Why you chose an AR rifle???

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pyscodog

Active member
I was just reading a "For Sale" in the classifieds and a member was selling an AR for a friend. Was said that he just didn't like the AR rifles...OK!

Question- What made you decide to go AR,Black Rifle??
My addiction started with this web site. I carried one for six years in the military and swore I would never again. I lied I guess. I have two now and have gotten rid of three. Just to much fun to shoot and easy to fiddle with. Loads of new parts all the time. I know, some are thinking-only two?

pyscodog
 
I'm a gun addict.

First it was bolt guns, then semi autos like ak's and ar's

Then back to bolt guns, etc etc.

The AR's were next on my list then.

I built two and am happy for now.

At least till I start jonesing for something else
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I started shooting center fire in the era of plentiful, inexpensive surplus bolt guns such as 98 Mausers and 03 Springfields. Only accurate rifles interest me and the bolt guns could be tweaked and made into pretty accurate equipment.

Shooting competition on an Army AMU with an M1 Garand soon convinced me that the gas guns can hold their own in the accuracy department. Continued shooting competition w/Garand and then bolt guns as a civilian but never was interested in the M16/AR15 due to the bad press the early M16's received. The fact that the M16/AR15 was not allowed in some 600 yard competitions didn't endear them to me either. With the advent of the heavier .22 bullets and better trajectory/accuracy, M16/AR's soon made their appearance in NM competitions and, lo and behold, held their own, which caught my attention.

By that time, my eyes dictated use of aperture front sights, so stuck w/bolt guns as long as I was shooting matches. Super accuracy and the distinct advantage of fast followup shot made the AR an easy choice for predator hunting.

Regards,
hm
 
I carried an M-16 for six years, and was never really impressed with it. It was really nothing more than a tool back then. But that was before the M-4 with its flattop receiver came along. When I saw how easy it was to change to whatever configuration you needed on a given day I began to experiment with them. Though I'm not a fan of the .223 for large coyotes, I enjoy shooting my AR in .223 and I enjoy shooting and hunting with my 6.8 SPC chambered AR. The larger caliber made the rifle much more useful to me as a hunter. The rifle is impervious to weather and its ergonomics can't be beat. If I feel nostalgic, I can still pull my Model 70 Featherweight Classic in all of its satin walnut and polished blue steel glory from the safe.
 
i guess i jumped on the wagon for one simple reason.

modular caliber options.

I started with a custom built .243WSSM to hunt anything from 'yotes up to deer and i couldnt be happier. My dad whines about how heavy it is (16-17lbs loaded with the suppressor) but its fine for me, i'm still young.
plan to get a 9mm sbr upper for shits and giggles
plan to get a .223 upper for varmints and small predators.
plan to get a larger WSSM upper (7mm or 300) for deer and elk
plan to get a .338lm tactilite bolt upper for long range elk and one day a moose hunt up north.
all with the same lower receiver, stock, and trigger pull.
with a H2/H51 BOYT double gun case, all 4 uppers, the suppressor and the lower can fit in the same case.
 
My best man died and his widow needed some money.. I helped sell off his gun collection and bought his Colt SP-1 AR with all the accessories (bipod, bayonet, scope, etc.) that he had and it didn't shoot worth a darn compared to my Mini-14, but 20+ years ago there was a limited amount of ammo available...

I sold it after the AWB went into effect for a sum that was outrageous and was happy...

Then I got into shooting "action" competition matches and the Mini-14 just didn't have the accuracy that I needed....I tried a friend's AR and went out and bought a 16" DPMS EOP carbine (that I still have) and never looked back...

Over the years, I've owned a total of nine of the buggers and still have four in my 'stable'... I feel they are as accurate as most bolt rifles and easy to maintain.... Reloading for them is relatively simple and I can produce some really good loads..
 
I am a gun nut as well, havent seen many guns I dont like. I started out with bolt guns as well then caught the disease. I guess I dont expect them to meet any certain standard..as long as I am having fun with them that all that counts.
 
They are arguable the most accurate semi-auto made. You can dress them however you want, for whatever you want. They are compact. You can swith the caliber in less than a minute and still have the same trigger feel. I still love bolt guns, though.
 
I was a bolt gun guy for most of my life. Then went out hunting with one of my best pals and tried out his DPMS. I fell in love with it. Now I have an R-15 for hunting and an S&W M&P-15 for playing.
 
I used bolt actions and single shots for hunting. One day my son told me to go to a location before dark and call, and coyotes would come in on the dam of the pond. I had a T/C Encore and 2 came in just like he said they would. I missed the first shot and fumbled to reload the second round as they ran back to the woods and I decided right then I would forever use an AR type rifle. I've never looked back, but I do have one Tikka and love it. AR's are fast on additional shots if needed and can be cleaned from the breech end plus they are very accurate.
 
