Another help me decide thread....

[itgoesboom]

I think I have convinced my wife of the need to purchase a homeland defense rifle. It's been a pretty tough one convicing her of the need, and something tells me that it is going to be the last firearm purchase for a year or two .

So here is what I have currently in my little mini-aresenal. A Chi-Com SKS, Bersa .380, Springfield XD-9 Subcompact, Ruger 22/45, Mossberg 500 and a old Sears .410 (my great grandmother's ).

And I have narrowed down my choices to a Bushmaster AR (either 16" or 20") with 15+ preban mags, and ammo for about $1500-$1600,

Or

A SAR-1, 15+ preban mags (more like 20+) and a couple thousand rounds of ammo for a total of about $800.

On one hand, I would love to have an AK, cheap ammo, scary looking, and it shares ammo with my SKS. On the other hand, I would love to have the better accuracy of an AR, plus it could double as a HD rifle, rather than just a blaster.

I don't want this to turn into the typical AR vs AK thread that we see (ie, which is better for mutant zombie space alien bears that are working for the UN), but I would like to recieve some help as to which I should choose, and WHY, especially since my gun purchasing rights are going to be revoked by my wife after this. And no telling me to lose the wife either, cuz I love her, and she is doing well putting up with me purchasing firearms as quickly as I have been.

So what would you buy?

I.G.B.

 

[Nick1911]

If I had the money, I would probably buy the AR now. Reasons behind that logic:
-AR's arn't getting any cheaper
-ak's are cheap, they probably won't climb in price as fast as the AR's
-we don't know what's going to happen in this year politically; you may not be able to get either after that...
Nick

PS. I have my great grandmothers Iver Johnston .410; kinda odd occurance

 

[tc300mag1]

I would and did go with the Ar years ago .. i shoot it a ton and has never let me down plus its great for target shooting

 

[Redlg155]

I'd definitely go for the AR15. A standard Bushy should only set you back $800. 20 mags should go for $200-$300 if you shop around. That puts you at $1100.

That leaves you with $400-$500 for ammo!

Actually if I had that much left in my budget I'd get the AR with a flatop and an Aimpoint Comp M red dot with a Arms#22M68 mount.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[Knife_Sniper]

I have both of your options.

I am much happier with the AR15 platform. It has never let me down and if you want to upgrade the rifle down the road with ANYTHING your heart desires, you can do it. Different calibers, different configs... anything. Accuracy, ergonomics... ooh that rifle has it all.

One thing you MUST do is get a flat top. Dont say "Oh I want the simplicity of an A2". Thats crap. I said the same thing and I *REGRET* it. The A2 limits my options in regards to optics and rail systems. My personal favorite RAIL system can't be installed without a new upper half. You want a flat top. Many have made the mistake of solid carry handle... just make sure its a flat top. Flat top Flat top Flat top. Top that is flat. You wanty flaty toppy.

If you can skimp on some of those magazines and the ammo you could build the AR15 that God himself would be proud of.

Just like me.

Seriously, if your gonna burn that much serious cash on an AR15, their is absolutely NO reason to settle with a factory rifle. Save some cash and build the lower half to your exact specs. Its easy. Im not joking. Can you breath? Good! Then your qualified to build an AR15 lower half.

Just think.

A1 furniture from cavalry arms (more room in the compartment than a full length A2 from bushy, Lighter, and a better length of pull for 9/10 people.)

Ergo Grip (its night and day compared to the stock A2 grip, its heaven)

Tuned single stage trigger...

Forged RRA lower.

Oh yea, the furniture is your favorite color, Coyote Brown.
Dead Sexy.

Oh the list goes on and on.

If you don't build it, just make sure its a flat top!

 

[natedog]

.....

Sure is a lot of hostility against flat tops here.....

 

[SapperLeader]

I had to make the same choice on which one to get first. I decided to go with the ar as a first battle rifle, due to the higher initial costs and greater accuracy. I figure when Im going to get a ak, it will be a lot easier for me to save up 200 for a saiga, or 400-500 for a nice ak, versus the 800 for the bushmaster ar. As for AR's, Id highly suggest a flattop ar with the detachable a2 carry handle. I dont know how much experience you have with ars, but I highly suggest learning how to use the iron sights before you go buy all the cool toys. I have been shooting m-16s in the army for 6 years, and my personal ar for 6 months, and im just now feeling comfortable enough with my rifle to go buy the eotech I want.

 

[Devilen]

If I ha d an SKS or two I would go with the AK. After all you stated that it uses the same ammo as the SKS's just makes since to me.

But since your going to spend around $800 anyway.

Take a look at this.

http://www.interordnance.com/

It shoots 7.62x54 My fav.
I just recently came across these on the net. Didn't even know the exissted.

Just thought I'd give ya another option.

Dev...

 

[WYO]

I suspect that your wife is just humoring you because she loves you, or else she just gave up, because no one “needs†a dedicated homeland defense rifle, sorry. However, since you now have the green light, why don’t you do the responsible thing and buy a decent AK, cheaper AK magazines, and a case of Wolf ammo for half of what you are thinking the AR, mags and ammo are going to set you back. (I don’t like the half and half option of buying an SAR.) Or else involve her in the decision making process by going over the relative attributes of each, the unknowns about the AWB sunset, extension or, heaven forbid, strengthening, resale value, etc., and see what she says. I know this is a firearms forum, not Dear Abby, but that’s what I would do if faced with such a quandary.

 

[Mulliga]

Er... get both.

SAR-1, about 350 bucks, plus mags and 1000 rds. of Wolf hollowpoints comes out to ~500 bucks.

Bushie carbine, about 900-1000 bucks.

AR-15s are hella expensive. I'd buy the SAR-1 now, and the AR-15 after the AWB sunsets or before they strengthen it. If they just renew it, it might be wise to wait a while.

 

[itgoesboom]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone.

I am leaning in the direction of the AR, since it could be a good HD rifle as well as a good target rifle and piss off Fienstien.

My wife and I have discussed the situation, and she agrees with me that there is a certain heritage in America of every American a rifleman, and that I should have a good rifle that can be used and passed on to our children. (see why I love this woman? )

But I think WYO has it right too, I think she has kinda given up, and knows that I am going to purchase something no matter what.

I do know that in exchange for this, I won't be purchasing anything for quite a while, so its going to have to hold me over for a year or two or more.

I am getting my fathers .22 rifle as well, and I have a .357 revolver that is being returned by the FBI (stolen a few years ago), so its not like I will be lacking in the firearms department (3 rifles, 4 pistols, and 2 shotguns).

So anymore reasons why I should go for the AR over the AK?

I.G.B.

BTW that SVD is SWEEEEEET. I have always wanted one of those.

 

[Knife_Sniper]

Take note, thats not a REAL SVD. Its not even a clone.

Its all AK through and through, just with a longer barrel.

 

[Devilen]

The site says that is the new Romanian DragunovSSG-97

http://www.interordnance.com/Mercha...NTERORDNANCE.com&Product_Code=SSG97/7.62X54-S

In 7.62x54 Cal.

I could be wrong. But thats what it says. Now it they are wrong, I'm wrong I don't know that much about them, I just found out about them yestarday. 2/12
I know If I was going to spend $800.00 on a rifle it would be one of these.
Maybe one of the copies. I just like the 7.62x54 round. So this would be perfect for me.

Dev...

 

[WYO]

Well, the AR certainly fits your criteria better than the AK. But, if you're really into the heritage of the American rifleman, and want something to pass on to future generations, a CMP M1 Garand is hard to beat at $520 delivered to your door.