Rifles...

[IXNAYXJ]

I'm going to be buying a rifle in the near future. It seems like there are a bunch of knowledgeable gun people on here, so I thought I'd pick your collective brains.

I'd appreciate any input you might have in the specific guns, and also any others I should be considering. I'll only be using it for target shooting, not for hunting or "home defense." I don't want to spend much more than $1500.

Here are the ones I'm debating between:

PANTHER™ LR-308 AP4
16” AP4 CARBINE (RFLR-AP4)
http://www.dpmsinc.com/images/RFA2-308AP4.jpg

DS Arms SA58 Carbine (FN FAL)
http://www.webarms.com/Gun%20Suppliers/DSA/sa58carbine.jpg

Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM 16
http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/rifles/SOCOM16.jpg

All three have good points and bad. Just wondering what your thoughts/insights were.

Thanks in advance,

-----Matt------

[red91]

THIS!.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/red91inWA/bar.jpg

[ssjkakkarotx]

I've shot the Panther and the SA58. I personally like the SA58. It has a better feel to it. Plus I don't like the extending stock on the Panther. I would reccomend this beast though. Gotta love a Barrethttp://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/ssjkakkarotx/barett_m82a1_m16.jpg

[IXNAYXJ]

Yeah, but .50 is expensive.... ;)

-----Matt-----

[53guy]

the m1 is still the best target rifle out there in my opinion that is not a bolt rifle. now for home defense? just go buy a shot gun. there's something about the noise a shot gun makes when racked that makes people think twice. also think about how much the rounds will cost if you're gonna be doing target shooting and what distances you're wanting to shoot. you can do some serious shooting for cheap with .22 mags. great varmit round, super cheap, great target round, not so great home defense.


p.s. sorry, misread your post, seeing as you're going to not be defending anything or hunting anything, go for the m1 with a longer barrel.

[RichP]

the m1 is still the best target rifle out there in my opinion that is not a bolt rifle. now for home defense? just go buy a shot gun. there's something about the noise a shot gun makes when racked that makes people think twice. also think about how much the rounds will cost if you're gonna be doing target shooting and what distances you're wanting to shoot. you can do some serious shooting for cheap with .22 mags. great varmit round, super cheap, great target round, not so great home defense.


p.s. sorry, misread your post, seeing as you're going to not be defending anything or hunting anything, go for the m1 with a longer barrel.

X2 on the M1A1 this would be my choice with about a $1500 limit.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/rifles/MA9102Large.jpg

But then I also love my sako forester with it's zeiss scope...

[Ralph]

Target shooting?

Marlin 917 in .17 HMR with at least a 24X target scope and a Basix replacement trigger.

or

Remingtom Model 700 VSF in .223 Rem with at least a 24X target scope.

or

Remingtom Model 700 VSF in .308 Win with at least a 24X target scope.

[HilltopXJ]

M1A1 hands down.

[planefixer]

SA58 all the way.Here's mine. 18" Para Congo.

Before:
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i65/planefixer/P4210002.jpg


After mods:
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i65/planefixer/P5180005.jpg


The M1A SOCOM is a pretty sweet weapon also.

If you want to "step down" to .223 cal. check out the Sig 556.

[johnlv6]

Get an M1A!

My AR-15. I held one of those Panthers at a gun store...it felt like something that should be stocked at Toys r Us. No joke, it seemed to have really cheap components.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/johnl24vvr6/Other%20stuff/DSC01201.jpg

[zthang43]

If you just want it for target shooting, a bolt action would probably be your best bet, unless you just want a semi auto for the fun of it.

Also consider the price of ammo, if you want a centerfire, a .223 is pretty cheap. Good old .22 Long Rifle is the cheapest though, and there are plenty of accurate .22's available for 1/10th the price you are looking at.

