Im looking at buying an assault rifle. I've been shooting guns most of my life, but have never really wanted an assault rifle until now. I dont know much about the positives and negatives of the different brands. Im looking for something that is not gonna cost a fortune to shoot. Im hoping to stay under $1000.00 or so. Im sure there will be somebody with an opinion on this here.. so fire away...!
Im looking at buying an assault rifle. I've been shooting guns most of my life, but have never really wanted an assault rifle until now. I dont know much about the positives and negatives of the different brands. Im looking for something that is not gonna cost a fortune to shoot. Im hoping to stay under $1000.00 or so. Im sure there will be somebody with an opinion on this here.. so fire away...!
[rant mode on] Don't mean to jump your stuff, but the term "assault rifle" is a political term, not a practical term. Under the defunct "Brady bill", an "assault rifle" entailed specific feature/options for which to identify said rifle. Technically, any rifle with these terms were classified as an "assault rifle". Sorry, but had to get that off my chest since I detest the term and find it a "red flag" term used by those who oppose the right to own rifles and classify rifles into an inflammatory category. [rant mode off]
When I went to acquire my AR based rifle, I made an attempt to shoot as many of my friends rifles as I could so that I could see what features were important to me. I decided to build up my own from parts instead of buying an "off the shelf" model. Though there are many off the shelf models that are great, I knew that I would be modifying it out of the box and didn't see the need to have parts sitting around that I wasn't going to use.
I went with DPMS as my "base", using their forged lower receiver .223/5.56 to build up on. I used a "A2" buttstock and pistol grip but would get a collapsable one now that it isn't part of the "assault" options. I used an Olympic Arms 18" SS comp bull barrel with knurled free float tube, DPMS misc lower parts kit and "low rider" upper receiver which has a Trijicon Reflex sight mounted to it. I also upgraded to a "nice" trigger with a JP adjustable single stage trigger assembly.
All in all, I guess the moral of my story is that building up your own AR based rifle is the way to go. I became intimately familiar with the workings of the rifle, it is relatively simple to do and you can customize it to exactly what you want. I have used it in "practical rifle" and 3-gun practical matches with great success. I would feel very comfortable using it in a home defense situation also knowing that the Trijicon sight works day and night and it has plenty of stopping power/capacity to accomplish most anything.
Again, sorry for the initial rant, it is just a "sore spot" for some of us "gun folk"...
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TLCA # 17784
[quote=Mtbcoach;462498][rant mode on] Don't mean to jump your stuff, but the term "assault rifle" is a political term, not a practical term. Under the defunct "Brady bill", an "assault rifle" entailed specific feature/options for which to identify said rifle. Technically, any rifle with these terms were classified as an "assault rifle". Sorry, but had to get that off my chest since I detest the term and find it a "red flag" term used by those who oppose the right to own rifles and classify rifles into an inflammatory category. [rant mode off]
No offense taken... and you are totally correct...! The main reason for throwing that term out there was that I figured it was so broad that it might draw out responses or opinions that I havent thought of...
What kind of money doyou think you have in your set up... if you dont mind confessing...? Sounds sweet!
Corey - nice rifle, looks like a great deal at $1k...
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Sun Fusion 4X4 AT ATRAC Hack'd
Demello sliders
Demello front bumper w/Warn M8000
Demello rear bumper
OME 886/140 Front, 895/N71e rear
All-Pro rear links w/bracket skids
Inchworm Lefty
ARB front air locker
Nitro 4.88 gears
Bud Built skids front to back
Super Swamper SSR 35 X 10.5
Safari Snorkel
ARB Full Rack w/wind deflector
Train Hard, Rest Harder
TLCA # 17784
No offense taken... and you are totally correct...! The main reason for throwing that term out there was that I figured it was so broad that it might draw out responses or opinions that I havent thought of...
What kind of money doyou think you have in your set up... if you dont mind confessing...? Sounds sweet!
