[firestar]

What is your fav "battle" rifle, "assult" rifle type gun that you have owned? It must be one that you have owned because I want to see what people really think about certain guns. I know on paper or in my head, I liked some guns more than others but once I owned one, my opinions changed. For example, I used to think that the AKs were in every way better than the SKSs but now that I own both, I seem to perfer the SKS for shooting and the quality and reliablity is much better on the SKS. Also the Mini-14 was a big surprise to me that I liked it as much as I did.

[Warner]

Belgian FN-FAL Paratrooper.

Don't know what else to say.....

;)

[Spieler]

Absolute favorite was my SA SAR-48 (Brazilian made metric FAL). Classic and timeless FAL fit, function and beauty. No other rifle I have owned has fit me as well or has been such a pleasure to shoot.

Runner-up in .223 would have to be Valmet M-76W (wood stock). Classic AK action in .223 without the weight and expense of the Galil. :cool:

[lunde]

Galil AR (AK variant) in .223.

[Keith]

Gosh, I've owned so many of those rifles, but the only one that has really awed me has been the FAL.
It's just so "right" in so many ways.

Keith

[cslinger]

M1 Garand. That rifle has it all, classic beautiful form, wondeful cartridge, excellent balance, history, nostalgia and that wonderful PING.

Nothing quite like a Garand.

[C.R.Sam]

Only three on the list that I have OWNED are the M-1 Rifle , M-1 Carbine and the FN FAL.
Neither M-1 Rifle nor FAL considered an "assult" rifle.
Both main battle rifles.

Used the M-1 Rifle in work and have owned a couple. Excellant rifles.

Own FN FALs, never used them at work. Seem to be Excellant also, probably even more useful than the M-1.

Owned a couple of M-1 Carbines, thought little of them.

Sam

[Keith]

An "Assault Rifle" is whatever the anti's say it is, and the FAL was specifically listed under the AWB.

You're right though, that it is more properly a main battle rifle. And that's probably why the rifle "awes" me in ways that other rifles don't. There is something about shooting a heavy round in a solid rifle that you don't get from AK's and AR's, etc.

Garands are nice, but without a detachable mag they can't compete. I've never owned an M14/M1A, but I suspect I might like one every bit as much as I like my FAL.

Keith

[CWL]

Daewoo rifle, followed by FNC carbine, Never needed to assault anything with either of these rifles, perhaps that's why neither are in above list.

[DMK]

An "Assault Rifle" is whatever the anti's say it is, and the FAL was specifically listed under the AWB. Actually, you mean "Assault Weapon". AWB stands for "Assault Weapon" ban and that's the term the regulations and VPC refer to. An Assault Rifle is select fire. :banghead: It must be one that you have owned because I want to see what people really think about certain guns. Out of the rifles above, I have the AK (SAR1), Garand, FAL, Camp Carbine, and SKS. They all are great rifles and have their strengths and weaknesses.

I'd have to say the shorter 20" barreled SKS carbines like the Romanian, Russian, and Norinco are my favorite. These rifles are reliable, super easy to maintain, handy, light, powerful enough and accurate enough for most uses except target shooting.

Runner up for second place would be the Garand. It's light and handy for a rifle in it's class and has the reliability of the SKS. It's more powerful and accurate than the SKS so for some that may put it in the #1 spot. However IMO, it's a pain to field strip and clean. You also can't manually load and shoot it without Enbloc clips. 30.06 of the proper type is a bit more expensive and harder to find these days, so a .308 conversion would earn bonus points.

For third place, I'd have to say the SAR but it needs work to get there, mainly a longer stock and improved trigger.

As for the others, The FAL is too heavy, and the Camp Carbine too weak, although its a great replacement for a pistol under the right circumstances.

[Kaylee]

Of those listed, I've only owned:

Ruger Mini-14 (stainless/synthetic)
SKS
AR-15 (bushmaster shorty)
M-14 (both Polytech and Smith Ent. versions)

Handled and fired a couple of the others.. but that's not what you were asking. :)

Of those.. the M14 was my favorite from a "do it all" perspective and general fun.

BUT if it came to a "trust your life to it" decision, I'd pick the Bushmaster. FOR ME -- it handled faster, shot straighter, and was more trouble free than either '14.

