ProGunProgressive.com

[Xela]

You may want to hang me by my...toes because I've picked one of the most unimaginative posts on the net.

But whatever

Anyone out there?

Xela

[C. lupus baileyi]

Having had to haul all 5+ kilos of a FAL during a significant part of my basic training, and having my shoulder battered blue on the range, I have a definite love/hate relationship with the rifle. But she's what I know, and I'd pick her over a G3 or an M14 variant without a second thought.

When it comes to the question of AK v. AR, the main question is: what do you envisage needing it for? If you're looking for a rifle that you can count on to continue functioning if you take to the hills following a major disruption of the social order, and you're willing to overlook the fact that it's essentially an overgrown submachinegun minus the automatic fire capability, the AK's your choice (though if you're looking to be armed beyond the end of civilization, maybe you should consider a flintlock).

I went for an AR-15 (an OlyArms K3B-M4-A3-TC, to be precise), because I don't envisage needing it in severely adverse environmental conditions with little opportunity to clean it. My weapon is intended for home defense (particualry in the event of a natural disaster), and for my personal SHTF scenario, which involves various dittoheads and Freepers trying to make good on the things they've been threatening liberals with for quite a few years now (or even a Republic of Gilead-type coup, if you've read The Handmaid's Tale). In that event, the weapon will be used to provide firepower for the purpose of making it 160 miles via backroads to a point on the Canadian border where there is officially no crossing point, but is manageable with a 4WD vehicle and certain tools. (Hey, SHTF scenarios are all about paranoia.)

In the interim, I like the AR-15's versatility; it's practically become a weapon system, rather than simply a weapon, the way you can swap out uppers and mags and fire a different caliber, with a different length barrel as well if desired.
_________________
"Our society is no longer imaginable without gun violence. All too often during muggings and robberies, a firearm is used to threaten." - Dutch regional police report, 2005

Member: HRW, ACLU, SAF, NRA

[Xela]

Hi wolfie,

I have a weakness for an AK/FAL combo (don't own either one at the moment though). Simplicity, ruggedness, reliability and a good punch is what gets my attention. Particularly if SHTF scenarios come to mind.

But I've been tempted by the AR.

I'm also looking at this from a home defense perspective, so .223 sounds like a more logical choice in the type of environment we dwell in (apartments).

Add to that an urban setting, and my wife tolerates the look of the AR clone much less than an "evil look" of the AK clone.

What's your take on a Katrina like situation? Picture Blackwater thugs "clearing" neighborhoods with kevlar vests and what not, would the .223 round do?

Xela

[C. lupus baileyi]

[Xela]

Thanks for the comments.

http://www.olyarms.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=39&category_id=7&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

That OlyArms seems like a nice set up.

In AR's, I have been looking at S&W's. They seem a bit less expensive in my area and they have been getting great reviews.

By the way, now I'm gonna have to go and at least check out the movie Handmaid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid's_Tale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid's_Tale_(film)

Regards,

X

[C. lupus baileyi]

Thing to note about OlyArms: they don't do chrome-lined barrels/chambers, and only a limited amount of stuff in chrome-moly. They specialize in stainless steel "match" barrels, which are highly accurate but (even) more work to clean. Part of why I bought an OlyArms is because they're local, and my favorite gun store is actually a sideline of some guys who work at OlyArms; they make rifles until mid-afternoon, then go and sell them until early evening. For that, I was willing to overlook the chrome lining. I figured that, if I got desperate, I could always buy an after-market chrome-lined barrel from YHM or something.

There are quite a few AR-15 enthusiasts who look down their noses at OlyArms, to a large extent because their QA used to be less than rigorous, but we're talking years ago by now. Sure, there are better AR's out there (Stag, Bushmaster, RRA), but those are concomitantly less afforddable as well. I'm not overly concerned with having the best AR money can buy; if the rifle will put the bullets where I place them, and it does so without malfunctioning, that will suffice.
_________________
"Our society is no longer imaginable without gun violence. All too often during muggings and robberies, a firearm is used to threaten." - Dutch regional police report, 2005

Member: HRW, ACLU, SAF, NRA

[C. lupus baileyi]

On a side note, I just bought a "rimfire adaptor" (also from OlyArms) for my AR. It's more or less a drop-in bolt carrier assembly replacement that will take .22LR rounds, allowing you to fire those through your .223/5.56mm barrel. The RFA incorporates a front piece containing the .22LR chamber, which fits into the .223 chamber of the original weapon. The tolerances are a little loose, so it's not going to be as accurate as a dedicated .22LR upper, but it is a lot cheaper (~$150 as opposed to $500 and up). Just the thing for plinking and basic rifle instruction.
_________________
"Our society is no longer imaginable without gun violence. All too often during muggings and robberies, a firearm is used to threaten." - Dutch regional police report, 2005

Member: HRW, ACLU, SAF, NRA

[Xela]

Would you guys say the jury is still out on the SIG 556?

Man, that's one sharp looking piece of equipment, and very solid when I held it.

But it still not a SIG 550, and it's rather expensive. Makes me think one might as well go with an M1A.

Xela