I almost bought an AR15 yesterday.

I do not especially need or want one. But the constant drumbeat of bad news is starting to wear me down. I am lucky to live in the free state of Idaho. So, firearms access is easy.
(and I have plenty of hi cap mags for my 9mm's) But I keep thinking about the AR.
Am I overreacting or just being practical?

If you want one or think you may in the future , get it . May come in handy .

41Dude said:

I do not especially need or want one. But the constant drumbeat of bad news is starting to wear me down. I am lucky to live in the free state of Idaho. So, firearms access is easy.
(and I have plenty of hi cap mags for my 9mm's) But I keep thinking about the AR.
Am I overreacting or just being practical?

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Do you have any other long guns? Can you afford an AR (including ammo, optic, etc.)? Don't let yourself be talked into something that you don't really want, or can't afford. In the end it's your decision.

I would take a levergun, all day, every day.

Wvfarrier said:

I would take a levergun, all day, every day.

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THAT is part of the problem. LOL. I can always also use (another lever action)

I've had an AR-15 for about 11 or 12 years. In all honesty I don't shoot it a lot but it is fun to shoot at the range. They aren't terribly expensive & the ammunition while not as inexpensive as it was when I put mine together is not terribly expensive for rifle ammunition. Mine is an inexpensive M-forgery that I put together from a Palmetto State Armory blemished, (the barrel had a scuff mark on it), kit and a blemished lower receiver. We couldn't find a blemish on the lower.

41Dude
There are only 3 or 4 of us shooters left in the country who don't own any ARs, we are a tiny
exclusive club....don't be a lemming.
Be strong .....you can resist the plastic magnet!

Dave P. said:

41Dude
There are only 3 or 4 of us shooters left in the country who don't own any ARs, we are a tiny
exclusive club....don't be a lemming.
Be strong .....you can resist the plastic magnet!

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My favorite is a 1949 vintage Savage 99 in 300 Savage. Pretty wood. Pristine rifling. It will shoot 1 3/4" groups all day long with Hornady bullet reloads.
It might be useful if needed.

II you should elect to purchase an AR 15 there are many, many firms making them today or rather than buying a complete rifle, you can assemble one for it is quite easy to do and save a bit of money that way. Pricing on 15 style rifles range from hundreds of dollars to thousands for one that is with highest quality of components. I have the Ruger SR 15 and one used for match purposes but is quite heavy due to its heavy barrel and other items. Ruger no longer mfg.'s the SR series of 15 rifles which is a piston system, but does offer the AR 15, gas impingement system, and is a quality firearm in every way from my experience. Would advise you check the Ruger 15 offerings for Ruger is well-known quality high performance firearms. Just a suggestion

Everyone should own at least one good AR.
Ammo is cheap. Mags are cheap. Parts are everywhere.
As much as I like the Mini 14 , a good AR will outshoot them any day.

Using your words, you don't want or need one. So, why bother with buying and learning to shoot one. I am in the group of needed one for work and another to stay at the top of my High Power match shooting. Then came the want, I don't want a rack grade battle gun. I want a match trigger, great sights, scope, barrel and other parts on a carbine size. Had 4 ARs at one time now only one. If I buy any more, it might only be a complete upper with a longer match barrel. I have several bolt action rifles that I enjoy the time at the range making small groups smaller. So, another match grade, long range AR is low on my radar of want of need.
So, what do you expect the reason for its use? Self Defense, range gun, rat shooter, safe queen?

kmoore said:

Using your words, you don't want or need one. So, why bother with buying and learning to shoot one. I am in the group of needed one for work and another to stay at the top of my High Power match shooting. Then came the want, I don't want a rack grade battle gun. I want a match trigger, great sights, scope, barrel and other parts on a carbine size. Had 4 ARs at one time now only one. If I buy any more, it might only be a complete upper with a longer match barrel. I have several bolt action rifles that I enjoy the time at the range making small groups smaller. So, aother match grade, long range AR is low on my radar of want of need.
So, what do you expect the reason for its use? Self Defense, range gun, rat shooter, safe queen?

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All good questions. Plenty of food for thought. Shooting with kids and grandkids top of the list. We do shoot a lot of gophers out here. But do I need an AR for that? Maybe.

