I expect to be stoned-AR/AK

[BMF500]

I expect to be stoned-


More like caught in a rock slide.....

 

[Robert]

Jim,
I don't see the appeal of an AR either. So I bought a FAL.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I'm sure that lever-action and falling-block aficionados felt similarly when military-style bolt-actions displaced "traditional" civilian rifles in the early to mid 20th century.

And the black powder guys probably felt the same way when the Levers and Falling Blocks started showing up.

Darn newfangled military technology..

 

[SHusky57]

As a toy, they are great. As a tool, they are great. Are they the best use of $2000 in preparing yourself? Well, yes. If you need to take from somebody else to survive, or armed people want to take from you, then having a better gun is 1, having less gun is 0 gun.

I don't know about best use of $2000.... if all you have is $2000, a portion of that should probably go to food, water, bug-out vehicle, generator, gardening equipment, an alarm system, lots of other things that may be more strategically beneficial....

While AR's are probably the best civilian rifles out there for zombies, if a joe is on a budget it could make sense to plan differently. A mossberg shotgun for $200 would cover most peoples needs, and allow them to buy things that are more useful than a c-mag.... unless you think you're rambo, which unless you have been to Ranger school, I assure you, you are not.

I own an Ak and an AR for only one reason.... BECAUSE I CAN.

What I do with them at any point in time is my decision.

I can buy a case of vodka and a carton of cigarettes and down them all in one sitting but that doesn't seem like a smart thing to do, does it?

Okay, before I get flamed and beat up....

I am not dissing ARs. I'm really thinking about a S&W MP15. But seriously, this whole SHTF thing.... if we are talking a break-in, an old pump shotgun and an alarm system can go a lot further than 10 loaded p-mags because the likelihood of needing 300 rounds in a home invasion....

if we are talking, it's the end of the world and you're stuck at work, a .38 special or Glock 19 might be more important because it's the difference between you getting home to your $2000 AR or not.

And if we are taking really bad like Katrina, well you should have spent some money stocking up on rice and canned goods.... and I don't know of many scenarios where a $200 pump shotgun wouldn't be just as utilitarian as the AR. And if you are worried about zombie biker raiders shooting at you from 100 yards away, SKS's could once be had for like $200 and are about as effective as most joes can be.

But to defend the AR:
If I was a serious varmint hunter, I would get an AR.
If I wanted to win 3 gun comps, I would get an AR.
If I had a lot of spare cash laying around, I would get an AR.
If I already had food and medicine stored, and my transportation+shelter covered for SHTF and I was bored and needed to cover something else, I would get an AR.

Pros: Good at a lot of things
Cons: More expensive than other tools which can do jobs better (a shotty will always be better for Close quarters, a bolt action will generally always be better for hunting, a pistol will always be better for CCW).

With that said, I'm still stuck trying to decide between going with a Mossberg shotty or an AR (both is not an option for the purpose of KISS). But even without those, I'm about as covered as I can get right now, so I'm not in a rush.

 

[fatelk]

Just a different perspective. I didn't see where the OP was calling for a ban or anything, and I think he got a lot of valid answers to his question.

I'm not really into AKs or ARs myself; I prefer my old M1s and Mosin Nagants. They are even less practical, but I enjoy them.

A friend of mine is a hunter. To him the only practical use for a firearm is to hunt. He look at ARs and AKs with the same disdain that he does my M1. To him they are all impractical scrap metal, and he can't remotely fathom why anyone would want one. Different perspective, that's all.

 

[Mr.510]

Owning, using, and being proficient with a military-type rifle is a centuries-old American tradition. Some of us might even say it's a good citizen's duty to own one. Plus they are just plain fun!

 

[fireman 9731]

I enjoy my AK quite a bit... I have no desire to own an AR though... they just don't do it for me.

 

[Reid73]

A military gun whose very existence is because it can be mass produced cheaply,yet people are willing to pay $2000 for them. If you are that worried about SHTF,buy a generator and 300 gal diesel.

My thoughts exactly.

