Has anyone here tried shooting an AR-15? I'm interested in the idea of a semiauto rifle.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...hlight=%2Bar15

 

I sold a Bushmaster recently, as I prefer a weapon to make a large effective hole in something. The AR 15 is an interesting weapon, the ammo is too small, too lightweight - my FN FAL will out shoot, and out range it easily. The main use for an AR15 is varmint shooting - It does really well at than, though the noise it makes is very intrusive, and spooks the prey.

Theo

 

.223 for varmints?

 

In my own personal opinion, AR-15s pale a little in some areas, especialy the way the forestock rings of plastic when fired. you can see and feel it flex. I think that feels cheap. They also have the tendancy to 'double stack'. However, they are still an OK rifle. If you like .223 cal. The Ruger Mini-14 is reliable peice. Versatility is where the Mini-14 shines. Many aftermarket applications. You can give it the combat rifle feel or use it for game.

So, that's my 2 cents.

 

Depends what you call a varmint.. My friend that bought my Bushmaster goes after prairie dogs, and coyotes. The .223 is great for them.

Theo

 

If you like to shoot check this site.
www.garrettcartridges.com

 

Check out AR-15.com for everything you would ever want to know. You can get .5" groups with an average AR. I shot a friend's mini 14 that got about 4" groups. Put in a Jewel trigger and it feels almost as good as my Remington 700 varmit special. I shot a 4" group with it but at 400 yards.

 

...223 seems to be working pretty good on the Iraqis


My AR with a Olympic arms upper receiver on a Colt lower, fully floated barrel, aluminum fore grip cuts 1/4in 5-shot groups at 100 yards with open sights and factory ammo...I got no complaints

Double stack feeding problems are usually due to magazine issues...ie weak mag spring

 

There was a pretty good article on the .223 in the last month or so, I think in Guns and Ammo or American Rifleman that makes it pretty clear that the .223 is a very good varmint cartridge, comparing very well with the 22/250.

I own two AR15s from Colt(I also own a .223 AK47, no where near as good as an AR). One is the older model Round grip that is kind of in between the old style Vietnam era with the triangular grips and the newer A1(?) which had the round grips, forward assist, shell deflector, heavy barrel and 1in 7(?) twist. It looks like a heavy barrel but the barrel necks down under the hand guard, it has no forward assit and no deflector but has the good twist. I also own the Sportster HBAR(I think it was called) which is essentially the A1 round hand guard with heavy barrel with the bayonet lug removed.

Both are locked up in a hard to get at place so I don't want to take the time to pull them out to be exact about model# etc. I have almost 20 years experience so I don't need to look at them to know what they can do.

In any case both are OK with the standard 55gr military ball. But where these babies shine is with heavier bullets between 63 and I think 75 gr. Both guns will print dime size 3 shot groups off a bench at 100 yards, easy. This is far better than any of the stock Mini14s I have seen will do, usually 2inches+-. BTW I am no crack shot, so it is probably the guns doing their job well that gets me such small groups.

These guns are not your classic hunting rifle but they are built to shoot all day. I have literally shot more than 1,000 rounds thru each in one sitting. They don't have any problem with heat build up as far as I can tell as long as you are shooting in a controlled manner. They shoot great even when rain sizzles off the metal and the handguard gets uncomfortably hot.

I also greatly appreciate the chrome bore of the AR. It really keeps the wear down to essentially 0 and they are a snap to clean. The plastic is quite durable especially for 1980s era and newer models. The specification is that they can be used to bash down doors, crush skulls and be used as stretchers among other things. I wouldn't worry about the plastic, I would more worry about wood chipping, splintering and absorbing moisture and upsetting the accuracy of the classic rifle. I own many classic wood stock rifles and I am far more careful with them and they give me more trouble with weather. The AR is a great "gotta work every time any where" gun IMHO.

The only problem I have ever had with my ARs is that after thousands of rounds, my older model got weak on the interrupter and it will occasionally pop of 2 or 3 round bursts, surprisingly accurate still.

AR15's and their ilk are fast becoming the class leader for highpower rifle matches, often outshooting the venerable M14 and M1 rifles. Where the AR seems to fail is long range windy conditions, the M1/M14 do much better there. High power matches are between 100 and 600 yards so I think you can eliminate the argument that they are not accurate. Try hitting a target at 600 yards standing with your old buffalo gun, harder than you think, but routine and required with the AR.

BTW to show I am not prejudiced, I shoot .22, .223, 6.5Swede, 7mmMau, 7mmRM, 30.06, .308, 7.62x39, 7.62x51(?), .303 Brit, 7.65Arg, 8mmMau, 8mmHun. I reload them all, occasionally I shoot competition(I am fair but no class winner) and I have shot 10s of thousands of rounds. For all day target, I like .22 and .223 because they are cheap to shoot and gentle on the shoulder. For long range and silhouette I like the 30.06 and .308 but these will wear you down after a couple hundred shots.

So in short, the AR can be a very fine, durable, accurate rifle. It's looks are not everybody's cup of tea and some older models are restricted in some locales due to misguided "Assault Rifle" Bans. I would not hesitate to use an AR for competiton or varmints. It is not a good gun for larger game like deer(although a favorite of poachers), but squirrels, rabbits even coyote are fair game.

Just my opinion and experience from about 20 years of shooting a couple. If I could only take a few of my guns, it would be the AR and my M1. But that may not work since my boys have already plotted my demise and plan to fight over the 2 copies of each that I own. Wonder who gets the M14?

Jim Henderson

 

....Well said Jim,
Uh....I'll takes dibbs on the M1-A1...

 

Ah, a man who understands what I meant by M14. Well in any case you and my boys will have to duke it out. But watch out for my youngest. He already appears to have claimed my Swedish 6.5, and heck I ain't even dead yet. He has a good eye for guns, the Swede is a Mauser made(fairly rare), 1896 year of manufacture and not cut at the muzzle.

Jim Henderson

 

I do not have sons, but I have a teenage female who shoots better than I do, and has designs on my safes.....

Theo

 

Ah yes...the swede 95/96...That sure would like nice sitting next to my 7.65 Argentine (factory finish like new, factory stock like new,clean shiny bore, Looong bayonet)...That thing shoots better than my nat match Garand and almost as good as my AR...Gotta love that OLD world tuetonic engineering...

 

.338's work great for varmints too. Wind doesn't push them around as bad. First one that says that's too much recoil is a pansy.

I've shot just about every "common" varmint caliber from a .22 rimfire on up. A well placed shot from any of them produce the same effects.

If you've never shot an AR-15, the first shot will sound really funny. You will hear a pronounced "boing" sound in your ear from the spring in the buttstock.