For the money you are talking about, you can probably afford to get a serious target rifle, either have something custom made or buy a heavy barreled varmint gun. You are probably going to have to either reload or buy premium match grade ammo also if you are truly serious about target shooting. If you just want something for plinking in the gravel pits though, that is a totally different story, and any of the guns you mentioned would be fun to shoot.

Can you give some more details on what you plan to use it for? Competitive target shooting, varmint shooting, gravel pit plinking at cans, etc? Does it matter to you if ammo is cheap? Are you interested in something that is really accurate, or something that just looks cool? (I'm not saying you can't have both).

My favorite "target" (read "varmint") rifle is a Mauser 98 bolt action with a custom made 28 inch heavy stainless barrel in 6mm Remington Ackley Improved. It does some seriously accurate shooting, and I was able to build it for less than $750. (The barrel itself was $450)

[IXNAYXJ]

SA58 all the way.Here's mine. 18" Para Congo.

After mods:
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i65/planefixer/P5180005.jpg

If you want to "step down" to .223 cal. check out the Sig 556.Dude, that's sweet! Pretty much what I'm looking to do. Very cool. How's it shoot?

I've liked the 556 for a while, but they're not available yet, from what I understand.

-----Matt-----

[IXNAYXJ]

If you just want something for plinking in the gravel pits though, that is a totally different story, and any of the guns you mentioned would be fun to shoot.

Can you give some more details on what you plan to use it for? Competitive target shooting, varmint shooting, gravel pit plinking at cans, etc? Does it matter to you if ammo is cheap? Are you interested in something that is really accurate, or something that just looks cool? (I'm not saying you can't have both).Mainly plinking cans and targets in gravel pits. I do want to have the ability to cover long range though, hence the .308 bias. Semi-auto just for the fun factor.

I very well might get a bolt-action gun down the road, but for now I want a "do-everything" kinda weapon. Compromise for sure, but it shouldn't be too bad. Like you said, any of the guns I mentioned would be totally fine, that's why I'm looking for specific insight into the different guns.

Thanks for the thoughtful response and questions.

-----Matt-----

EDIT: I want it to look cool too. :D

[RichP]

Still the M1A1, it will never loose it's value as long as you take care of it and it's the .308 you're looking for plus there are some decent toys that actually work instead of just making it look meaner..

[IXNAYXJ]

Still the M1A1, it will never loose it's value as long as you take care of it and it's the .308 you're looking for plus there are some decent toys that actually work instead of just making it look meaner..That was my initial thought, as well. The history is cool too.

-----Matt-----

[zthang43]

Mainly plinking cans and targets in gravel pits. I do want to have the ability to cover long range though, hence the .308 bias. Semi-auto just for the fun factor.

I very well might get a bolt-action gun down the road, but for now I want a "do-everything" kinda weapon. Compromise for sure, but it shouldn't be too bad. Like you said, any of the guns I mentioned would be totally fine, that's why I'm looking for specific insight into the different guns.

Thanks for the thoughtful response and questions.

-----Matt-----

EDIT: I want it to look cool too. :D

I would get the SA58, a standard M1, or an M14 then. I've heard some accuracy issues with the SOCOM, although the basic idea of the rifle is good except for the weight. It's too heavy to be a good scout rifle, which is how it's marketed. I like the scout rifle concept, and have .30-06 in a Mauser that I built as a scout rifle.

Have you looked at the Browning BAR? It's more of a hunting rifle rather than the military styled stuff, but it should be more accurate as well. (I'm talking about newer BAR's, not the WWII version.) If you like them, I don't think you can go wrong with one of those, although I have not owned one myself.

You have the right idea though of buying something higher in the price bracket, since you do get what you pay for with guns, for the most part. (There are some expensive guns that dont function well of course.)

Nothing wrong with looking cool too, just be careful about getting something that "looks cool" but isn't functional because of all the extra crap mounted on it.