No worries...I don't recall exactly but it was under your goal until the sight which put it right around the $1k, maybe a little over.
Check out the DPMS website and look at the rifle kits which can give you a ballpark number. Then, you can look for some upgrades and or add-ons to customize the rifle. I really like the DPMS parts and rifles, may be a good place to start...
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Sun Fusion 4X4 AT ATRAC Hack'd
Demello sliders
Demello front bumper w/Warn M8000
Demello rear bumper
OME 886/140 Front, 895/N71e rear
All-Pro rear links w/bracket skids
Inchworm Lefty
ARB front air locker
Nitro 4.88 gears
Bud Built skids front to back
Super Swamper SSR 35 X 10.5
Safari Snorkel
ARB Full Rack w/wind deflector
Train Hard, Rest Harder
TLCA # 17784
Im looking at buying an assault rifle. I've been shooting guns most of my life, but have never really wanted an assault rifle until now. I dont know much about the positives and negatives of the different brands. Im looking for something that is not gonna cost a fortune to shoot. Im hoping to stay under $1000.00 or so. Im sure there will be somebody with an opinion on this here.. so fire away...!
Ok. the other issue of the word Assault rifle has allready been explained to you. As for your question. I have a lot of experience when it comes to military type weapons. I not only collect, but I’m also a weapon specialist for work. I build weapons as a hobby for myself too. As for your initial question of a rifle being under $1000 and cheep to shoot. Well I agree on the AR type rifles, I have quite a few, including in .308. But you said you want something that is cheep to shoot. As of lately, .223 is NOT cheep to shoot anymore. It runs between $320 –and going up to $400 a case in the next few months, so If your looking for something that is cheep to shoot, I would steer you to an AK 47, AK-74, SKS, types. You should be able to pick one of these up around $300 - $400 for a rifle, ammo is running about $170 dollars for cheep Russian 7.62x39, the 5.45 is a little cheaper. Now I know someone is going to point out that you can buy .223 Russian for under $200. I don’t advocate shooting Cheep Ammo in a close tolerance weapon like an AR. They will JAM, they also will cause a lot of fouling more than any good quality ammo. I know of people that have shot the cheep Russian ammo out of their AR and have had catastrophic failure. Not worth tearing up an expensive rifle over trying to save a few dollars in ammo. The AK family of rifles are a different breed of weapon system, they are cheep to manufacture and don’t have the close tolerances of an AR rifle. The AK type weapons also have one up on AR’s by being more dependable, they will shoot anything, under just about any circumstances, wet, sand, mud, etc. The AR is a much more accurate weapon system than an AK, I have a National Match Armalite AR that will shoot ¼” groups with 62 grain Serria Match Grain Boat Tail Hollow Points. I also built an AK-47 not to long ago, and was able to achieve 1.5” groups from it. If you ask anybody about accuracy of an AK they will almost always tell you about 3-4 inches @ 100 yds. The reason I was able to achieve this type of accuracy is because I built it from the ground up, then breaking the barrel in properly. I also have high dollar H&K’s, along with many other type weapons systems. When you purchase a weapon, you make your purchase by the type of shooting that you plan on doing with realistic idea. It sounds like you have done this. So to answer your initial question, which it sounds like you want something for plinking that is fun to shoot, and that it won’t break you going out and shooting. I would point in the direction of a brand new AK-47, or AK-74, also, try to find a high quality one, like the Bulgarian. I would rather see you purchase a weapon that you will be able to go to the range and shoot and be comfortable with it, then to buy a high dollar weapon that will become a wall hanger, that is to expensive to shoot, not allowing you to get comfortable with the weapon. This is just my 2 cents worth.
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Re: Assault Rifle Opinions?
