AR

[89 MJ]

I am kicking around the idea of buying an AR-15 here fairly soon. It is just one of those guns that I want. I actually decided I want an AR the same time I decided I want a Comanche, but that’s a different story. 

 

I cureently have a Savage-Axis 270 XP II and a 12 gauge Remington 870. I think an AR would be a good addition to my humble beginnings of a gun collection. 

 

Primarily, this gun would be for shooting targets in the yard/at the gun range, but I also want it as a home defense gun. With those two things in mind, are there any important options I should look at getting for this gun?

[eaglescout526]

Get an extremely base model so you can deck it out how you want. Like a base MJ just absolutely nothing but the basic barrel, receiver, mag, and stock. 

[BeatCJ]

I second that. I have built a couple, I think you need to drive one for a while before you can really know what you want.

[rylee144]

Get a good optic that fits your needs. That 870 is the best home defense you can get in my option. Get a 8 shot our so. Itll do damage inside at close range and you don't have to worry too much about going through walls and hitting targets you didnt intend to. 

[Pete M]

home defense    

 

 

 

[89 MJ]

54 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

Get an extremely base model so you can deck it out how you want. Like a base MJ just absolutely nothing but the basic barrel, receiver, mag, and stock. 

This was what I was leaning towards, it allows me to upgrade as I need to. 

 

51 minutes ago, BeatCJ said:

I second that. I have built a couple, I think you need to drive one for a while before you can really know what you want.

Thanks!

 

19 minutes ago, rylee144 said:

Get a good optic that fits your needs. That 870 is the best home defense you can get in my option. Get a 8 shot our so. Itll do damage inside at close range and you don't have to worry too much about going through walls and hitting targets you didnt intend to. 

Thank you for the feedback!

 

Just now, Pete M said:

home defense    

 

 

 

Yes sir! But more can’t hurt...

[JustEmptyEveryPocket]

2 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

more can’t hurt

I think you might be missing the entire reason for "home defense gun" 

[eaglescout526]

If it’s home defense, nothing says “get out of my house” like an M1897 with its famous 1’ bayonet. 

[Pete M]

6 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

If it’s home defense, nothing says “get out of my house” like the sound of a 12 ga racking that first round

 

fixed it for ya   

[89 MJ]

13 minutes ago, JustEmptyEveryPocket said:

I think you might be missing the entire reason for "home defense gun" 

It would just be another option to have around. 

 

12 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

If it’s home defense, nothing says “get out of my house” like an M1897 with its famous 1’ bayonet. 

 

5 minutes ago, Pete M said:

 

fixed it for ya   

Or a tank. A tank would work too. 

[eaglescout526]

27 minutes ago, Pete M said:

 

fixed it for ya   

Lol that’s absolutely fair. I’d sure as hell run out of a house if I heard that. 

[fiatslug87]

870 Tacticals are cool!

[Eagle]

3 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

Get an extremely base model so you can deck it out how you want. Like a base MJ just absolutely nothing but the basic barrel, receiver, mag, and stock. 

 

Agreed. IMHO your biggest decisions are whether you want it in a 20-inch or 16-inch barrel, and the caliber. The original, of course, is 5.56x45 (.223 Remington), but 7.62x39 is becoming popular, as is .300 Blackout.

[89 MJ]

6 hours ago, Eagle said:

 

Agreed. IMHO your biggest decisions are whether you want it in a 20-inch or 16-inch barrel, and the caliber. The original, of course, is 5.56x45 (.223 Remington), but 7.62x39 is becoming popular, as is .300 Blackout.

Thank you! For caliber, as much as I would like whatever would make the biggest hole, I would probably go with the most common caliber. For barrel, I am thinking I would want 20 inch, but I will need to hold them first. 

[schardein]

For the average shooter, a base rifle is a great place to start, as others have mentioned.

 

I have some experience with the M16-M4-AR15.  You give up very little in the way of range or accuracy with the shorter barrel, and end up with a shorter, lighter, easier to handle weapon, especially if you think you might have to use it inside a building.

