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YAGT: Help me pick out a rifle

C

CurseTheSky

Diamond Member
My wife and I (both CCW permit holders) have a decent assortment of pistols, mostly for recreational use. About a month ago, we decided to pick up a 10/22 takedown model (our first rifle) for her, so we have something that can reach out a bit further if needed. If we have a rabid raccoon in the yard, I'd prefer not to even bother getting within pistol range.

Now I'm getting the itch to pick up a rifle for myself. Originally I had my heart set on a Remington 700 in .308, but I'm having second thoughts. The area that we have setup to shoot only has about 75-100 yards worth of room, whereas my plan was to be proficient at more like 300-500 yards with the .308. On the other hand, I could just pick up another 10/22, which is MUCH cheaper upfront, and MUCH cheaper overall due to ammo cost, and plenty of fun to plink with even at relatively short ranges. If I pick up a non-takedown model, I can fit it with a custom stock and other goodies to fill the upgrade itch that I get every once in a while.

The problem is, even though we use our firearms for recreational use, I also look at it from a utility standpoint. Another 10/22 would be great for plinking, and taking out small game at a reasonable range, but not much else. A .308, on the other hand, could be used for hunting deer if we ever decided to get into it in the future. However, a .308 would mean trips out to a range, which is far more expensive and time-consuming. Not to mention ammo costs - shooting my 1911 is bad enough; I just blew through $20 worth of ammo in 5 or 10 minutes yesterday, compared to a $15 box of 500 .22LR rounds, which can last until I'm ready to go home.

I considered picking up an AR-15, but especially after the Colorado theater incident, I didn't want to scare the neighbors.

What would you guys do, or what do you recommend?
 
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I have 4 long guns. My favorite and most used is my Marlin 336 30 30.
Check them out. Sounds like what you are looking for.
 
CurseTheSky said:
I considered picking up an AR-15, but especially after the Colorado theater incident, I didn't want to scare the neighbors.

What would you guys do, or what do you recommend?
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I'd recommend telling your neighbors to mind their own business.

Other than that, you've got quite a spread between a 10/22 and a .308 with an AR thrown in the mix. You can kill two birds with one stone though. The cheap option, get a S&W M&P 15-22. It'll scratch the AR itch but still shoot cheap .22's. Another option is to get a regular AR and a .22 conversion. You have the full capabilities of the AR with the ability to plink with .22 on the cheap. Go full monty and get a complete .22 upper for better accuracy and reliability while shooting the cheap stuff but will take a while to get your money back in ammo savings. Another combo is to get an AR-10, combine your .308 wants with the AR. This one will be spendy though, decent AR-10's are not cheap.
 
boomhower said:
I'd recommend telling your neighbors to mind their own business.

Other than that, you've got quite a spread between a 10/22 and a .308 with an AR thrown in the mix. You can kill two birds with one stone though. The cheap option, get a S&W M&P 15-22. It'll scratch the AR itch but still shoot cheap .22's. Another option is to get a regular AR and a .22 conversion. You have the full capabilities of the AR with the ability to plink with .22 on the cheap. Go full monty and get a complete .22 upper for better accuracy and reliability while shooting the cheap stuff but will take a while to get your money back in ammo savings. Another combo is to get an AR-10, combine your .308 wants with the AR. This one will be spendy though, decent AR-10's are not cheap.
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I should clarify - I'll probably own one of each eventually, just trying to decide what makes the most sense now. 😉
 
CurseTheSky said:
I looked at those at one point, looked like a good .223 option that wasn't an AR-15. I heard they have some kind of reliability problem though, might need to do some research.
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I'm not a Mini-14 expert but know enough about them; honestly I've never heard of them being unreliable.
 
clamum said:
I'm not a Mini-14 expert but know enough about them; honestly I've never heard of them being unreliable.
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It may have been just some other platform fanboy that I heard ranting about it somewhere else. Kind of like how you can find AK guys that will rag on the AR platform for not being able to be run over by a tank and still fire, and the AR guys ragging on AK's for not being able to hit the broadside of a barn. There's usually some truth in there somewhere, but the problem is often way over-blown.
 
For the price of the mini 14 I'd just get an AR. More overall flexibility for around the same money. For an inexpensive one take a look at the M&P Sport. Very solid rifle for $650.
 
boomhower said:
For the price of the mini 14 I'd just get an AR. More overall flexibility for around the same money. For an inexpensive one take a look at the M&P Sport. Very solid rifle for $650.
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I heard the M&P and some similar pre-built ARs aren't true ARs in some sense - something about not being able to swap uppers and lowers like other ARs, or something like that. Maybe their were proprietary?

Any idea on that?
 
Do you have a shotgun? Much more powerful than a pistol, good for deer, and you don't have to worry about a bullet capable of traveling several miles.

