Are you in CA?
Yes>>> i would recommend a trip to a friendly state. buy a $200 sks. a bunch of ten round stripper clips. and 1000 round case of wolf 7.62 X 39 122 gr hardball non corrosive.
Nah. Spend a little more and get a good AK. I don’t know why so many people like the little .223; it’s a varmint gun. Get a good Mosin Nagant 91 and a tin of ammo for those long shots. :) Good to go with some sturdy and reliable serious firepower without breaking the bank. Too many moving parts in the AR for my liking as well. I’m fond of the KISS principle in most things gun related.