[IXNAYXJ]

I would get the SA58, a standard M1, or an M14 then. I've heard some accuracy issues with the SOCOM, although the basic idea of the rifle is good except for the weight. It's too heavy to be a good scout rifle, which is how it's marketed. I like the scout rifle concept, and have .30-06 in a Mauser that I built as a scout rifle.

Have you looked at the Browning BAR? It's more of a hunting rifle rather than the military styled stuff, but it should be more accurate as well. (I'm talking about newer BAR's, not the WWII version.) If you like them, I don't think you can go wrong with one of those, although I have not owned one myself.

You have the right idea though of buying something higher in the price bracket, since you do get what you pay for with guns, for the most part. (There are some expensive guns that dont function well of course.)

Nothing wrong with looking cool too, just be careful about getting something that "looks cool" but isn't functional because of all the extra crap mounted on it.My idea of "looks cool" has more to do with being functional that looking like it ran through a J.C. Whitney catalogue covered in Gorilla glue. :D

Haven't checked out the BAR, but I will do so.

-----Matt-----

[jml1911a1]

I have a FAL (Century); I like it.

I researched the living daylights out of it, and decided on the FAL. It may not be as accurate, or as sexy, but it's reliable. And you don't have to mortgage the house for spare mags and parts, and it's alot easier to customize.

[woody]

BARs are pretty nice... not really what pops to mind for a 'fun gun' but the one I had was very reliable and fairly accurate (mine was a standard model...walnut stock, normal blued finish, 22" -or 24"? barrel with iron sights, chambered in .300 Win Mag)

I've been looking at getting a Remington 7600 pump action rifle... http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/7615.htm kind of a companion gun to my 870 12ga pump shotgun. I'm in debate over the 7615P in .223 or in .308... with the Wilson ghost ring sights. I like the .223 as it is cheap to shoot and the commonality with AR mags is a plus. The .308 would offer greater downrange punch, at a cost in terms of recoil, expense, and ammo capacity (10 round mags are the biggest I've seen for sale) In all honesty, my range fan here maxes out at just over 100 yards, so either one would be adequate for punching holes in paper, coyotes, yummy little deers, or bad-guys.

They also offer a non-LE model 16" bbl pump carbine in .30-06 (a great cartridge that ya can find ammo for "everywhere" in the US) but it doesn't come with the cool sights, and having some experience with an ought-six in a wood stocked 7600 with a longer bbl... it was probably the hardest kicking long-gun I've ever shot... The lighter composite stock and short barrel would make range-day a real hoot I'm sure.

Given you want a semi-auto, I'd look no further than the Springfield Armory M1A and a good scope. http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-rifles-loaded.shtml or if your feeling spendy LOL http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-rifles-m25.shtml

[ECKSJAY]

http://www.impactguns.com/store/JLD-PTR91KP.html

There's one that'll knock you on your ass, Matt. :)

[aroncull]

M1A1!

Please dont buy that panther, heard only bad about them.

I have a Rock River AR-15 Carbine: http://www.rockriverarms.com/

also i purchased mine from http://www.jensenarms.com/ in Ft. Collins, CO it was an awesome deal $740 or so with A4 and detatchable carry handle and hogue grip. great deal, New of course..
BUT if i could throw down $1500 i would get the M1A1 in a heart beat, just to good to pass up.

Aaron

[IXNAYXJ]

I think today is the day. I found a used Springfield M1A SOCOM II at a local gunshop priced pretty reasonably (not a steal, but I'm tired of looking). A buddy of mine in the Army has the same gun and absolutely swears by it...as have a lot of you.

So...any last thoughts before it's too late? :D

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/SOCOMIIb.jpg

-----Matt-----

[Don91]

Good choice the .308 ammo is cheap comes in many types and will knock any "intruder" down plus im a big fan off the m14 and its variants.

