Next black rifle? Help me decide...

[Cesiumsponge]

For .50BMG semi-automatics, besides the Barrett M82, there is the EDM Arms Windrunner M96 which is the .50BMG. It runs $8250 MSRP on their website (http://www.edmarms.com/products/m96.htm) and might be less expensive through an actual distributor.

It looks like a pretty neat rifle and can be taken down and fit in a custom case that comes with it I believe. I also want to say the bipod and optics are included in their pricing so you'd have everything except ammunition if you buy one of those. They also make one in .338 Lapua for $2k less.

There is also another semi-automatic .50BMG floating around called the Cobb 50 but it's an AR-based build and I think you already stated your distain for the lego guns.

I don't know what prices are on class 3 firearms in general, but the M14 has been around for a while and many people swear by it. I've been wanting the semi-auto M1A in some form or another so I voted for the M14

 

[Smurfslayer]

I'm not worried about the .50 getting banned, but it does concern me that when the next Dem gets elected president, his Treasury secretary will reclassify the 50 BMG as an AOW or DD. This will be yet another step down the path to registration.

I have 2 worries about the .50 as opposed to an auto rifle.
1: long drive to shoot.
2: Prohibitively expensive ammo (he types over the carcasses of hundreds of magnum rounds fired...

I figure the .223 will cover the range of most of the ranges around here anyway. Of the M14's I see available, they're knocking on 5 figures before the decimal!

I must consider my options further...

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I think you can aquire non-match BMG ammunition for relatively cheaply, on the order of $2 per round. If you aren't selecting the BMG for accuracy, cheapo (relatively) ammo should suffice. Of course, with a class III, depending on how trigger happy you are, you can very easily spend quite a bit.

I think it all depends on what you want to do. If you want a firearm as an investment, the class III stuff can jump up in value pretty darn fast. There are also non class III stuff that's going up too if the main goal is investing (Steyr AUGs are in the $3-4k range now)

If you're only concidering the 50BMG as "something to have" and not along the lines of an accurate long distance rifle, then its just another toy. If you want a long distance rifle that is accurate, .50BMG doesn't have to be a deciding factor.

 

[Smurfslayer]

.50 BMG ruled out...

good price notwithstanding, the closest range I can touch off a .50 is over 3 hours away. So, all you .50 voters... among the remaining candidates, what say you?

 

[JShirley]

Get a SU-16D12 and a good suppressor, 15 good mags, and a few cases of good (lightweight HP) ammo, and call it a day.

With your max budget, even after the taxes on the suppressor and SBR, you should still have enough left for body armor and mag pouches, spare springs and other small essentials like spare firing pins, a decent small scope like the smaller ACOG, and a really nice meal for you and SO.

John

 

[hightech]

No 50 Bmg

Ok no 50 BMG. :banghead:
Go with the M-14, 7.62 is a long range cartridge, 800 meters, and you CAN DO a lot with reloading if you are into that. Good supply of surplus ammo and lots of spare parts available.

Ruger, 5.56 mm range is 300 / 350 meters. You can NOT do a lot with reloading the 5.56 again if you are into that. Good supply of surplus ammo and spare parts.

 

[Well Regulated]

What have you decided?

You can't leave us in suspense. The M-14 is American Made and is Still in Service in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can justify it by calling it a buy in Support of our Special Forces troops. You can also reload the popular .308 caliber so it is more managable in full auto.

 

[Smurfslayer]

If I only had more money...

Then I'd get an AK 47. I wouldn't need to worry about parts, jams, etc...

First, unless one of the local class 3's calls me BACK, I won't be getting anything.

Next, we turn to which gun to get...

We'll start cheap.
The AC556 came into this as my leading candidate. It has economy, reliability and it can still be repaired by the manufacturer. OTOH, parts aren't as readily available, magazines are slightly pricey, and indications are that only the Ruger mags are 100% reliable. has a 3 round burst setting. 2 other minor nits - 1, it has a light barrel and 2 not known as a tack driver. IF a good factory folder is available under 6 grand, it just might find it's way into the Batcave.

The FNC, based on the AK operating system, it's probably the most rugged/reliable one here. Accuracy on par with a service grade M16. Comes with an optional 3 round burst. The bulk of these rifles are converted guns with an "auto-sear" which is the taxed item. That means if the gun receiver got trashed, I'd be ok if the sear was ok. Unlikely though. This is also the newest design/vintage. Parts are a bit scarce, and pricey. "Sporter" rifles are hugely expensive. It does, however, accept M16/AR mags, including the beta "c" mag drums...

