I'm ashamed to stoop so low as to ask this question.

[Girodin]

I'd concur that at this point you buy what you can find without getting hosed too hard. That said, it may not be the time to go pay some absurd price for an AR. Any AWB still faces some pretty serious hurdles. To get 51 votes in the Senate a number of Democrats are going to have to abandon their "pro gun" labels. Some are looking like they will, others are vacillating in their public comments. Others still are staying quite and likely trying to gauge the political climate. Even if 51 votes looks obtainable, 60 votes to get cloture and stop a filibusterer looks MUCH more difficult to obtain. The House looks much less likely to pass any major gun control law. It is very possible the legislation may not even be brought to the floor for a vote. If it were, the Dems would need to sway "pro gun" Democrats, and there are a number of them in the house. In 2009, 69 house dems wrote Obama saying they would oppose an AWB. Surely some of them will flip flop. Some have already made statements indicating they will or are thinking about it. Even if they get all the purported "pro gun" Dems, the GOP still has a 33 seat majority. The House just does not look at this point like it would pass an AWB or the like. It is far from a forgone conclusion that any such legislation will be enacted. If it is, there is a good argument for the SCOTUS to strike it. The gun cases have been coming out 5-4 on purely political lines (which is sickening but it is reality). That makes the prospect of one of those justices dying a bit scary.

In sum, right now things are really expensive. However, there is a strong case to be made for the argument they will settle down.

 

[jim243]

I have given into fears of possible future events, and thus I am looking for suggestions on what AR-15 to buy

On the chance of being stoned by some members of this forum, I ask WHY???? Things have gone crazy and there is no rational reason to spend what some people are asking for their AR's. You seem like a rational person and buying into the histeria that is now happening is crazy. You are about 4 weeks too late to find a reasonalable priced AR untill the panic stops and supplies of rifles catches up with demand, even then unless you plan on doing battle at your front door, a AR is of questionalable value with out magazines, and good luck trying to find those. I was checking on-line at the site I buy .224 bullets for reloading and they do not have a single one of those for sale, now that IS CRAZY.

If you must, I would suggest you invest in a good shotgun for personal and home defense. Otherwise you will need to wait 6 to 12 months before things get back to normal.

Good Luck.
Jim

 

[Davek1977]

anything you could possibly buy through a dealer will be in a federal database as you owning that firearm

Please, tell me more about this registry that you know of, but is unknown to other gun enthusiasts and even law enforcement?

 

[Lloyd Smale]

dont know about that as ive sat with my dealer when he called in a nics check on me and hes allways given them a serial number.

 

[Girodin]

You are about 4 weeks too late to find a reasonalable (sic) priced AR untill (sic) the panic stops

You are aware this didn't all start four weeks ago. A week and a half ago you could get a good AR for sub $800. He is more like 4-5 days late.

I agree with the general sentiment that one is likely better off either A) putting in a back order at a place you feel is most likely to get what you are after the soonest and isn't price gouging. Or B) waiting out the storm and being politically active in the effort to defeat any proposed assaults on our constitutional freedoms.

 

[jakk280rem]

Considering your specs, I'd run home to mama so to speak and take a look at the offerings of Armalite.

 

[Master Blaster]

I would not worry about NICS, they probably are breaking the law and keeping a database under some executive order or other for national security. The store is required to keep a bound book, and your 4470?? Form, they keep the form for 25 years. They can always make a list.

Bushmaster, Olympic, Colt all make a great AR The Remington's are Bushmasters, there is S&W, and DPMS, and others mentioned. Make sure you get an a3 or A2 with Iron sights. You can always mount a scope later, but the sights are one of the greatest features of an AR rifle. A3 with a detachable rear an a built in rail is best.

 

[Jakemedic]

Will we ever see any more ar's?

Went to a gun show in Iowa over the weekend. Not a single black gun left, with the exception of a 2900.00 Rock River that was 1100 a week ago. Managed to get some .40 ammo at. Reasonable price of .37 cents per round by the 1000 including tax. Not great, but it is safe at home now versus ordering and maybe not getting it.

There wasn't a single magazine for AR there! It was a big show too! My local pawn shop has a nice RRA 20" stainless barrel he would let go for 2200. Not gouging but clearly signs of the times.

God Bless our Country and Happy Holidays!

 

[Archangel14]

I have given into fears of possible future events

First off, stop "fearing". Have a healthy concern for the evil out there and prepare. Prepare by first making your body healthy. I know too many "gun" guys who are running around with 50 pounds of gelatin packed in around their waist. They think and AR with optics is going to save them when they won't be able to move quickly over 25 paces. Second, get any reliable AR, or AK for that matter. Get a reliable side arm and a solid shotgun. Get your ammo and practice.

And remember not to fear................

