help pick next carbine.....

[chapperjoe]

HEY FOLKS... Y'all have been real helpful in past re: gun opinions, so here's another one.

I have come into 500 dollars,
and I am finalizing deals to get rid of my PC9 and SAIGA in .223,
so I was thinking that my 500 bucks would go towards a replacement for both.


I was thinking either an AR clone in 9mm or an OLYARMS plinker. What do y'all think? I'm leaning towards a plinker 'cause the price is right, plus i can get a collapsable stock for september and a forward handgrip and have loads of fun!!!!

I would appreciate comments on the quality of the olyarms plinker,

or your opinons as to how I can better spend my money on a rifle that is:
1)light
2)standard (e.g. accepted platform, spare parts, mags, accesories etc.)
3)small (16" barrel no more than 40" or so long total)
4)500 bucks or there abouts


Thanks so much ...
and may god reward the NRA as much as he punishes Feinstein for yesterday's carnival.

 

[jame]

I don't want to discount the excellent AR platform, but the Beretta Storm comes to mind, given your preferences.

I do enjoy mine, and if you like, you can bolt all kinds ofstuff on 'em.

 

[George S.]

I just got a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch for $460. There are a number of accessories available for it including stocks, pre-ban hi-cap 30 and 40 round mags, muzzle brakes, good scope rails and mounts for scopes, and such. I've seen stocks at Midway that "resemble" folders with pistol grips. If we get to buy real folders in September, that would be neat!!

The barrel is 18.5" long but from what I have heard, cutting it down to 16" helps with accuracy some as does the addition of a muzzle brake.

The Mini-14 ( .223 Remington) and the Mini-30 (7.62x39) action is based on the M1 Garand gas operating system and locking bolt. It's easy to take down and handles both commercial and military surplus ammo.

 

[Onslaught]

Given your choices above, having owned 2 AR's, 1 Mini, and just recently purchased a Storm I have to vote for...

Building your own Rock River Arms AR15. Purchase a stripped lower for $100, parts kit for $50, and a complete upper for <$400. And that's if you use all Rock River parts. I've never put a lower together, but from what I hear, it's a 30 minute job. I've had very positive results from www.adcofirearms.com . Excellent prices, excellent customer service.

I have no personal experience with Olympic. But I've NEVER heard a bad word about Rock River products. Plus, for just $50 more, you're getting a FORGED lower instead of the Oly Arms CAST lower.

I have recently purchased all the tools to build an upper, and I have replaced the barrel on my Bushmaster with a RRA mid-length, and it was quite easy. However, the tools required to do that run you another $50 at least, and that's if you already have the proper punches, hammer, C-Clip pliers, etc. But having done that, and hearing that the lower assembly is much easier, I'm inclined to think it's not hard at all.

 

[chapperjoe]

i have to say i agree with what you said re: cast and forged products.
And i am VERY interested in building own AR but have no experience in doing such.

 

[benEzra]

I would definitely go with the .223 plinker over the 9mm; the ballistics of the 9mm aren't that great, and if you are going to go with a rifle-sized firearm, you might as well get the flat trajectory and increased energy of the .223 (IMHO).

 

[Onslaught]

And i am VERY interested in building own AR but have no experience in doing such.

I'd suggest you start over at AR15.com in the Build it Yourself section. There's "how to" threads on the site, there's book recommendations there, and there's folks you can ask if you get stuck.

I've read the "how to assemble an AR15 lower" instructions more than once, and I haven't read anything yet that sounds complicated.

It was frustrating to me when I was trying to swap the barrel on my upper... I'd look up "how to build AR15" stuff, and it would have details on assembling the lower, then invariably it would suggest purchasing the upper completely assembled because it was "easier" than building the upper from parts. Fortunately, I found enough info on it from ARFCOM members, and with a little common sense, I figured out the parts they left out (like the C-clip pliers for the Delta group!!! :banghead: Good thing Dad was a machinist for 25 years!)

 

[wasrjoe]

Have you considered the M1 carbine? Light, handy, common (though more expensive than 9mm or .223) caliber, takes kindly to folding stocks, lots of parts around...

Just throwing out an idea.