Ebr, hunting rifle, or what?

[gpdave]

A guy I know is building an EBR. He has the lower parts and such, but now he’s not sure what to do.

See, he’s been saving for a gun for a while, and he already has a shotgun. But he’s in college, and so has to make purchases of this size with great care. He figures that something like a hunting rifle (which costs about the same as an upper) or pistol might be a more practical choice rather than a gun that’s probably not going to get used except on the range.

So what say you? Should he continue with his build, or buy the hunting gun (and finish the build after he graduates). The problem with the hunting gun is that its not quite as good for clutching while watching Red Dawn. The problem with the pistol is that he plans on going to go to graduate school, and so CCW isn’t really a huge option, but I’m throwing it out there for the collective.
What say you?

 

[Fast Frank]

Guns are funny.

See, a man NEEDS a rifle, and a shotgun, and a pistol.

That's just one of the facts of life.

Now, in my eyes, it doesn't matter if a man gets his rifle before he gets his pistol, or if he buys his shotgun first...

As long as he gets all three.

After a man has his NEEDS, he can work on his WANTS.

And you know he's gonna want another rifle, and a couple more pistols, and a duck gun, and a SHTF gun, and one like his grandfather had, and a target version, and a muzzle loader, and...

 

[Andrewsky]

Clutch his EBR while watching Red Dawn? Haha, I do that when I watch movies too.

Anyway, I'd say he should definitely finish the EBR then buy a handgun. He can always buy a hunting rifle. Who knows if he'll be able to buy an EBR in the future (or a hi-cap handgun)?

 

[martinc64]

There is a constitutional amendment requiring that every american male own the following firearms:

.22 rifle
12 Gauge shotgun
30-30 lever action rifle
30-06 bolt action rifle

The bottom 3 from the list can be waived if you own an M1 Garand or 1911 .45. The .22 is never waivable.


Ok, this isn't actually a constitutional amendment but it should be

 

[Andrewsky]

No one follows stupid gun-related constitutional amendments anymore...there's no place for that in civilized society. [/sarcasm]

 

[benEzra]

If he finishes the build with a 6.8mm upper, he'll have an EBR (in the Most Tacticool caliber, no less!) AND a hunting rifle. 6.8mm uppers aren't that much more expensive than 5.56mm uppers, are they?

(Assuming your state allows hunting with autoloaders, as mine does.)

You can get 5-round hunting magazines.

 

[gpdave]

Here we're allowed to hunt with autoloaders too.

But a lot of the 'pinions on THR indicate that one ought to own an ar in .223 first, and then as a second (or accompanying) rifle, get a 6.8. If ammo were more available and cheaper, it would be a smashing do it all rifle.

If any one here has opinions about the 6.8 as an "only" rifle for a college student, they would be appreciated.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

DPMS has a new .204 ruger gun. Maybe he could buy a .204 ruger upper and use that to hunt. Unless that works on the .308 lower.

Eh, either way he can use his AR to hunt with.

 

[Nameless_Hobo]

I'd personally have him get a .308 bolt action, and put a M1A magazines on it. You'd be fine with that when the communists come over the hill, and you'd be fine hunting with it as well.
There's always a .30-30 levergun, a bit faster to shoot than a bolt gun.
Of course, if he's willing to hunt with .223, which is possible, he'd be fine with the AR in .223, he's just at a disadvantage.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Poor man's EBR: Spend $69.95 and paint it black.

 

[Outlaws]

Handguns are for getting to your rifle.

Tell him to finish the EBR with a suitable upper in a caliber that can be used for hunting whatever he wants to hunt. Then its a dual purpose rifle, and he isn't a Fudd.

 

[.45&TKD]

The first gun I bought was a handgun for personal defense.

He already has 1 long gun (shot gun). I'd get a good handgun next.