I can only afford one rifle

[phirehawk]

Okay, so I can only afford one fighting rifle. I may be able to get a hunting rifle later, but for now... I want an AR. My requirements are fairly light (I am not a Force Recon Marine), short, accurate, modular and reliable. This will be a mostly fun rifle, but will do duty as a home defense/SHTF rifle as well.

Please critique the following as my suggestion for the only AR I may ever own (and help me decide on a few of the 'or' statements):

Mega Lower with Gator Grip
Hogue grip, or if the MagPul grip fits my (small) hand... I like the stuff storage
Rock River Lower Parts Kit
Rock River Winter trigger gaurd
Magpul CTR stock or Vltor Emod stock (I like the on board storage, but then the gun starts getting too heavy...)
One point sling adaptor

CMMG 14.5" 1/7 Chrome lined mid-length upper w/ pinned FH
A3 style
Extended/Polished M4 style feed ramps
Gas block/Flip front sight w/ pic rail bottom
YHM A1 style flip up rear sight
Standard Handgaurds
Phantom 3102A Flash Hider (in case I want a suppressor later)

Leupold Mk 4 CQ/T scope (heavy, but worth it... I think)
Surefire X300 or Streamlight TLR-1 (I already one TLR) for the pic rail

DSG mags and some PMags
75 gr TAP ammo
77 gr Black Hills ammo
One point sling... Blackhawk maybe?

I am in general against the gas piston set ups because I am not in Afghanistan or the desert, I keep my rifle clean and the DI system is light, accurate and proven especially with the mid-length design. I like the mid-length system for it's gentler operation to the bolt and longer sight radius which is less important to me as I'm going with optics. This is the shortest I can go without paperwork... Not sure if I want spare batteries (I need 123s and AAs) and spare bolt (love Arma-Lite's bolt design combined with CMMG's shrouded carrier) & firing pin on the gun or not. That's all more weight. While the CQ/T is heavy... it is handy. I work at a gun shop and played with one. Variable from 1 - 3x, illuminated but not dependent on batteries and no expiration date (tritium). I believe a light is uber-necessary and am even toying with a Blue Force Gear Ready-Mag. What do you all think?

 

[Soap]

Welcome to THR! I'd say the reason why you can only afford one rifle is because you're thinking of hanging too many parts on it. My (unpopular) suggestion is to buy a basic Rock River/Bushy/etc. with irons and spend the rest on ammo and training. Granted, you may not have an equipment setup that will set the world on fire but who cares if you can shoot it like hell.

 

[phirehawk]

I agreed with that... to a point. I have shot irons and dots. Dots are WAAAY better and faster. I'd stick with A1 style rear if I were going to go with irons, though. A light is nearly mandatory... and the rest of the money will go toward ammo and training
As I work in a gun shop, I get dealer cost on this stuff... so it's not as bad as you'd think. It still ain't great, but I'll save a few bucks. And thanks for the welcome.

 

[JShirley]

Welcome to THR! There's nothing wrong with a dedicated fighting rifle, but you might consider something like a CZ 527 mini-mauser in 7.62x39mm. Handy and useful for up to deer-sized game at 150 meters or so.

I personally think it'd work just fine for defensive use, as well.

John

 

[phirehawk]

I had an AMD-65 (AK variant) and sold it to help afford my Kimber. As for long range guns, I'm sold on Savage. Plus, I am an internet commando, I like the cool factor of the AR. Yes, I've trained and continue to do so... but I'm still no real-deal. Odds are, I'll never need this rifle. Still better to have and not need...

 

[younganddumb]

if you want to spend all that go buy a neveske n4 spend the rest on ammo and I garrante one of those won't fall on you my favorite n4 my dream http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bi...lclp-556&cat=47&page=1&search=&since=&status=

 

[browningguy]

Well, I guess what you need on it depends on who you are going to fight.

Personally, I'd just pick up an RRA lower with the 2 stage match trigger for about $375, add the upper of your choice, if you think the Leupold is worth the money it's not a bad scope, a bushel basket of 30 round mil contract mags @ $12.95 ea. and you're done. I've got several different lights on my hunting AR's (we get to hunt pigs and varmints at night here), and the cheapy G22 light holds up just fine for under $30.

For uppers CMMG/RRA/DPMS/Etc. all make decent kit. For optics I would prefer a Burris EuroDiamond with their LRS system, it uses batteries but excellent glass for around $530.

 

[Loomis]

If you can only have one rifle, you should probably make it a 308.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

I had an AMD-65 (AK variant) and sold it to help afford my Kimber. As for long range guns, I'm sold on Savage. Plus, I am an internet commando, I like the cool factor of the AR. Yes, I've trained and continue to do so... but I'm still no real-deal. Odds are, I'll never need this rifle. Still better to have and not need...

You said you wanted an AR15. Give us an idea of your total cost cieling. I just put together an AR 16" A3 for a friend for 700.00 total cost minus optic. Bore/chamber, and bolt chrome lined.

As for me, I subscribe to the old school. Make mine a 20" A -duece ; cant beat 40 years of proven service. One of the most accurate semi auto's in history.

I ask, what is it you want in an AR?

 

[phirehawk]

Not sure on a total ceiling. I will be buying and piecing together as I go. Total cost for rifle and optic will probably run in the 16-1700 range. I want an everything rifle. Short, light and handy for CQB, but accurate out to 450 or so yards. One rifle I know I can count on if I ever have to. Doubt I ever will... pray I never will, but will have fun at carbine classes in the mean time.

Oh yeah, and as for "fighting rifle"... defending one's life is still called fighting back, isn't it? I use the generic term to refer to what the anti's like to call "assault rifles". Maybe we could rebadge them as freedom keepers.

 

[ColinthePilot]

I'm working on mine right now. I had the opportunity to compare stripped lowers side by side, and picked DPMS over Stag because of a few very minor cosmetic flaws. I also got the Hogue pistol grip, and like all other hogue products I've tried, it feels great in my hand. I'm still saving up for the rest. Planning on Stag A4 16" upper kit. It'll be pretty much standard GI setup to start off with, then I can upgrade as find the need later.

 

[orvpark]

Buy/Build a good simple flattop gun with BUIS

Dryfire 15 min a day for a few weeks

Spend some time with Irons and live ammo

Go to an Appleseed Shoot

Dry fire 15 min a day for a few weeks

Spend some time with Irons and live ammo

You will outshoot your friends

NOW that you have shown your amazing skill set go crazy buying all the wizbang stuff.

 

[Big45]

get a job and afford more rifles