Need help picking a new rifle...

[TanklessPro]

Hello all, I recently joined a local gun club and I'm in the market for a new rifle. I have the 22lr category covered. I also have the large caliber covered(300 weatherby) .I love shooting the 300 and I reload,but I'm looking for something a little more economical. Both are bolt action.
I'm looking for something for plinking and general fun. I think that I want a semi-auto. I know this sounds rather open ended, but I'm not sure what I want and need some help with direction.
Any advice?

 

[allaroundhunter]

AR-15 in .223/5.56?

Plinking - Check
General Fun - Check
Semi auto - Check
Economical - Check

 

[mdauben]

AR-15 in .223/5.56?

Plinking - Check
General Fun - Check
Semi auto - Check
Economical - Check

I would agree. A nice economy AR, like the S&W M&P15 Sport, would be my first choice for a centerfire plinker/fun gun. Not too expensive (around $600), and fairly economical ammo is available. The "fun" is more subjective but many people like them. While they are highly usable right out of the box, ARs are also highly customizable, too, for a personalized rifle.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

 

[dubya450]

If you're going to be shooting alot don't get the sport model. I'd get the m&p 15 OR which has a chrome lined barrel and should last a little longer.

 

[Grmlin]

Have to agree with allarounhunter on the .223/5.56. I have a couple and buy the ammo in bulk. It's a lot cheaper to shoot than .22Hornet.

 

[Robert]

Another vote for an AR. They are just too much dang fun and you can add or subtract from it as you please. It is Legos for grown men. Not that I don't still play with Legos...

 

[SDBoltz]

Depends on how much you want to spend. As was stated before, a nice AR would fit all of your needs perfectly. Personally I'm not a big fan of Smith & Wesson. I've seen the M&P line of AR's have issues with reliability, but some people swear by them. If you're looking for an economically priced AR you can get an Armalite, Bushmaster or DPMS from places like Bud's Guns for the same price as that S&W M&P Sport (which incidentally is becoming harder and harder to find for <$700)

I'd stick with the .223 for sure, and look at a new or nice used Ruger Mini-14. VERY reliable gun, built very well, huge aftermarket support and will last a lifetime all for less than those AR's. You can make it as tacti-cool as you want down the road or leave it as is an have a blast.

Oh and there's always room in everyones safe for an AK (-:

 

[gunpunx]

Build your own AR15. Totally affordable, easy to build, and fun to shoot.

 

[helotaxi]

I've seen the M&P line of AR's have issues with reliability, but some people swear by them. If you're looking for an economically priced AR you can get an Armalite, Bushmaster or DPMS from places like Bud's Guns for the same price as that S&W M&P Sport (which incidentally is becoming harder and harder to find for <$700)

Armalite, OK. Poo-pooing S&W (of whom I've heard nothing but praise about on the AR forums other than from "The Chart" zealots) but recommending Bushmaster and DPMS who have the worst reputation for QC and consistency of the manufacturers that have been around for any period of time? That makes zero sense.

The M&P sport will be a fine range toy. No reason to go with the lined barrel unless you plan on putting several thousand rounds through it in very short order. If you could upgrade just the barrel, that would be fine, but the only way to get the lined barrel is to pile on a whole bunch of other stuff that won't matter one bit for a range rifle and up the cost substantially. By the time you do that, you may as well go with a Colt 6920.

Regardless of the brand, the AR is the way to go. No point in buying a rifle to shoot at the range that can't hit anything. The AR will hit what you aim at out as far as most ranges go. Accessories are plentiful if you want to change something around and it is the easiest of the "tactical" type rifles to add optics to.

You can certainly build one. A complete Kit from Palmetto State Armory would set you back less than $650 and the required tools for assembling a lower are not expensive at all. Minimal skill required as well.

 

[303tom]

Looks like a clean sweep, get yourself an AR.................

 

[mortablunt]

7.62 AK
sks
svt-40

Manual actions will make you reduce your round count.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I find that I shoot less rounds per session when i went to a bolt action instead of a semi auto. They make 223 and 7.62x39 bolt actions. Also u can consider a semi auto rifle/carbine that shoots pistol rounds as a way to reduce costs.

 

[Kachok]

If you want something that can rival the performance of your 300 that is cheaper to shoot 243, 260, 6.5x55, are great, if you are ok with a little loss of performance and want to be able to use your .30 cal bullets the 308win/7.62x51 is a range king. If you just want something that is fun/cheap to shoot out to 300yd the 223 is the top contender. If you want to shoot long range bolt guns are the only way to go, Savage 110/111, Tikka T3, Howa 1500 and Weatherby Vanguard top that list on a budget. If you have more money to play with Accuracy International makes a super fine tack driver and the high end Savages (12 series) will blow you mind. I won't weight in on which model of ARs, I don't claim to know much about them except what I know from shooting M16s when I was in the Army. They are fun but I don't own anything that I don't have real use for.

