The Gun Every American Should Own

[texag10]

I'm the furthest thing from an "AR" guy... But I want this gun! Handy little killing machine right there!

Thanks! From .15 splits up close to watching hits at 400, it's a great little rifle that can solve a lot of problems.

 

[will_brap]

Your set up sounds exactly what I had in mind. What make is the rifle? Or did you build it?

6 and 22 ARC are both appealing in theory, but so was the Grendel. I’ve come to feel the AR was built around the 223 and it’s probably at its best in that. If the 556 chambering will suffice, I’d sacrifice some power and range for reliability.

I built it. The barrel and bolt carrier group are the most important in my mind. I went with SOLGW but any of the reputable companies that build ARs for work use would be good. I’d building a serious rifle avoid the hobby grade stuff like PSA, Bear Creek, S&W, Anderson, Ruger etc.

Other people are suggesting shotguns. Shotguns are great for shooting flying things but they’re far from ideal when compared to an AR15 as a fighting tool.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Ar15(colt or better)no junk,it needs to operate
G19/45
10/22
Rem 870
6.5 or 30/06

In order!

 

[RockAndSage]

NF NX8 1-8x FC-DMx reticle.

Why the NX8, over the ATACR 1-8?

 

[RockAndSage]

What components would make a good firearm for this concept? Buy a high quality 'pistol'? Build a lower and buy a high quality upper? What optic, LPVO, MPVO, prism, red dot? What suppressor? Would a side-charger be a benefit for hunting in being able to lower the bolt quietly but positively placing it in battery?

The thing that must govern almost every decision in all this, is reliability. For the scenario you outline, everything else is secondary to that. Consequently, unless you know your parts/manufacturers, specs, tools, and capabilities in building an AR cold, I wouldn't bet my life on a self-build.

Form laid out some great AR companies, I'd only add Daniel Defense and Sons of Liberty as solid, reliable options.

Apart from what's already been mentioned, I'd also add that you should place high priority on magazine quality. Other than operator error, the number one most common source of malfunctions in just about any semi-auto are magazine-related. It's stunning how often this comes up. Because of this, also always number your mags - they can look perfectly fine from the outside, but have gone out-of-spec somehow. But if you keep getting malfunctions with, say, mag number 3, it helps diagnose malfunctions and separate out the problem. I personally only run gen 3 Pmags - they're reliable to the point of being bland. So, buy high quality, and buy at least 2x of what you'd carry into the field. You'll want training mags and work mags, and spares for field loss or just training attrition.

 

[Formidilosus]

Why the NX8, over the ATACR 1-8?

Size, weight, price. The ATACR is great, but functionally there isn’t much difference. Though I do like the low profile turrets.

 

[RockAndSage]

Size, weight, price. The ATACR is great, but functionally there isn’t much difference. Thought I do like the low profile turrets.

Good to know, thank you. No functional difference in reliability/durability then, either?

 

[Formidilosus]

Good to know, thank you. No functional difference in reliability/durability then, either?

Nope. The ATACR “feels” a bit better to look through at 1x, and the NX8 loses a little IQ above 6x (newer ones are better). But, all in all, the NX8 is really hard not to choose.
I’ve a lot of use and rounds on most LPVO’s- the S&B Shortdot II 1-8x DFP CC, NX8, ATACR, Razor 1-6x and 1-10x, Minox ZP8 1-8x, etc, etc. When everything is factored, the S&B SD II 1-8x dual focal plane CC is the best; but the amount of people that can utilize its advantage over the NX8 is minuscule.

 

[North River]

Flow through suppressors worth it? The A10 in 556 looks like good value? TBAC ultra 5 enough to break the vicious blast? Adjustable gas? Seems like something else to go wrong but if a system is designed around a certain amount of backpressure it does make intuitive sense to adjust to that pressure level.

 

[texag10]

Flow through suppressors worth it? The A10 in 556 looks like good value? TBAC ultra 5 enough to break the vicious blast? Adjustable gas? Seems like something else to go wrong but if a system is designed around a certain amount of backpressure it does make intuitive sense to adjust to that pressure level.

You can get gas tubes with reduced ports for suppressor use from Black River Tactical or barrels with reduced ports from Sionics (there are probably more) if you are concerned about an adjustable gas block.

 

[doc holiday13]

A 12.5" mid length gas AR is tops. Ive shot a lot of AR platformguns and 12.5 is the shortest you should go with. Anyless gives fireballs and speed takes a nosedive. however. Given myhunting regulations I cannot use a 5.56 for biggame, so I'd have go with a 6mm or shotgun for the 1 gun fits all.

All rifles and pistols sound be suppressed.. i hate blowing up my ears

 

[Johnboy041586]

Hard to beat a well setup shotgun for anything 50 yards and closer. An AR is excellent choice, but I feel it limits you a little on small game (birds and squirrels etc). It's a tough call if you could only have one

 

[will_brap]

Flow through suppressors worth it? The A10 in 556 looks like good value? TBAC ultra 5 enough to break the vicious blast? Adjustable gas? Seems like something else to go wrong but if a system is designed around a certain amount of backpressure it does make intuitive sense to adjust to that pressure level.