I think they make great hunting rifles. They are accurate, have lots of available accessories, are easy to clean, and make for great follow up shots. I called in 4 coyotes once and had a bolt gun. I shot one of them and the others scattered. By the time I was back on target, they were too far out and over the hill. I then started using an AR. Also, for those with a gun problem (like myself) you can just change the barrel or upper and have a whole new gun or try different calibers. Bolt guns have their place too, but I think I will always have at least one AR in the stable.
 
First one was because Obama was elected.
Second because I wanted a pig rifle that wasn't an SKS
Third because I wanted a plinker.
 
I'm a bolt gun guy and have been for 50+ years.

However, AR's are fun, accurate and great hunters. Been using two AR 223's on PD's for several years. Last year I added a 450 Bushmaster for pig hunting. Great results. This year I added a 6.5 Grenel as another pig / deer rifle. It looks great too!

Fun still ranks high on the list for me.

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I bought my first AR in early 70's, old SP1 I guess, then a CAR 15, then traded for a HBAR, newer style, even had a scope on it for close up fence walking groundhogs, --bought a REM. 788 .223 in early 70's as my main varmint rifle, so .223 caliber has always been my favorite choice for varmints---
always kept 2 AR'S, one for hunting, one for shooting, later started calling coyotes in 1992 after seeing them chasing groundhogs in Cade's cove that summer--
Now with the flat top receivers and all the goodies available for AR'S you can have a rifle as precise as you want to make it--
I will always have an AR, retired my bolt rifle yrs. ago since it is pretty common to see more than one coyote come in to calls, like the quick follow up shots--
Like the AR for hunting, Saiga .223 for plinking, AK- 47 to keep vermin and riff raff away from your door and for all serious heavy duty stuff--all fun to shoot, cheap to shoot, low maintaince, reliable, and ----if need to with 40 rd. mags can spray bullets across the yard like squirting a water hose-----nuff said!!!!
 
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Versatility. I have a Rock River Predator Pursuit rifle in .223 for groundhogs, coyotes, fox, and a Rock River .458 SOCOM carbine upper for deer or if a dinosaur wonders into the back yard. Pretty much covers any game I would want to shoot in Indiana and the Predator is ridiculously accurate. Also have the option of going to a Grendel or WSSM for long range large game. It's also nice to be able to customize your gun for it's specific purpose.

Scott
 
I just bought my first AR back in April to replace my mini-30. I'm kind of opposite with a lot of you guys in that I have always had / used semi's. As a kid i had a .22lr semi. After using a lever for a couple seasons I got the mini-30 and used it for 15 years for mostly deer and then coyotes. I'm a hunter and not much of a bench shooter and put up with the 2- 2.5 inches @ 100 yards that the mini gave me. It was fine for deer under 100 yards. 3 years ago I started hunting predators and found that i needed better accuracy and ammo selection. The AR was an easy choice for me over a bolt, I'm not trying to say an AR is better, I'm just comfortable with them and that's what counts. I only have 1 bolt gun and often forget to cycle another round.
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Even my shotguns are semi's


Bob
 
I bought my first one two days after Obama was elected. Happy election to me!
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I've enjoyed hunting with it and find it a useful tool, particularly for calling (though I'm not real fond of fetching bras...).

I won the second one at the PM hunt earlier this year and am looking forward to putting to good use in the next few weeks when Scott Milk sends me the scope mount he painted to match. If it's as good as I suspect it will be, I may sell off the first one to fund a short barreled collapsible stock version to use as a plinker rifle.
 
I used shotguns & different bolt rifles when I started out. I liked both for the conditions & type of shooting I done. I've always been an "average" shot IMO.

One Winter after buying/selling different bolt rifles. I finally ended up with a tackdriver Ruger M-77 stainless 22-250. I shot mostly long range coyotes, done quite well. Then I started getting wounded runners & couldn't re-connect. That didn't set well with me.

Took one of my Bro's with me one day. He had his Colt AR. He told me I should get an AR. I told him their ugly, don't want one. Well I spotted a long range coyote. We got to within 300+ yrds in a stout crosswind. I missed, Bro connected on the 2nd shot as the coyote was full stride.

I thought hmmm, fast follow-up I like that. Bought a Bushmaster 20" V-Match the following yr. Took me 3 seasons to get good & comfortable with it. End of the 4th season, most every long range coyote I shot at, died. Stalked 20 coyotes that yr. Killed 14, 11 of those 14 were long range runners.

After useing the .223 AR for around 9yrs or so. I stepped up to a Olympic 24" .243WSSM [upper]. For longer shots in stout winds. Best coyote rifle I ever owned.

I was sold then & will never turn back.
 
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I got My AR about a year ago and did not like the accuracy of the upper so went and got a .223 RRA PP upper accuracy is as good as any bolt I have when you can put five shots into one raged hole at one hundred yards what more could I ask for.

Still use bolt guns for Deer.

DAB
 


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