Talk me out of selling my AR

[OgenRwot]

First, I'm a married guy that went back to school so I'm a college student on a serious budget. So yeah, none of the "save your money and have two" replies. Trust me, if I could I would. But I'm not gonna have an extra $1000 to dump on a rifle for at least another year.

I'm heavily considering selling my AR-15 (556) to fund an AR in 308, probably a DPMS. I love my AR but I don't shoot it much because, well, you can only have so much fun blasting away at dirt. It's got an EOTech on it so it's set up as a battle rifle. I have it pretty much strictly for a SHTF situation and the occasional two and three gun matches. So matches aside I'm not going to be kicking doors down in SHTF scenario, I'm going to be avoiding BGs when possible.

I love to shoot precision rifle matches. Tactical style, p-dogs, prone, bench...whatever. I shoot that with my 700 bolt gun but it's pretty much straight up bench rest style so tactical and p-dog matches are hard with it. Can't fit rounds in the magazine and it's got a super light trigger. Can't exactly bounce around with it either.

If I build a 308 it's going to be more of a 500-1000 yard shooter which puts it beyond the threshold of what I would call a DMR. I would put at least a 16x variable optic on it but you can't exactly just carry that around and throw it up to your eye to make shot at 50 yards.

So yeah, talk me out of selling the 223. Why do I need that over a DMR/precision AR? I've kicked around a bunch of thoughts but it helps to have other's input as well. Sometimes you overlook something.

[Scanker19]

The price of ammo would be my major concern. .308 Cost a lot. 5.56 only cost 6-7 dollars a box for brass cased, even less for steel. That has to be at least twice as much training.

[Graves]

Look back to last christmas...wasn't long ago at all was it? Just hold out because I promise after running a few long range strings you'll wish you had the AR to plink around with too. You really don't need one over the other but enjoying the AR for now should keep the LR craving at bay for a little while.

[OgenRwot]

The price of ammo would be my major concern. .308 Cost a lot. 5.56 only cost 6-7 dollars a box for brass cased, even less for steel. That has to be at least twice as much training.

I reload so cost of ammo isn't really much of a factor. We're talking 40-50 cents a round for match grade stuff. We're not talking about heading out to the woods and laying down covering fire.

[BPTactical]

Only you can decide what is best for you. The aforementioned cost of ammo is a consideration. The days of the 30.00 200 round battle packs are long gone.
The rifle is costing you nothing to keep.
You can piece together your AR10 as funds allow without selling.
What if the SHTF arrives and you want the Mrs or kids to have a weapon? A 15 is going to be lighter and easier to handle for someone that is not a dedicated shooter. If you are on the move you can carry a third more ammo with 5.56.
Look at a toolbox- do you just want a crescent wrench in there or do you want the correct tool for the job at hand?
One last thought-looking down the road if you do sell- will you be able to replace it? I think a nasty AWB is in our future, especially if Oblunders ATF nominee (Andrew Travers) is seated as the Executive Director of BATF. No, he cannot make the law but if you think he would not have influence think again.

I vote to keep her...

[Byte Stryke]

What if the Zombies come?
What will your wife shoot for those long range head shots??



http://www.smileydesign.net/smileys/zombie01.gif

[StagLefty]

All the above reasons-keep it [Beer]

[Troublco]

Well, when I am going to make a serious decision I always try to put a list of the pros and cons together to help make a good decision.

Selling the AR-15 pros - help fund an AR-10, give you a .308 semiauto, help you to shoot your tactical and p-dog matches. Ammo commonality with your bolt gun. Add any others I missed.

Cons - probably won't cover the whole cost of the AR-10 so you'll be cash out of pocket, parts/accessories/magazines cost more, you already have this one and its accessories/mags, gun is heavier if you hunt, etc. Once again, add any I missed.

You can really make the argument whichever way you want. It comes down to what you want to do, how you want to do it, and what you want to do it with. Do you want to keep what you have and not put any money out of pocket until after you are done with student status and have an income again, or do you want to try to do this in your current situation and risk having to compromise the AR-10 in who knows how many ways until you can afford to do it the way you really want to? Can you make do while you're a student, or not? Can you afford to do this right now, or not?

I have seriously considered an AR-10 type rifle, but I have two M1A/M14s with all the accessories I need, so I just can't quite make myself need an AR-10 enough. I'd like one, I really thought hard about an LWRC REPR awhile back but I'd need to get everything for it so, I didn't. If I didn't have the M14's, I'd be all over an AR-10. Or two.

