Military Rifle suggestions

[bratch]

Looking for input on what you guys would buy and why.

I was looking at an AK74 I found but have since checked out their entire stock. They have an AK74, HKG3, various AR15 variation (about $100 more) and a FAL (about $200) more. Some of these are brand new others have different recievers.

[Steelrat]

Gotta love the FN FAL. Thats a great rifle. Im not a huge fan of the AK series, as they are relatively crude. THe HK and AR15 are nice too, but the FAL is a classic.

[spazzed]

Originally posted by Steelrat
Gotta love the FN FAL. Thats a great rifle. Im not a huge fan of the AK series, as they are relatively crude. THe HK and AR15 are nice too, but the FAL is a classic.

Couldn't have said it better myself

[Mango]

AR 15 all the way.

[Mateo]

FN FAL. Best post WWII rifle ever. Very rugged, dependable, and has a huge backing. There are a few AK variants that I like Galil and AK-103 are pretty good but good luck trying to find one cheap. Sometimes "crude" works very well like a baseball bat in your car. lol

[Mateo]

Also if you are looking for a great cheap bolt action rifle check out a Mauser.

[oldsoldier]

Build your own AR-15. It saves a few hundred $$$, and kinda educates you as to how it works.

[Aegis]

If you want a good recommendation, tell us what you will be using it for.

But I'd guess that no matter what the AR-15 style is a better choice, unless you are hunting deer size game.

[Russ]

I like AR's in 5.56. Ammo is (relatively) cheap. recoil is minimal. You can get them in so many variations, it's crazy! Aftermarket parts are abundant. Everyone NEEDS an AR!

https://www.AR15.com

FAL's and the variants are nice, but 7.62 is a bit much for general "plinking" IMHO. Spanish CETME's can be had for around $300. DSA puts some nice ones together, but they're costly. Don't count out that G3 (similar to the CETME)

I'm really no help. Heck, I like 'em all!

gratuitous AR pic...

[Jeffy-CanCon]

It depends on what you want it for, like Aegis said.

The FN is the best looking of all those, and possibly the most accurate at longer ranges. But it is big and heavy, and sensitive to dirt. The G3 is a a little more rugged.

The AR15 is probably the lightest to carry, and the cheapest to shoot.

If it was ME, I'd pick up the AR15. But that's only because I already have an FN, and the AR fits into my historical collection better.

[bratch]

There's no real reason/plan for having one. I may do a little hunting with it but in all honestly I just enjoy nice weapons.

I've found some of the Cetme stuff with G3 clones for around $350 but have heard they have some QC issues and need some work to get them running properly.

I have been checking out FALfiles.com and will look into AR15.com. I may go the building route I will be alone all summer so that would give me something to work on in the evenings.

[Duke of Lawnchair]

As far as semiauto rifles go, I'd choose an AR15.

Pick your poison (in no particular order):
Bushmaster
Colt
Rock River Arms
Armalite
DPMS
etc.
etc.

The ar15 is a great rifle.
Wanna shoot service rifle or highpower? AR15 will do the trick.
Varmints? AR15.
3gun competition or any sort of "practical" shooting? AR15.

The ability to swap upper receiver assemblies is a God-send.

Other rifles such as the FN FALs, STG58s and their inch cousins the L1A1 are great battle rifles. Very robust and adjustable gas system. Companies like DSA have been hot-rodding these for a while. They offer short carbines all the way to free-floated precision rigs.

The M1As offered by Springfield Armory are also a viable option. You see these in the service rifle scene, but are rapidly being phased out by the mouseguns (AR15s). It's a lot more difficult to make an M14/M1A/M1 action accurized as well as keeping it precise. The Navy shooting team around these parts send theirs back to Crane after every season because they work themselves out of the Marine-tex bedding.

I've done the M1A route and lemme say that if you want a rifle that is VERY forgiving as far as accuracy goes, the AR15 in an "accurized" model is VERY hard to beat. AR15s make mediocre shooters into great shooters. Take that with a grain of salt. It's just a VERY easy rifle to shoot. Recoil is minimal and once you sling up those 60second sitting strings aren't all that bad!

You could also try the CMP route!!! Shoot in a USPSA match or any NRA affiliated high-power or service rifle matches. Make sure you get your results and send them off with a check to the CMP and wait a bit. Voila. M1-Garand (I'm still waiting on the two that I sent for).

If you are concerned with ammuntion, I'd opt for a rifle that can be found in the NATO cartridges. 7.62Nato and 5.56Nato are pretty much the offerings in this day and age. The gov't/tax payer has spent insane amounts of money into the research and development of these cartridges. Loading for the 7.62Nato and 5.56Nato is pretty much boring (that is, if you're into rolling your own ammunition). Components are readily available and there is a MASSIVE influx of imported ammunition. The South African, Austrian, and British Radway Green are some of my favorite "plinkers" for the good old 7.62Nato. As far as 5.56Nato goes, there's a plethora of imported as well as US mfg's fodder out there. Winchester's Q3131A (mfg'd by IMI), South African, Spanish SS109, etc. etc. The list goes on and on. Ammo availability is nearly endless.

OR

You can go the bolt-action route. Mausers, Mosin Nagants, Swiss K-31s, Spanish FR8s. There are so many and they're all so dirt cheap.

Check out some of these sites, if you haven't done so already:

https://www.ar15.com

https://www.thehighroad.org

Jim

[Southpaw]

Might be out of your price range but this is a great gun


Also check out the SITE

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Bratch,

If you do plan to build an AR15, don't hesitate to PM or email me with advise.

I've wrenched a few uppers for my personal enjoyment and it was a walk in the park.

The folks @ ar15.com will be more than willing to help, as well.

If you build, do it right. Start with a good lower and couple that to good components. I'd advise you against widgets and gizmos such as the Accu-wedge or the JP tensioning pin. In my experience, upper-to-lower fit is not that critical. Just like a lot of people mistake a pistol that is a modified Browning lockup to be "too loose" when the slide to frame fit isn't super-1911A1 tight.

Jim

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Originally posted by Southpaw
Might be out of your price range but this is a great gun


Also check out the SITE

Southpaw,

NICE RIG!

However, if precision M1Aing is the game, I'd go with a rig built by one of the more reknowned M14/M1A 'smiths.

But, like I said, the Whitefeather M25 is nicely built. The one specimen that I've toyed with (didn't get to shoot it) seemed to be put together rather nicely!

Jim