The M14 or BM59: These are running higher than I'd like to spend. Nevertheless, these are MANLY rifles, with MANLY features. Actually all of these are, using real metal and wood. It's the heaviest. No 3 round burst. However... Lots of parts available (readily available), it's a known quantity, has an excellent reputation for both reliability and accuracy.

I've got my eye on a couple BM59's and they're right on the edge of what I want to spend. Most of the m14's I'm seeing are beyond my price range though...

As it stands _right_now_ I am forced to conclude that the FNC is in the slight lead. A bargain on either the AC or M14 could tip the scales.

I will advise when a decision on procurement has been reached.

 

[JShirley]

The M14 on FA was essentially useless, which is why most were permanently fixed in the Semi mode. If you wanted a user, you could save thousands and just get the usual M1A.

John

 

[Father Knows Best]

There is also another semi-automatic .50BMG floating around called the Cobb 50 but it's an AR-based build and I think you already stated your distain for the lego guns.

The Cobb FA50T is not a semi-automatic. It is a straight pull bolt action. It looks a lot like an AR, and uses some AR components, but it is not an AR.

It is, however, the finest .50BMG rifle available. It will fire almost as fast as a semi-auto, thanks to the straight-pull bolt action, but with accuracy as good or better than the best traditional bolt actions.

 

[Smurfslayer]

made contact with the C3

and the M14's are out of my price range.... for now

Leaving the choice at either the

FNC or AC556.

The ruger has factory repair support. I don't believe that the FN does.
The ruger takes it's own mags The FN takes AR series mags ...
Subjectively, I think accuracy goes to the FN.
Both are known as reliable.
maintenance - probably easier for the FN

it's going to be soon...

 

[taliv]

hey smurf, i'm not sure you could do it for $9000, but take a look at the steyr aug/usr. the advantage there, is you can get a regular aug and shoot it semi-auto anywhere, and carry it across state lines w/o grief, etc. then, when you want to go full auto, you just put a different trigger pack in. the only thing registered is the trigger pack. the augs are cool, and very easy to shoot.

will be hard to find, and very pricey though, as the only ones i've seen are like, NIB collector types. i haven't been able to find a beater, and i'm not much for safe queens.


i voted 50, but if you're interested in that... just because it's so dang cool, check out the AMP DSR-1. if you google for it, you'll mostly find links to gaming sites. i talked to amp technical last year and they said they stopped importing the DSR-1 because the exchange rate was getting out of hand, but now that the euro is tanking (whaddayaknow? france was good for something!) they might start again.

 

[Onslaught]

No doubt in MY mind, I'd go for the FNC!

Why?

Looks! An FNC turns heads at the range, an AC556 is JUST a Mini-14 until you pull the trigger. I have a Mini- in my safe, and it's just boring!

You can get an ARMS scope mount for the FNC and make it a flat-top for a red-dot.

I'm also giving much consideration to the accuracy potential. And the clincher for me would be that it takes AR15 mags! I'd buy an FNC and a Beta mag and never look back!

 

[Smurfslayer]

Will know later this week

Going to meet up with the C3 later this week to check both the AC and the FN out first hand. I have a strong suspicion that I'm going to walk out the proud owner of one or the other....

 

[Smurfslayer]

I've procured a real assault rifle... finally.
With much wrangling over the choice between the FNC and the AC556, I picked the FNC.

The AC mind you was NIB, a stainless short barrelled folder, the FN was a full stock sporter conversion with an auto sear. The ruger folding stock is neat, but I liked the feel of the full stock gun better; it was that close.

They were comparatively priced; within $200 I think.
Now I need some .223, mags, etc...

 

[Onslaught]

This thread CANNOT CONTINUE without PICS!

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

The FORCE was with you on that purchase!

I can't bring myself to buy a Ruger gun(except maybe a 10/22 this year) because of his political stance on us serfs !

Plus the FN FNC is the little brother to the FN FAL that was used in HEAT, which gives it a special place in my heart

 

[Smurfslayer]

Pics will be problematic...

Since the gun is at my C3... until I get the CLEO signoff and transfer.

Oh well, it's not like I have a bunch of 5.56 laying around anyway. I need more stuff !

Hey, at least my new black rifle IS in fact black!