Desicions, decisions, decisions...

Which gun for first rifle?

  • Enfield

    Votes: 3 4.3%

  • Finn

    Votes: 2 2.9%

  • Garand

    Votes: 18 25.7%

  • 7.62 AK

    Votes: 6 8.6%

  • 5.56 AK

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • AR-15

    Votes: 36 51.4%

  • Carbine

    Votes: 5 7.1%
  • Total voters
    70
Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nolo

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Messages
2,624
Location
Galveston, TX
I'm at a cusp.
I'm getting a rifle, I know that.
I was gonna get an M39.
I was gonna get an Enfield.
I was gonna get a Garand from the CMP.
I was gonna get an AK clone.
And I was gonna build for myself an AR.
Curse my indecision! I can never make up my mind, whenever I settle on something, something else tickles my fancy!
Now I want an M1 Carbine.
So what should I get:
-An Enfield No. 4 Mk.1*,
-A Finnish Mosin-Nagant,
-A Garand from the CMP (Service Grade),
-An AK clone in 7.62x39mm,
-An AK clone in 5.56x45mm,
-An AR-15.
Or
-An M1 Carbine from the CMP (Service Grade)?
I think the max that I can push my budget is $900, but more realistically, I'm limited to about $700. I also want to get ammo, so factor the price of that into your suggestions.
Please help the crazy man!
 
I would an AK clone or possibly a SKS. Leaning toward the SKS first. But the price range you mention you could get both and 500 rounds.
 
Interesting that there are 6 votes for AR, and not one of them explains the reasoning. I bet for many of them, it is concern over a Ban after the election.
 
Buy a SG Garand and 960 rounds of Greek surplus and you'll be right in your $700 range. You'll love having a Garand and if by some odd chance you don't, you can sell it for at the very least $250 profit with no problem at all.
 
So have you done a bunch of rifle shooting in the past? What do you plan to do with this? Is it the start of a collection and if so do you have a plan to get something more every few months/years or will this be it for a while?

If this'll be it for a while and you just want to shoot (paper or gongs) I'd get the AR. I don't have one but they seem to be excellent for that, good for defense, and usable for many types of north american hunting with due care. Plus you can get a .22LR upper/conversion when ammo prices really go up.

If this is the start of a collection, what else do you want to collect? Any of the milsurps listed are fine starters though few (M1 carbine excepted) would really be called fine first rifles.

If I were in your position I'd think seriously of getting a CZ .22LR (<$400) and a Schmidt-Ruben K31 ($200ish) plus a stack of ammo for the schmidt-ruben. $500-600 plus a couple hundred in ammo and you hit your price tag. Both are very nice and very accurate guns; the combination will let you do any sort of shooting except the modern combat games (which I don't play, but if you want to play those get an AR) and the K31 is worthy of collecting alongside M39s and the others.
 
I voted for the Finn because you are looking for a first rifle that will be affordable as well as affordable ammo. The Finn fits that bill very well and it should leave you with enough cash left to give you a nice head start on saving for your next one.
 
Interesting that there are 6 votes for AR, and not one of them explains the reasoning. I bet for many of them, it is concern over a Ban after the election.
Click to expand...


I vote AR. And I say build it.

Hands down, there is no other rifle that is as versatile as Stoner's platform. Parts are everywhere, reliability issues are null and void, accuracy is boringly outstanding. The only thing I HATE about the AR is cleaning them.

And no, I wasn't thinking ban. But you bring another good point to the table.


You can build a good quality, vanilla AR in 5.56 right now for around $600-$800.

Later, you can buy an upper in .300FB/Wh, 6.8, 6.5, or .458 Socom/.50 Beowulf. You now have a rifle that will do nearly anything you want. Including plinking, hunting, home defense, SHTF, 1000 yard matches, 3-gun, the list goes on....

You didn't really specify what you want to do with your rifle. But whatever you have imagined, an AR build will cover it.


---
If you are thinking generic/defensive use I recommend you budget for:

* Sling, the most important accessory
* Pressure switch light
* 16" barrel, 1/7 - 1/9 twist, 20" if you never plan to buy another upper
* collapsible stock
* Iron sights, start with them. Tritium front sight optional
* Flat top receiver, for mounting an optic later

-------

If primarily for hunting:

* Skip the 5.56 upper. Pick a non-standard caliber, that will take any game you are likely to hunt.
* What kind of hunting? Weight can be a concern.


-------

If you're after a long range/paper puncher, build an HBAR:

* Free float the barrel
* Save lots of $$ for a good scope. Even if it means ignoring your irons.
* Be anal about your buttstock and grip. Try as many as you can.

-------


If you still can't decide, you could still go ahead and buy a lower receiver and parts kit. Then budget MORE money, and decide as time goes on. That is what I'm doing. I intend to get down to two types of rifles. One is the AR, the other type looks like a large caliber bolt action (caliber still undecided). The AR's are my main do everything rifles now. The bolt-actions are for hard hitting, long range, PC territory use.



If I HAD to own only one type of rifle? It's an AR.


Cali members, replace AR with M1 Garand / M1A... (you poor wretches, I feel for you) :(
 
I voted AR, but it's kind of a toss up between that an a Garand...

AR's are fun because they are much more accurate, and they are like lego's, so you can take you time and build one exactly how you want it but don't have to break the bank all at once.

On the other hand, when you shoot a Garand you feel like you are shooting a real rifle...Something about shooting it makes me feel all fuzzy inside:) Plus they are getting more expesive to get.

So I think you'd probably have more fun with the AR, but may regret one day that you didnt get the garand because they may be all bought up and really expensive.

I know that was about as helpful as a poke in the eye, but I did my best.:p
 
I chose AR15 because it's extremely ergonomic. Mags are cheap, gun is modular, can be built to YOUR specs.

