Would an AR be your only rifle? (what rifle type would an only rifle be?)

[Sheepdog1968]

If I could only have one, it would most likely be a 30-30 lever action. I just like them. I would miss having a lever action more than any kind of rifle.

 

[CallmeGray]

ar for everything, there is nothing in NA that an AR can't kill, and if you cant kill it with the first round, well use the other 29.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I deeply love all my wood and blue levers but if it's only going to be one it's the AR for accuracy, handling ease, recoil, range, follow-up recovery, capacity, durability.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

ar for everything, there is nothing in NA that an AR can't kill, and if you cant kill it with the first round, well use the other 29.
[/QUOTE
Well I guess I know who I'm not inviting up to Alaska for brown bear or moose hunting.

 

[Armor Snail]

.357 lever action.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Warp]

.357 lever action.

Would you mind voting as such, please?

 

[Armor Snail]

Sure. Didn't know it was a poll. This is all I see on my app.

Have to view in browser to vote

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[mtrmn]

ar for everything, there is nothing in NA that an AR can't kill, and if you cant kill it with the first round, well use the other 29.

I mostly agree with this.
IF it ever came down to ME having only 1 gun it would have to be under duress from one of those "unmentionable" situations. Not only would you be hunting, you may be hunted as well.
Brown bears etc would HAVE to be dealt with by whatever means you have in hand. You would be hunting to eat, not sportsmanship. Given a choice between bear and deer-types I'd leave the bear alone anyway unless under attack by said bear.
If I could have an AR10 then I agree it would be much better all-around caliberwise than the AR15 other than weight.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Will some of you guys accept the fact you're not in the military and in a war zone? A AR as your only rifle? Guess I will keep my bolt 30-06. Can't play GI Joe, but it doses the trick.

 

[Warp]

Will some of you guys accept the fact you're not in the military and in a war zone? A AR as your only rifle? Guess I will keep my bolt 30-06. Can't play GI Joe, but it doses the trick.

There is no need to personally insult other people because they choose differently.

I don't want this thread closed for going down that (low) road.

 

[fragout]

I voted "other" semiautomatic rifle on the poll, as I do not have a use for an AR of any caliber at the prices that they are asking for them now. ( Sold off the AR's I had regardless) I already have used mine for hunting ( pigs, coyotes, deer, bear, and elk)..... so it has been tested rather well for that area, even though the primary purpose for this rifle would be security.

As for the "multiple uppers" idea, I would rather have 2 complete rifles instead. (While the concept may look good on paper, I did not find it feasible or practical as compared to the "spare" rifle idea.

Half of one rifle would be useless if the one and only lower receiver were to go to crap.

Spare lower parts might do the trick, but then again, a "spare" rifle would as well.

If one = none, then 1 and 1 half would still = none...... since a fleet of extra uppers would still rely on the one lower in order to have one working rifle.

All of those extra uppers would take up more space, and weigh more than a complete spare rifle too boot.

Multiple calibers that use the same AR magazine is another concept that looks good from a logistical standpoint, but not so good from a practical standpoint IMO.

The KISS principle can get chewed up and spit out quickly if a body happens to have his loadout of mags topped off with 5.56mm, but only has his 300BO upper ready to rock at the time.
Using Magpull mags for one caliber and GI mags for another might alleviate possible mistakes in the dark, but starts to tear up the logistics behind the idea at this point.

The spare rifle idea uses the same parts and magazines, along with the same caliber of ammunition.

Too each his own however. Food for thought at the very least.

 

[Warp]

I voted "other" semiautomatic rifle on the poll, as I do not have a use for an AR of any caliber at the prices that they are asking for them now. ( Sold off the AR's I had regardless) I already have used mine for hunting ( pigs, coyotes, deer, bear, and elk)..... so it has been tested rather well for that area, even though the primary purpose for this rifle would be security.

As for the "multiple uppers" idea, I would rather have 2 complete rifles instead. (While the concept may look good on paper, I did not find it feasible or practical as compared to the "spare" rifle idea.

Half of one rifle would be useless if the one and only lower receiver were to go to crap.

Spare lower parts might do the trick, but then again, a "spare" rifle would as well.

If one = none, then 1 and 1 half would still = none...... since a fleet of extra uppers would still rely on the one lower in order to have one working rifle.

All of those extra uppers would take up more space, and weigh more than a complete spare rifle too boot.

Multiple calibers that use the same AR magazine is another concept that looks good from a logistical standpoint, but not so good from a practical standpoint IMO.

The KISS principle can get chewed up and spit out quickly if a body happens to have his loadout of mags topped off with 5.56mm, but only has his 300BO upper ready to rock at the time.
Using Magpull mags for one caliber and GI mags for another might alleviate possible mistakes in the dark, but starts to tear up the logistics behind the idea at this point.

The spare rifle idea uses the same parts and magazines, along with the same caliber of ammunition.

Too each his own however. Food for thought at the very least.

Have you looked around recently? AR prices are back to being as low as, if not lower than, they were a year ago. Rock bottom (serious).

 

[fragout]

AR's have been overpriced for well over a decade now.

( Not so serious)....lol

It's your money however. Spend it on what floats yer boat

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, and you have to keep .308 segregated from .270 for bolt guns just like you have to keep different AR caliber rounds segregated. Organizational skills are needed universally unless you keep only one caliber weapon.

The AR is an awfully versatile rifle, and is certainly one to be considered for an "only" rifle.

I could be happy with my Sako .308 bolt gun if I could have only one, but I could be happy with an AR for my only gun.

I could use a caliber adapter to shoot small game with my .308, or an extra upper for an AR.