Quote:
Mtbcoach previously said:
[rant mode on] Don't mean to jump your stuff, but the term "assault rifle" is a political term, not a practical term. Under the defunct "Brady bill", an "assault rifle" entailed specific feature/options for which to identify said rifle. Technically, any rifle with these terms were classified as an "assault rifle". Sorry, but had to get that off my chest since I detest the term and find it a "red flag" term used by those who oppose the right to own rifles and classify rifles into an inflammatory category. [rant mode off]
He meant to say "homeland defense rifle".
Quote:
When I went to acquire my AR based rifle, I made an attempt to shoot as many of my friends rifles as I could so that I could see what features were important to me.
Really really good advice, if you know or can find other shooters near you.
I'll go ahead and put in my plug for my own personal favorite, the FN FAL in 7.62 NATO (.308). A really fun gun to shoot, accurate, very tolerant of poor conditions and dirt, easy to understand, strip, and work on yourself. Depending on who's receiver they're built on, you can spend anywhere from about $500 on up. You can get good ones built on Imbel receivers for $600-800. parts and aftermarket stuff very plentiful.
I have nothing against the .223 platforms (you never know when rogue poodles might attack. ) but I love my FAL. Another option at the very least.
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All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible - T. E. Lawrence
AR enthusiasts (myself included) tend to group their rifles into two broad categories. One style is to maximize for performance in terms of accuracy. These rifles benefit from match barrels which float free in the front stock and good quality scopes. Another style is to approach for more of a practical shooting weapon. Short barrels, muzzle brakes and red dot optics without magnification become much more interesting. Both are amazingly fun to shoot.
Some people will use interchangeable uppers (barrel, front stock, upper reciever, bolt and carrier) on the same lower (lower receiver, grip, trigger mechanism, buttstock etc.) in order to get more options out of the same "gun" (legally, it is the lower receiver that is the "gun", everthing else can be purchased through the mail without having to fill out any forms). I am not personally interested in doing this because the trigger mechanisms I want in the different kinds of applications are not the same.
When you look at the quality of construction on AR's there is a lot of variability. One thing to look at is the metal to metal fit-up of the upper and lower. Poor quality fits will have a lot of movement. Good quality has little or none. Good quality receivers are forged, machined and then heat treated.
Barrel quality is another issue. The military uses chrome lined steel barrels which withstand some serious punishment. Accuracy afficianados have recommended to me that the best barrels for them are actually stainless and cryo treated. Various options exist as to how to treat the end of the barrel. I personally like having a flash hider on there, not because I worry about my night vision, but because I like not having to worry about dinging up the crown of the barrel and destroying its accuracy. Some people have proposed that the Vortec flash hider actually increases accuracy by directing expelled gas away and not destabilizing the bullet in front of the barrel. Maybe this is true, but I can't add an opinion. I can confirm that there are some muzzle brakes on the market that do an amazing job at recoil elimination, but I don't know them by name. The recoil on a 5.56 is pretty moderate, and the main reason that these muzzle brakes are interesting is to put out a series of rapid accurate shots to hit a plate rack. Just don't stand right next to someone using one. It's really annoying.
I also have an AK, and I have to agree that the ammo is cheaper. Also, I just can't care about the thing as much, even though it's a nice Bulgarian model. It just isn't made with any love. As a result, I can't seem to feel anything for it. I wouldn't want to use it for my pseudo practical shooting activities because I can't come on and off the safety without fumbling for several seconds. It's surprisingly accurate at ranges appropriate for iron sights.
There is a book I have somewhere (I'm at work so I can't check my home shelves) which was a compendium of information about the AR-15. It was very informative for me when I was first thinking about these rifles. I learned about the process of manufacture and some of the history behind them. The author also did some side by side comparisons of a number of models and I also found this to be informative. At the time that I read it, there was a sequel expected and it's probably out now. I recommend doing some reading. It will make you a more informed consumer.
Personally. I paid quite a bit more than you've proposed for my first AR. I was looking to put together something that I wouldn't want to upgrade a bunch of times. I have no regrets. However, it led to the need for buying more weapons... what a shock!
) but I love my FAL. Another option at the very least.
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