If people like these things, that's up to them. But I don't see the attraction in ugly, generic, plastic 'platforms'.

Fixed for you:

If I was a serious varmint hunter, I would get [strike]an AR[/strike] a heavy-barrelled .22-250 bolt action, with a Harris bipod and a high powered scope.
If I wanted to win 3 gun comps, I would get [strike]an AR[/strike] an FN.
If I had a lot of spare cash laying around, I would get [strike]an AR[/strike] a Krieghoff double rifle.

There, that's better!

 

[crebralfix]

These rifles are for fighting.

If you're concerned about "charm", get a fancy rifle with beautiful wood and whatever doodads you like.

 

[benEzra]

If you need to take from somebody else to survive, or armed people want to take from you, then having a better gun is 1, having less gun is 0 gun.

Anyone who seriously has this mentality should NOT buy a gun, IMO. And if the SHTF does occur, I hope people with the leech mentality go jump off a cliff instead of trying to rob the innocent.

Becoming a thug when one can't make ends meet is bad enough, but planning in advance to become a thug is morally repugnant.

 

[RP88]

one good thing about black rifles is that any good brand is a great investment. You buy a 1200-dollar gun, use it to death, and if it still looks new or in great shape, you can still turn around and sell it for 950-1000 bucks easily. Their value holds very well.

They also only cost as much as you want them to. An average AK-47 type rifle, a few mags, and enough ammo can easily cost less than a good hunting bolt-action, a scope for it, and whatever the going rate of .308 and .30-06 is.

Then there is also the fact that they are simple to maintain, can withstand neglect and abuse, and last forever.

They are also versatile. You can take out deer, crazy people, varmints, or just go to the range and enjoy the cheap ammo and shoot all day. You can make an AR do whatever you want, and with a decent mount, you can get an AK to do all that you need.

And then of course there is the fact that there is a hot argument over whether or not people should be able to own them, which just makes us want them even more.

 

[Justin]

If I wanted to win 3 gun comps, I would get an AR an FN.

The FN FAL would move you into shooting He-Man/Heavy Metal class, which would put you up against the guys with tuned AR-10's and M1A's.

The FN rifles in .223 are either extremely expensive, rare, and not nearly as modular as the AR15.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

Before the primaries, I only owned two SKS that I got $150 for both to cover a debt for some money I loaned a friend. And I haven't seen either the money or the friend. I did sell one of the SKSs in the 'panic' but held onto the other one(actually forgot I had it disassembled lying in a storage tote amongst other parts and such). Now the SKS sits in the back of a safe sitting on top of a case of Wolf HP that sits ontop of a case of Gold Bear. I'll eventually get around to opening up the Wolf case and shooting the SKS.

But I got into EBRs starting with the CETME, then I got another one, then I homebrewed one, and then I homebrewed two South African kits on Imbel receivers I had found and one Australian inch kits but I had to buy an inch receiver. Then I got into AKs and bought three of each for three different models, also got VZ52 and Yugo M64 sitting around somewhere. Home brewed one of each of the three models and I've since disassembled them(they are on screw kits so it don't take that long) and they sit on three cases of Wolf FMJ. Got my first AR in 5.45x39 from a friends Dad along with a Winchester 94E and Taurus PT92 for a grand (Dad was coming up on being two months behind on mortgage) (I also ran a small landscaping business, day traded, and barbacked at the time). Since then I've gotten a 20" AR kit from SARCO that went on an Aero Precision receiver (they originally built Colts receivers), and I've got a Stag Arms receiver sitting around. I'd like to get an Olympics Sporting 20" to add but I've got to liquidate a little before that is a reality and I'm far away from that. I got a Saiga .223 16" to repay a debt of $200 (gun store offered the guy $150), but I've yet to buy 30rnd mags for it. Just too much else to get bought first.

And yeah all this happened between now and before the primaries before Hillary announced her intent to run. And it's all been in fun, and I don't plan on letting any of them go, granted I don't really plan on adding anymore as well in all reality as much as I'd like to but I just can't justify it. Granted I bought three Mosin Nagants and over 2.4k rounds of ammo for them but such is surplus, get it before its gone.

