cslinger
Member
I’d buy a couple of used 30/30s for that budget.
Food 4 Thought Friday: Defensive AR’s
- Thread starter Varminterror
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MedWheeler
Member
Put it to a vote, and count me for two "budget-but-reliable" guns over one more-expensive gun that does little more than either of the others.
marksman13
Member
I looked at a S&W M&P with a Crimson Trace red dot today for right around $700. I believe that is the route I would go given this scenario. I can talk myself into justifying any number of firearms, but the truth is that I can do anything I need to do with one rifle.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
The same could be asked about .30-30 lever guns used for home defense with the difference being new versus used. Assuming the used guns had less life in them compared to a new gun to try and make up for a perceived quality difference in the original AR question.
A) A single new $700 .30-30
B) Two identical used $350 .30-30s
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I go for one solid gun. Inexpensive versions are common and most work well, but I will take quality over quantity when I have the choice.
MarshallDodge
Member
Around 2008 I built an AR that cost more than $700 but is still running today. It has been to carbine classes, shot out to 1000 yards, used in 3-gun matches, and killed prairie dogs. Optic is a 1-4X Razor. If I had to battle a few zombies tonight, it would be the gun I would grab.
That being said, I do have a $400 AR that my son and I built for him. It is a 16" midlength setup from a PSA kit that he added a couple small upgrades. It runs fantastic as he is the type that goes out with his buddies and dumps 300 rounds through an AR in an afternoon, and it had not given him any issues. He got bored with it and sold it to me for $400. It wouldn't be a bad second choice as I know it's reliable. I put an old Aimpoint red dot on it.
That being said, I do have a $400 AR that my son and I built for him. It is a 16" midlength setup from a PSA kit that he added a couple small upgrades. It runs fantastic as he is the type that goes out with his buddies and dumps 300 rounds through an AR in an afternoon, and it had not given him any issues. He got bored with it and sold it to me for $400. It wouldn't be a bad second choice as I know it's reliable. I put an old Aimpoint red dot on it.
mustanger98
Member
If you have an SKS... it wasn't designed to function with detachable mags... either use 10rd stripper clips, or open the mag from the bottom and dump loose rounds in. I watched Jerry Miculek demonstrate how he runs his SKS which he said is his just-in-case rifle. It's really about as simple as a semi-auto gets.
If you're not stuck on semi-auto, a couple of .30-30's would be a real good choice. Maybe not as fast on rate of fire, but simple to operate.
If you're not stuck on semi-auto, a couple of .30-30's would be a real good choice. Maybe not as fast on rate of fire, but simple to operate.
OP
OP
Varminterror
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Wow! I went out to split wood for a couple hours and a lot happened!
Sorry for not better clarifying:
• Optics not included in price, dealers choice, but consider either case with the same optic, such the difference is null, and the same optic has to be installed on all 3, not unbalancing the game for optic options.
• Comparing similar purpose suited rifles - so contextually, whatever scenario would be satisfied by a $350 Mil-clone carbine would also be satisfied by a $700 carbine with a similar form factor.
The “stashing two is better than only one” angle wasn’t a perspective I was expecting, so I’m very intrigued by how much it has been considered above. No wrong answers, so this has been great reading so far!
Sorry for not better clarifying:
• Optics not included in price, dealers choice, but consider either case with the same optic, such the difference is null, and the same optic has to be installed on all 3, not unbalancing the game for optic options.
• Comparing similar purpose suited rifles - so contextually, whatever scenario would be satisfied by a $350 Mil-clone carbine would also be satisfied by a $700 carbine with a similar form factor.
The “stashing two is better than only one” angle wasn’t a perspective I was expecting, so I’m very intrigued by how much it has been considered above. No wrong answers, so this has been great reading so far!
Olon
Member
2 ARs, for a couple reasons:
Spare parts if needed
Staging throughout the house
The high end one won't be that much better at anything really.
If one gets confiscated/siezed/stolen you aren't disarmed completely.
Spare parts if needed
Staging throughout the house
The high end one won't be that much better at anything really.
If one gets confiscated/siezed/stolen you aren't disarmed completely.
Until a month or two ago $350 could get you a decent rifle. Not perfect by any means, but reliable and usable. So on the two is one principle I would just as soon have two. You might notice some difference between a $350 AR and a $700 AR, but chances are it won't be until you put 10,000 plus rounds thru it. Most people are not going to do that.
There is also the problem of malfunctions. I would bet the chance of having a malfunction that cannot be readily cleared with a single $700 rifle is a lot higher than having it happen with two $350 rifles simultaneously.
There is also the problem of malfunctions. I would bet the chance of having a malfunction that cannot be readily cleared with a single $700 rifle is a lot higher than having it happen with two $350 rifles simultaneously.
mustanger98
Member
With the mention of the DPMS Oracle, I had to look it up. Cabelas lists it for $599.99 right now... haven't checked prices other places. If those could still be had for $350, two of those could be scoped with 2.5x20's (Barska/$50ea) in Weaver Tactical mounts (~$30ea) and put a light on the gas block (haven't seen what those cost). Depending on who's using those, I'd think of adding an A2 stock... maybe skeletonized... and ambidextrous safety selector. With that, the cost just increased another $150.
Edited: Then if somebody wanted real irons, they might get on MidwayUSA and get the A-frame gas block, A2 sight parts, A2 carry handle... cost went up again.
Edited: Then if somebody wanted real irons, they might get on MidwayUSA and get the A-frame gas block, A2 sight parts, A2 carry handle... cost went up again.
