Posted on 02/28/2009 8:35:38 PM PST by mpstan
Hi all,
I'm researching AR 15s for the same reason most here are.... personal and home defense if things go to "mad max", and becuase I'm afraid that if I wait much longer I won't be able to get one.
Never owned one; right now I own a 12ga shotgun, 2 .270 deer rifles, and my favorite, a 6.5x55 Swede chambered Tikka deer rifle.
Because of my last selection, I started hand-loading. As far as AR-15s go, I'm thinking about the newer 6.8mm version, which should have better stopping power than a 5.56 but less recoil than an AR-10 with a .308.
If I'm not afraid to handload, are there other negatives to considering the 6.8mm?
Thanks!
Actually, I really appreciated the “survival” info.
Gun threads here are actually fun, and I like them.
However, guns in high calibers are not the sole solution to
getting by in an emergency.
Please post no pictures of an AR-15. I can’t take it. I sold mine 14 years ago to put a down payment on my Wife’s engagement ring. Now to see one, and the price they are going for today, makes me ill. It is like seeing your old high school sweetheart that you dumped become a beautiful Playboy centerfold.
Just bought a 6.8 SPC M4gerey. Its built ground up. Spikes Tactical multi cal lower, Stag Arms 6.8 SPC upper. Flat top upper reciever. Havent had the chance to shoot it yet, but purchased via the internet from a soldier “over there” his wife handled the transaction. Suffice it to say he wont be home when he thought he would. THe multi cal lower will handle anything shorter than a .308, up to and including the .50 cal Beowolf round...so the answer to your question is..And Im biased...go 6.8 It has twice the knockdown within 200 yds of the 5.56, and is still effective out to 600 yards. Plus if you are limited on armament it is essentially a .270 cal round, so it will take down medium sized game easily and large game if well placed.
Interesting. Where do you plan to obtain ammo? Do I understand correctly that you use the same bullets (the smaller grains) as the 270 winchester? I see that Midway has lots of 6.8 SPC brass available, and 270 Winchester bullets are as common as dirt. I see quite a bit of load data for 30 grains or less of powder (250 rounds per pound); I’m figuring about $.50 per loaded cartridge.... am I close?
Second question: I understand most shops and manufacturers are backlogged terribly. That gets me to locally gunbroker.com which have quite a few available if auctions don’t scare you... any experiences with them from readers? I know I can save by purchasing parts separately and get something more customizable but I’m guessing most buy a complete weapon the first time?
I’m looking at RRA, Bushmaster, Armalite, Stag.... and maybe DPMS. Comments?
Thanks!
I assume you are joking - or one of those dreaded “Mall Ninjas” !
You feel “under-gunned” ?
Ho-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-kay !
This ain't going to happen. People are holding on to their weapons. Good suggestion though.
I think a bow would be better for hunting; quiet, long range (as compare to slingshot), can take down big or little game, and arrows are recoverable; leave the firearms for self defense.
Here's a simple case. Two trusted people buy guns from a dealer. Then in a private transaction, they sell/swap their guns to each other.
Much better than saying a gun was stolen only to be found in possession of it (stolen gun) sometime later.
Setting both up to lie to alphabet folks who deal with liars for a living?
Not a good strategy as most honest folks crack like an egg because they are inherently honest and not well versed in lying.
My point was at the last few gunshows I attended private individuals were buying not selling or trading guns.
Your point is valid. There are always risks and individual decisions must be thought through. Ultimately, people you knew years ago at a place you used to work may report you as a gun owner. If you are fortunate, all that happens is crews show up to your house with metal detectors and backhoes.
If it is time to hide your weapons, it is time to use them. Any idiot brave enough to come to my house demanding I tell them about my weapons is simply too stupid to live.
Sometimes it’s best to “take one for the team.”
You don’t fight it out with Feds, when they picked the time and place of the raid.
Nope. You cooperate. You don’t lie. You don’t omit anything. You’re their best friend giving them every weapon that you’ve got.
You agree with them. You’re cheerful about it.
...and here’s why: you’ve just become the next Paul Revere. It’s your job to let all the rest of us know that confiscations are coming...because the news media sure won’t.
You don’t fight a war by yourself.
You don’t engage in the very behavior that a platoon of paramilitaries has specifically trained for.
Instead, you do what they don’t expect: cooperate.
Otherwise, we’ll all get picked off 1 by 1.
Let Paul Revere ride, however, and we’ll know what to do...collectively. I bet you end up getting a weapon tossed to you, too.
'Right on the money'...
AR-15 in 5.56 for compatibility with M-16 ammo, mags and most parts.
Springfield M1A in 7.62 for same with M-14. You can get new Army contract magazines again.
Just playing the "devil's advocate" - you can do a 5.56 Saiga conversion overnight, that will be compatible with "ammo" and "mags" (quality mag adapters are available), will probably cost you less than an AR-15, and won't have half the reported reliability problems of an AR-15.
FWIW, I've got a great AR (100% of the parts ordered directly from ArmaLite - "accept no substitute [for AR parts]" ;>)...
Springfield M1A in 7.62 for same with M-14. You can get new Army contract magazines again.
Once again just playing the "devil's advocate" - M1As are great if you're competing at the range, but FALs offer lower cost to build/buy, cheaper parts, cheaper mags, easier maintenance, and use the same ammo. There's a reason the FAL was adopted by at least 40 countries (and I've seen figures much higher than that), while the M-14 was adopted by only a hand full of US satellites.
FWIW, I've owned several Ruger Mini-14s, the actions of which are based on the basic M-14/M1A action, and didn't have any fatal problems with 'em...
;>)
True that no one should be dumb enough to take on a team, but, as you pointed out, once that first person has been accosted it is our duty to take action and keep that team from taking on another citizen. I have a disctinct feeling that once the first team goes missing there won’t be another team.
only buy firearms in calibers used by the military
And if 556 isn’t enough (and it really isn’t), get the 308. AR-10 has easy recoil.
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