 

[SwampWolf]

I am not looking for anything super special. Just a reliable, plain jane, 20 incher with ribbed forearm, in .223, carrying handle, solid stock, made almost entirely if not 100% in USA, with no "tactical" stuff on it.

Given the run on AR-15s and if all you need is a carbine chambered in 5.56/.223 for self-defense, I'd give some thought to buying a Ruger Mini-14. It fits most of your criteria and high capacity magazines are still available for this little, reliable, affordable carbine.

 

[Jacob L Freeman]

Thank you all for sharing wisdom and advice.....
ShadowsEye, that is most likely what I will end up buying if possible.
ArchAngel14, way ahead of the crowd on that one! Hehe.

As most of you have also seen, I have been seeing ARs go for stupid prices on armslist, gunsamerica, craigslist, etc. I refuse to pay double MSRP even if that means I don't get what I want. An AR is a want, not a need for me, so if I don't get one I don't get one. For now my plan is to ask Sportsmans Warehouse (followed by local dealers if that fails) to put in an order for the DPMS A2 classic and hope my paychecks come in quickly enough.

If all fails, I may end up going for a Mini 14 because I do intend on having a chicken eating coyote problem.

 

[brnmw]

As for pvt. sellers I suppose you could do that... but good luck at finding one. I had a good friend of mine want to buy my Milled AK-47 off me, I told him to go jump in a lake! I did not do it just to be mean or anything like that, but I like many of us am sure are not going to get rid of ours that easily now... I suppose unless you own a ton of something which I do not, and are willing to part with one or two just for some extra cash.

 

[dubya450]

Private deals are still out there. I Just bought a Saiga 7.62x39 AK NIB with 400 rounds of Wolf for......$300

 

[Hokkmike]

I am not looking for anything super special. Just a reliable, plain jane, 20 incher with ribbed forearm, in .223, carrying handle, solid stock, made almost entirely if not 100% in USA, with no "tactical" stuff on it. I'm shooting recreationally, I will never storm a house in Kandahar.

As will none of us. This "explanation" sends entirely the wrong message. These are not (any of them) assault rifles.

 

[herkyguy]

Bushmaster A1 went for $4000 last night on Buds. It's too late.

 

[dubya450]

Bills Gun Shop in Circle Pines, MN still gets shipments in of AR's and at normal prices. There were 3 on the shelf for $2100 but they were very high end ones and 4 Benellis version of tge AR for $1200 and they accept AR mags, 5 FNAR's in 308 for $1100 a pop. That was 2 days ago and if i wanted an AR id definitely buy one of them Benelli. Nobody is buying them because they dont know what they are! They look different than n AR but shoot the same (in general) and take P Mags!

 

[Jasper1573]

If you can find one...Double Star makes a good AR-15 for under $1000, at least they did before this craziness.

 

[billymarr]

Look at a Saiga I got one for 700 even in 308 at my local LGS

 

[Bobson]

Supposing you were to find an AR today, why bother buying it? Unless you have a heavy stock of .223 or 5.56 on hand, you'll be paying for a paperweight. Seems like its easier to find ARs than it is to find ammo for them.

 

[Bobson]

If all fails, I may end up going for a Mini 14 because I do intend on having a chicken eating coyote problem.

Just about any rifle will fix that problem for you. Or just poison your chickens and let em out of the coop one night. Next day your problem is solved and you can buy more.

 

[Bill_Rights]

Uhhhh.... You're waaaayyyyy too late for

If all fails, I may end up going for a Mini 14 because....

On GunBroker.com, used Mini-14s and Mini-30s are going for often (> $1,500) nearly twice today's street price, well over MSRP ~ $900. These are used ones from 1993-2003 year make, before the latest barrel flex fixes were made by the factory. I speculate that they may be viewed as even more valuable because they do not look like a military unit and are not recognized for what they are by the general public.

 

[dcarch]

If you NEED a rifle, I would recommend a bolt action in 30'06. Around where I'm from, there are still plenty of those rifles in stock, and tons of '06 ammo. If you don't NEED a rifle now, I'd wait for the market to settle back down, because you're gonna get hosed if you buy now. Sorry, but you missed the boat, man.

 

[Bobson]

Sorry, but you missed the boat, man.

It's probably just as well.

On April 10, 1912, some poor fool missed the boat in Southampton, England.

 

[Kachok]

I missed the boat on the ARs too (by two minutes no kidding) Looks like I have to wait until the next "assult weapon" ban expires sometime around 2023

 

[Skylerbone]

In place of an M4gery why not consider a .22 Mag? Though .17 and .22lr seem to be cleaned off the shelf I've seen a fair amount of .22 Mag. looking lonely, most shops with several thousand rounds. You'll have a lightweight rifle with ammo that can be carried without a dump truck that can also defeat soft armor as well as dog fur that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.