Who doesn’t own/like AR’s?

[dfish1247]

Yes but they dont play well with the side charging uppers i prefer lol.

I also don't really want to have to explain how I missed a shot because my brass catcher got caught on a lava rock

Oh for goodness sake, lol.

 

[tark]

I always hated ARs ... until I actually fired one. Had an H-BAR that put em' into one hole at a hundred. I love M-14s, I was issued one in my three years in the Army, half a century ago. I have a Bula Armaments M-14 now, but the thing is almost too heavy for my old arms to lift. I'm much more comfortable hauling my M-4.

 

[Ignition Override]

Had an AR for a few months.
I only use iron sights- am 68 years old and have never owned a scope.

With the 16” barrel on the AR it wasn’t as enjoyable as using the iron sights on a friend’s 20” barrel Colt.
And never cared for the stock trigger. Of course it can be swapped--and so can the Rest of the gun....for a Different gun Type .

And the gun didn’t have much character so it was traded for an AMD-65 (AKM). Character is important to me. I don't need to "conform" to any gun fashion.

For better context, after many rifles and changes in interest, my centerfire rifles changed to/ condensed into a Czechpoint VZ-58, a pair of FALs, a PTR91 and an M1A.

Also, accessories mean nothing to me and mine have only been slings and two bayonets—literally.

 

[cfullgraf]

For a lomg time, I had no use for an AR-15. I got involved with Service Rife competition to qualify to get a Garand from the CMP.

At one match, a fellow competitor allowed me to shoot his match AR-15. I was instantly hooked. Geeze, that accurate AR-15 made small groups even in my shakey hands.

I'm not interested in "mall ninja" pray and spray AR-15's but the platform can easily provide some great accuracy rifles.

Admittedly, the AR-15 platform is limited to small animals or limited ranges but the AR-10 platform brings larger animals into play.

Get you head outside the "pray and spray" mentality and the AR-15 is a great, accurate riffle platform.

 

[King Medallion]

I have 2, haven't shot either in a couple years. Prefer my big bore leverguns.

 

[243winxb]

Who doesn’t own one or like them and why?

After running an M16A1 for years, i have no love for semi-Autos.

 

[Remington1911]

I bought one way back when they said they are going to take them away from us the first time. Back then there was one company you could get it from, the horsey company.

Back in those days I shot it a great deal and it was fun. As they became popular it came out more and more infrequently. I got tired on having "experts" tell me about the rifle and what I should do to improve it.

Last time it was in public was about 10 years ago when my son shot a CMP match with it. I have shot it "out back" a few times after that, and yes I now remember the fun behind them. I also understand the gizmos to load those huge mags, I had someone gift me a Pmag years ago, up to that point everything was old GI mags, and the two 5 rounders I got from colt.

It is not that I don't like the device itself, I see that a little bit like gun crime. No such thing as gun crime, but people doing crime with guns, that is a thing.

I don't dis like the AR, I HATE, using the word HATE here, its fan club.

 

[mcb]

And for another rinkle I really like the AR but not because they were military rifles, I have never served and I am not a big military rifle collector. My two AR's that are in 556 rarely get used, and even when I was shooting them allot it was just for 3-gun and carbine matches. They also look nothing like and M16 or M4. My most used and numerous AR's are in 300 BO, with 450 Bushmaster and 30 Remington AR fighting for second place. Those get used much more than my 556 ARs.

 

[savagelover]

Who doesn’t own one or like them and why? Imo all they are good for is mag dumps and shooting games, but i am a hunter and all my long guns are hunting related. I have been debating really hard on getting one but really all i can see myself using it for would be coyote hunting and maybe shooting games, steel plate shooting, etc. i just don’t see a practical purpose. Anyone else the same?

Maybe i would be more suited with a PCR. I am slightly intrigued by the AR after handling a few today and shooting one. I’m thinking maybe it would be fun and if i end up hating it i could sell it.

No use for one of them..

 

[lightman]

All of my shooting buddies except one own an AR. He is a Vietnam Vet that was over there when Uncle Sam shoved then down their throats before they were perfected. So he was in a combat zone with a weapon that he didn't trust going up against an enemy that was using a reliable weapon.

 

[Mark_Mark]

AR in big bore are FUN!

50 Beowolf & .458 Socom

 

[wmgeorge]

I have owned several and I like them but it gets tiresome when you come on a gun forum and that is all you see. New guys asking all the same questions that have been asked before, over and over.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Hunting
I don't own one, never have. I don't see the AR-15 design as an improvement over a bolt rifle for hunting. Actually it's a step down as accuracy generally can't match a bolt rifle in the same price range. There's also a better selection of cartridges for bolt rifles. We all know why.