Matter of fact, I just got a complete lower and am now looking for a good quality upper. I'm going to sell my AK, mags, and ammo.
 
Interesting that there are 6 votes for AR, and not one of them explains the reasoning. I bet for many of them, it is concern over a Ban after the election.
Click to expand...
I was thinking good accuracy, good ergonomics, good sights, lightweight, flat ballistics, and low recoil.

I think it's the best rifle of the list to learn to shoot with, second only to a 22LR.

If I was thinking about "the ban", I'd have said AK.
 
I would say an AR.The light recoil and good sights are conducive to helping you learn good shooting habits, and the ammo is comparatively cheap (and components are all over the place cheap should you want to get into reloading).
 
AR, of course. If there ever was a rifle that's approaching the status of an Everyman/Everywoman's Rifle in the United States, it's the AR. I've got three. I also have a 7.62 AK, an M1A, a Mosin and an M-1 Carbine. Out of all those choices, guess which one my wife wants to shoot when we're at the range? I tried her on a 20 ga. Mossberg 500 for HD, but she doesn't like the recoil or the action. Give her an AR and stand back, buddy! She loves it.

Now that I've realized that she's so comfortable with it, that's our choice for a HD longarm, hands down. The nice part is that I get to trick mine out with all the goodies and if she likes something, we get another one for her. That ain't gonna happen with an SKS, an Enfield, a Mosin or any of the other great military rifles that are available. There are a few accessories available for some of them, but nowhere near the number of useful (and some not so useful) things you can add to enhance the AR platform.

Quick list of the things I'd put on a flat top AR(16" barrel):

A good optical sight with back up irons, a light with a pressure switch and a vertical forearm (optional). That's pretty much all you need for a complete HD rifle. Anything else is gilding the lily.
 
I voted AR-15 off that list as a best first rifle. Ammo is easier to find, usually cheaper, magazines are everywhere, accessories are everywhere, light recoil, and generally quite accurate. While I am quite fond of my Enfield, I have to reload to shoot it affordably and accurately. A WASR or cheap AK style rifle may frustrate with poor accuracy, and the 5.56mm AK clones may frustrate with hard to find magazines. May be, I have never researched it, but don't remember seeing them everywhere.
The Mosin is great, but the surplus ammo is drying up, and factory ain't cheap - I reloaded for mine when I had them. Same thing with the M1 Carbine, the surplus is loooong gone.
So, I vote AR. Then, when you reload, get the Enfield No4Mk1, the Garand, etc. The AR will fit the bill as an all around rifle while you slowly fill the specialty slots.
 
I am not foreign to weapons, so a .22 LR is a little boring for me. Cheap, yes, but boring. I've shot the Hell out of them, and nothing short of a .22 LR subgun will really get me going.
I can handle all of the bigger calibers (.30-06, 7.62R, etc), I've had a bit of experience with them.
The mid-rangers I do fine with. 7.62 Soviet, 5.56 NATO, they're all fun and powerful enough to get me going.
I want this to be a weapon that I can do what I fancy with. I expect that this will be the first gun in a while, as I'm off to college here in a bit and will be too busy working my ass off to buy anymore. Though, if I did, the next thing would be a pistol.
I really like the AR, but the lack of full-auto really puts a damper on my spirits. Same with the AK. So maybe a .308 something? But I don't know of any .308s in my price range.
 
NOLO, "I really like the AR, but the lack of full-auto really puts a damper on my spirits. Same with the AK. So maybe a .308 something? But I don't know of any .308s in my price range."

FAL, CETME , SAIGA

in that order, ya can find FALs for around $500-$600 if ya watch the forum sale sections on Fal files

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=11

but they go very fast on there, A century L1A1 can be had generally around $500 watch the local gun shows, I picked up 3 of em at the last SAR show in Phoenix for around $300 ea to use as bases for project custom guns all on Imbel gear logo recievers that were worth the $$ alone all were walkin around the show not on tables

The current batch of Century sold CETMEs don't have all the earlier issues as they were farmed out to be built, have new USA Hammer forged barrels and run about $500 - $599 new

SAIGA, cheap around $350 in .308 add a conversion and your ready to rock....

The L1A1 would be my first choice though, ya could save up a couple hundred more and get a brand new Enterprise STG58 Austrian FAL for $899

http://www.entreprise.com/standardstg.htm

Once ya shoot a FAL ya'll understand why all them FAL guys at the end of the range are chuckling and pointing at the AR guys as they try to "ting" the 500 yard steel after it stops swingin from that last .308 that hit it ;) we usually refer to the AR as an AiR soft primarily appreciated by those who need all the help they can get to handicap them for range estimation and tend to be recoil sensitive types but hey if your ever attacked by paper plates with an AR ya'll be sufficiently armed........ with a FAL even if ya miss em the muzzle blast will light em on fire at 100 yards :) but if ya don't like slammin the steel at the end of the range and listening for that "ting" is enough for you then grab up $500 worth of AR parts and slap ya a lego rifle together......... the FAL however is made of actual machined STEEL so ya'll also needa be a lil stronger than the average AR bandwagon rider whos accustomed to molded plastic and forged aluminum........
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
CMP Garand
2 3
Replies
58
Views
2K
milo z
M
A
  • Locked
Thinking about an ODCMP Garand
Replies
18
Views
1K
Vern Humphrey
V
1KPerDay
  • Locked
  • Poll
Bear with me here: CMP Rifle Order Poll
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
joewill
J
H
  • Locked
Does the CMP really take that long?
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
Doc7
D
C
  • Locked
Tough Decision
Replies
3
Views
544
ScottS
S
Back
Top