Suppressor choice is very specific to what you plan to use it for.

Avoid adjustable gas blocks. A good barrel should have a gas port sized small enough that they’ll run with and without a can (even a traditional can, much less a flow through/low back pressure design). If you can’t tune the rifle by just adjusting buffer/carrier weight and springs, an adjustable bolt carrier to bleed off excess gas is better than an adjustable gas block.

 

[Mike 338]

We Americans are proud of our heritage as riflemen and individuals. Since 1775, armed citizens of this nation have stood in way of tyranny. I am a believer in the concept of a well-armed citizenry.

In 1775 the Brown Bess musket was cutting edge small weaponry. Although most American Minutemen most likely used fowling pieces or trade guns, the concept remains. What is the modern equivalent? What firearm should every American citizen of sound body and mind own as a most basic piece of freedom? Much like the originals, it would serve multiple roles - defense of home, target practice and amusement, hunting, and protection from tyranny.

I would think the obvious answer is the AR-15 in 5.56 NATO, but in what variation? Would it be a 20" rifle, 16" carbine, 10.5-14.5 SBR? @Formidilosus makes a strong case for the 12.5" mid-gas. With today's ability to keep it in braced pistol form instead of SBR, that would seem like the way to go. A suppressor would keep the muzzle blast from being overly obnoxious.

I have used a 16" 6.5 Grendel as a hunting rifle for some years now. I love the ergonomics and compact size. However, a number of issues while hunting has turned me off the platform and made me return to a bolt. Any firearm not being unreliable makes it unattractive as a defense weapon. I suspect a number of these issues (broken bolt head, failure to go into battery from tight chamber tolerances in dirty field conditions) could be alleviated by sticking with a high quality 5.56 platform. While my personal hunting experiences have been underwhelming with the 223, that was with average 55gr soft point and fmj ammo. It seems the newer heavy match loads are in a different category.

What components would make a good firearm for this concept? Buy a high quality 'pistol'? Build a lower and buy a high quality upper? What optic, LPVO, MPVO, prism, red dot? What suppressor? Would a side-charger be a benefit for hunting in being able to lower the bolt quietly but positively placing it in battery?

Or perhaps there are alternate ideas? Stick to a bolt for ultimate reliability? AK based action?

I don't know... the NATO part seems like it should be an instant disqualified.

 

[North River]

Suppressor choice is very specific to what you plan to use it for.

Avoid adjustable gas blocks. A good barrel should have a gas port sized small enough that they’ll run with and without a can (even a traditional can, much less a flow through/low back pressure design). If you can’t tune the rifle by just adjusting buffer/carrier weight and springs, an adjustable bolt carrier to bleed off excess gas is better than an adjustable gas block.

Good info, thanks

 

[North River]

Hard to beat a well setup shotgun for anything 50 yards and closer. An AR is excellent choice, but I feel it limits you a little on small game (birds and squirrels etc). It's a tough call if you could only have one

Good point on small game. I do a lot of small game hunting with reduced loads. AR's are not the best at that. However, this is not an 'only one' situation. It just a firearm that should be owned as a basic right of firearm ownership, and also used as a general purpose firearm when the situation warrants. When a specialized weapon is needed (small game, long range, etc.) a different gun would be chosen.

 

[RockAndSage]

Nope. The ATACR “feels” a bit better to look through at 1x, and the NX8 loses a little IQ above 6x (newer ones are better). But, all in all, the NX8 is really hard not to choose.
I’ve a lot of use and rounds on most LPVO’s- the S&B Shortdot II 1-8x DFP CC, NX8, ATACR, Razor 1-6x and 1-10x, Minox ZP8 1-8x, etc, etc. When everything is factored, the S&B SD II 1-8x dual focal plane CC is the best; but the amount of people that can utilize its advantage over the NX8 is minuscule.

Separate but related - another thread caused the question to come up for me: in the OP's scenario, if you had to prioritize passive low-light capability with an AR (16") but no NODs, what would the more viable options for traditional scopes be? Balancing daytime use, along with best usability into the dimmest light, weight, overall size, reticle, ruggedness/durability, etc. Are S&B Polars a good option? Have they passed a drop test?

 

[49ereric]

Iconic American shotgun sxs shotgun

 

[83cj-7]

Form and I think alike on this subject. This rifle has literally killed hundreds of deer on permits as well as quite a few fox and coyotes. 12.5” 5.56 with the long discontinued Surefire reflex suppressor. Been used for a lot of hunting and carbine classes. Heck, it’s still got blood on it!

 

[Formidilosus]

Separate but related - another thread caused the question to come up for me: in the OP's scenario, if you had to prioritize passive low-light capability with an AR (16") but no NODs, what would the more viable options for traditional scopes be? Balancing daytime use, along with best usability into the dimmest light, weight, overall size, reticle, ruggedness/durability, etc. Are S&B Polars a good option? Have they passed a drop test?

For hunting? Does low magnification matter?