I never did get a 5.56 carbine. I couldn't figure out why I'd need an M4-gery for anything I'd do. I suppose if I shot 3 gun it'd make sense, but I have a carbine in 6.5 Grendel that I could use on coyotes if I wanted in addition to 3 gun or whatever else. Of course, I suppose I don't really need an AR pistol in 5.56 either.[Tooth]

ADD - BPTactical has some very valid point, I think.

[tmckay2]

id keep it and wait. but heres some advice from someone who recently bought a 308.

first, if you are a smart shopper, i wouldn't buy a factory rifle. build your own. its easy and you can get a LOT more bang for your buck if you shop around and read reviews on whats best for a tight budget. everyone thinks its so expensive to build your own but youd be surprised, especially if you aren't afraid to have a few parts lightly used, like a stock or rail, something like that.

second, you can reload match grade ammo for WELL under 40-50 cents a round. look at midwestshooterssupply and their nosler 168 gr bthp bullets. they sell them in 1000 counts for around 210. then factor in 30 bucks for primers and then it just comes down to powder. thats assuming you don't use any discounts or anything too. ive reloaded some really nice ones for right about 30 cents a round. again, just shop around some, or find powder used for cheap, etc.

im in grad school right now too so the only money im allowed to spend on firearms is stuff i sell first. believe me if you really look you can get really nice deals, especially if you are willing to wait a year (or have to out of necessity). but if you sell your 223 you will regret it soon and want another one. id say its best to keep it and wait on the 308 or simply buy it part by part from now til next year when you see smokin deals on parts (check here, ar15.com (puke), m4carbine.net and ar15armory.com). i just found a larue rifle length rail, mounted but otherwise new, for $190. there are some nice deals out there and you could build a sweet rifle in a year for pretty cheap.

one last piece of advice. if you don't mind spending a bit of an extra dime on the receivers, the mega billet ma-ten set is very nice. its $500 for the set but you won't be disappointed. also check out blackhole weaponry for barrels, also very nice and you can read about them on ar15armory.com. let you customize the barrel all you want and pretty fair price, especially for .308.

[DOC]

You'll never get another one. Something will always come up.

[Elhuero]

I have regretted selling every single firearm I have ever sold.

[hurley842002]

I have regretted selling every single firearm I have ever sold.

X2 Made a promise to not sell anymore unless it was an emergency, No more selling this firearm to get that firearm, i'll save for that firearm.

[SNAFU]

You have a Rem 700,,get a detach mag box conversion from either Badger or Jeff at CDI.
Find a better stock,there are a lot of options there too.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2221978#Post2221978


Keep your AR,get a 2nd upper.

[275RLTW]

What's the harm in waiting a year to save up? Are you trying to satisify your needs or wants?

[Byte Stryke]

X2 Made a promise to not sell anymore unless it was an emergency, No more selling this firearm to get that firearm, i'll save for that firearm.

+1
Unless my son or wife need the money and I have no other recourse.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Save up for your future rifle! Buy one only when you can afford it. [Beer]

[spyder]

If you get rid of your AR, you will regret it even if you get a bigger version. Regretting something is worse than wanting something, so save yourself that trouble. You already have a precision shooter, so, why not upgrade it or sell it to fund your much wanted 308 chambered version AR? That is what I would do.

[ShooterJM]

Fair warning, I sold an original FN FAL years ago to raise money for grad school and I've been kicking myself ever since.

[OgenRwot]

OK OK, you guys talked me off the edge of the cliff. I'll keep the AR and start pinching my pennies.

Unless someone wants to donate to my cause [Wave]

[theGinsue]

Uh, not really, but thanks for asking.


If your on a serious budget, selling one to buy one (that is more expensive) that shoots much more expensive ammunition isn't the smartest thing a married college student could do.


What's the harm in waiting a year to save up? Are you trying to satisify your needs or wants?

These guys have it right.

You've made the right decision.

[OgenRwot]

You have a Rem 700,,get a detach mag box conversion from either Badger or Jeff at CDI.
Find a better stock,there are a lot of options there too.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2221978#Post2221978


Keep your AR,get a 2nd upper.

Yeah, I've looked into it. But for the price you're gonna pay to get into a new stock that's halfway decent and get mags you're gonna spend at least half of what a new 308 costs.

[waxthis]

OK OK, you guys talked me off the edge of the cliff. I'll keep the AR and start pinching my pennies.

Unless someone wants to donate to my cause [Wave]

+1!!! Thats on keeping it. Not the donation...LOL

[Hitman 6]

Being a groomsman at your wedding, I may be qualified to offer an opinion.