Target Shooting
Target shooting can be done with anything so I don't see a lot of difference there. So called Precision rifles have started a new fad in long range competition. Those are also bolt rifles because of the wide range of cartridges that can be used and the inherent accuracy of those newer cartridges. Lots of sub MOA rifles available for not a lot of money.

Home Defense
Meh. No advantage there that I can see with an AR. Tactical shotgun or PCC has some advantages over an AR. One shot stopping with a shotgun and reduced ammo costs with a PCC. PCC would be my choice for HD.

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade here. An AR can do all of those things. They just don't stand out in any one category, IMO.

 

[Chuck R.]

I've bought two, both Colts, and built 5 for myself.

One I use for 3Gun and another for coyote hunting. I really like the AR for calling coyotes as we often have doubles run in. IMHO the modularity and subsequent flexibility can't be beat, but for about 98% of my hunting and shooting I use bolt guns.

 

[Styx]

I don't own one, never have. I don't see the AR-15 design as an improvement over a bolt rifle for hunting. Actually it's a step down as accuracy generally can't match a bolt rifle in the same price range. There's also a better selection of cartridges for bolt rifles. We all know why.

Target shooting can be done with either just as well and I don't see a lot of difference there. So called Precision rifles have started a new interest in long range competition. Those are also bolt rifles because of the wide range of cartridges that can be used and the inherent accuracy of those newer cartridges

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade. Shoot whatever you have and enjoy it.

What calibers can be used in a bolt rifle that cannot be used in an AR15?

 

[dranrab]

What do you not like? I ask because i can’t quite put my finger on it for my situation.

I think I get your mindset. I am retired military and never loved the M-16. A few years back, I bought one, mainly just because. I couldn't really think of a use for it, other than just to plink. Then I took it to the range and benched it with a variety of loads. One inch squares. A three shot group and an adjustment to take me 1.5 high and center.



That was with a bone stock Ruger AR (that first had to make a trip back to Ruger) and a 1-6x24 scope at 100 yards. I have since added another AR, and it is just as accurate. I hunt mainly from stands and blinds and prefer a traditional rifle, as they don't have as much on them to catch, clang and bang on window sills and stand rails. I need to take one hunting just so I can say I bagged a deer with one.

 

[BreechFace]

What calibers can be used in a bolt rifle that cannot be used in an AR15?

I don't know of any calibers missing. From .50 (50 Beowulf), down to .17 (17HMR). I guess we don't have AR length cartridges in some of the more obscure 'tweener calibers; but give it time and AR Bubba will get us there.

Seem's to me the AR15 should give the inclusivity crowd the warm and fuzzies!

 

[dranrab]

For the .223/5.56 NATO (M193) round - the Ruger Mini-14 does everything needed without all the drama.

Have an eye out for a 20" Ruger SFAR, however.

If minute of coffee can lid accuracy is all you need, there's no sense in not paying a lot more for a mini and mini magazines.

You might want to google "Ruger SFAR problem" before you buy one.

 

[AK Hunter]

I got into ARs because of our hunting regs being so messed up. I started off hunting with a .300 Blackout AR pistol but now I hunt deer with a full sized 350 Legend AR. I only went with the AR because it was cheaper & easier to sell if they change the hunting regs back to just shotguns.

 

[BreechFace]

If minute of coffee can lid accuracy is all you need, there's no sense in not paying a lot more for a mini and mini magazines.

You might want to google "Ruger SFAR problem" before you buy one.

I'm waiting for Gen 2 when they get their gas regulator port sizes figured out. I'll be hot on a 20" then.

 

[entropy]

Yeah, that’s another reason i really never got one. I love sitting on the bench, taking my time and squeezing rounds off from a bolt gun. I’ve been wanting to get rid of some coyotes for awhile and seems you get multiple dogs comes in and first shot everything is gone or sometimes they don’t drop from one shot.

One can sit and take time plinking with an AR just as slow as one can with a bolt gun. The second half of your statement is why an AR might be a better rifle for coyotes for you, particularly with a can on it.

I own one but they don't intrigue me. I can see how some people find them fun. I was an avid shooter before I joined the military and the M16 seemed like a weird plastic thing to me. However, they are user friendly and accurate. When I go to my range, everyone shooting one seems to have cycling problems and jams.

When one learns how to properly clean and lube an AR, such problems disappear.