I find shotgun shooting a lot more fun than shooting rifles.
 
Sig 516 if you have a huge budget.

For cheaper, just about any AR-15 is pretty sweet. The newer Mini-14s fix many of the problems from what I have heard.

I wouldn't get another .22
 
CurseTheSky said:
I heard the M&P and some similar pre-built ARs aren't true ARs in some sense - something about not being able to swap uppers and lowers like other ARs, or something like that. Maybe their were proprietary?

Any idea on that?
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They will swap upper and lowers with any other AR or even military rifles. What your probably thinking of milspec. It's a term that's way way over used and blown way out of proportion. If you are going to be kicking in doors for a living then yes, it may be something you want to look into. If your going to be plinking in the backyard it is pointless. Get a well built rifle and call it a day. An M&P sport is not milspec but will still serve well for your intended purpose.

Milspec refers to how it's built. Pretty much any AR can swap upper and lowers with another unless it is just way way out of spec. Milspec refers to more minute details like material used in the barrel and BCG. What kind of quality control inspections are used in the barrel and bolt, whether those inspections are done on each part or in batches. A true milspec gun will be higher quality than one that isn't but that doesn't mean a non-milspec gun isn't quality.

Take the Sport
It doesn't have a forward assist. Big whoop. That round didn't chamber for a reason. Rack the gun and chamber another round, not cram that one in.

Barrel is different. It's a 1/8 instead of 1/7 and melonite vs chrome lined. 1/8 will actually give you a broader range of ammo to choose as it will shoot lighter loads more accurately. 1.7 was chosen to stabilize heavier traser rounds.

It doesn't have a dust cover. Overrated. When the gun is in use it's open. If you plan on storing it in the desert without a case then I guess you could use on.

Sorry for the rant. Milspec nuts just grate my nerves. Trying to get backyard plinkers to spend way more money than they need to for their intended use.


Even this is just scratching the surface of AR arguments. Try the carbine vs mid length or DI vs piston. You'd be surprised how many 50 page threads are out there on these topics.

*technically speaking no AR is milspec outside of Colt. Only Colt and FN has access to the actual specs since they produce for the military, everyone else is just copying as closely as they can.
 
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JulesMaximus said:
Ruger Mini-14 is a good varmint gun. Lots of upgrade options with it too.
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A friend of mine had one of those. It must have been defective or something. We could see from shooting at plywood targets the bullets would often hit it sideways. Total POS.
 
MrColin said:
A friend of mine had one of those. It must have been defective or something. We could see from shooting at plywood targets the bullets would often hit it sideways. Total POS.
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Did he try multiple types / brands of ammo? Some guns have issues with certain types of ammo - hollow points vs. FMJ, or bullet weights, or it could be a bad batch. Also, were they shooting through anything before it hit the plywood (even brush)? .223/5.56 is well known for going sideways after hitting something, even something as light as drywall.
 
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First off, f*ck the neighbors. Tell them to mind their own business, if they have a problem.

Mini 14's are nice rifles, very dependable, and shoot the .223 round, which can be obtained fairly cheap. However, the prices I'm seeing for these rifles puts them into the realm of low-end AR-15's. While I love my mini 14, if given the choice today, I'd buy the AR-15 (many more choices on how you can outfit it).

Luckily for me, I picked up my mini 14 about fifteen years ago, for ~$500, used, and in terrific shape. It's the stainless steel model, which made it even better of a deal! 😀

But I'm shopping now for a good deal on an AR-15 lower receiver, so I can build one of those. Doesn't hurt to have more choices, right? :thumbsup:
 
Not really enough to go on.
If you like shooting with your wife, get another 10/22. You can have shooting contests where you both have a rifle. Or get a 15-22 and trade off. My wife likes shooting my 10/22 and SR22. I am thinking of getting another of each so so we can use a dueling tree. (Already bought the tree)

If you want more punch and distance than the 22 but still on the "inexpensive" side for ammo, get an AR 15 type. (Wife is not much interested in shooting my M4).

If you want to reach out and touch someone, get the 308 and suck up the time/costs.

I had a Winchester 94 and a Marlin 336. I wish I still had the 94.
 
CurseTheSky said:
I heard the M&P and some similar pre-built ARs aren't true ARs in some sense - something about not being able to swap uppers and lowers like other ARs, or something like that. Maybe their were proprietary?

Any idea on that?
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Smith's 15-22s can't be swapped with .223 parts, maybe that's what you heard. The 15-22 was built from the ground up to be a .22lr, not an AR-15 with a .22 conversion.
 
The trusty 10/22 is super cheap and fun with lots of mods but the Browning SA-22 is much much nicer rifle and it easily breaks into two almost pocket sized pieces. My cousin has one and it is so much more elegant than the huge and clunky 10/22 I used to have.
 
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