 

If accuracy matters to you, the two biggest things to look for are a floated barrel and a good trigger.  I use a Geissele brand (pronounced Guys-Lee) trigger, which used to be (and may still be?) the go to trigger for competitive rifle shooters in bullseye competition.

 

Photo: The 1,000 yard line at Range 4, Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico VA.

[Minuit]

I love historical guns, but for strict practicality I lean towards an AR-15 in .223/5.56 - that's probably the most all-around practical gun you can buy. 300 Blackout is very similar to 7.62x39 in a lot of ways. It's essentially a .30 caliber bullet in the same casing as .223/5.56. A 16 inch barrel will be fine in almost every case and saves some weight. A lighter gun is always better.

 

A basic AR will probably come with a crap trigger... but that's the fun of it! You'll get to figure out what you don't like and tailor the rifle to your needs and wants.

 

An AR can be swapped between .300 Blackout and 5.56 in about 30 seconds by switching out the upper. Easy peasy. Same magazines even.

[Dzimm]

I would agree with the suggestions above, start with a base rifle.  I would recommend the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 to start with.  It's a great rifle for the money.  You can find it anywhere from $600-$800 depending on where you are at and what options it comes with.  The base rifle at $600 comes with a nice magpul flip up rear peep sight and an A2 post up front.  I've also seen them come fully kitted out so you have plenty of options.  Get one chambered in 5.56 to start with.  This rifle can run 5.56 and .223.  (if the barrel of the rifle says 5.56, you can run both 5.56 and .223, if the barrel says .223, it's not safe to fire 5.56 in it.) 

 

For plinking, especially in times when you can't find ammo, I bought a CMMG .22LR conversion bolt for my AR.  Its as easy as swapping the bolts and using the included magazines and this allows it to shoot .22LR as well so I don't feel so bad dumping magazines.

 

I would honestly recommend that you use your 12ga for the primary home defense gun as you don't really want to be penetrating walls only bad guys.  And as mentioned, the racking of shotgun should be enough to scare people off.  This however brings me to a point with the 870, don't keep a shell in the chamber as these shotguns are not drop safe, meaning if it is leaning against a wall and falls over, it can fire even with the safety on.  Just take the plug out and fill the mag tube.  I keep my 870 loaded with 00 Buck and my AR with a full magazine ready to go in the safe.  I've got my .40 on my nightstand for quick response.

[rylee144]

make sure to add a light to whatever you choose that may be used at night. you must be able to identify your target

[89 MJ]

1 hour ago, schardein said:

For the average shooter, a base rifle is a great place to start, as others have mentioned.

 

I have some experience with the M16-M4-AR15.  You give up very little in the way of range or accuracy with the shorter barrel, and end up with a shorter, lighter, easier to handle weapon, especially if you think you might have to use it inside a building.

 

If accuracy matters to you, the two biggest things to look for are a floated barrel and a good trigger.  I use a Geissele brand (pronounced Guys-Lee) trigger, which used to be (and may still be?) the go to trigger for competitive rifle shooters in bullseye competition.

 

Photo: The 1,000 yard line at Range 4, Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico VA.

Great information! Thank you!

 

1 hour ago, Minuit said:

I love historical guns, but for strict practicality I lean towards an AR-15 in .223/5.56 - that's probably the most all-around practical gun you can buy. 300 Blackout is very similar to 7.62x39 in a lot of ways. It's essentially a .30 caliber bullet in the same casing as .223/5.56. A 16 inch barrel will be fine in almost every case and saves some weight. A lighter gun is always better.

 

A basic AR will probably come with a crap trigger... but that's the fun of it! You'll get to figure out what you don't like and tailor the rifle to your needs and wants.

 

An AR can be swapped between .300 Blackout and 5.56 in about 30 seconds by switching out the upper. Easy peasy. Same magazines even.

Interesting about how easy the swap is. Thanks!

