I'm 18... thinking about a rifle.

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TMM

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hey! been quite a while since i've posted on this forum, and now that i'm 18 i'm considering my options for a first purchase.

I already have a bolt action .22, and several other bolt-actions at my disposal, so don't suggest that. I know the importance of .22's and bolt actions for accuracy practice. truth is, though, i'm thinking about the years ahead and the potential attack on "big evil black assault weapons"...so i'm thinking of plunking down some cash for one. personally, i've liked the look and caliber of the FAL, and when i handled one a while ago, i liked the feel. the AR is nice, but i'm not a fan, although i must say my opinion is not very well-informed. when i held one a while ago, it felt rather forward-heavy. i know it's a love or hate kind of thing with them. I have also always wanted a Garand, but i'm not sure if they are at as much of a threat as removable-magazine rifles.

any other thoughts, opinions, suggestions? i plan on visiting a gunshop soon to handle some of these and talk with the guys there about what they suggest, but in the meantime...

thanks

tmm
 
Get something that you like and fits its purpose. For example, using ARs in desert country means you'll be cleaning it more often that durable firearms like the AK or M14.
 
It needs to suit you, not us. Find what you like, try getting some trigger time on rifles belonging to family members or friends (you buy the ammo), or try range rentals if available near you.

Think about total package cost. If you buy something that requires magazines, ya gotta buy magazines too. Ammo is a big consideration costwise also, and common calibers with readily available ammunition are likely a better idea. I'd not expect wide importation of common foreign surplus calibers to continue a whole lot longer, for example. It'll get expensive to go blastin' with an AK if you have to use domestically manufactured ammo.

Just think it all through and make a good decision... and enjoy shopping.

lpl
 
TMM, I know exactly what you mean. I ended up getting a Remmy 870 for my 1st gun.

What about just getting an AR-15 stripped lower? It's a cheap way to ensure you can build an EBR even if there is a ban. That is what I am doing since I don't have the $$$ for an AR right now but I know I want one at some point.
 
Arsenal Inc.'s milled-receiver AK-47 or Robinson Armament's XCR in 7.62 X 39.
Those are the very best.
 
Buying something because you think it might be banned ... might make sense if you had any assurance of being grandfathered.

On the other hand, I'm always intrigued that the SKS never seems to make the ban lists. That good old stripper-clip-fed fixed magazine. Even Clintoon let in my Romanian with bayonet back in '97. Antis love their strippers, and that's a fact.
 
If shooting at shorter distances appeals to you, the SKS, Saiga or Ruger Minis might be worth considering.

"SKSboards" and "Perfectunion" offer a wealth of information. A decision within the next few weeks might save you a chunk of money.
 
a stripped reciever is a good idea, something definately worth thinking about. i'll look into that...

duke of doubt, good point on the grandfather clause thing, but i checked and i do believe that no registration or licensing is necessary for long guns in CT, which means, correct me if i'm wrong, nobody will have records of me having it. i will verify this when i go to a gun shop.

I thought about the SKS... cheap gun and ammo, decent looks, etc. i don't need/see the need to touch bulletholes at several hundred yards, so it could be good for my purposes. i've heard some bad stuff about the Ruger Mini's accuracy or somesuch... perhaps it was barrel warp as it heated up? i don't know, it's been a long time. a Saiga is a possibility. like the SKS but removable mag... man, i'm suprised i forgot about these three. like i said, it's been a long time since i've used or even thought much about guns.

thanks

tmm
 
That was a really good write up (just above). I've been on the fence about an M1A and I think I'm sold now.

My advice for the OP would be the same!! Great "all around" rifle chambered in an excellent round. What more could you want?!
 
I read a lot that the minis heat up after a few rounds and become even more inaccurate.
 
I wish when I was 18 I'd had enough cash to have problems like trying to decide
whether to buy a FAL or an AR-15.
Click to expand...

Me too. Back then I was in college and the decision was Mac 'n cheese or Ramen noodles.

Back on topic - Ammo cost should be a factor. 223 is nowhere near as cheap as it was a few years back. Neither is 308. So go with what suits you and just know that feeding the rifle is really the cost in the long run. I've got a AR so my short list would be a FAL or M1a if I was buying.
 
depends on what you are going for, hunting, accuracy/target, home defence? If it were me at 18 and I had the money to pickup a $1200 to $1500 rifle Im not sure Ide get a FAL. I had a CETME and liked it but I wanted 100 yard + sub MOA accuracy and it didnt deliver so I went with an AR. maybe you should get an AR platform chambered in .308.
ha, when I was 18 my problems where more like "I hope my GF doesnt findout I slept with her mom" and "what kind of bong to get, water or dry" lol..
 
When I turned 18 I bought the guns in my sig + a Mossberg 500. All of them were fairly inexpensive and fun to shoot. Check them out if you're on a budget.
 
TMM I know exactly where you're coming from. I'm 19 now, I bought my first gun back in early 2008 (Remington 870) and my AR-15 in Nov., and a 10/22 last month. Buy whatever you think will suit your needs best. If an AR-15 feels too heavy or oddly weighted for you ,don't buy it. Look into Siaga AK variants, an SKS, FN-FAL variants like the CETME, or possibly an M1A if you desire a larger caliber then 5.56mm .

A CETME or other FAL variant may be the best bet. They're still pretty cheap, surplus ammo can still be found, and magazines are like 5 bucks a pop.