Is the question only one rifle, period, no extra uppers etc? Where do the extras stop, whether it's an AR or something else?

 

[fragout]

A much easier task in the dark, since 270Winchester is a necked down 30-06......compared to 308 Winchester.

No way that 270 Win is gonna fit inside an M14,FAL, or G3 mag.

Much easier to confuse multiple calibers of similar size, and that are designed to be used in the same magazine.

One caliber system with virtual duplicate rifles makes for less of a footprint needed.

Tried the caliber insert thru my M14S, but it didn't achieve the accuracy I wanted.

Of course, traps work 24/7 for small game and fish. No need wasting time, money, weight, and space on small game for me at least.

270 at left. 308 at right in pic below.

 

[Goju]

Will some of you guys accept the fact you're not in the military and in a war zone? A AR as your only rifle? Guess I will keep my bolt 30-06. Can't play GI Joe, but it doses the trick.

With all due respect, some shooters prefer autoloaders, and the AR platform offers a nice compact platform when you are humping your gear back in the woods. For many years I hunted with my BAR in 30.06....I'm sure you'll agree that doesnt peg the "tacticool" meter. But for me, the platform was to heavy, barrel needlessly long, in a caliber that was overkill for the game intended. So I transitioned to the AR in a hunting caliber, with the following benefits : much more compact which is great when humping stuff thru the woods and up and down trees, I dont have to worry about scratching fancy bluing or high lustre walnut stocks, and I can wrench on 80% of the thing and be my own 'smith if needed.
Believe it or not, every AR does not include 3 feet of picatinny rails, a tactical light, vertical foregrip, and a 30 round mag.

Never been in the military, and dont know anything about that career choice (but thanks to those that have served). I am much to old to be a mall ninja, but smart enough to know a valuable tool when I find one.

 

[sixgunner455]

Will some of you guys accept the fact you're not in the military and in a war zone? A AR as your only rifle?

Some of us are/were in the military, thank you very much, and survived war zones so that all of us could be here debating what rifle we'd have for our onliest one.

Having carried an M16 in a couple of those places, whenever I think about "My Rifle", I think about an M16 or an AR. If I need a rifle for home defense, I want my AR carbine. If I want to go plinking with centerfire ammo, I want my AR. If I want to stick a rifle under the backseat of my truck, my AR carbine fits just fine. I have a 5.56 upper and a 6.8 upper. If I want to hunt, I can use my AR. But that is where I start to look at my bolt actions and think, man, I like to use those, too. And they sure don't beat up my brass like the semi does.

If I was really, truly, and definitively only going to have one rifle ever again, and could pick it for myself, it would have to be an AR. I can build one from parts, and repair one without help. Of course, I can rebarrel a Savage bolt action, too ... And a drilling as a dedicated universal hunting arm makes tons of sense, especially if a guy can have a pistol or short pump shotgun for HD.

I don't think there's one true universal answer. But I really like my AR, I'm confident in it for lots of different things, and I'd be really ticked off if I had to give it up.

 

[Armor Snail]

I love my AR but chose a .357 lever for two reasons. First is because it offers two caliber choices with massive choices of loadings.

Secondly is the lack of a detachable mag. If I can have only one I want it simple.
Especially in a SHTF type situation. Solar flares anyone, not zombies. I'm a realist.

Although if an AR had a 30 rd tube mag Lol.

Wait, can I cheat this? How about a BRNO .270/12 gauge combo?

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[shadow9]

Bolt action 308, Rem 700 Stainless/Synth -

Realistically, I find a 308 would do most of the work of a .30-06 just fine...and the R700 has parts galore, works reliably everywhere, and the S/S setup would also be much more resistant to weather anywhere. You can load the .308 to potent or puffy levels, and put anything .308 sized into its mouth, as long as it's under 200 (220?)grs.

 

[Legionnaire]

No doubt in my mind. If I could only have one rifle, it would be a bolt action ... most likely a .30-06 or .308. I'd have to work up some loads using Trail Boss for plinking, but I'd want something optimized for big game hunting.

 

[Casefull]

Will some of you guys accept the fact you're not in the military and in a war zone? A AR as your only rifle? Guess I will keep my bolt 30-06. Can't play GI Joe, but it doses the trick

I do not see the ops comment as insulting to anyone but I think how you see yourself using a rifle has a lot to do with selecting one rifle. I have lots of ar's and would want one for some situations but the 308 bolt gun would be my choice if I could only have one.

 

[DM~]

i do not see the ops comment as insulting to anyone but i think how you see yourself using a rifle has a lot to do with selecting one rifle.

+1

dm

 

[ugaarguy]

Will some of you guys accept the fact you're not in the military and in a war zone? A AR as your only rifle? Guess I will keep my bolt 30-06. Can't play GI Joe, but it doses the trick.

A 30-06? That's a war cartridge developed for a war rifle, the 1903 Springfield. Will you accept the fact that you're not in the military and not in a war zone? A 30-06 bolt action as your only rifle? Guess I'll keep my 50 cal muzzle loader. I can't play wannabe sniper with it, but it'll harvest game.

 

[yzguy87]

Yes in 308 or maybe if I had lots of $$$ I'd have the bn30-06 by Noreen! But realistically in 308!

 

[fireside44]

Will some of you guys accept the fact you're not in the military and in a war zone? A AR as your only rifle? Guess I will keep my bolt 30-06. Can't play GI Joe

You already are playing GI Joe though. 30-06 is a military cartridge and a bolt gun was commonly used in warfare prior to Vietnam. Still is in some places.

You should've said 7mm mag.