[RockStrongo]

I've been looking for a 5.56 for the past several months, and I think the prices have come down a couple hundred for an AR since last fall. There are some pretty good "deals" out there right now compared to a year ago for sure. AIM typically has the best price that I have seen so far for their DD M4 style rifles. I spoke with a few people in sales and they are expecting these back in stock fairly soon.

Daniel Defense XV M4 Carbine .223/5.56 Rifle
Daniel Defense M4 .223/5.56 Rifle

This is the best price I have found on a NIB Colt 6920 with the "small pins".
Colt 6920 LE6920 5.56 223 NIB 60 Day Layaway : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com

Hope this helps in your decision!

Rock

 

[shooterX]

I too was thinking of an AR, a Sig 556 and walked into my local shop and a SA M1A socom 16 was sitting in the rack, I have wanted this rifle for a long time, and never even saw one in person, well, later that night, it went home with me. Yes everything is more money, but, I love it. And as I understand it (and I haven't tested this yet), The Hornady LE Tap 110 grain round was designed in response to requests for a 7.62/.308 round that had less penetration, and this round is recommended for the M1A. I bought some from ATG but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

 

[Theman9mm]

do the AR. I love mine.. Its a bushmaster .223/.556 with quad rail system, tactical laser dot, surefire flashlight (seen action in Iraq), bushnell red/green dot scope and 3 point sling.. and i'm not done...

 

[peckman28]

The AR15 will be cheaper to acquire, cheaper to feed, and is more customizable, if that's your thing. The 7.62X51 and .308 the M1A fires is unsuitable for home defense; it'll fly right through the BG, the person behind him, and out your wall. The .223 and 5.56 will probably (but not always!) shatter inside the first thing it hits. Also, if you get a carbine AR it will be much more maneuverable in close quarters than the M1A and its 22" barrel. You could go with the Scout (18") or SOCOM (16") model, but it will still be heavier and more unwieldy. So, if you plan to use the weapon for HD, go with the AR. If you want something you can hunt deer with, get the M1A. If you're just getting it because you think they're cool and you'd just like them in your collection, I guess that would have to be up to you which is better in that area. I have both myself, and I would hate to give up either.

 

[gasmitty]

A friend told me the other day that AR15 prices have dropped recently due to a large quantity being on the market right now. Has anyone else heard this?

A year ago, ARs were in back-ordered status and all were selling for top dollar. Currently, prices have relaxed and the supply is quite good. Not quite a buyer's market, but far more sensible than it had been.

 

[NativH]

And as I understand it (and I haven't tested this yet), The Hornady LE Tap 110 grain round was designed in response to requests for a 7.62/.308 round that had less penetration, and this round is recommended for the M1A. I bought some from ATG but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

I love the 110 gr TAP in my AR10. That round is extremely accurate in my 16" barrel. I use this as my primary SD 308 round and keep FMJ ammo for penetration and target practice. The 110 gr is hard to come by so I get as many as I can afford whenever I come across it.

 

[johnshia]

I'm trying to decide between purchasing an AR-15 or a Springfield M14. I know the latter is much more $$ than the AR, but that's not an issue. Just curious as to everones opinion on defensive tactics with these rifles, ballistics, cost to shoot, etc. Thanks in advance.

Would recommend:

1st: an AR due to low cost and the fact that it's like AK of Western world, everywhere.

2nd: get CMP Garand: basically, M-14 in 30-06 w/o detachable mag.

3rd: get M1A/M-14.

Best.

--John

 

[uralite]

M1A/M14. I keep wanting to get an AR, but everytime I think about it I keep thinking how satisfactory my M1A is. How much .308 ammo I could get for the cost of that AR. There is plenty of ammo around at the same price as .223. I found .308 for .35 per rd online. .223 is up there as well. The m1A will cost more upfront, but will leave you with that reach out and touch someone feeling at the range.

 

[oneshot]

For only one rifle I would chose the M14 in 308.

Just my 2 cents, but...recently went thru same or sort of, decision.

AR15 - .223, great weapon, ammo cheap (relatively), accurate to 100 yds, lots of accessories, fun to shoot!

M1 - .308, accurate to 300+ yds, expensive to buy, ammo more expensive, fewer accessories

AR10 - .308, Great weapon, plenty of accessories, more expensive to shoot.

My choice, AR15 lower, 6.8mm SPC upper. Terminal ballistics in between .223 and .308. Accurate to 300+ yds. Less recoil than .308. Ammo available locally and on line. Cost between .223 and .308. Seems to be a great compromise. Took two deer this season 180+ lbs, longest shot was 185 yds.

Apples and oranges.

If I could have only one rifle, period, and these were the choices, I would go with the M1A, which is what Springfield Armory, Inc. call their M14. I would, of course, pay much more for the .308 ammo over time, but .308 can do things that .223 cannot. As for tactics, well, where I live, I would certainly have to adjust my tactics if using a .308 for general defense, because I like my neighbors. Basically, I would need to use something else to shoot at bad guys in my neighborhood, except for some very specialized circumstances.

Presently, I have an AR15 and two Mini-14s, because .223 is a better cartridge to use in my near-urban environment. I own manually-operated rifles chambered in .308. An M1A or M14 is on my long-term wish list, but is not a priority. I do plan to live on acreage in an area with rolling hills in the future.