-K

[SodaPop]

Mini 14

[MarineTech]

Of the list the M14 is my favorite. I own 1 and I want more. Many more. I'm working on assembling USGI parts to have a second built now.

The M1 Carbines run a very close second place.

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

I've only owned an AK-74 varient (SAR 2), but I've played around with the AR among others. If the AR didn't have a direct gas impingment system, the AR would be my favorite, but the AK still is my favorite. In fact I'm debating on getting a Bushy AR or an Arsenal AK as my next rifle. Just need to play with a FAL now.......

[4v50 Gary]

HK-91. I've shot FALs, but my experience with HKs is much longer so I'll stick with something I'm used to.

[glockten]

Favorite from that list: M14/M1A.
Favorite (only) true assault rifle that I've owned: AC-556.

[stevelyn]

Daewoo K-2. Incorporates the best design features from all the world's military rifles. Drawback is that too few were imported making spare parts scarce. Would like to see one made in .308. And I would donate my portside cajone for a K-1.:evil:

[goon]

I am on my third AK, and I must say that I am not really all that impressed with them.
It is true that they are dead reliable, and they do look cool, but I still think that they pale in comparison to an Enfield or my M-39.
I now own the one I have more than less as a matter of principle.

The SKS is also a good gun, but still isn't really my thing.
My experience with the M-16 tells me that they will shoot, but that they can be finicky.
The AK still wins over them.
I would like to try/buy a FAL, but I don't have the cash.

[Correia]

#1. FAL
#2. Vepr


Distant 3rd. The various ARs I have owned. Have not owned any other rifles on the list.

[firestar]

If you have shot a gun a lot and you are familiar with it, that sort of qualifies as "owned" in my book. For example, if you were in the Marines and were issued a M-16, while you didn't "own" it, you might as well have.

The point I was trying to make is, a gun that you have shot enough to really know if you like it or not. A lot of us have guns that we would like to have and in our mind it is the perfect piece but once we get one, sometimes it doesn't fit or for some reason we don't like it. OTOH, sometimes there is a gun that we never thought we liked and once we get one, we find out that it is perfect for us.

I have found that I prefer traditional stocks rather than the pistol grip stocks on AKs and ARs. I have had two AR-15s and I have one AK and they are nice to have around but I prefer my SKS for plinking because it feels more natural. The Mini-14 that I had was also very nice and I miss having it around but I can shoot it anytime I want since I traded it to my friend. I traded my like new MINI-14 SS for a Glock 21.:banghead:

[KB180]

Armalite AR-180...

[Daryl]

I sure like my M1A1, love the Garand; my AK sure is nice, cant say to much bad about my AR-15. I see you did not have the SVT-40 on your list. But, I would pick the FAL as my favorite. I traded my CAI FAL for a Kahr a few years ago. But I do miss my FAL. I think I will put a DSA on my next gun to get list. :)

[Solinvictus70]

I had a Norinco NHM-91 that was a really accurate Kalshnikov clone with US made ammunition. The longer barrel and bipod made it a great shooter that I shouldn't have greedily sold. :(

[Freightman]

I put down the SKS but the S.A. I love the most is my Extreem Hakim.
There is a NHM 91 at the shop that if it is still there after Christmas I am going to get (I am having to buy presents for the kids and grand kids)

[Gordon]

Arizona Response Systems made me the perfect FNFal IMHO. However I used to clean up regional practical matches up to 86 or so with my Williams tuned HK-91 with a Zeiss 8X56 scope. As long as you are going prone for nearly every shot the 11lb HK is the way to go . Otherwise the shortened FN weighs about 8 lbs for all around "assault rifle" use. Of course these are 'battle rifles' , but what the hey, it's what I would FIGHT with !:D

[Kharn]

Gotta be the FAL. Bigger hurt on both sides of the muzzle than the AR15, more reliable due to the gas piston and a whole lot easier to clean with no little small parts to be dealt with during field stripping. I love mine.

Kharn

[telewinz]

I have fired ALL the rifles mentioned and althought not perfect, the AR15/16 would be my choice. If the 223 were ready available in some of the other actions like the FAL, then the FAL would be my choice.