Look at your Grandpa Jimbo. You think he got to where he is right now selling other guns to buy new ones? Nope. You think he a acquired all of those beautiful projectile launchers through many years of patience and saving? I'd like to think so. Do not ever sell guns unless you absolutely have to for financial reasons. Yeah I sold my .308 SPS to a guy on here because I needed rent money, it hurts to open the safe and not see that thing anymore. That Beretta 92 I had? Yeah, not the best sidearm in the world, but I made it through police academy with that thing, and I feel like a piece of my soul is missing every time I think about it.

Keep your AR bro, Give it to your grandson someday.

[Ridge]

Every so often I think of selling my AR to fund an M1A...the cost of ammo is usually what it comes down to for me...

And I'd take an M1A over an AR-10 any day of the week, based on style points alone :)

[OgenRwot]

Yeah but to get an M1A to do what an AR can out of the box is gonna cost ya some coin...

But I agree, M1As have WAAAAY more cool factor.

[BadShot]

I think you mad a good choice. You've got a .308 already. It fits the role you described rather well. While yes, it will run you 1/2 the new .308 to upgrade the bolt gun, the bolt gun update will be well worth it. Especially considering the described role. Me, I dumped a lot of weapons over the last few years consolidating into a practical array. I off loaded my .308 bold gun, but only because I have a PTR91 (technically seeing as it is sitting at the bottom of a Colorado lake) that I want to accuratise and turn into a LR support rifle. The AR .308 base platform from the likes of DPMS has not exactly proven to be the AH-HA platform that many getting into the AR-10 world hoped it would. Sure, you can upgrade it to make it good, but by that point you're near enough to the LMT .308 or a seriously well done bench built rifle.

Ah well brother, you're doing the right thing and saving to buy instead of giving something up that you know that you'll regret doing.

[DOC]

With all you guys lying about loosing your guns in a boating accident sometime before they come to collect them all. They are never going to believe me that's what happened to all of mine.

[BadShot]

Better get out there and get your fishing practice then! Just don't forget to take the appropriate weapons just incase you're charged by a hungry bear or really rabid squirrel!

[BushMasterBoy]

If the SHTF, you might end up using the AR to take small game for food,rabbits,squirrels,etc. Get a .22lr adapter. I bought a Ciener and will definitely take with me if civilization fails. You can carry alot of 22 ammo in backpack.
I have read that alot of grizzly bears have been taken in Alaska with 22's shot just behind the ear. Just saying alot cheaper and versatile than an expensive battle rifle and it's accompanying accessories...just my 2 cents.

[Gritty]

If the SHTF, you might end up using the AR to take small game for food,rabbits,squirrels,etc. Get a .22lr adapter. I bought a Ciener and will definitely take with me if civilization fails. You can carry alot of 22 ammo in backpack.
I have read that alot of grizzly bears have been taken in Alaska with 22's shot just behind the ear. Just saying alot cheaper and versatile than an expensive battle rifle and it's accompanying accessories...just my 2 cents.

This...
and 7.62x51 weighs a lot more!

[jim02]

Sell it if you dont like it and will never buy a 556/223 ar again.
Otherwise its paid for and is not going to loose value (unless u paid obama prices)
Never sell anything thats paid for if it wont loose value and your happy with it is my motto.

[Troublco]

I have this sneaking suspicion that if I ever really need to take a grizzly, it's not going to turn its head and hold still for me to apply the .22. At that point, I'd really like a belt fed .458 Win Mag.....

[BushMasterBoy]

I have this sneaking suspicion that if I ever really need to take a grizzly, it's not going to turn its head and hold still for me to apply the .22. At that point, I'd really like a belt fed .458 Win Mag.....

Then unload a 30 round mag of .223 into the griz...my money is he will go down, plus you get a great adrenaline rush.

[jmg8550]

Yeah but to get an M1A to do what an AR can out of the box is gonna cost ya some coin...

But I agree, M1As have WAAAAY more cool factor.

Not necessarily. M1A's are very accurate with a few simple mods you can do yourself. And the really don't cost anything. A standard AR15 is about a 3 moa rifle (so I've been told). A standard M1A with good match or reloads will easily do that or better. Just a word of advice on M1A's though, I personally would stay away from newer Springfields. Most of the parts are made of cast garbage and prone to breaking. USGI spec parts is the way to go with these rifles. And a good reciever helps a little too. More and more manufacturers are building parts for them now and most are as good or better than USGI. One could build a very accurate M1A for the price of an AR10 or LR308. And yes, the looks alone are way better.

[sniper7]

just hang on to it. you will spend more on the next gun, more on ammo and you said you are on a budget. if you can afford to just keep the gun, then do that. if you are going to take out student loans, sell the gun, save yourself the interest and buy another one later on.