I think I'm over my AR...

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herkyguy

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I've got a Smith & Wesson M&P MOE. All black plane Jane wearing an Aimpoint PRO and a simple two-point sling. It co-witnesses quite nicely. It's super reliable. I've got plenty of cheap steel-cased ammo and probably 1000 rounds of Wolf Gold, not to mention the various nicer piles of ammo that I've come across over the years. I've never had a problem with the gun.....

But...... I can't seem to rationalize keeping it. I don't hunt with it, I've got a Winchester model 70 in 30-06 that is a tack driver, a rifled slug gun that hits deer like a bulldozer, and a CZ 527 that can shoot sub-MOA groups at 200 yards with boring (ok, not really boring, i smile every time) consistency. I'd opt for the CZ 527 over any hunting scenario where I could use the M&P for predators.

As far as plinking, I have way more fun with my two Winchester lever actions in .357 and .44 Magnum. I also have an AK style rifle with open sights. Frankly, if I'm on my feet and shooting steel out to 100 yards, I'll take the AK any day since I now view the increased precision afforded by my AR as quasi-wasted if I'm shooting from my feet or any unsupported positions. I'm just not going for MOA performance from a standing position or at a range where I'm pivoting for various targets.

On to home defense..... I've got a semi-auto 12 gauge with a nice bright light on the end. I also have a Sig MPX with hand-loaded 147 grain 9mm FP bullets that cook along at just over 1000 fpm. I'll opt for one of those two any day over a 55 grain .223 round at close to 3000 fps. My house is brick, but I'm still a bit worried about the neighbors if I ever resorted to my AR in that kind of scenario. The reduced recoil and the reduced noise alone of the MPX are, to me at least, well worth it. Not too mention a nice collection of handguns should the need arise.

I got into handloading years ago. I just can't bring myself to load specific to the AR. It's 16" barrel isn't going to give me what I could get from a bolt gun. Potentially, I could see myself going for an AR platform with a longer barrel in the future, but I'd just as easily build up one of these up and coming modular bolt guns that seem to be taking off. I have a quasi-custom Remington 700 in .308 and it shoots sub-MOA with handloads, I'd be pretty excited to do something in .223, just not with a plain vanilla AR.

sigh........ I just don't see the purpose of my 16" barreled AR in .223. I have a hard time believing it myself, but it's true.
 
????
I'm not sure what your point is

Personally I love my AR.

The first one I bought I liked but had to see after some hardship. The next one I put together from a PSA lower and upper. I'm now finishing up my first complete build from parts. Each one has been different and I've enjoyed the build so much that I'm planning my next one(s).

I also love loading for them. I just find it relaxing.

Now everyone is different. If you don't like your AR than find someone like myself who will give it a good home.
 
I'd be pretty excited to do something in .223, just not with a plain vanilla AR.
I have a full sized AR A2 fixed stock 20in hbar , I enjoy that way more than my carbine 16in AR , the A2 is very accurate with the duel aperture peep sights , sometimes old school AR's are a nice change at least for me


6460445_03_bushmaster_ar_a2_target_rifle_640.jpg View attachment 780358
 
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I can – at least for myself - think of a few considerations that might help you reconsider.

The first one that comes to mind is your list of guns and their uses. One thing that happens to a lot as we try to put together our ideal gun collection, is we imagine scenarios where we might need a gun and then consider what gun best fits each scenario. The problem with this is that we cannot always control the scenarios wherein we might need a gun.

I don’t want to run through your list and try to refute each scenario you’ve outlined. But an accurate, lightweight, reasonably short, reasonably long range, semi-auto loading rifle that uses common spitzer type ammunition and can be operated with high cap magazines - author pauses for breath – is pretty near a trump card in most unexpected rifle use scenarios.

Maybe you should take off the red dot, put on a Daniel Defense irons set, drop in a geissele trigger, drop a VLTOR A5 heavy buffer into the tube and – if you can’t live with tiny bullets - re-chamber in 6.8 SPC in a 14.5" with pinned flash hider and a flashlight? Oh, and put one of those ergo tac grips with the palm swell - you'll love it.

Then you might wonder why you had so many guns.
 
.223/5.56 AR's have some good applications.

For predators and pests like coyotes and feral hogs they can make a pretty good utility rifle.

For medium sized game there are better choices. You can't use them legally in some states.

For pinking at the range they do pretty well because ammo is cheap. I can load a round for 0.15.

For bench rest shooting there are much better choices.

For home defense they can be useful if you are outdoors and you have more than 100 yd requirements. Most of us don't however so they have limited applications there.

I think most people see them as a survival rifle. In that case they will probably never have a chance to put them to use.

I guess it all depends on your application.
 