I am a staged gun person as well several weapons placed in places that need them.....so 2 minimum. Spare mags loaded at predetermined retreat points, optics are either a Romeo 7 or romeo5 predator. Offset low power flood beam light and Ryker grips mounted appropriately. That being said, if it will take too long to get 2 in home (long shipping times etc) then 1 now is an acceptable option if time is of the essence. 16" carbine or 10.5 suppressed (ideal for indoors) but final answer AFTER several types of ammo have been tested (still playing). And preference points toward side charging but not requisite.
Just bought 1 for 350 with Magpul Moe handguard, payed maybe too much for 1 "stock" locally while ago, got a line on another at 375 
armoredman
Member
I have had quite good luck with the cheap ARs. My son is quite fond of his PSA Freedom, with Cav Arms Stand Alone rear sight. Simple, reliable and accurate.
I would go with two pre-Corona PSA Freedoms with SIG Romeo5 red dots, because it's what I have and they work perfectly for me.
I would go with two pre-Corona PSA Freedoms with SIG Romeo5 red dots, because it's what I have and they work perfectly for me.
If reliability is unknown I’d go with the $700 AR-15. I’d rather have one reliable carbine than two who’s reliability is in question.
If the two less expensive AR’s are both reliable and this can be verified in some way and I actually have more people to arm besides myself I’d go with those. (I’m personally fine, but this is about the hypothetical less well armed “me”).
If the two AR’s are unreliable and I have more people to arm that just myself and something else is an alternative then I’d go with two SKS’s, two Ruger P-89’s or three Mossberg Maverick 88’s.
Just depends.
If the two less expensive AR’s are both reliable and this can be verified in some way and I actually have more people to arm besides myself I’d go with those. (I’m personally fine, but this is about the hypothetical less well armed “me”).
If the two AR’s are unreliable and I have more people to arm that just myself and something else is an alternative then I’d go with two SKS’s, two Ruger P-89’s or three Mossberg Maverick 88’s.
Just depends.
rbernie
Contributing Member
How much are they gonna get shot? If it’s going to get a lot of use, one $700 rifle is likely to provide a greater service life with less issues than a rifle half the price. But the buyer has to recognize that and value that....
There's been a definite trend locally over the last 6 to 8 weeks in gun sales - first time buyers who want to invest as little as possible because they’re not really enthusiasts. Making the case to them that a higher price point yields a better quality item is a lost cause.
There's been a definite trend locally over the last 6 to 8 weeks in gun sales - first time buyers who want to invest as little as possible because they’re not really enthusiasts. Making the case to them that a higher price point yields a better quality item is a lost cause.
Charlie98
Member
The prices kind of jumped recently with the nonsense going on, but I have seen (not recently) a number of AR's in the $400 range and less. About a year after the 2016 election, I went to the Dallas gun show and the place was 1) empty, and 2) the tables were loaded with AR's and AR parts, etc. Piles of them, everything discounted... and yet, here we are, again.
OP, if you think about it, the $350/700 price point is a little unrealistic for a completely outfitted AR, I would just consider it the cost of a base rifle. A $350 AR, add sights or optics, a dozen mags, a sling, and a case of ammos (remember, we are talking preparation for an 'instant' situation) winds up being $700. There is also the conundrum that you typically don't put a high-dollar optic on a cheapo rifle, and vice versa, so the $700 rifle becomes $1200 after prep... realistically.
I wonder how many folks, who wanted one more expensive rifle over 2 cheapos, would pick 2 $700 AR's over 1 $1500 AR?
That’s actually why I sold the few lower priced guns for recently that were just sitting there. To buy an AR of higher quality (BCM) to outfit completely over the fairly decent mixmaster (Spikes/Centurion/PSA LPK).
Charlie98
Member
There you have it!
I guess it depends on what you really want out of an AR. I have a Colt, some consider them the benchmark... mine is no better than the RRA/LRB AR I built some years ago. There are subtle features the Colt has, but either way they are both dependable rifles and I don't see how throwing money at either one would help them become more than what they are.... but I am also a simplistic shooter... my AR's still have peeps on them. Both my Colt and LRB are of better build quality than the DPMS I had (which, BTW, I gave to my brother for Christmas last year, so it still lives on,) although they all do the same thing... launch pointy things downrange.
Ironicaintit
Member
Definitely 2 of the less expensive version. I don’t like bells and whistles anyway, and appreciate redundancy
Out of the several AR’s I have I just tend to shoot the ones that are more outfitted completely. While I wouldn’t completely flinch on throwing a PEQ, Aimpoint/ACOG/LPVO, a light, sling and all the rest of it on an LMT, a DD, BCM, Colt or something like that I wouldn’t want to do that on a BCA. You made the same point yourself.There you have it!
I guess it depends on what you really want out of an AR. I have a Colt, some consider them the benchmark... mine is no better than the RRA/LRB AR I built some years ago. There are subtle features the Colt has, but either way they are both dependable rifles and I don't see how throwing money at either one would help them become more than what they are.... but I am also a simplistic shooter... my AR's still have peeps on them. Both my Colt and LRB are of better build quality than the DPMS I had (which, BTW, I gave to my brother for Christmas last year, so it still lives on,) although they all do the same thing... launch pointy things downrange.
So I’m just making hay while the sun shines.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Although this thought exercise is to buy one AR at a fixed budget or buy two ARs for the same fixed budget, I wouldn't buy a $1,500 AR or two $750 ARs. I'd still be buying one AR in the $700 starting price range.
Cemetery21
Member
Two for me, please. I'm old and slow and could be on either end of the house when chit happens. Got that covered already.
I've had cheap parts guns that I could make run since the early 80s.
I've had cheap parts guns that I could make run since the early 80s.
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