 

[dubya450]

+1 helotaxi
Ive never had a problem with my m&p15 nor has a coworker BUT my best friend has a bushmaster that he's been trying to get rid of for multiple feeding issues (he's tried different mags) now it could be he got a not so good BM but I know his experience kept me away from that brand and towards the s&w. Not knocking bushmaster, just stating my friends experience.

 

[conrad427]

I have a different sugestion, a marlin or a winchester in 45-70 loaded with black powder. makes me giggle every time i shoot it. remember, black powder is the most efficient way to turn carbon into smoke and noise.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Armalite, OK. Poo-pooing S&W (of whom I've heard nothing but praise about on the AR forums other than from "The Chart" zealots) but recommending Bushmaster and DPMS who have the worst reputation for QC and consistency of the manufacturers that have been around for any period of time? That makes zero sense.

+1

Armalite makes great rifles, but putting a DPMS or Bushmaster ahead of S&W?

The M&P Sport is pretty much hands-down the best bang for the buck in an assembled rifle, although the Stag guns have impressed me at their price point. Take it up in the $800-$1,000 range, I'd go with an Armalite or the standard M&P15. $1,100-ish, Colt 6920. Above that, it had better be supremely accurate, like the Armalite M15(T).

 

[ol' scratch]

Rock River Arms AR-15.

 

[ThatGuyHank]

Saiga, 5.45x39, take it brand new and convert it to your liking(doing so will cost a little less than an entry level AR-15). Ammo is one of if not the cheapest centerfire round out there, low recoil, the Saigas are capable of amazing accuracy, are inexpensive and it is a true Russian made AK variant rifle so you can expect high reliability. I'll take an AK over and AR any day of the week. With brand new rifles and a plethora of accessories the AK variant rifles can match the accuracy of the AR out of the box and meet/exceed its ergonomics by changing the stock, grip, etc..(which you would normally do to convert it to 922r compliance so you can use standard capacity magazines)

It may seem like a bit of work, and it is, but the end result can be a joining of both worlds. The (near) perfect balance of Accuracy, Ergonomics, Reliability, Firepower and Economy.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Sky]

The thing about the AR choice is different uppers and calibers. Not all ARs are 223/5.56.

Ive never had a problem with my m&p15 nor has a coworker BUT my best friend has a bushmaster that he's been trying to get rid of for multiple feeding issues (he's tried different mags) now it could be he got a not so good BM but I know his experience kept me away from that brand and towards the s&w. Not knocking bushmaster, just stating my friends experience.

Have seen or heard the same thing with many different makes and models. The AR is a simple platform and providing someone can do something other than change mags they are easily fixed with minimal cost and hassle IMO.

 

[wlewisiii]

Well, semi-autos can be interesting rifles, they aren't the only fun ones out there. My favorite centerfire rifle for the uses you've listed is a Winchester 94 in .30-30. I reload so it's no more expensive than .223 and, I think, a whole lot more fun to shoot. Pistol caliber lever action carbines are entertaining as well.

I carried an M-16 for years and didn't find them fun then, either. YMWV, just remember there's always more than one way to have fun and it doesn't have to be the semi-auto.

 

[DFisher3112]

I vote for a AK platform rifle here. Either a Yugo, Romanian, or Siaga (converted) platform would be great fun as well as a SKS. 7.62x39 is plentiful as well.

It's economical, semi-automatic, and great for plinking.

 

[bbq fan]

M1 Garand from CMP gets my vote... Plus they sell surplus 30-06 ammo for about $.55 around. Good luck

 

[Shoobee]

The best deal on ammo you can get is military surplus 5.56 so that is what I would then recommend.

You can also make this your zombie gun, if you don't already have a large capacity shotgun, which is the only thing better for 50 yards or less.

Beyond 50 to about 500 yards the 5.56's are the best against zombies.

Beyond 500 yards, your Weatherby 300 would then be the best.

It always all depends.

 

[kludge]

Will you be hunting? If yes, what? Just punching paper or shooting matches? At what distance?

There's a lot of space between the .22 LR and the .300 Wby, but I'm inclined to answer as others have: the .223/5.56 would rank high on the list.

 

[JSNAPS]

An open ended question indeed! Price a is an issue. Drop 2000 + and get a Scar 17s or a KAC SR-15. Only got 300, wasr fits the bill. Looking for nostalgia? M1 or m1 carbine is perfect!m Something unique? how about a FS2000? I think since you reload get something in .308. If you have 2000+ get the scar 17s or sr 25. 1500-2000 m1a socom or dsa fal. On a budget how about the vepr .308? Its your choice and good luck!
Have fun!