And for another rinkle I really like the AR but not because they were military rifles, I have never served and I am not a big military rifle collector. My two AR's that are in 556 rarely get used, and even when I was shooting them allot it was just for 3-gun and carbine matches. They also look nothing like and M16 or M4. My most used and numerous AR's are in 300 BO, with 450 Bushmaster and 30 Remington AR fighting for second place. Those get used much more than my 556 ARs.

The real reason they have attained the popularity that they have. When they were available only from Colt, in military form and caliber, most buyers were veterans. When they started to branch out into different calibers, there was more interest from hunters. This roughly coincided with the politicos starting to openly say they wanted to take them away, which spurred their popularity even more.

Personally, after I got out of the Army, after having to work on them, I wasn't all that keen on them. I did build an XM-177E2 clone not long after I got out, mostly as a contingency rifle. I sold it right before the AW ban went into effect for way more than I had into it. Didn't buy one myself for many years after that, though I built a few AKs in the meantime. Then my son wanted to trade his DPMS Sportical fir a couple of my guns, so I owned an AR again.

That got the juices flowing again, and I built a couple in a couple years, then gifted the Sportical back to my son for Christmas.

Then came the riots in Minneapolis, and SWMBO wanted to learn to use my HD guns, but didn't like the shotguns or handguns. She chose my 10.5" AR pistol as her HD gun. So I had to build another one for me....then I had a lower sitting around.... I digress.

For those that believe Cooper's "poodle shooter" moniker for .223, yes it was based on a varmint round (.222 Rem.) but it was put into a service rifle designed for killing bipedal mammals with an average weight right around a whitetail deer's.
It will kill whitetail deer very well, though correct bullet placement is a must, unlike with some other popular deer calibers where there is some 'wiggle room's ballistically. Not the best choice for the average hunter for a deer drive gun, though my son has taken several deer that way with his AR.

The AR is ubiquitously American. It can be built from the ground up in a million different variations by almost anyone, is available in calibers from .22LR to .458 SOCOM, and higher in custom guns. We all like walnut and steel, I'm no exception there, but like the Minutemen of 1776, if the call comes, it isn't one of my Mosins or a Mauser I'm grabbing, it's an AR. Hopefully, that call will never come, and I'll happily hunt, plunk, and compete using that same AR.
As well as that Mauser.

 

[DMW1116]

Mine are set up as target rifles. They have 2-stage triggers, iron sights or scopes as appropriate, and shoot 99% hand loads with match bullets. My favorite to shoot has iron sights with an intent to shoot service rifle competition. All I have are 30 round mags, but they take a bit of time to replenish loading on a single stage press. I will normally stretch a mag through at least 3 range trips. I've had untold hours of entertainment testing loads, swapping parts, assembling lowers, and convincing myself my eyes are still good enough for iron sights to 200 yards.

 

[Remington1911]

I have owned several and I like them but it gets tiresome when you come on a gun forum and that is all you see. New guys asking all the same questions that have been asked before, over and over.

I don't mind that so much, everyone starts somewhere. The know-it-alls are the ones I can't stand. That and the rabid fan bois.

 

[CraigC]

Folks know I am primarily a revolver shooter and spend quite a bit of time every season hunting with a flintlock. So when I got my first AR, a S&W M&P15, it wasn't because I had a particular hankering for one. Just thought I 'should' have one and know how it works. I thought that was going to be plenty. I liked it, better than expected but also quickly learned that the M4 configuration wasn't perfect for what I wanted. So I started tinkering with it. Accumulated all the necessary tools and vise blocks and eventually, I had taken the whole thing down and put it back together again. That, along with learning about all the options, really gets one familiar with the platform. Which inevitably leads to pondering about the platform's potential and you realize that you can't do it all with one. When the pistol brace craze got into full swing, I found that I could have an 'almost SBR' without the tax stamp. Then came the 8.5" .300Blk, which also worked very well with the new pistol suppressor. Before I knew it, what began as sort of obligatory commitment became a full fledged fascination and one AR became ten. One 5.56 became several, along with two .300's and two 6.5's, with more to come.

Unlike anything other than the Ruger 10/22, the AR can be anything you want it to be. It can be setup for CQB, hunting big game, varmints, home defense, competition, you name it. It can't be a walnut stocked traditional sporter but dad's old .30-06 kinda sucks for defending the homestead.

Get the first one, see how it fits.

 

[Milt1]

I've never liked AR's because of their design, I'm a tradionalist in that I favor bolt action rifles. With that said the Hi Point carbine in .45 ACP appealed to me and I now own one for home SD. Go figure!