrying both in either Central VA or Hampton Roads?

[jrswanson1]

Have been doing a bit more research, and seen favorable comments about Saiga rifles also. They appear to be less costly than the Ruger, and may have more options. All other things being equal, I prefer to buy American, but if there is a couple hundred dollars difference in price I can be swayed.

I think I am down to one of these two. Anyone here have experience with both the Mini-14 and comparable Saigas? Any recommendations for dealers carrying both in either Central VA or Hampton Roads?

Clay,

I have a Mini-14 in .223/5.56 and a Saiga I'm converting in 7.62x39. With the Saiga, you need to worry about 922r compliance if you ever plan on converting it to a pistol grip. 30-round mags from Ruger are about the same price as what you'd pay for the Saiga 30-round mags. Dark Sun and Jerry's sell the Saiga for less than $400. I can get a used Ruger Mini-14 for less than $500. I liked the Saiga when I first got it, I really like it now that I have the pistol grip/M4 style stock on it.

Jim

[spadesofcolumbia]

out to 400 meters the Ar-15 is awesome and accurate...easy to maintain...beautiful construction...and every AMERICAN should have one.

[jrswanson1]

out to 400 meters the Ar-15 is awesome and accurate...easy to maintain...beautiful construction...and every AMERICAN should have one.

I've got four of them, my wife has one I built for her. One of my ARs is accurate past 500 meters. Haven't tested the others at that distance. As for ease of maintenance, are you kidding?

BTW, to the OP, classicarms.us is having a sale on Saiga rifles, $319.

[Peel2Seal]

How strong are you?


lol, yeah thats a joke....

I love the AR but for hunting, HD, and cheap plinking look in to the SKS.

[BricriuCW]

I have a bad bias, but if you are planning on hunting in forest areas in Virginia, an SKS or AK variant would be great. The 7.62x39 round is good for close ranges. If you are willing to do some extra cleaning, surplus combloc ammo for practice is still sorta cheap. They have optic mounts for both of those rifles also, so you wouldn't need to hurt a poor SKS for scoping.

[dsr30]

An AR is a good option. With one lower you can add many uppers and have a wide range of calibers to shoot.

[Kotar]

Thanks to all who replied to the original post. I plan to attend one of the upcoming gun shows to learn more about the AR.

K