I have narrowed what I want down to be AR15 in the .223 caliber but... which company should I buy from?
If you get a .223 AR rifle you may have problems firing 5.56mm rounds. But if you get a 5.56mm you likely will
not have problems firing .223. Consider 5.56mm is slightly more powerful than .223. It also seems to be slightly cheaper right now.
But, why are you buying an AR-15 anyway? Ammo prices for 5.56mm are so high right now becuase of the war and the fact it is the most common ammo. You will be paying $200-250 for 1000 rounds.
Are you buying this just for plinking, for hunting, for home defense, or for the full on survival/SHTF/when the zombies come scenarios? Or like most of us, a little of each? I would argue there are better weapons for each individual case, and a single rifle that can do them all, both more effectively and more affordably than the AR.
-For plinking you can find much cheaper caliber guns that are just as much fun to shoot.
-For hunting the 5.56mm is just not enough energy except for small game.
-For close range home defense you are better off with many other types of weapons. IMHO for in home defense the best weapon hands down is a short barreled 12g shotgun, and just about every military and police force in the world agree.
-For full on survival, when you may be required to use a weapon to feed yourself AND protect yourself, the 5.56 is again just not enough of a round in my opinion, especially if/when you are by yourself.
The AR-15/M16 was designed around the 5.56 round so more rounds could be carried. It was designed for specific battle situations when suppressive fire is used. In many battles it was found that having cover fire in massive amounts was very effective at pinning down the enemy until you could out maneuver them or otherwise gain an advantage. Its also accurate to fairly long distances, but the stopping power drops off rapidly.
Chances are in any home defense or dooms day scenarios, you will never be in a position like this. Going in Rambo style laying down heavy fire will probably get you killed quicker than anything. Situations you encounter will likely not be anything like the battles we see in wars. If you want to survive you'll do everything you can to avoid a firefight. Shooting people at more than 100 meters is also unlikely in a non-military type defense situation, but shooting big game at that range might be required often. In these more realistic situations, it would be better to have a weapon that is very effective at taking down all targets at all ranges.
Personally I would recommend getting something like a M1 Garand or M1A. Use the money you save on your first few cases of ammo to buy some good optics, and you'll have an ultra reliable battle rifle that is cheaper to shoot and a lot more effective in a realistic real life scenario than an AR-15. If the SHTF you'll be able to feed your family by taking down almost any animal in North America, and you'll be able to drop tangos with one shot. Ammo for either one is slightly more affordable than the AR, but more importantly drastically more effective than 5.56mm, meaning your supply will last longer when you need it the most.
