Let me cut through the people acting like children and address each one of your concerns.
I know there are plenty of AR-15 fanatics here. But no matter how much I read about accuracy, customization, light-weight, size, and range, I can't figure out what on earth the AR-15 is GOOD for.
You can't hunt with a .223/5.56x45 in most states (I'm pretty sure its still Missouri and Kansas prohibited, and everywhere else... I think Tennessee reversed it's ban but I'm not sure). Seeing as hunting would be the primary use of any rifle if you are NOT Law-Enforcement or Military, then the AR-15 is out of the question here.
Your caught up on large game hunting. P-dogs, coyotes, rabbits, hogs, and other animals can be hunted even when large came can't. Not to mention many ARs are sold in .308 (a very nice deer and Elk caliber as it replicates the performance of the WW2 era 30-06) and .243 (.308 case necked down to .243, an excellent deer round and it can be loaded with light bullets for varmints).
I thought about target shooting. In this area AR-15's make sense, you can stand up and hit an inch group most AR-15's. But really, $800+ dollars to shoot paper all day long? Don't get me wrong, I go outside and plink with a .22lr pistol for hours on end, but when my family bought that .22 it was in the higher $100 dollar area, not $800.
ARs can be had for $600, and ammo used to be extremely inexpensive as rifle calibers go.
So then defense? .223 or military 5.56x45 will not just punch holes in intruders, it will go straight through them under 50 yards and punch a hole in your wall, in anyone behind that wall, and if it's short ranged enough it could continue into a neighbor's house. Unless you've got a 100 yard long home, I can't figure out how it's a safe defense weapon, and any more effective than say, a Remington 870?
Anything that can kill a human reliably will possibly pass through the body. You also are not guaranteed a hit with every round. Nevertheless this is a recognized issue and is the reason why excellent home defense rounds are made for .308 and .223, namely Hornady's TAP as well as other forms of frangible ammo.
I was also told that many AR-15 owners use them for shooting Coyote's. But in Missouri, where I've found plenty of AR-15 owners, there isn't exactly a whole lot of distance between you and any Coyote. Most hunting land is either wooded or has enough hills on it to limit ranges under 200 yards. So then, why the 400 yard pushing .223/5.56?
The same reason most deer are shot with guns loaded with calibers capable of 500+ yard shots.
Am I missing something here? Is there a sport or animal that the .223 takes down that's legal? I'm not saying their bad rifles,
I named them up top
anyone knows that a AR-15 is more than capable of hitting a golf-ball at 100 yards, weighing a mere 5 pounds, fitting in tight spaces, or using more accessories than the rifle itself is worth. But in terms of sheer utility, what's it's niche?
It is a light, easy to operate, reliable weapon that can be used on most game in most states in it's original caliber, and can be had in just about any caliber up to 50bmg. Calibers can be swapped as well by merely removing two pins and exchanging the upper receiver with one of a different caliber and switching magazines. It also serves as a great self defense firearm.
All I can say is THANK GOD for guys like yesit'sloaded. Sir having a moment of your time has been nothing but a pleasure and if your ever in need and in western Missouri you've got a friend in me! Your answers have been clear, concise, and thoughtful. If you lived within an hours drive I'd bring you a six pack of Guinness right now.
Titan6, X-Rap, and M&PVolk, you guys can go straight to hell! If it wasn't for yesit'sloaded, I'd swear off AR-15's right now as being the tools of arrogant, insecure ******* who need guns taken away from them if only to spare the rest of us the shame of being in the same boat as you!
M&PVolk, I even SAID they were accurate, and good for target shooting. I never said that the lack of hunting applications was a reason NOT TO OWN ONE. I said I couldn't see it as a hunting rifle which honest, good guys like yesit'sloaded kindly answered and gave an acceptable answer of the 5.56 just needs heavier bullets to be hunting legal/capable. I never didn't accept that answer! I've BEEN satisfied with those answers, the question of cost was ALSO answered by yesit'sloaded. I'm getting the idea he's the only source for AR-15 info I need, because the rest of you are so damn insecure with your preciousness you won't even give me the light of day!
Titan6, I never had false premises, this got ugly because ******* like you couldn't just answer a stupid question.
X-Rap, I hope to God someone supervises you when you use a firearm, someone with as little of mind and as little of tolerance for a few questions bring me to question the state of mind you must be in. Inebriated is all I can think of.
With few exceptions, reading the posts here have me convinced that we truly do live in a world of terror. People are so scared to answer questions here that I could just rip apart a two by four with my bare hands!
You own three? Each with a purpose? Wow. I don't remember a time when I've owned three. Is that three rifles or three guns total?
I stand by my "not a gun person" diagnosis.
A few points:
Ultralights fly low and slow, and cannot legally be used commercially. They have virtually no military purpose. They are fun.
I am sure hunting is fun. It isn't a priority for me.
I do not shoot three gun or any other form of sport shooting. My shooting is recreational.
I don't think you understand what "means to an end" means.
And this:
Quote:
Read up to page 1 for Godsake.
... That's what we've been talking about, welcome to page 4!
Not the sort of thing that will make you popular.
I apologize for the sarcasm and ass comment Ed. I'm just getting so frustrated trying to TALK to some of these guys that I could just rip something apart!
I've got a Marlin 30-30, Deer Rifle. Remington 870, Duck and Skeet. .22lr revolver, plastic bottles. I didn't say guns couldn't be used for recreation, its what my revolvers for. But I didn't understand the AR-15 for anything else other than an expensive plinker. yesit'sloaded and HGUNHTR have changed that perception. I thank them for it. And I apologize to you. But not to M&P, X-Rap, and Titan6, they're nonsense is slowly costing me my sanity.
Paladin, in Ohio hunting with a centerfire of any size is illegal for deer. Do you see a reason for any bolt rifle in Ohio? They would be bad for SD, they can't be used to hunt, most all have too much range, and ammo is more expensive than .22lr. Under Ohio circumstances would you own any centerfire rifle? I'm really trying to understand what you are looking for in a rifle and wonder if there was any you found justifiable in Ohio. You can hunt other small game with centerfire rifles in Ohio but if .223 was too much for coyote, which is about the biggest thing we can hunt with centerfire, what would you use, both caliber and model?
The heck? I know for a fact you guys do have range much greater than 100 yards in Ohio. Why did they outlaw use of centerfires? I've not seen a slug shotgun go more than 50 myself (I'm not entirely sure what ranges a 12 gauge slug stops being good at though). They would be bad for SD, for only in the rare occasion has anyone I know seen a 50 yard and under shot there. Even then, it could have easily been 200 yards if they walked in from another direction.
Rifles to me have a niche. The AR-15 fills plenty (thanks to certain members of the board, no thanks to other members who just wanted to piss me off, you know who you are). My 30-30 is for forest and brush. A .270 is for 300-500 yards of open field. A .308 is for... anything not inside a tank. A 30-06 see: .308 (they're almost the same thing). A .223 isn't to much for coyote, I was only making a comment on how in Missouri there are rarely shots greater than a hundred yards or so for a .223. I wasn't saying they couldn't be used, only that other alternatives seemed better. Note: seemed. Thank you you know who you are.