Hedging your bets against a possible new AWB

[Richard.Howe]

I'm already in the market for an AR-10...a search that's been accelerated based on the past few weeks' presidential campaign developments.

Per the subject, what would you do:

• buy a new AR-10
• buy several new AR-10 stripped lowers and maybe build one up later

Please no flames -- yes, I already talk with my local and federal representatives, give to campaigns, NRA, etc.

But, since the world isn't perfect, how would you hedge your bets?

 

[takhtakaal]

Why .308?

Seems a bit inflexible, expensive, and near overkill for some things. An AWB affects a bunch of calibers -- no sense being picky.

Magazines, ammo, lowers -- actually, they could just as easily ban AR uppers, too. Might as well just buy the whole thing.

 

[TexasRifleman]

buy several new AR-10 stripped lowers and maybe build one up later

If you look at the recently submitted legislation, like HR1022, you will see that a stripped lower doesn't really give you much protection.

In HR1022 even the parts that can "convert" a rifle into an "assault weapon" will be illegal to purchase, or restricted in such a way you won't want to do it.

Buy the whole rifle.

 

[Richard.Howe]

Why .308?

Seems a bit inflexible, expensive, and near overkill for some things. An AWB affects a bunch of calibers -- no sense being picky.

'cause I already have four 5.56 rifles, and a gajillion mags. I'm looking specifically at .308s right now.

 

[JWarren]

I'll put it this way.... my LR-308 came in yesterday.

I understand the lower receiver thing, but I'd rather have one rifle I can use and the potential of more.

takhtakaal wrote:

Why .308?

Seems a bit inflexible, expensive, and near overkill for some things. An AWB affects a bunch of calibers -- no sense being picky.

Depends on situations. If you want your rifle to do other things such as hunting as well, 308 is an excellent caliber. Around here, 5.56 is considered a little light for medium-sized game.

Many people have different needs for the rifles.

-- John

 

[MaterDei]

I'd start by getting several stripped lowers before spending the money to build or buy a complete rifle.

 

[Eightball]

If they push HR1022 forward, you're going to need the whole rifle--no ifs, ands, or buts about it. If Obama's elected and goes for some of the thing he's on record as having said about his gun control measures--take out a bank loan and buy as many semi-auto everythings as possible.

The lower's not going to get you anything but jail if 1022 passes. The entire rifle, well-you can enjoy that.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

I'm going to go with the majority and say the whole rifle. At least with the complete rifle there shouldn't be a legality problem with any (new amendments to our second amendment rights). And if possible later, you could build custom uppers to put on your legal rifle lower.

 

[briansmithwins]

Last AWB prohibited you from assembling a 'new' prohibited weapon from parts.

I've already got 'enough' (can we ever have enough) rifles and am putting all the cash I can into magazines and good quality foreign ammo. One executive order is all that's needed to cut of our supplies of imported mags and ammo, just like W's daddy cut off our foreign rifle imports. BSW

 

[TexasRifleman]

One executive order is all that's needed to cut of our supplies of imported mags and ammo, just like W's daddy cut off our foreign rifle imports. BSW

I'm with you. I think thats exactly where they will hit us next.

 

[lee n. field]

On the reasoning that they can clamp down on currently legal parts, I'd say buy the rifle.

 

[W.E.G.]

Buy it cheap... stack it deep.

 

[Markbo]

I'm sorry ... I will try to remain high road. That question and choices limited to only those two responses are ... silly! There are SO many other things besides stacking up on AR10 stuff to do.

 

[Richard.Howe]

There are SO many other things besides stacking up on AR10 stuff to do.

Gotcha, unless you're already stocked up on the other good stuff, and you're currently interested in .308 AR platforms, and as I said inthe original post,

I already talk with my local and federal representatives, give to campaigns, NRA, etc.

 

[Soybomb]

I'd start campaigning and letter writing

 

[mpmarty]

I feel that if push comes to shove they will ban the transfer of their pick of what they deem "assault rifles" so there is not going to be a profit motive in securing many of them to sell later. Therefore, as I have fully AKd Saigas in 5.56X45 and 7.62X51 I will spend my dollars on accumulating a wealth of ammo for both of them as well as more magazines for the 5.56 (I've already got twenty hi caps for the 7.62X51).