[Smittty9785]

What powers you ask? how about the power of flight. that do anythign for ya, thats levitation homes, how about the power to kill a yak from 200 yards away, with MIND BULLETS. thats telekenacious Kyle

[johnlv6]

If i had it to do over again i'd get one of those in a heartbeat. Go .308 (M1A). I held a SOCOM II at a dealer a while back...VERY solid gun.

P.S. WTF is the handgrip so far back? They just put it on there with the bipod for $hits and giggles? It looks mean...i'd take one :D.

[JohnX]

I think today is the day. I found a used Springfield M1A SOCOM II at a local gunshop priced pretty reasonably (not a steal, but I'm tired of looking). A buddy of mine in the Army has the same gun and absolutely swears by it...as have a lot of you.

So...any last thoughts before it's too late? :D

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/SOCOMIIb.jpg

-----Matt-----
Is that legal here? I would buy one in a minute(if I had the money :( ).

[johnlv6]

Is that legal here? I would buy one in a minute(if I had the money :( ).

CA? I doubt it (you never know though). That's one thing that's great about GA...i can get whatever capacity magazine i want (i've got 30's). I should get one of those 100rnd beta mags for $hits and giggles :D. People are intimidated by assault weapons (even down here). I get some weird looks when i take the AR-15 out to the range.

[lazarus]

If you are really interested , you can build a great ar type for a lot less than a grand, or you could go the fn way for about the same , if you knew what you were doing. either are going to be great to shoot, use inexpensive ammo to plink, or nice stuff to target shoot with and both will only increase in value. Please do not turn a carbine into a crew served weapon by adding a lot of useless junk that "looks" cool


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/lazarus0213/Guns/th_20arfn.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/lazarus0213/Guns/20arfn.jpg)

[IXNAYXJ]

Well, I bought it. And I ended up getting a screaming deal too.

Brand new Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM II. I added a bi-pod and an Aimpoint and (for now) I'm going to leave it at that. Going shooting this weekend, so I'll take some pics and let y'all know how it shoots. A buddy of mine who's done two tours in Iraq used an M14 for Designated Marksman duties; when he got back the first thing he did was go out and buy a SOCOM II. He says the accuracy despite the short barrell is still amazing at 600 meters. I'm looking forward to seeing for myself!

Here's the only pic I've had the time to take..at the register:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/1158687388.jpg

Thanks for all your input, guys!

-----Matt-----

[Ralph]

Sweet! Let us know how it shoots for sure.

[johnlv6]

Good choice. What did you pay (if you don't mind my asking)? I'm toying with the idea of trading up.

[IXNAYXJ]

Good choice. What did you pay (if you don't mind my asking)? I'm toying with the idea of trading up.With the bi-pod adapter, bi-pod, Aimpoint (~$500), and one year memberhsip to their range, I was $2000 out the door. Pretty good considering the MSRP is over $2k. BTW, if you find one on the net for $1200 or something, keep it to yourself...I'm still enjoying thinking I got a good deal. :D

I'll let you know what I think after about 500 rounds this weekend.

-----Matt-----

[johnlv6]

Thanks...i was just wondering. That's definately a great gun...i'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[IXNAYXJ]

Poser shot of my new M1A:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/DSC01429.jpg

-----Matt-----

[Weasel]

Something I've never understood, why the .308? For target shooting it seems pointless at anything past 200yards? Bullet drop seem like it would kill it anyfarther ( 52" at 400 yards?). We shoot praire dogs quite a bit and use .22-250, .204, and .223 to get out to 600 yards and they still flip up. And if your just going with target shooting why an assault style gun? Seems like a Ruger in above calibers (or even .243) or even a Sig Blaser if you wanted to jump up in quality would shoot circles around that thing. But I don't know all that much.

[IXNAYXJ]

First impressions...and a lot of other entertaining crap. Enjoy!

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=98353

-----Matt-----

[karstic]

Is that legal here? I would buy one in a minute(if I had the money :( ).

Yes, but get it before the AG changes his mind. It's an election year you know.