[Joe Demko]

Of the ones I have owned or been issued (m-16A1, AR-15, AK, SKS, M-14, Hk91clone, Mini-14), the AR-series would be the favorites. I have not, of course, ever carried one into battle, so I won't go into war stories or buddy stories. Based on the individual rifles that I own or owned:
1. AR/M-16A1- own/ed 4 different AR's , 2 Colt 2 Bushie, issued an M-16A1. No relaibility problems with any. Accurate. Light. Excellent ergonomics. Optics a snap to mount. Fun.
2. SKS- bought two Norincos way back when they first started importing them. Kind of heavy for the size of cartridge it uses. Stocks, as issued, were uncomfortably short for me. Accurate, but the sights don't let one take full advantage of the accuracy potential. Optics aren't easily mounted. Fun.
3. M-14- owned a Polytech M-14 clone. No reliability or durability issues. At the range, it shot comparably well to Springfield Armory "rack grade" rifles. Sold it because it just didn't amuse me to any great degree. Made a nice profit, too. Okay, but not really fun.
4. Mini-14- owned 2, an early stainless Mini and a blue Ranch Rifle. Accuracy was, at best, mediocre from both. The Ranch Rifle showed poor fit and finish and a had a flimsy rear sight that was prone to self-destruct. Good high cap mags were a pain to find. Sold both. Not fun.
5. HK91 clone- have a PTR 91 i recently purchased. Haven't had a chance to shoot it enough to have formed any solid opinions yet. Preliminary findings are that it is reliable and accurate, though far less ergonomic than I would like. The medium/heavy weight barrel also makes it somewhat musszle heavy. Fun, so far, anyway.
6. AK-47- owned a Maadi. By far, the most egregious waste of time and money I ever engaged in with respect to guns. It was reliable, as AKs are reputed to be (so were all the other rifles I listed here) but that is really all I can say in its favor. Canted front sight wouldn't permit the rifle to be zeroed. It shot 8 inches right at 25 yards even with the front sight maximum windage adjustment! That was of small concern, really since the sights were so crude as to be minimally useful anyway. Since there was no side rail, there wasn't the option of using a Kobra or similar. The finish on the wooden parts, judging by smell, was based principally on boiled camel urine. The paint on the metal parts was already flaking as the gun came from the box. Screw heads were buggered up at the factory. Trigger slap in spades. Mechanical accuracy made the Mini-14 look like a high-end sniper rifle. Much time and money later, I had turned the shabby thing into something like a faux Valmet, but nothing could be done about the accuracy issue. Sold it, at a profit, to a guy who was enchanted with its looks. Pretty freaking far from fun.

[hso]

But my M1 Carbine is my favorite because of it's handiness and my Garand is my favorite because of it's heft and history while my Kel Tec Sub is my favorite because of it's gizmo factor and my Ar15 because it can be changed around more than a Mr. Potato Head and my AK 74 because it eats peanuts and my SKS because it eats cheap peanuts and .....:D

[Smoke]

It has to be the Ar-15. Having only owned an SKS from the list of others.

Now since I have recently had the oportunity to spend some quality time with my Brother-in-law's Springfield....I might ammend my choice in the near future.:D

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I have owned, and shot extensively, AK variants, SKS by different mfgs, AR-15, M16, M4, FN-FAL, L1A1 (British FN-FAL), SAR-48 (Springfield FN). The only ones I have kept are the FN-FAL and variants. Of those, the Springfield SAR 48 is by far the best...tighter, more ergonomic. I would like to obtain and carress an HK-93.

The AKs were reliable, the SKSs were good on value, the AR15/M16/M4 are like mattel toys.

The .308 provides the fire power for one-shot kills. The FN variants are heavier and longer, but you must choose the right tool for the job. The all around winner. Ease of maintenance, low profile, easy scope mounting/removal, accurate to 800 yards. Feel the power.



:D

[Atticus]

If I could only have one (which is the case presently), it would be the Fal (which is also the case presently). I have nothing against the others however, and would own them all if I could afford to.

[THA]

Since none of these are really assault rifles, I will concede to the press related change of nomenclature and go for the M-1. However my favorite is not listed the AR-10. I have had most of these in full auto configuration and each one is has its own advantages, but really the AR-10 is it for me.

[Benton]

It is very close between the StG 58 FAL and HK91. In the end I must give the HK my vote, though. The deciding factors for me are the shorter length of the HK91 and its corrosion resistant finish. The FAL is equal to the HK in reliability and accuracy.