A home defense .223 rifle?

[meanmrmustard]

Thanks guys again for some clarification and insight.

I realize this may be opening a can of information worms! There is so many variables to consider.

How much did some of you spend on your first?

Again just looking consensus and opinions.

Spent $1200 on my first.

$2500 on my second. Several have come and gone since then in that range.

My current fave...$1100. It's simple, has what it needs and nothing it doesn't for the use intended.

 

[itsa pain]

some of the set ups being tossed around here are over $2300. an 8 shot pump shotgun is a lot cheaper simpler and slings a lot of lead with just the right penetration

 

[Outlaw Man]

My first cost me about $800, but I've spent probably close to another $1500 on various accessories and replacement parts since then until it's finally exactly how I want it...for now. You can definitely get a good AR for under a grand (at least before this most recent panic). I'd recommend keeping it pretty simple - flat top, 16" barrel - unless you've had a little trigger time and know what you want. No need to waste money on fancy hand guards, stocks, etc that you may not like. Plus, half the fun is changing those yourself!!

As for 5.56 vs .223, I'll admit that on modern rifles, most people will probably never fire their rifle enough to see any damage. However, if you're looking for something as a defensive weapon, why wouldn't you do everything you could to make sure it feeds properly, including M4 feed ramps and "roomy" 5.56 chambering?

I do know someone who had an OLD Ruger Mini 14 that he suspects was damaged by the case of 5.56 he fired through it. I don't know the specifics, though.

 

[moxie]

Amen! Again the KISS principle applies.

Get a plain Jane name brand 16" AR in M-4 style (M-4gery), flat top with an MBUS rear sight.

Shoot it a lot, several thousand rounds. Take a course or two. Get reasonably proficient.

NOW, if so moved, modify as desired.

 

[Ed Ames]

I do know someone who had an OLD Ruger Mini 14 that he suspects was damaged by the case of 5.56 he fired through it. I don't know the specifics, though.

The mini-14 is designed to fire 5.56 (military) ammo and always has been. You can download the manual for a 1974 mini and it specifically says it is designed to fire 5.56.

Maybe he thought he went through the case too fast and caused heat damage to his mini? I'd believe that, given how they respond to the heat of even a few rounds.

 

[bigdaa]

The mini-14 is designed to fire 5.56 (military) ammo and always has been. You can download the manual for a 1974 mini and it specifically says it is designed to fire 5.56.

Maybe he thought he went through the case too fast and caused heat damage to his mini? I'd believe that, given how they respond to the heat of even a few rounds.

My SS mini of 1985 vintage I fired 90 rounds through it as fast as I could swap magazines.

It stayed hotter than a mother trucker and burned the leather carrying bag I set it on.

Still seems to shoot about the same after all these years.

I told myself that if it could not handle the 90 Israeli Military Industries 5.56 rounds I fed it, to Hades with it.


She is one of my kid's favorites!

 

[PaisteMage]

I am starting to get into modular synthesizers. Modular ANYTHING gets expensive and is full of variety.

Part of me is thinking of buying a lower, then upper, since that might be cheaper.

I can fix cars so a little rifle wont be hard to put together.

To me if I prefer to add optics and fancy bells and whistles, fine. I got to learn to shoot it first

Now to just acquire it!