Are There Any AR-Style 'Sporting' Rifles Available?

[D-Man]

May be a dumb question here, but are there any AR-type rifles available in a more 'sporting' style with wood stocks?

The closest thing I can think of is the Mini-14, but I'm looking to avoid that at this point. Another option would be a Saiga in .223, but that's based on the AK style and not AR.

Any other ideas you can think of?

 

[Kaylee]

The FAL-15 has wood furniture if that's what you're looking for. I believe said furniture is also available off the shelf at Brownells and suchlike.

-K

 

[JesseL]

Well, I know Lakeside Guns has wooden AR-15 furniture available, a few others probably do too.

Note that Minis and Saigas aren't "AR-type rifles".

I'm curious, what makes a heavier, less durable, less weather resistant material more "sporting"?

 

[whitebear]

[irony]Wood is more sporting 'cuz it's purty! It ain't scary like thet black plasticy stuff...[/irony]

 

[bill larry]

ohhh....nice

Im in love with that AR with the figured wood!

Honestly, that's about the only way I would ever buy one. I like my guns to have wood on them, and I am a sucker for nicely figured wood. Now that I know that's an option, I might go that route. I'm no longer in love with my Mini-30!

 

[TexasRifleman]

So I guess this Weatherby isn't "sporting"? No wood at all......

I kinda thought the last couple of weeks had removed that whole conversation but I guess not.
I like the look of wood too, but it has nothing to do with "sporting"

 

[blackhawk2000]

My telephone is super scary, and non sporting. It's all black

 

[rhubarb]

My definition of "sporting" is that it's fun to shoot.

My black AR is fun to shoot over and over.

My friend's 30-06 bolt gun is not fun to shoot after a few rounds.

Therefore:
AR=Sporting
Bolt Gun=Non-Sporting

 

[Eleven Mike]

Wow. Just when I thought the AR could not get any uglier.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

"Sporting" is how you use it. Like "assault" it
describes an action, not an object.

Given that many ARs are kept to shoot coyotes,
I would call the AR a utility rifle.

I have also noticed that military veterans who
take up hunting, especially varmit hunting, do not
care if a gun looks "sporting" as long as it is
accuarte and reliable, and prefer something
they are familiar with, hence all the ARs with
varmint and target grade barrels.

 

[D-Man]

Wow - I'm not a fan of the wooden AR either - looks very weird to me.

I guess maybe instead of the 'Sporting' adjective I could of used 'Classic Looking' instead. I like the fact that the AR is chambered in .223 and is a very reliable and customizable platform. But I prefer the more classic look like what the Mini-14 has with it's wood stock. I figured maybe there was something that meets in the middle.

 

[Eleven Mike]

D-man, I'm with you. I think you might be better served by looking for an AR with prettier synthetic furniture. But maybe it's just the shape of the handguard that's throwing me.

Wait, did I just tell someone to buy an AR?

 

[nico]

JP has a few pictures of decent looking laminate thumbhole stocks HERE on their website. I'm not sure where you'd get one, though, since they're not listed for sale.

 

[Slinger]

Gander Mountian

Got a flyer in the mail a couple of weeks back. Inside it advertised a "sporting tactical rifle". Looked just like a AR to me. What do I know.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I have also noticed that military veterans who
take up hunting, especially varmit hunting, do not
care if a gun looks "sporting" as long as it is
accuarte and reliable, and prefer something
they are familiar with, hence all the ARs with
varmint and target grade barrels.

Yes, familiarity is nice. I can build an AR from a bag of parts into a complete rifle and disassemble one well beyond field stripping. Give me a 12ga duck shotgun and ask me to field strip it and I will probably still be there the next morning trying to figure it out.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Your desire food wood furniture is God's way of telling you to get an AK

 

[D-Man]

^ The AK's are probably #1 on my list right now, but still trying to figure out all my options.

 

[twinhairdryers]

Right on - Nagant or AK

If you want a lot of wood, try a Mosin M44 or a Mauser or something. Wood doesn't belong on an AR platform. Also, high gloss finish on wood and the fancy high gloss optics paints can be seen for miles by animal or person. Far from sporting in my book. There is a reason for flat black, even in the daylight it doesn't light up like a christmas tree in the sunlight like the "sporting" bolt action rifles.

Or, there are 223 chambered "sporting" rifles setup for hunting also (bolt action of course). Most places won't let you hunt with a 20, 30, or 40 round mag anyway. I think even the 308s have 10round mags. You would have to figure out how to block it or find a lower capacity for sporting.

 

[Eleven Mike]

Your desire food wood furniture is God's way of telling you to get an AK

Right-O. I want an SU-16 with wood. Is that wrong?

 

[GarandOwner]

If you want a rifle in wood, forget that BB gun, get yourself a Garand

 

[HGUNHNTR]

they are all sporting rifles mr. zumbo

 

[benEzra]

I guess maybe instead of the 'Sporting' adjective I could of used 'Classic Looking' instead. I like the fact that the AR is chambered in .223 and is a very reliable and customizable platform. But I prefer the more classic look like what the Mini-14 has with it's wood stock. I figured maybe there was something that meets in the middle.

If by "sporting" or "classic looking," you mean a Mauser-style stock, the AR would be a difficult platform to fit with a straight stock because of the shape of the receiver and the position of the recoil spring tube.

The Kel-Tec SU-16 (.223/5.56mm) does have a Mauser-looking synthetic stock, and a Springfield M1A in .308/7.62x51mm has a straight stock, if that's important to you.

 

[Stinger]

I think that wooden AR looks kinda cool.

Would I buy one...heck no.

 

[slzy]

for better or worse,i wrap my stocks plastic and wood with camo tape. tacticoolness of course,but it may prevent scratching.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

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