My first "Black Gun"

[redcatcherb412]

Perhaps he had something against them, A lot of Older US Veterans hate the SKS and AK... Anything Commie for that matter. Something about being shot at in South East Asia probably has something to do with it.

Probably right about that.  There are .308 variants on the AR platform and if you really want retro (garand action) the Ruger Mini-30 in 7.62x39 can keep you in the US Mfg. ballpark.  After the gubbmint buyup of the .223 stocks a lot of vets in my area are buying the 7.62s.  Something to be said for owning a caliber not controlled by a gubbmint, but available globally and used by many of your countries enemies.

Ruger mini-30

[Ripsnort]

I am a huge vortex fan these days. If your just range shooting take a look at a 3x9. For paper shooting groups my 1x4 wasn't cutting it.

Thanks. Good input. it will be paper for 51 weeks, coyotes in Montana for 1 week.

[Slash27]

Probably right about that.  There are .308 variants on the AR platform and if you really want retro (garand action) the Ruger Mini-30 in 7.62x39 can keep you in the US Mfg. ballpark.  After the gubbmint buyup of the .223 stocks a lot of vets in my area are buying the 7.62s.  Something to be said for owning a caliber not controlled by a gubbmint, but available globally and used by many of your countries enemies.

Ruger mini-30
(Image removed from quote.)

The Century Arms C39V2 and RAS47 are both 100% American made AKs and damn nice rifles for those wanting another U.S. made 7.62x39 option.

[BuckShot]

Century also makes a VZ58 in 7.62x39.

You can get them for around $400 from palmetto arms.

They are the Czech version of the ak, but the vz is milled and about one pound lighter.

Rino, wtg on the Windham Weaponry AR. They are made on much of the same tooling and by the same smiths as Bushmaster when they were in Maine. I got an A3 20' about two years before they sold to Freedom.

[SmokinLoon]

I love the AR15 platform.  Sweet as pie.

I currently have 2 models of the AR15. I have a Colt MT7600 that was built in 1998 during the so called "assault weapons ban" (that was nothing but a feel-good law). It has been properly modified to be a civilian M16A4 (threaded barrel for FH and milled barrel down from HBAR to govt. profile). Currently, it has Burris MTAC 1-4X mounted on top. It has the 1/9 twist so it fires both the 55gr and 62gr bullet equally well. I've taken that rifle with both iron sights and an ACOG through multiple rifle courses. Probably my "go to" rifle in case the zombies ever come. Invested price tag with gunsmith mods: about $850 circa 2005.

My 2nd AR15 is a Frankenstein M4-gery, meaning it is made up of various manufacturers and it as close a civilian can get to an M4 without proper licensing (it is missing the happy switch and it has a 16in barrel instead of a 14.5in). Currently, it does not have optics mounted. This too has the 1/9 twist. It is light and compact (comparatively). Invested price tag: less than $500 circa 2015. 

As GMAN pointed out, read up and PRACTICE with your rifle. The AR15 is an awesome platform and it is unsurpassed when it comes to accuracy, ergonomics, and reliability. However, being a highly engineered piece of equipment you need to maintain it. Oil it (NO GREASE!!!), then oil it some more especially in the metal on metal parts within the action. Keeping it wet is the key to keeping it working between cleanings. Ask any veteran who used their M16 or M4 on a regular basis in Iraq or Afghanistan and they will vouch for keeping your AR wet. Some of the benchrest aficionados will tell you in a snobbish manner that they use "band X grease". Let them. The M16 was designed to be lubed with oil. I suggest Breakfree CLP, or something similar. Do a search. But whatever you do just keep it wet.  Oh.. and make sure you PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!

My third "fun gun" is a Vector V93A3 (an HK93 clone). Though not as shooter friendly as the AR series, it has its benefits.      With the telescoping stock, it becomes very compact. It is heavier and a bit easier to fire accurate with continuous fire vs the AR, but a rifleman doesn't need rapid fire, does he. 

Eventually, I may invest in the Israeli bullpup Tavor but who knows. The Sig 556 series really catches my eye, too.

[WaffenVW]

The new piston AR's aren't bad, but saying the AR15 is unsurpassed in reliability is a bit of a stretch.

[Ripsnort]

After many days of wasting time reviewing, over-analysis on scopes/red dots, today I decided to go with a "tweener" scope and pulled the credit card trigger....

My analysis of presumed shooting with my first black rifle is as such;
I'll be shooting paper between 50 yards and 200 yards at my local gun club for 51 weeks out of the year, and that week leftover, coyotes in Montana at my brother's ranch.(When not killing bucks with my Remington 700 .30-6 with a Leopold 3x9)

So, first, the scope mount. I went with the Rock River Arms 30mm Base highrise. A good friend (slamfire) schooled in trial and error with AR mounts gave me the advice.

The scope itself, I went with a Bushnell AR Optics 1-4 x 24mm FFP Illuminated BTR-1. This is the model with the 'throw down hammer' (Never cared much for the comic book hero "Thor") but it seems alike a good entry level scope to start with since I have no clue where this new black gun disease is going to land me. 3-Gun comp? Doubt it, I'm getting really old...long range shooting? Not with this scope... Plinking on the week-ends for fun and shooting varmints? I think this is probably the best application as long as I'm downwind of the coyotes whose noses are good out to 3 miles.

The two above mentioned items out the door after tax and shipping was $306.00. I think I did okay.

[Ripsnort]

As GMAN pointed out, read up and PRACTICE with your rifle. The AR15 is an awesome platform and it is unsurpassed when it comes to accuracy, ergonomics, and reliability. However, being a highly engineered piece of equipment you need to maintain it. Oil it (NO GREASE!!!), then oil it some more especially in the metal on metal parts within the action. Keeping it wet is the key to keeping it working between cleanings. Ask any veteran who used their M16 or M4 on a regular basis in Iraq or Afghanistan and they will vouch for keeping your AR wet. Some of the benchrest aficionados will tell you in a snobbish manner that they use "band X grease". Let them. The M16 was designed to be lubed with oil. I suggest Breakfree CLP, or something similar. Do a search. But whatever you do just keep it wet.  Oh.. and make sure you PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!

That won't be an issue, I'm at the range EVERY week-end (or my Friday off). I prefer Ballistol rather than breakfree CLP, I've used Balistol for years and years for all my pistols/rifles/shotguns.

I will bring my small spray can of Ballistol to the range upon your recommendation and keep her wet. The older you get, the more you keep 'em wet. Friction is a squeak after 50.

[Slash27]

Looks like a solid buy Rip

 Give us some feedback

[Bodhi]

Rip, I shoot a lot of .556

If you are shooting at >200yds, pop the cash and by an EO Tech.  They are great sights and do not require the time of access that a traditional scope requires.  Mine is very accurate at 200 yds and beyond.

[Ripsnort]

Woo hoo! Can't wait to hit the range tomorrow!

[Nefarious]

That #pewpew life... 

[heinrich]

Nice weapon you have there boss. I do not have many firearms but I do have a .38 special my wife carries (its pink camo :/) and I have a ruger SP101 for home defense.

[Ripsnort]

Thanks Nef and Hein.

Range was open to public last week-end and this week-end for hunter rifle scoping so I opted to wait a week.
I prefer to shoot when 'necks are not sighting in their kindle sticks.

[Ripsnort]

It's very hard not to shoot, so I will just take gun porn shots....
(For those aviators, yes, that's an original Nixon Galloway water color of Boeing 221A Monomail
in the bokah background)