I always ask, "What's the best decision to make if it turns out to be wrong?" In this case that would be buying the AR.

Busterswoodshop said:

Everyone should own at least one good AR.
Ammo is cheap. Mags are cheap. Parts are everywhere.
As much as I like the Mini 14 , a good AR will outshoot them any day.

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I hate to admit it but Busteerwood is right... and I think everyone should own one..... not my favorite rifle by a long shot but still practical and if one day you get too old to use it then it will be easy to pass on. Now I don't think I would be looking at the higher priced ones... but still. The only downside is if 'they' actually 'we decide you really can't own one... but I swear our constitution says if the government determines they need something of yours they need to pay a fair market price for that property... but we know how many politicians interpret that constitution.

I will give a plug for a different type if 'evil assault rifle'. The TNW ASR... they look a lot like an AR but are all built for pistol caliber ammo... and accept common Glock Mags... also are built totally in America out in Oregon pretty much to order. they are promoted as a survival rifle ... because it takes about 5seconds to remove or install the barrel.
Here's a picture of one of mine:

I was in the never wanted or needed one group for both the AR 15 and a 9mm.

Well, about the time of the AWB (1995?) when AR's were about $900 I ran into one for what ended up being $350. That filled that empty slot.

A few years later I see a guy trying to sell a nearly NIB Colt 9mm Combat Commander. The shop offered him$150 I had already left the shop but waited in the parking lot. He came out with the Colt in hand. I asked what he wanted for it. "They offered me 150 beat that and it's yours" I dropped $200 in a nanosecond. Slot #2 filled.

I have since softened on the want/need of those two items.

I never needed a centerfire semi-auto because all you did was blow up a lot of expensive ammo quickly. Then Bill said I shouldn't have one. Then I realized that I NEED one. A SKS and an AK later and they were good purchases.

Never needed an AR. Now Joey says they are evil. Well, OMG now I NEED one of them too. I was visiting my son down south and his FIL showed us his newly purchases AR. We went to a gun shop and saw stacks at reasonably good prices. My son was on the fence. I told him he must buy it and I provided the cash.

When I got home I did some wheeling and dealing and got one locally at the same price. Then I went to a gun show and saw low priced stripped lowers, so OMG, now I NEED to build one too.

A set of dies and a brick of once fired brass and the ammo is pretty cheap too.

Please, please don't tell me that there is something else I shouldn't have...

If the purchase doesn't run you short on necessary things, I see no reason not to have an AR, mags, and ammo. I'm a bit 'different' when it comes to firearms and while some dabble in the investments market, I choose to own firearms and the accoutrements that go with them. When Big Zero was elected and folks went crazy for guns, my 'stocks' increased in value by 400-500% and I sold, sold, sold.
When the COVID gun run began, I wasn't running but I also wasn't selling because I didn't need the money. I played wait and see with no dog in the hunt cause my coon was already treed.
Anything else I might say would be considered tinfoil hat(ish) or conspiracy so I'm done.

Mobuck said:

If the purchase doesn't run you short on necessary things, I see no reason not to have an AR, mags, and ammo. I'm a bit 'different' when it comes to firearms and while some dabble in the investments market, I choose to own firearms and the accoutrements that go with them. When Big Zero was elected and folks went crazy for guns, my 'stocks' increased in value by 400-500% and I sold, sold, sold.
When the COVID gun run began, I wasn't running but I also wasn't selling because I didn't need the money. I played wait and see with no dog in the hunt cause my coon was already treed.
Anything else I might say would be considered tinfoil hat(ish) or conspiracy so I'm done.

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Wink , wink , and nod

I picked up 4 more of these last week , pretty darn nice for the money

AR's are a dime a dozen now, whether you buy an all up complete rifle/carbine or stripped receivers and roll your own. I prefer to roll my own. That way I get exactly what I want and no left over parts laying around....I say that but have enough parts to build more lol. Quality parts are easy to find and don't kill the wallet. In fact, the market is saturated with ARs and parts today. My youngest Son and I have built dozens over the years. You can build a cheaper fully functional weapon on the cheap or spend as much as you like if that comforts you. The only thing that will set you back a bit on a basic build is the same as any firearm.....decent optics and the ammo.