^^^^^YEP^^^^^^^^

Never gave two poops for the .223


You will never begin in the fight you have planned for. You will begin in the fight the other guy has planned for.
Move in a manner that leads him into your fight should he press his attack.
Mathew Courtney

 

[sgb]

I have AR15, AR10 and M1A platforms. The AR platforms are far more versatile for less money than is the M1A.

When you look at cost vs benefit the AR15 is the best choice. The 5.56 (.223) cartridge is easily aquired for a much cheaper cost than is 7.62 (.308). Further with the AR15 platform you can swap out upper receiver assemblies and magazines to shoot other calibers like .22lr, 6.8spc, .300 whisperer, 5.45x39, 7.62x 39 for examples. You can also swap out uppers to go from a carbine to rifle to varmint length barrels.

My recommendation is to get a quality AR15 first then start saving for that M1A ......... or AR10 :hand10:

Gratuitous gun porn ......... :danceban:

 

[Gearslammer]

That is if hunting deer with a military rifle is your cup of tea.

People have been doing that for centuries. All in all out of the two option I would opt for the M14 and get a pistol in 40, 45, 9 or a 357 mag for your defensive purpose. No pistol permit? then get a rifle in one of the above or even get a semi-auto 12gauge and forget the rest.

 

[RebelRabbi]

Too many people have walked away from 5.56 wounds for my comfort. 7.62 is the way to go.
Garand type actions are much more reliable than AR's.

 

[PaxMentis]

Too many people have walked away from 5.56 wounds for my comfort. 7.62 is the way to go.
Garand type actions are much more reliable than AR's.

Having been shot 5 times one day with 7.62, and having seen first hand the damage done from about the same range with a 5.56, I am a solid 5.56 believer.

I still feel the 7.62s 40 years later, but the same hits from a 5.56 would have left me feeling nothing.

:tumbleweed:

 

[ScubaDuba]

I love my M1A. Don't get to shoot it very often. I plan to collect all US Army main battle rifles. M16/M14/M1..etc. Maybe you could just do that, and not have to decide which one to get.

 

[Shadowsbane]

Having been shot 5 times one day with 7.62, and having seen first hand the damage done from about the same range with a 5.56, I am a solid 5.56 believer.

I still feel the 7.62s 40 years later, but the same hits from a 5.56 would have left me feeling nothing.

:tumbleweed:

7.62x51? or 7.62x39?


And yes, You get hits in fragmentation range of the 5.56 round and it is quite impressive.

 

[DMM]

M14/M1A or AR15

I've shot both, in combat, and while the AR15 has come a ways from the first issue it is still a weapon that requires constant attention to keep it reliable. When I was issued the AR15 I bought a 45 on the black market to carry as a backup, and yes, I needed it. If you want shoot all day reliability under harsh conditions go with the M1A. Accruate to 500m with iron sights, better penetration and great stopping power. At 9+ lbs it's no fun to hump and the weight of the ammo reduces your round count for a combat load.

There is another option however. The ruger Mini-14 is an M14 action in a 223. Popular as an open range or ranch rifle it offers M14 reliabiltiy with 223 ammo cost. Light, compact with multiple stock configurations, optics and options. The very best news is that the base config is around $600.00 and you can option it up from there. Gives you a small, 5-30 round, magazine fed carbine, in the lower cost 223. Add red dot optics to the 30 round mag and you have a pretty good urban defense package that can still drop a cyote at 300 meters or further with better optics. Great bang for the buck.

 

[PaxMentis]

7.62x51? or 7.62x39?


And yes, You get hits in fragmentation range of the 5.56 round and it is quite impressive.

39...standard AK circa 1969

 

[PaxMentis]

I've shot both, in combat, and while the AR15 has come a ways from the first issue it is still a weapon that requires constant attention to keep it reliable. When I was issued the AR15 I bought a 45 on the black market to carry as a backup, and yes, I needed it. If you want shoot all day reliability under harsh conditions go with the M1A. Accruate to 500m with iron sights, better penetration and great stopping power. At 9+ lbs it's no fun to hump and the weight of the ammo reduces your round count for a combat load.

There is another option however. The ruger Mini-14 is an M14 action in a 223. Popular as an open range or ranch rifle it offers M14 reliabiltiy with 223 ammo cost. Light, compact with multiple stock configurations, optics and options. The very best news is that the base config is around $600.00 and you can option it up from there. Gives you a small, 5-30 round, magazine fed carbine, in the lower cost 223. Add red dot optics to the 30 round mag and you have a pretty good urban defense package that can still drop a cyote at 300 meters or further with better optics. Great bang for the buck.

My solution to the "reliability or effective ammo" issue is a Saiga .223. Actually chambered for 5.56 NATO and built by Izhmash on an AK frame. It requires some restoration (using American made parts to avoid 922(r) issues) since they had to replace the stock with a sporting configuration and take off the pistol grip to import them, but base price is only about $350 here.

 

[120mm]

Garand type actions are much more reliable than AR's.

That is demonstrably not true, and proven by battlefield and laboratory testing.

 

[120mm]

I've shot both, in combat, and while the AR15 has come a ways from the first issue it is still a weapon that requires constant attention to keep it reliable.

B.S.

I've shot both ARs and AKs "in combat" and find that if you aren't an idiot, and keep your AR lubed, it needs little to no attention to keep it reliable.

The Guys with the M14s, on the other hand, eventually ended up leaving them in the arms room, because of maintenance issue after maintenance issue that came up.