alternatives to the AR15 with similar sights?

[mbpautz762]

This may be a stupid question, but are there any other rifles out there that use similar sights as the AR15? I'm joining th Army at the end of the year, and want to get some practice. I'm a crack shot with pistols, but my eyesight makes it difficult for me to shoot rifles with iron sights. Unfortunately, I cannot afford even the cheapest AR15 (trying to pay down a lot of debt ). Are there any other rifles that use the same or similar sights that I could actually afford to practice on? I'm thinking military surplus, but I can go as high as the $400-$500 range if necessary. thanks for the help!

 

[mbpautz762]

sorry...duplicate post. mods please delete.

 

[xsquidgator]

Take a look at the KelTec SU-16. Peep sights, less $ than an AR, and takes AR mags. Only downside is I've heard some people say that may only last maybe 6-7,000 rounds. I wouldn't mind having one, they fold up into a small package and the folded stock holds one or two magazines.

 

[JWarren]

Your best bet for your reasons would be the "real" thing.

Surely, you can come up with an additional $70 dollars from the top of your price range towards that end. Consider it an investment in your career.

Try this:

$570 Used Bargain Bin Rifle

http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/?shop=1&cat=33&



That ought to do it.


-- John

 

[evo462]

+1 for the bargain bin CMMG rifles.

 

[mbpautz762]

thanks for the quick replies. I'll look into those CMMGs.

since I'm still on this topic, does anyone know what the current Army M16 qualifications consist of? What is the longest range i will be shooting at?

 

[HorseSoldier]

300 meters is the longest target(s).

You can qualify pretty easily without hitting any of the 300s, however (40 targets, 4 of them at 300 -- you need 23 to qualify), though you'll need to hit at least one of them to make Expert.

 

[ckay]

+1 on the CMMG

 

[asknight]

Garand

Seriously, the CMMG bargain bin rifles are excellent values.

 

[Matt-J2]

What HorseSoldier said.

And even then, it's easy to hit those pop ups, because all you have to do is hit the thing, doesn't matter where, so long as it falls. I've seen shots count that hit the dirt close enough that the round(or rocks and dirt) bounced and knocked the Green PlasticMan down.


Regardless, those CMMG rifles are said to be dang good for the money. I'm looking at getting one myself.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Buy a Ruger 10-22 or an SKS and install a Tech-sight on it and BAM you're set for less then $300 smackers

http://www.tech-sights.com/

 

[Boanerges57]

You normally get a decent amount of practice. If not where in the states are you? I am in southern wisconsin. If you are within a few hours of me id consider building you one. I can build custom grendels for under $700. Ill check what my prices would be but id bet I can put one together for around $500. I can build it to M4 or M16A4 standards. It depends a little on where you will be going for basic. There are a lot of A4s at benning still. PM me if you are interested. Id be willing to travel a little ways to show it to you.

 

[dscottw88]

Its going to be hard familiarizing yourself with a military weapon unless you actually have one, or one similar to it (ar15 comes to mind) to practice with. Garands and carbines are a couple rifles that come to mind that have similar sights, but a decent GI carbine will run $600+ generally. And a Garand will also run right around there. You might as well go with the AR. Not that its a bad idea to get use to a firearm before joining the service, but I doubt there is much someone can do that the Military won't teach you or show you once you join. Thank you for joining the military and protecting our freedoms.

 

[BlackJack]

I admire your desire to get ready, and certainly don't want to throw a monkey wrench into the works, but if you're going soon, you might be better off to wait until you get through basic to get your own AR. The Army will generally take a dim view of anyone with experience since they want to teach you their way and not have to overcome habits you might have otherwise acquired. Your pistol experience will already give you the degree of firearms skill that you will need. I'd suggest you wait until you're getting Sam's money, put some aside, and then buy or build the AR you want for home front use. You'll get what you need wherever you're headed. Good luck, whatever you decide to do, and thanks for your service to the country.

 

[Matt-J2]

BlackJack makes a good point. And setting money aside early on is easy, they don't let you go anywhere to spend it anyway.

Although, it's also a good time to pocket some into a savings account and never look at it. The military will screw up your pay at some point, and they'll take their sweet time fixing it. Having a windfall for that time is a wise idea, speaking from experience.

 

[mbpautz762]

Thanks for the replies. I am not joining for several more months, so I have some time. Blackjack, since we're on the subject of previous experience getting in the way of their training, do you know if the Army lets their recruits shoot lefty? I'm right handed, but nearly blind in my right eye. my left eye is strong, so I've learned to shoot right-handed rifles lefty. it would be a disaster if they tried to force me to use my horrible right eye

 

[taliv]

blackjack, i'm not in any position to know one way or another, and the federal gov certainly has precedent for mixed signals, but your post seems somewhat at odds with the entire mission and raison d'etre of the CMP.

mbpautz, don't worry a bit about the style of sights. lining up the sights is the easy part. learn trigger control, breathing, etc. that's what will improve your scores. you'd be 1000x better off for the money with a used 10/22 and as many bricks of 22LR as you can afford, than with an AR15 and a box or two of 223.

 

[TheLaxPlayer]

The CMMG bargain bin rifles don't come with rear sights though, so be sure to consider that when looking at prices.

 

[Boanerges57]

I know from experience. I am a lefty and I shoot everything the army has lefthanded.... well... sometimes I shoot right handed... but just to make fun of a couple of my buddies who cant shoot that good with their right hands and they are right handed. Watch out for the rounds coming out of the SAW. They will hit squarely on your right bicep if you are firing standing up. Its not so bad though and I love my SAW.

 

[Andrewsky]

I second the recommendation for a Ruger 10/22 with tech sights.

Should cost you about $250 out the door. No other accessories are necessary for your purposes.

 

[jrfoxx]

M1 Garand. Get a fun, full power piece of history from CMP for about $500 (unless they have gone up, I havent looked since I got mine a year ago).Also, Enfield No4 MKI's (probly some of the other Enfield models, but I cant say for sure, as I only know about the one I own) can be had for about $200, and .303 Brit certainlys isnt a bad round at all.Both guns are fun, have some deep history, are cheap, have peep sights, and can be quite accurate if you examine and select them carefully.That said, if your purpose it to train/practice for Army boot camp, the best is probly just get a cheap used AR to get familiar with cleaning, disassembly/reassembly, the sights, the ergonomics, etc.I wouldnt worry about trying to learn TOO much though, as the Army will have its own way of doing EVERYTHING, and you WILL do it that way, whether its the best way, or what you like or are famimiliar with, or not.(unless the Army is different than the NAVY.I learned in boot camp that in spite of what I though from the 27 years I had been alive,I didnt know how to make a bed, fold clothes, eat, sleep, satnd, walk, run, shower, speak or write properly until the Navy taught me how to do it.
Enjoy! boot camp (or whatever the Army may call it) is a unique, once in a lifetime experiance unlike ANYTHING you have ever done or imagined, that you will love, hate, and certainly NEVER forget.