Posted on 01/28/2010 11:39:40 AM PST by GauchoUSA
Next week, I am going on a short expedition into the Russian Northwest forest. My wife's cousins along with a couple more friends will go hunting, drinking and shooting...you know man stuff. I have been informed that we will be using the obvious AK 47 and they will even have a couple of Dragunovs. I am sure to come out with a great story out of it.
My question is, since I am sure to come back a weapons afficionado and I will have virtually no experience with an AR 15, for US purposes what should I set my eye on purchasing? I'm sure there are a lot of Freepers who are experts on both and I have a cousin who has an incredible collection of AR 15's and AK 47's along with wicked shotguns and even a marine stainless steel shotgun. I am not too keen on handguns so I was hoping to get my hands on a good rifle. What would give me more bang for my buck? If God forbid a revolution is to come how can I prepare Rifle-wise.
I’d save the money and buy one of them 20mms off a 2S6!
I agree with the Bushmaster M4-A3. Keep it simple to start, you can always expand on it later. Also get a sling, at least a dozen mags, a couple thousand rounds of ammo and a good cleaning kit. Get to know the rifle inside and out and practice as much as you can.
The AK has so-so accuracy.( although you can buy, at a premium, Finn/Western made ) The AK ballistics have a real drop in them vs the flatter shooting AR. The round isn’t quite as devastating as the AR. It weighs more.
Both are good...enough.
I’m on the AR side of the fence.
First recommendation would be the Mini 14 Ranch rifle in .223.
For something that will make the Rooskies really take notice, check out the .50 cal Bandit at quackenbushairguns.com.
Mosin-Nagant (7.62x54?) would seem an obvious choice.
They seem to be spoken highly of around here (though I have no personal experience with them).
Red Ryder
Keep working with that mixture, and eventually you won't need to worry about the future.
“I’m sure you’ll be getting a lot of advice about other, bigger caliber rounds shortly.”
No pun intended, OWS, but your are right on target, advising smaller caliber rounds. On a cross-country hump, I’d rather carry 500 rounds of 5.56, than 7.62.
An AR, with a well snapped in shooter, is deadly at 1000+ yards.
bump for later
I agree, I don’t think I’d take any of my good firearms to Russia, I’d be too worried they’d disappear.
I’d take a Mosin Nagant. You can pick one up at a sporting goods store for less than $100.00. Ammo is still pretty cheap too.
Nice, hard hitter for not much money.
Mosin Nagant, Official Firearm of Arthur’s Hall of Viking Manliness!
You absolutely CAN NOT go wrong with a top tier AR.
Armalite
Bushmaster
Colt
and now a few others.
1. Accuracy. Out of the box, tops almost any other semi-automatic rifle. Period.
2. Modularity. You can do almost anything with the AR. Carbine, Interdiction, Varmint, etc. All you need to is swap the other. Not to mention the accessories available.
3. Reliability. Not the best, but up there. Countries with AKs (and variants) are switching to ARs (and variants). This is not happening the other way around.
And, AR ammo is cheaper, lighter and more varied than any other platform. 88gr, 72gr, 69gr, 55g, 50gr and lower varmint rounds. You can use the AR for everything short of large North American game.
For a long range gun, I’m very pleased with my Remington 700 TVR. Tactical Varmaint Rifle in .308. It’s a gun that seriously turns heads. Floating barrel, the barrel is triangular in shape, machined muzzle brake on the barrel, Rem-X recoil pads. It’s what you call a scout sniper, shorter barrel, lighter weight...mount a scope and you are set.
Saiga in .223.....a sport version of the AK but with the accuracy that comes with .223. I got one...very happy.
“Mosin-Nagant”
My cousin spoke very highly of these, he purchased one and also mentioned that the market is flooded with them which means they are less than 100 bucks.
Just doesn’t put it anywhere near the M-16/AR ;)
My only problem with a Springfield is that it kicks a whole lot harder than my old body can handle for a day at the range.
Free-flowing vodka + guns....what could possibly go wrong? Sounds like you need to worry more about body armor than rifle choice.
These two statements ("What would give me more bang for my buck?" & "If God forbid a revolution is to come how can I prepare Rifle-wise"). indicate an AK47 variant customised to your specifications (i.e. composite stock).
Of course a true weapons afficionado would own both! ;)
Top-brand AR15, M4 style. It is standard issue for US soldiers (minus the “happy switch”), and thus what the Founding Fathers would have required you have if the Militia Act of 1792 were written/updated for today. Balloon goes up, it’s what you’ll need.
Remington 700 .308 w/ 10x mil-dot scope & bipod. Standard for “reach out and touch someone”.
Steyr Scout .308 - “if you could only have one.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.