Remember, you're never limited to one rifle. ;)
 
My first (one I paid for) rifle was a 10/22 and I loved it. you can do anything you want with one of those as far as tricking it out, they never get old. And very affordable. I have of them 3 now
 
yea, the money is not *that* much of an issue, i work(ed), saved, and never spent much at all. i spent 7 thousand on my truck, and that's been my only large purchase. well, besides new tires and a couple grand on a cross country road trip. anyways.

mcfugly: thank you so much for that good laugh... and the answer to your problem would be a water bong, of course.

i won't be using the gun for hunting, it'll be more of a fun-gun, plinker, and AWB-insurance. my budget here is about $1000, mags and ammo and all. i'd like an M1A, but i doubt i could find one under $1100 or so. i could be lucky and find an $800 FAL, though.

i'm leaning toward an AK variant, because of cheap ammo. Wolf seems to go about 40 or 50 cents around. .308 is about the same for Wolf, but rises with other brands. does the laquered Wolf ammo jam in FALs or variants?

what are the good AK variants? are there any real differences?

tmm
 
oh yea, there are differences but I went the way of the AR, I had an AK a few years ago but let it go. there are alot of AK'ers on here who could point ya in the direction of a good AK.
 
I'm 20 now and started my gun buying escapades as soon as I turned 18. So far I have owned... (in this order)

Remington 870
XD45
Colt HBAR
Ruger Single Six
Mosin Nagant
and a SW1911Sc

Out of those, I only have two now. Because of books for school, etc, I had to sell a couple and traded a few for one or the other. Out of the long guns I listed...

870 - blast to shoot, and I've always loved shotguns (used to shoot skeet with my old man when I was younger) and kept it in Condition 3 in my bed with me at night. Slept a lot better, as you can imagine :p
Ended up selling it because I couldn't shoot it as often as I liked, and I needed money for the Single Six.

Colt HBAR - Now, I love me some AR. I keep it stock, no fanciness, and it's fun (and expensive) to shoot. I personally would rather not have the HBAR though and am considering doing an upper swap. This is one of the two firearms I still have out of the list. I am an Army cadet and really just keep it to maintain familiarization with the AR platform, I don't have the money to shoot it very often at all.

Mosin 91/30 - THIS rifle was (traded for 1911) fun. I got about 3-5 MOA accuracy with the irons, it's definitely not a hole-in-hole puncher, but man it's fun. Cheap ammo, built like a tank, cheap rifle. Can't really go wrong with a Mosin, I'd say. Plus you can pretend you're Jude Law from Enemy at the Gates and obliterate German paper soldiers!
I'm not sure about your state but I can't hunt with .223, so when I did go out last season I brought the Mosin. Sure it's not terribly accurate, but I didn't plan on shooting anything more than 75 yards anyway. It's a very versatile cartridge as far as I've seen.

Anyway, hope you can figure something out! I would definitely recommend a Mosin at one point or the other though.
 
I recommend the Ruger Mini-14. Tough, reliable and affordable. Accurate enough with factory irons @ ranges of 100 yards or so and not evil or black.
 
I vote AR-15 for an 18-year old's first purchase. It is modular, and with time you will learn what you like and don't like in an AR, and you'll be able to change your rifle to customize it. Afterall, it IS the Lego's of guns. It's also a very accurate rifle that will shoot better than you do for a long time. And caliber should not be an issue. Uppers are available from .22LR to .50 BMG.
 
jpatterson, nice collection you've got going there... though my aim right now is a semi-auto, mag fed.

the AR is nice, looks alright, and if i somehow get sold on it i'd have no issue with buying it. they are, however, a bit on the expensive side. i've also heard so much about the jammability of them, especially with Wolf's laquered cases, and it's system that fouls the chamber as you shoot it... or something like that? i'm not learned on how the AR operates, but doesn't it redirect the gasses into the chamber to eject the shell? i never liked that concept.

I just actually looked at some Ruger Mini's... now i'm thinking about them. decently priced even at MSRP, looks nice... anyone have the scoop on thier potential inaccuracy after heating up? i'd actually seriously consider it if it's reliable with accuracy. mags are a bit pricey though.
and, what about the mini-14 versus the mini-30? the 7.62 is a bigger bullet, a bit cheaper... i'm not that concerned about recoil, unless it kicks the gun around too much.

thanks again

tmm
 
If your budget is truly $1000 for the rifle, ammo, and mags, and you are looking at AK's anyway, look at an AK-74. The ammo is half or less what x39 or 223 are running right now. Lighter to carry and more accurate as well.

If reliability is your main concern with AR's, then you should do some research on the differences between the different brands what causes this perceived lack of reliability.

I would start by reading through this long thread to get an idea.

Bottom line, do some research on brands like Noveske, BCM, and LMT, as they are manufactured and assembled in a fashion that they are more reliable and dont experience many of the problems that many of the other brands do with realiability. Search for "The Chart" on this forum for some reading in this regard as well.
 
well, i was starting to consider AK's. i am pleased with what i have heard about thier reliability, i have not heard one complaint. accuracy is less than ideal, i suppose, but good enough for me.
but is the 5.45x39 as available as .223 or 7.62?
also, i want a good rifle with a potent round - i don't intend this to be a plinker. does the 5.45 compare well to the .223?

if i find an AR that i like the feel and price of, i may be interested in buying it. regardless of the reliability, i remember the feel of it was not right for me. if that's the case, i'm not buying it.

i'm getting more interested in the Mini... seems like they go for 4 or 6 hundred, which is even better for my price range.

tmm
 
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