Need input regarding rifle purchase

[dkr77]

Any board members with suggestions, pro or con regarding assault rifles I would appreciate your input. I have decided to purchase another firearm, most likely an assault rifle, and have been told the bushmaster AR15 is highly regarded. I already own a handgun ( Glock 40 ) and now want to purchase a good reliable rifle for home protection, Katrina II or the day of the rope. I am not very knowledgable in this area and help would be appreciated.

 

[Spooge]

Well the Bushmaster is a good weapon in the AR family. It is also
on the upper limit in terms of cost. There are several ways you
could go about owning an AR, one is to put together a kit. Many
people, myself included believe the AK types to be superior to the AR
in that they: do not neet as much cleaning. They are build like
tanks. They are ultra reliable, even with muck in their
mechanisms. And lastly, they cost much less than an AR. You
would not go wrong owning either rifle. Just make sure to buy at
least twenty magazines and alot of ammo. Then practice, practice
practice with the weapon. You may also check out the low cost of
some SKS's (Hungarian models) they too are reliable and accurate
enough.

 

[hedgehog]

The Bushmaster is not a bad weapon, however they have raised their prices in the last couple of years. If I were to buy one today, I would buy the Rock River Arms Entry Tactical. [url]http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR1251X& storeid=1&image=nbrentry.gif&CFID=5294840&CFTOKE N=77318796 [/url]


One thing nice about Rock River Arms is their website allows you to add or select features for the weapon and itgives you the cost of that feature. If I could give you any advice it would be this.-Dont get a barrel length longer than 16 inches, and make sure you get a telescoping buttstock.Getting in and out ofvehicles and operating in tight spaces will make youappreciate these features.Ihad toborrow a MarinesM-16 one day in Afghanistan, and it was the biggest, klunkiest piece of crap ever. ( I had an M-4 Colt). If price is an issue, like theguy above said you can purchase an SKS for pretty cheap. You could probobaly get a Chinese SKS for around $100.

 

[dkr77]

KJV1, That is a very nice looking weapon. Which is more preferable 223 or 7.62? Is it speed/accuracy versus power?

 

[dkr77]

Renaissance, Thanks for the reply. Does the AK come in 223 and 7.62? What price range should I find one and know I'm not getting screwed?

 

[SteveB]

For home protection, you can't beat a 12 gauge automatic. Hands down, the best weapon in close combat. If your heart is set on a rifle, I would choose the Mini 14. More reliable than the AR15 and you can get it in 7.62x39mm for more knockdown power. Another good choice is the 45 auto pistol or 40S&W auto pistol.

 

[White_Savage]

Second Steve's comments about a shotgun for home defense.

Considering all factors, your best rifle for TSHTF scenarios may be an accurate scoped bolt action with back-up iron sights-IOW, the kind of "deer gun" which will probably never be banned in this country, whose possession does not attract attention, and which can function for typical irregulars' activities, such as poking holes in blue helmets at extended ranges. Of course for such scenarios, IEDs seem now to be the way to go.

 

[Spooge]

You can still find .223 AKs out there (check Gun Broker, Auction Arms)
and magazines to go with them. Do a Google for AKs and you will
find reasonable prices ($250.-450 depending on maker ( Bulgarians $$$,
Chinese $$,Romanians $) There is also the possibility of owning a Ruger
Mini 14. It can be had in either .223 or 7.62 x 39. They
are also very robust and will take a beating. In terms of a
semi auto shotgun, unless you are going to pay $700-1200 dollars for a
Benelli semi auto, don't bother. A Remington, Mossberg or
Winchester (in that order) pump would do just fine and you do not
have to worry about FTF, jams, etc. Each one of these models can
be purchased (used) for under $300.00 Just shop around. You
can get extended magazine tubes, tactical stocks, lights etc for them
and then PUMP away!

 

[Bronk]

I agree with SteveB, the Ruger Mini 14 Ranch rifle and the classic Colt .45 are the best along with a shotgun for home protection.