Which Hi-cap Rifle for Fathers Gift

Mark Williams

Mark Williams

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My Father has requested a hi capacity semi-auto rifle for Christmas.

I'm looking to spend around $800

What would be good one in .223 -.308 ?

Thanks,

Mark
 
I'm not up on prices these days, but Bushmaster is well-regarded if you are into .223.

Oh, and to irritate the lefties, lets maybe call it "standard capacity" instead of "hi capacity" :)

march-2.jpg
 
"Standard Capacity"

I like that :)

I'm going to a gun show this w/e. Wanted to get a few opinions before I buy.
 
S&W AR-15 in the basic model
Bushmaster
Olympic Arms

Really any of the basic ARs should do fine. Another thought is the Ruger Mini-14 but expect to pay more for magazines. You can still find a few FN/FALs for under a 1000 but they are getting harder to find.
 
I like .308 too, don't get me wrong. I have a Springfield M1A, which is awesome. With the AR-15, when you pull the trigger you hear a little "sproing" in your ear from the recoil spring, and the .308 gives you a big "whump". Either would leave a serious boo boo on the target.
 
I checked out the bushmaster site.

If it were for me, I'd love to have that bigbore .450.

I would imagine .223 would be the better choice for my Dad, It will sit in his gun cabinet
and collect dust anyway. He only wants something for home defense.

Thanks Fellas
 
powernoodle said:
I like .308 too, don't get me wrong. I have a Springfield M1A, which is awesome. With the AR-15, when you pull the trigger you hear a little "sproing" in your ear from the recoil spring, and the .308 gives you a big "whump". Either would leave a serious boo boo on the target.
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I was on the defense force on a Navy ship for a few years. Used to love to shoot the .308. :thumbup:
 
In a home defense role, most rifles are going to be overkill. Since this rifle won't get shot a lot, I would go with the .308. It will have more versatility in the long run and is less likely to collect dust if he ever decides to take it on a hunt. Ammo costs right now are about the same for .223 and .308 so, I'll take the higher recoil and energy levels of the .308.

I've always had a soft spot the classic M-1 Garand. A Springfield "loaded" M1A is a solid choice if you really need 20 round magazines. An 8 round clip will work fine in most home defense applications. If they are good enough for major wars/conflicts, they should be good enough for your average home owner. ;)
 
for 5.56mm (.223) here is my list (to stay in your price range)

Bushmaster (I own one and it functions quite well)
Stag Arms (make the S&W M&P models, also make left handed weapons if that is what you need)
DPMS Panther arms
Rock River Arms

go with the 16 inch upper, collapsable stock and depending on whether you want to put an optic on the rifle either a fixed carry handle on the upper (A2 upper) or go with the flat top reciever and pay a little extra for optics or a carry handle that has optics.

For the 7.62 x51 (.308) I would recommend a used FAL, HK 91, M1A, or an AR10 varriant (think clones on the FAL or HK to keep your price down [PTR makes a nice HK91 clone]), but remember you won't be reloading for any of these except the AR10 or M1A as the FAL and the HK tend to be hard on brass.

Dave
 
I think every red blooded American east of the Mississippi River needs an EBR* in 5.56. That and 10 mags and 1,000 rounds of ammo.

For indoor use a 16" bbl works fine.



*EBR = Evil Black Rifle, aka AR-15.
 
if you want to get the tax stamp and live in a state that allows you to have an SBR (short barrelled rifle) the 11.5 inch upper is very nice for every range up to 600 meters. A friend has one with a can (supressor) that fits in a tennis racket bag and we were shooting it on a private range, granted at the longer distances the shorter barrel becomes a minute of man rifle instead of a minute of angle rifle (Minute of angle is equivilent to one inch at 100 meters, many of the AR varriants are sub minute of angle weapons).

Dave
 
I built this guy up from Double Star parts and lower receiver, I really love it. Cost was less than $725 total (but that was with a flat top 18" upper and separately purchased iron sights, a standard lower with sights would probably save you a few hundred dollars!).
rifleandnewpack001.jpg
 
An M-1 carbine would be just dandy for home defense. Low recoil great poinability and the right price range. Get a surplus one at Big 5 sports for $599.00
 
Mark Williams said:
I checked out the bushmaster site.

If it were for me, I'd love to have that bigbore .450.

I would imagine .223 would be the better choice for my Dad, It will sit in his gun cabinet
and collect dust anyway. He only wants something for home defense.

Thanks Fellas
Click to expand...

I have to agree that for this application the M-1 Carbine does make a good bit of sense. Good value for the money, fairly inexpensive practice ammo, cheap magazines, small size in house, a folding stock can be added, less of an overpenetration problem through walls, excellent defensive ammo available (CorBon DPX), very low recoil and muzzle flash. It also has the advantage of not looking like a "bad guy gun" for when the cops arrive. Manual of arms is easy and the rifle itself is very simple to care for.

I have ARs, FN/FAL, M1A1....but my house rifle is the M1 Carbine for the reasons given.
 
Absintheur said:
I have to agree that for this application the M-1 Carbine does make a good bit of sense. Good value for the money, fairly inexpensive practice ammo, cheap magazines, small size in house, a folding stock can be added, less of an overpenetration problem through walls, excellent defensive ammo available (CorBon DPX), very low recoil and muzzle flash. It also has the advantage of not looking like a "bad guy gun" for when the cops arrive. Manual of arms is easy and the rifle itself is very simple to care for.

I have ARs, FN/FAL, M1A1....but my house rifle is the M1 Carbine for the reasons given.
Click to expand...



Seems we just had this discussion??? :D

My brother and I were looking for something for my aging father... We ended up deciding on the M-1 Carbine for several of the reasons you point out... As well as him having qualified as expert on it in Korea, I believe... twice... :D

For in home defense, that worked out as the easiest solution...

For any application outside, however, any of the HK clones, or the CETME, in .308 would be my choice due to it's ease of operation and for doubling as a good hunting rifle with a smaller magazine...
 
Yep....we did just talk about this...lol. I am debating a M1 Carbine for a car gun as well, I would much rather responding LEOs see an old fart with a nice wood stocked old time gun than a guy holding a EBR. With one of the replica folding stocks a M1 Carbine would be easy to deploy from inside my Mini as well. The price is also a bit better on the Carbines right now, the money saved will easily buy a case of ball ammo.
 
i love the old M1 carbine, handy lite rifles, my dad sure did not care for them though, its what he was issued in WW2 and he carried it for a while and then went to an M1 garand, he said the carbine just just didnt pack enough punch to reliably stop folks, this was with ball ammo though of course.

funny story - a bud bought a M1 carbine with the paratrooper stock back in the mid '80s, we were going shooting and met at my dads house, i was looking at my buds rifle and told my dad "man i like this thing" and he commented he didnt, to put it mildly lol, anyway we wnt shooting and on about the 3rd round fired the firing pin broke on it (why? dont have a clue i dont think they did this a lot) when we got home my dad called and asked "how did that M1 carbine do" and i told him "the firing pin broke" and he laughed and said "i told ya i wouldnt have one of those damn things".

but anyway like i say they are probably better in that regard now ith better ammo, i dont think anyone would claim they will set the world on fire with ball though.

my dad did say they were handy little rifles FWIW.
 
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