I own an AR... I dont really like it.

[runrabbitrun]

Aren't the AR's being made now, made with NON mil. spec. barrels?

I don't know crap about this stuff anymore since I
have not been in the know for years.
(Ex Military, limited training in the late 70's).

I mean, I'm under the assumption that to purchase one now
and try to run say, military ammo through it, could cause
the barrel to split or become ineffective due to the mil. ammo?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, just looking for justification of
my last purchase of an SKS that we researched, that appears to be
of Military grade specs.
(I can pick up the military ammo
off a neutralized threat and use it in my SKS.
I believe.)

 

[benEzra]

Aren't the AR's being made now, made with NON mil. spec. barrels?

I don't know crap about this stuff anymore since I
have not been in the know for years.
(Ex Military, limited training in the late 70's).

I mean, I'm under the assumption that to purchase one now
and try to run say, military ammo through it, could cause
the barrel to split or become ineffective due to the mil. ammo?

Most AR barrels use a milspec 5.56x45mm chamber, and most are chrome lined. You can also get SAAMI .223 Remington chambers or hybrid chambers (".223 Wylde") that split the difference, but most are true 5.56x45, and can use milsurp ammo with no problem.

 

[nathan]

Not to flame anyone but I think the prices of AR is way too over the top.
It is overhyped as well . Cant blame anyone. Its where the money for those looking to look Rambo. I suggest not draining too much money into it to make what you want it. The best is hold back and go back to basics. A simple bolt action rifle Remington 700 in .223 with good scope will print half MOA anyday with good loads. And the cost isnt gonna par with the bells and whistles of an AR.

 

[amd6547]

Looking "Rambo" has nothing to do with it for me. I built a retro A1 style AR15 and love it. Later, I added an A1 style heavy barrel shorty upper. With either installed, I can plink a clay pigeon at 100 yards using the A1 irons on the first shot.
Most of the time, I keep the full length A1 upper on it...An M16A1 was the first centerfire rifle I ever fired, in the small arms firing school at Camp Perry.

 

[benzy2]

With the environment we are living in I have one I'm leaving unshot and one to play around with. I figure in the next 4 years prices will at worst hold steady and I can get my money back and at best I will make a bit. I find them fun and versatile. I like being able to go blasting at the range with a red dot, shoot high power with irons, and can scope it and hunt anything smaller than a deer all with just an optic change. It gives me a lot of room to play with only one firearm. Any firearm that goes bang makes me grin so I'm not one to really understand the dislike of a given firearm.

 

[Eb1]

I too do not care for the rambo look. When I was younger kids on the block played Army and such. I always took the M14 as my main rifle.

Now that I am adult I decided to buy a full capacity battle rife. I built a CMMG lower with a parts kit and a used A2 stock. I bought a Colt HBAR upper, and the gun cost me a total of $515.00.

I can shoot an entire magazine of BH 55 grain soft points into a quarter off a bench, and just recently started shooting the Sierra MatchKing in 69 grains. With the SMK I put 20 rounds in a 1/2 with my irons off a bench. This is at 100 yards for both groups mentioned.

I think my AR-15 can match your Remmy 700 easily. Also as far as being over the top. My gun has nothing on it but what a standard A2 issue comes with, iron sights and basic forearms. Nothing fancy or over the top about it. Put a 10 or 20 round mag in and it is very manageable. With a 30 rounder it become a little harder to shoot prone.

 

[yokel]

Hopefully, this experience has taught you vital lessons, among them: tyrants cannot be appeased, peace cannot be purchased and there is no substitute for .308 battle rifles!

 

[SwampWolf]

Get rid of that AR and buy something you like! There are just too many great guns available to have wads of cash tied up in something you dislike, for whatever reason. I have, on many occasions, become enamored with the idea of a particular gun, only to learn that in practice I really didn't like that gun much at all. It could be poor ergonomics, disappointing accuracy, recoil, mechanical issues, or a number of other things, some of which can't even be articulated very well because it boils down to something just not feeling right with the gun. These let-downs can the especially frustrating when the gun in question is very popular, such as your AR. When that happens, it almost feels like something is wrong with me, since almost everyone else seems to love whatever gun it is that I'm not liking. This has happened to me with Glocks, DA revolvers, lever-action rifles, and a few other popular platforms. But, I've learned to get over it and embrace my own preferences, however quirky they may be. After all, it's all about what the shooter/purchaser likes, not what everyone else thinks is the best firearm to have.

I've never heard it articulated better than this, minutemen1776. Good job!

 

[franconialocal]

+1 SWAMPWOLF So true. I have this crazy comparison fight going on about my AR and my newly refurb. SKS......and I have to stop:banghead::banghead: because there is no comparison. Two different rifles with two different personalities. I'm a Chevy guy....are you a Ford guy?

It's all about the feel and it's very very sujective.

I've ditched the Walther P22. Not that it wasn't a great gun. It just wasn't "for me". I'm SO feeling this post right now. Me and my buddy were just talking about this. He's an AK guy, I'm an AR guy. He's a GLOCK dude, I'm all SIG.....crazy:banghead: We argue all the time. We constantly show eachother up at the range. No logical explination except that I'm me and he is an idiot!!!!

Get what you like, and what works for you.....

 

[minutemen1776]

Thanks, SwampWolf. I appreciate the compliment. I'm just glad there are others who feel the same way. Sometimes I get wrapped up in the idea that I should like a particular gun, and I just don't. As an example, I don't know how many times I've gone to the gun store or gun show with cash in hand to browse the AKs. Even though I approach the counter fully intending to make a purchase, all that evaporates when I shoulder the rifle, because it just doesn't feel right. At least, though, I've never laid out any cash for an AK I didn't like. I can't say that about everything. There are some gun types (e.g. Glocks) that I've had to buy and sell more than once to learn that I just don't care for them.