What is the best 223 battle rifle for me?

There are a lot of rifles chambered for 223. I don't have easy access to a range to try out different options; thus, when I do go, I don't want to waste all my time on options that won't work well for my intended application. So, who has a suggestion?

Requirements:
I'm right handed, average hand size and arm length.

I am not investigating accessories at this time. Just the rifle itself. An ideal platform will have plenty of options for accessories, but let's not bog this thread down with discussions about this or that optic.

This rifle's purpose is short-range defense. I'll use it for some varmint and plinking, but in the extremely unlikely situation where I need it for defense, I want it tooled for that purpose. Thus, it needs to be fairly light-weight, quick to change mags, etc etc.

I don't think I will ever need to use one rifle for actual defense, so I am definitely not getting two. This rifle needs to be reliable and durable.

I don't have the tools or know-how to do lots of customization. It needs to be usable without a lot of up-front work.

There are a zillion different AR15s out there. If that's your suggestion, please suggest manufacturers, too.

Thanks in advance!

 

What's your budget? That is the biggest deciding factor.

 

Either
http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2009/10/15/armalite-m-15-a2-carbine/

or

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...olt-6721-ar15-a3-carbine-detail.html?Itemid=0

Whichever you find/least expensive

 

Obviously cheaper is better, but not at the expense of my other requirements. I have or will have other rifles for other purposes, so this one only needs to fulfill the short-range defense role well.

That said, I expect it'll be in the $1000 or so range, possibly $1,500; that seems to be what many AR15s go for. Since I can get accessories later, I don't need to get a fully tricked-out gun; that may keep the price down a bit, while also enabling me to get a more expensive base gun to work on over the years.

 

If you're willing to spend $1000, get a Colt 6920.

I wanted to stay under $700 and bought an M&P Sport and its been fantastic.

 

Build an AR-15, you can get fully assembled uppers for $200 from PSA at times. They have peerless deals on kits, uppers, and lowers, just get on their mailing list. No special tools are required to assemble.

Definitely go with an AR, it is by far the best rifle for your purpose.

 

What he said.

rc

 

If you're willing to go to $1500, get the Colt, a case of ammo, some mags and training.

If you have a separate budget for ammo/mags and training, pop that $1500 for BCM or Daniel Defense, or a Colt + an Aimpoint.

 

AR15's are like 1911's. The range in price is all over the map, and the ones on the bottom tend to not be worth your money at all. And like 1911's, starting at $1000 gets you something very nice.

 

my short range defense rifle is a 9 mm pistol, but hey, that's just me

 

Springfield MIA. Varmint calibers should be used on small game only.

 

People have been getting by with a 30-30 lever action for about 120 years.

 

Post #5 covers it. I sure like my Colts, though I have
had great luck with the Bushmasters. You might want
to check out this link to get some in-depth information.

http://forums.officer.com/t81462/

 

Some great suggestions in here that I've started looking into.

Oh for sure. In a defense situation, I'm most likely going for my concealed 9mm. But there are some pretty hard limits on what that can do; I'd rather have another option and not need it than the reverse.

 

5.56 is a mid power round making the rifles based on this caliber an assult rifle. Hi-power cartridges such as .308 and above are battle rifle teritory. Yes, this is just symantics of terminolgy and the actual roles of these rifles are overlaping.

Clinton twisted the meaning of "assult rifle" to mean something other that what any military arms historian will tell you "assult rifle" means. Despite the negative connotations imparted to "assult rifles" by Clinton an assult rifle is simply a military automatic rifle based on a mid power round... between a hand gun caliber round and a full hi power rifle round.

The assult rifle role was a major advance in military armament technology which first appeared during WWII from the Germans with the Sturmgewehr 44 (MP 43 and MP 44) and its mid power 7.92x33 round. The evolution of the assult rifle is really a facinating story... if that is the kind of thing you get your kicks from (like me).

I am not trying to be derogative... just informative.

 

I'd go with an AR for sure. My choice would be BCM, Mid length LW or Government barrel upper, floated with keymod rail. Wilson TTU M2 trigger, Aimpoint sight - probably a T-1, telescoping stock (Magpul CTR). and Vickers sling. Magpie or translucent Lancer L5AWM mags with some NHMTG 20 and 30 round GI mags for posterity.

 

For a target shooting caliber, the 223/5.56 is an absolute joy. No recoil, a myriad of bullets availabe, easy to load, ect.

 

Meanwhile, Colts can be had for as little as $800 here: http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6720

good luck

M

 

I would say it's a toss up between a Tavor or AUG. The conventional M-4 style muskets are awkward to use in close quarters when compared to a good bullpup design rifle. Both of these rifles are rugged, reliable and proven designs. My Tavor with its 16.5" barrel is still a shorter overall length than an AR with a 10" barrel yet I retain the superior ballistics of the longer barrel length. My Tavor is also a LOT faster to get on target than my M-4gery. The trick is you don't carry it at a high ready or port arms position. Keep it at a low ready with the muzzle down and the butt in your shoulder (I prefer a Blue Force Tactical 2-point sling here) and it is extremely fast to get into action.

 

OP,

The Colt 6720 can be had for right at $800.00. The Colt 6920 OEM 1 and 2 can be found for appx. $725-$750. These are factory complete rifles except for stock and handguards. Or rail, in the case of the OEM 2.

For a bit more you could purchase a BCM standard mid length. They're also a good choice.

Good luck to you, OP. Hope you enjoy whatever you settle on.

 

I would recommend a very basic AR15 type carbine. More or less a civilian clone of a military M4, with a 16" barrel, and standard carbine length gas system, and a flat-top upper. Why? Because these are very common, and most accessories available for AR15s are designed for this category or firearm. Avoid things like low-pro gas blocks- the standard front sight tower/block is a proven and reliable design- a component that has been in the mil since the 6o's. I recomend the civilian standard 16" barrel with a "heavy" profile. A gun like I just described has limitless potential for modifications that can be done in incremental steps. With the exception of optic and light, most if not all of the items you would probably desire to ad in the future could be ordered from magpul- there stuff is good quality and reasonably priced. As far as manufacturer, the following companies make versions of the suggested firearm: S&W, Bushmaster, DPMS, Del-Ton, PSA. I know there are others, but these are the ones I am most familiar with who make a decent product that I would own. As far as quality/reliability, I would say they are about equal. For me, it would be a matter of which one I could get the best deal on.

 

To the OP: I'd recommend looking into an M&P Sport 2. That should allow room in your budget to put an Aimpoint or other quality optic on it.

 

Following the crowd I guess, but at your budget it would be hard to go wrong with a 6920 and a red dot sight. You could get one of the better sights, a good sling, and a light mounted on the gun and stay well below your $1500 budget and have a really first-rate self-defense carbine and worthwhile range gun all in one.

 

just a thought but add a stripped lower for a $100. or less and you got a good AR http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...to-1-8-stainless-steel-freedom-rifle-kit.html

 

M1a is Possibly worst suggestion ever.
Our military seems to kill things bigger than varmints just fine with the 223. Even our our modern special forces clear houses and kill bad guys on a daily basis with it. If the m-14 was a better house to house fighting weapon, seal teams would use it. They don't. Now if you are stretching out past a couple hundred yards then sure 7.62 starts to make sense. But for in home defense no way.