The one nice thing I can say about Obama is he motivated me to join the AR and AK club, and I don't plan on ever leaving. I love seeing my students (NRA certified pistol instructor, but I bring a couple rifles out for fun) eyes light up when they shoot off 5.45x39 (.223 is too expensive in my opinion, even though the students pay for it). It's helped me get my FFL guy plenty of business in ARs.

If SHTF I'll disappear either to the Keys here in Florida or I'll be out in West Virginia sight unseen.

 

[jackdanson]

Some folks even have such rifles purely for the sake of competition and don't even have a box of MREs in the closet.

Yeah, I keep them in the basement... they'll keep longer there.

For $2000 I could get 3 aks and an AR. Or 2 ARs and an AK. They aren't really that expensive.. a "mediocre" bolt action will run you $600.. more than an AK, and only slightly less than an AR.

 

[Jimfern]

fun to shoot

I got them because they are just plain fun to shoot. I don't have an AK, but I do have an SKS and a Colt AR-15. My brother-in-law felt the same way as you until he shot my Colt. He didn't run off an buy one, but he understands now.

 

[CapnMac]

what is the charm of these guns

Same as what an M-1 has, or a Mk.4 or a Krag and so many others have. It's a mix of utility amd engineering elegance.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Kel-Tec

You left out Kel-Tec. Yes, I know, they're not really evil enough to be called "EBR," but they take STANAG mags and eat all flavors of 5.56 NATO and .223 Rem.

The Kel-Tec SU16 series is for those of us who can't (yet) afford to drop a grand on the real thing. Or those who live where "evil" ergonomic grips are outlawed.

Oddly, when I finally can afford an AR, I'll most likely buy it for my youngest daughter, who has a great affinity for them since she qualified "sharpshooter" in the Army. Took her to a local gun shoppe and she slobbered all over a used one, 'cuz it looked "just like" the one she trained with.

Quite aside from all the other reasons for having one, familiarity comes to mind. If that's what you trained with in the .mil then it's possible you'll have some affinity for the thing you already know best.

Besides, everyone knows the actual purpose of the AR is sporting. Right? You all know that?

Come on, I thought everyone knew that:

 

[FlyinBryan]

i also only own them because i just enjoy shooting sports.

i also reload for the same reason.

 

[FlyinBryan]

wow, 189 bux!!!!!

how old is that ad?

 

[huntman]

ar

these may be the best all round rifle with 22 converstions and multi cal i own a couple and many lowers for futher bans

 

[Paradiddle]

I like shooting my AR - very soft and accurate. I play in 3 gun from time to time and you can't be competitive in that game without an AR platform.

They are somewhat like adult plinkers. I didn't pay $2K for mine - nor would I - I'm not that tacticool.

 

[yosarian]

Like the saying goes "If you have to ask.............................

 

[mr.scott]

SO I guess that the OP doesn't like them thar fandagled "Clip" feed death machines and prefers the eligence and oppulence of a finely crafted bolt gun that cost $2000.

Different strokes for different folks.
I have an AR and an AK and neither of them were bought for self defense or SHTF situations. They were bought because I thought they looked cool and I wanted to use them to shoot crap. I have my Mossberg 590 for protection. Besides, if/when SHsTF Shotgun shells will be 100x easier to find than any caliber of rifle or handgun round. We saw how fast Rifle /Pistol ammo dried up after Obama got elected, but shotgun rounds in all flavors were still very abundant.

 

[12131]

Yes, I am sticking a branch in the hornets nest,but what is the charm of these guns? A military gun whose very existence is because it can be mass produced cheaply,yet people are willing to pay $2000 for them. If you are that worried about SHTF,buy a generator and 300 gal diesel.

Come on, now. I'm pretty sure you already know the answer, but by your own admission, you are just here stirring up s**t.

 

[benEzra]

wow, 189 bux!!!!!

how old is that ad?

Early to mid 1960's, I think. The AR-15 hit the civilian market around 1961, if I have my dates correct.