 

[apocryph]

I don't know about the AR-10 focus, but replace 'AR-10' with the name of any other evil scary baby-killing assault weapon for the purposes of this discussion.

While I fully expect the antis learned their lesson from the '94 AWB and won't make it so easy to circumvent this time around, if your objective is to amass "assault weapons" for posterity and not lucrative post-ban resale, I still think there's some merit to stocking up on lowers. Here's my thinking:

Assume President Obama's first official act is to urge congress to ban semi-automatic weapons. You're still looking at weeks or months of brutal political fighting, and possibly a delay in implementing the law. If before this all starts you're the proud owner of five or ten stripped lowers, you'll have time to acquire the parts you need.

Will there be a frenzy and run on parts and trouble finding them? Absolutely. But there's enough diversity in manufacturing for AR parts that you should be able to assemble an LPK, stock, and upper for each of your lowers. Will you pay a markup? Yes. Will you have to settle for parts that are available vs parts you wanted? yes.

Compare this to the guys who bought one or two complete rifles; assuming they have any cash left over, they now must scramble to get lowers as well, which due to GCA '68 aren't as easy to obtain. While you're mail-ordering uppers through the mail from some private seller in Texas (who, granted, is surely selling them at a markup), they're scrambling to arrange FFL transfers of whole weapons.

Generally I think buying guns because they might be banned later is a silly reason to buy guns, especially when there are so many other reasons (defense, fun, collecting, competition, did I mention fun?). This is especially true when it's not motivated by a specific political movement. But if you are to hoard weapons in anticipation of a ban, think through the particulars before you pull the trigger, so to speak.

 

[Markbo]

Gotcha, unless you're already stocked up on the other good stuff, and you're currently interested in .308 AR platforms, and as I said inthe original post,

Oh I'm sorry Richard. I didn't realize you said that. I thought you said:

I'm already in the market for an AR-10...a search that's been accelerated based on the past few weeks' presidential campaign developments.

Per the subject, what would you do:

buy a new AR-10
buy several new AR-10 stripped lowers and maybe build one up later

Well whadya know... not one mention of being already stocked up on other good stuff.

 

[Richard.Howe]

Well whadya know... not one mention of being already stocked up on other good stuff.

Markbo, I've got no quarrel with you. What I referenced as having mentioned in my original post, is the text I pasted at the bottom of entry #14 in the quote box. Further, in post #4 I mentioned owning a number of other "ebr" type items.

I'm sorry ... I will try to remain high road. That question and choices limited to only those two responses are ... silly!

Thanks for your strenuous efforts to be polite. Rather than sniping at me, perhaps we could either make a specific recommendation with respect to the thread topic, or not reply at all. So, hopefully we can 86 the condescension -- I haven't done anything to you.

Rich

 

[Markbo]

Sorry Richard.... just having some fun. No quarrel here either.

FWIW I don't know how readily AR-10 uppers only are. I have an AR10(T) and it is fantastically accurate... amazingly so with me behind the trigger actually. BUT.. only with 165-168gr ammo. And it is awfully heavy.

If it is just a matter of a .308, a bolt action would be a heckuva lot easier to lug around and can be had just as accurate. Heavier calibers in the smaller AR15 format as also available. I have a .257WSSM that is a tack drivin' muthah! Just throwin' ideas out there.

 

[kcmarine]

I'd shove the backup plan and fight tooth and nail to make sure no such ban passes.

 

[MEH]

Here is another vote for a complete rifle, as others have said lowers won't do you much good if H.R. 1022 or something like it pass.

 

[358lonestar]

I would suggest starting with one complete rifle, (with as many Evil Bunny Ranger features as possible) , with the requisite number of mags and ammo, followed by as many stripped lowers as possible. As time permits, move parts from one to the next, documenting that each lower had been assembled into a functioning rifle at one point in time.

reminds me of a particular evening in Nov'04 when my one and only AR collapsable stock and FH/Bayo enabled upper wound up on 4 other lower assy.s (you know, just in case they changed their mind by morning...)

FWIW, I have a sinking suspicion the "loophole" outlined above, will not exist in the next incarnation of the AWB.

 

[possum]

go big or go home thats what i say i say go for the complete rifle.

 

[Guitargod1985]

I'd purchase one complete rifle along with replacement barrels and bolt carrier groups.

If it hits the fan, or even if barrels/BCGs are on the ban list, you'll be happy to have replacements.