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Post by Markbo on Jan 15, 2014 12:51:18 GMT -5
They may not have a soul, but they are made of metal and are tools. They were not designed to have a soul. They are however exceptionally versatile and accurate guns. I have lots of 'em. In calibers from .204 Ruger to .458 SOCOM. The 3 I have in 5.56 & .223 are 1/2 MOA shooters with their favored handloads on a calm day.
FWIW the shorter barreled one (16") accuracy falls off before the longer barreled versions. About 300 yards is all I could reliably hit a Prairie dog pup - about the size of your hand. The longer barreled versions I could stretch out to aaalmost 500 yards. I am not LEO or a competition shooter so most of mine are longer barreled hunting guns, though I did build an M4gery and added all the bells and whistles just because I wanted to try it.
Its heavier than I thought it would end up, but it's fast and accurate. In case you are wondering all that cheap 5.56 ammo you see at different sites may not be such a bargain after all. If it has an 'X' in the name, i.e. XM185 it is factory seconds. The original ammo - M185 is designed for only 2.5 to 3 MOA accuracy and the XM is not that good. If you want to just blast a bunch, great but I like to hit what I aim at.
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Post by nolongcolt on Jan 15, 2014 16:57:39 GMT -5
You never know how ammo is going to shoot. Some time ago I bought 1k of the Fed X stuff and it is one of the better ball loads I have shot. Groups around 1.5 MOA in my ArmaLite. I still have not found a better load in mine at least, than 26grs of Varget behind the 60gr V-Max, lit by either CCI SR or Russian SR primers. The Russian seem a tad better, but its hard to prove it. With that load I can shoot .5 to just under that at times. My Armalite is just a rack grade M15A2 bought during the ban so it has the "muzzle check" instead of a flash suppressor. After the ban I mulled swapping the check off for a FS, but didnt want to take the chance of changing the dynamics or harmonics of the barrel so left the check on. Its noisy but man it do shoot! Its one of my never sell guns.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2014 18:08:07 GMT -5
This thread is the ultimate in irony for me. I'm seriously considering selling off the heavy barrel AR15 that I built for prairie dogs. I never got to shoot it at 'dogs, and I don't know that I want to keep paying range fees to the rifle range I never get to go to. I guess I could put a short barrel on it and use it for white tails.
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Post by arokcrwlr on Jan 17, 2014 15:45:29 GMT -5
Nice rifles! They certainly don't have the elegance, soul, or whatever you want to label it...but, unless you allow yourself the opportunity to play around with these rifles, you really don't know what you're missing. They are very fun to dink around with and shoot. I might add, it shouldn't be embarrassing to admit you like them...add a few NFA items and they are that much more fun.  |
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Post by Cholla on Jan 20, 2014 12:38:13 GMT -5
I never cared for AR's. I've shot a little High Power competition off and on for several years. Got so tired of looking down the line and seeing one AR after another. (I shoot a somewhat modified, crazy accurate Swiss K-31, to the dismay of a few AR users)
Then a couple of years ago I found DelTon kits for under $400. A local shop had lowers for $100. Hmm...an AR for $500 or less...why not. So I built one, 16" Dissipater with a collapsible stock. Traded the wobbly stock for a solid one and a buddy donated and installed a 20" barrel. Then I shot a couple of matches and managed my highest offhand score ever...186-2X! Then....I got tired of it and it's been sitting in the safe ever since. I now own an AR for no real reason. I think in addition to its soulless appearance, I despise the fact that they're nearly as tall as they are long, and I just can't put AR's in the "Rifleman's Rifle" category.
In the meantime, I bought a 2006 model Mini-14. It isn't quite as accurate as my AR, but it's not far behind. Is blue and has a wood stock, is far more "handy", looks like an old-school battle rifle, and it lacks all the vertical appendages found on AR's. I like it enough that it's the rifle I keep out around the house for coyotes, stray dogs, etc. But still, it's just another damned ol' semi-auto .223...
Think I'll go outside and shoot my Blackhawk some more....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2014 14:31:28 GMT -5
I'll be the first to admit that an AR leaves something to be desired in the "soul" department. There seems to be a lack of personal satisfaction with them somehow, even though I've never had a bad one. I just don't get it. I have one left, and would probably trade it off for a truly great DA revolver, or perhaps a couple of lever-actions. I couldn't summon up any emotion about Glocks, either.
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jsh
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Post by jsh on Jan 21, 2014 19:29:48 GMT -5
Probably catch some flack over this but......I am going to "invest" in some lowers and assemble a couple of complete rifles. $$$ isn't making a dime in the bank. What little I put into these with some careful shopping I think will double in a few years. I had a colt in the mid 80's shot the heck out of it as any kid would do then sold it back to my bil.
I have shot maybe two ARs I would like to have but I wouldn't spend that kind of money on them. I could have two bolt guns for the price of one of those. I have no interest in owning or shooting them. Just stimulating the economy.
Jeff
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2014 21:53:28 GMT -5
Now would be the time to buy, from what I'm seeing. After the panic of early last year, there seems to be surplus of guns. My local gun shop has a used DPMS Oracle for $699.00. This means the guy only got maybe $500.00 for a low mileage gun. I wonder if mine is even worth selling right now.
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Post by seancass on Jan 22, 2014 9:37:29 GMT -5
I think it's definitely a buyer's market right now (bad time to sell). If you want to try one, go for it. Buy used and you shouldn't lose any momey if you decide to sell. I'm sure there will be another panic in November anyway.
As to mixed uppers and lowers, its about as complicated as mixing shirts and pants. They Nearly all go together, just a matter of preference and application. Actually, i don't even know of a case or reason off the top of my head why BrandA lower wouldn't work with BrandZ upper.
I picked up a PSA carbine a while back. My first AR. I could honestly say i didnt want it that bad, but it just felt like something i should own. It was like my toolbox lacked a hammer. Or maybe a table saw. Don't need it for every project, but boy can you use it on a lot once you have it! At the same time, it won't be the last gun to leave the safe if i have to sell.
I think one great reason to buy is because somebody out there thinks you shouldn't! And they are a Great teaching tool that will have the new shooter grinning from ear to ear! Taking a friend to the range for his first shots ever made my AR worth every penny!
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Post by AxeHandle on Jan 22, 2014 9:54:39 GMT -5
Never had anything but contempt for the AR in any form until I made the All NG International Combat Team in '92. Two mile runs with the little beast followed by 500 yard run downs ending up with walkup shots on head targets inside 100 yards made a believer out of me. Today, while no MSR (Modern Sporting Rifle), lives at my house, I have nothing but respect for the platform and what it is capable of.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 9:57:12 GMT -5
They do have a number of real purposes. The politicians hate them, and they're not even the source of all the issues!
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Post by Markbo on Jan 26, 2014 10:47:54 GMT -5
Think about one in .308. Think AR 15 weight and not AR10 weight. Then look in the links section for my name.  |
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