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Somewhere on this forum, there was a guy who loaded 77gr in his AR with 1:12 twist and called it his bedroom gun. The bullet was keyholing like crazy. Got me to thinking that maybe he was on to something. That bullet would cause nasty damage and very likely never leave the house.

M
 
There’s a reason there are used gun racks at the LGS

Right now, you’ll probably get minimal trade or sale value as the market is totally flooded. Only you know what it’s worth to you and whether it’s worth keeping in your mind.
 
I've got a semi-auto 12 gauge with a nice bright light on the end. I also have a Sig MPX with hand-loaded 147 grain 9mm FP bullets that cook along at just over 1000 fpm. I'll opt for one of those two any day over a 55 grain .223 round at close to 3000 fps. My house is brick, but I'm still a bit worried about the neighbors if I ever resorted to my AR in that kind of scenario.

Your neighbors will be safer if you use an AR. That’s been well established in all the threads concerning penetration in a HD situation.

As for mobility and blast, that’s why I choose a pistol for HD.
 
I find myself in a similar situation. I see nothing wrong with the AR platform, but I just dont enjoy them.
Ive still got mine, and i will keep it for the foreseeable future as its really not worth much right now, certainly not what i have into it.
There are some cartridges i i want to try as well so i may build a few more uppers....doing so knowing ill probably sell them after i decide how i feel about the cartridges they fire.
If i didnt already have a hipoint i realy liked id probably build a pcc variant and use that for hd.
 
You could try customizing it to make it more enjoyable to shoot. There's a varitable panoply of aftermarket float-tubes, stocks, grips and accessories that are affordable upgrades for a stock rifle.

Selling is an option but with the current glut of ARs on the market, you may not be pleased by the prices people would offer.

You could just sit on it, keep it squirreled away for a rainy day. Who knows, maybe in ten years time you could be the proud owner of a "pre-ban" AR that could command a premium.
 
I kinda see the OP’s point; when I go to the range, I am seemingly the only person shooting for accuracy. Other attendees are banging away with volumes of ammo for the kick of banging away - the macho stuff. My AR is very accurate and is used for deer hunting - my like of it is the accuracy and the weather resistant design (I use it when raining, my wood stocked rifles in nice weather). If it wasn’t for the exceptional accuracy and rain, it would just be a plastic, modular, modern, boring and ugly rifle. I like owning it but I have no grand attachment to it - I do see his point. Good shooting.
 
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I have my second AR and feel pretty much the same way. It has been sitting in the safe for 6 years now and I have not shot it. But, I bought it with the thought that some day I will need it and I still believe that.
 
I have no use for my AR other than I actually really enjoy target shooting with it. I am more accurate with certain other rifles, but I just enjoy a day at the range with my AR.

And there's also the satisfaction of owning something that ticks off certain people.
 
I am not an AR fanatic. My interest in the platform timeframe starts with the Vietnam era guns and pretty much ends with what we had in the arms room on 9/11/01- M16A2's and original M4's (no funky optics, no extra Barbie crap).
 
I can understand that. I had an SP-1 for a long time that I eventually "got over". No problems with the rifle, just not interested. The Clinton AWB was in effect so I held on to it longer than I wanted but still sold it. Eventually the bug bit me again and now I've got two home builds. Given the current political landscape, I'd hang on to it. If you need a reason, go with Nature Boy's advice (#17).
 
I would look into 3 gun or action rifle sports, they are too much fun

Regarding standing and plinking with an AR vs ak, do what makes you happy, the AR is a very versatile gun,

If nothing else, clean it, put it in th back of the safe and don’t worry about it, you u already paid for it and can’t get that money back, too many $500 rifles out there right now
 
Bought my first AR15, a Colt SP1 Sporter, back in the late '70s. I always wanted one for as long as I can remember and it was the second rifle I ever had (first one was a Ruger 10/22). It makes every trip with me to the outdoor range and I'm still amazed with it's inherent accuracy as I can get decent groups out to 200 yards with the iron sights. I literally have tons of ammo and lots of magazines (have a definite preference for the 20 rounders for some inane reason), for it and I will be passing this one down to my son when the time comes.

Guess I can't even imagine ever being over my AR15.
 
????
I'm not sure what your point is

Personally I love my AR.

The first one I bought I liked but had to see after some hardship. The next one I put together from a PSA lower and upper. I'm now finishing up my first complete build from parts. Each one has been different and I've enjoyed the build so much that I'm planning my next one(s).

I also love loading for them. I just find it relaxing.

Now everyone is different. If you don't like your AR than find someone like myself who will give it a good home.
Agreed. Based on the OP's post, since I dont hunt at all, I should be over all my long guns, and I guess handguns as well. I will always have a few AR 15 rifles around. One of the most sensible guns ever designed, in my world anyway

Russellc
 
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