 

51 minutes ago, Dzimm said:

I would agree with the suggestions above, start with a base rifle.  I would recommend the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 to start with.  It's a great rifle for the money.  You can find it anywhere from $600-$800 depending on where you are at and what options it comes with.  The base rifle at $600 comes with a nice magpul flip up rear peep sight and an A2 post up front.  I've also seen them come fully kitted out so you have plenty of options.  Get one chambered in 5.56 to start with.  This rifle can run 5.56 and .223.  (if the barrel of the rifle says 5.56, you can run both 5.56 and .223, if the barrel says .223, it's not safe to fire 5.56 in it.) 

 

For plinking, especially in times when you can't find ammo, I bought a CMMG .22LR conversion bolt for my AR.  Its as easy as swapping the bolts and using the included magazines and this allows it to shoot .22LR as well so I don't feel so bad dumping magazines.

 

I would honestly recommend that you use your 12ga for the primary home defense gun as you don't really want to be penetrating walls only bad guys.  And as mentioned, the racking of shotgun should be enough to scare people off.  This however brings me to a point with the 870, don't keep a shell in the chamber as these shotguns are not drop safe, meaning if it is leaning against a wall and falls over, it can fire even with the safety on.  Just take the plug out and fill the mag tube.  I keep my 870 loaded with 00 Buck and my AR with a full magazine ready to go in the safe.  I've got my .40 on my nightstand for quick response.

Thank you! My dad has a .40 ready to go, but I am in the basement (with my 270 and 870 on my room) and want more. Plus I just want another gun and we don’t have any semi-autos in our house. 

[Dzimm]

2 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Plus I just want another gun

This is a never ending statement.. lol. Seems we all have an addiction or two.

[BeatCJ]

13 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

 I just want another gun

And honest. Not that there's anything wrong with wanting another.

[89 MJ]

32 minutes ago, Dzimm said:

This is a never ending statement.. lol. Seems we all have an addiction or two.

We definitely do. 

[Smokeyyank]

Check out palmetto state armory. For the money probably some of the better ARs that really allow you to build them the way you want and give you a good platform. 

[kryptronic]

I second the suggestion for a Smith and Wesson M&P 15.  Everything @Dzimm said is dead on balls accurate.

 

I've built high end ARs and shot them competitvely.  They're a good long range weapon, but not as good as a scoped high caliber rifle.  They're a good short range weapon, but not as good in close quarters as a tactical shotgun or a pistol.  The AR does it's best work in the 20-150 yard range.  As such, I feel iron sights work perfectly on the AR.  I use a carry handle sight, myself after having gone through scopes, red dots, holographics, etc.

 

My advice:  Get the base M&P 15 with the flip up reqr sight.  It's got the best barrel out there, and is designed for modern ammunition.  Run only 5.56 brass through it, no cheap steel ammo.  Run it like that for a while.  Resist the urge to upgrade and spend tousands chasing a 1000 yard shooter as the interwebs would have have you believe is necessary.

[89 MJ]

53 minutes ago, kryptronic said:

I second the suggestion for a Smith and Wesson M&P 15.  Everything @Dzimm said is dead on balls accurate.

 

I've built high end ARs and shot them competitvely.  They're a good long range weapon, but not as good as a scoped high caliber rifle.  They're a good short range weapon, but not as good in close quarters as a tactical shotgun or a pistol.  The AR does it's best work in the 20-150 yard range.  As such, I feel iron sights work perfectly on the AR.  I use a carry handle sight, myself after having gone through scopes, red dots, holographics, etc.

 

My advice:  Get the base M&P 15 with the flip up reqr sight.  It's got the best barrel out there, and is designed for modern ammunition.  Run only 5.56 brass through it, no cheap steel ammo.  Run it like that for a while.  Resist the urge to upgrade and spend tousands chasing a 1000 yard shooter as the interwebs would have have you believe is necessary.

Sounds good. Thank you for your opinion.