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AR.
SCAR.
Tavor.

 Ashiraya wrote:
Hello, my crazed gunmen friends! I have a question that I'd like to ask for your help with.

I am writing a story as part of an assignment in my studies. One of the characters in the story is going to be armed, but as I'd prefer to include a gun that actually exists rather than just making one up, I need your scholarly knowledge on the subject (as the number of guns I can name is unimpressive). To those of you familiar with many different guns I'll ask, which gun do you say would fit the following criteria the best?

- Rifle-type, or similar
- Semi-automatic
- Reliable in use, even if it requires high maintenance
- Modern (though not necessarily shining new)
- Highly accurate
- Not too large of caliber
- Preferably suppressor-compatible

Thanks for your help.

An AR-15 of some sort.

Heckler and Koch MR556. A piston AR, based on the HK416 that a lot of our spec ops use.

There was one rifle in particular I remember from my CoD4 days that seemed suitable, the M14, though I didn't go for it for two reasons despite it 'feeling' right and looking right as well:

1. It's pretty old if I recall correctly (1970?)

2. Obviously, CoD should not be taken as a reliable source or depiction of anything.

But it may help to give you a good idea of what I am looking for - the MR556 and AR-15 seem mostly right, though is there something more... sleek?

 CptJake wrote:
Heckler and Koch MR556. A piston AR, based on the HK416 that a lot of our spec ops use.

Just coz you got one, lucky git


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Ashiraya wrote:
the MR556 and AR-15 seem mostly right, though is there something more... sleek?

SCAR or Tavor. Maybe an ACR. Or an AUG.

Thanks a lot for the tips, guys!

 Ashiraya wrote:
Thanks a lot for the tips, guys!

You could also go for any modern rifle chambered in .300 Blackout. It's a round that lets you go from supersonic (lighter bullets, better range and ballistics) to subsonic (quieter for use with a suppressor, heavier bullets, lots of power up close) with just a simple magazine change.

AR15s are available in 300 Blackout but conceivably any 5.56 rifle could use the round with just a barrel swap.

 CptJake wrote:
One of my favorites is a Colt/Walther .22 M4 (licensed by Colt). Great fun for plinking, and now that .22 is somewhat available and cheap again Daughter and I can go burn through a few magazines for fun.

ooh my youngest would love that!

now we just have to find a closer range that'll let us use rifles >< or a friend's land... GA's not TX but we have a lot of hunters and enthusiasts

I had (and Son2 renting the place now has) an are on our GA property where we could shoot. It wasn't a fancy as what I have now in NC.


One thing on the .22 M4, it is about as heavy as a regular M4, o smaller kids will have trouble with it. My daughter likes it but is still more comfortable with a semi-auto .22 Remington we have.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Nostromodamus wrote:

 CptJake wrote:
Heckler and Koch MR556. A piston AR, based on the HK416 that a lot of our spec ops use.

Just coz you got one, lucky git

Just put an Aimpoint PRO on it last week.

Managed to unintentionally light some peoples fuses with the last comment.

I didn't really understand the whole shooting for fun thing so I looked it up on Google and found this on the BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3t2hv4

I've used weapons in the reserves and I've also gone hunting for food (part of a deer cull - it was part a job that had to be done and resulted in sausages), but range shooting has never really been much of a thing. Here in the UK most people find the idea of guns repulsive unless they are owned by the military or police. I've always viewed them as a destructive tool, much like a sledgehammer.


What is it about guns in the US that makes them a must-have item? (and do you agree with what that BBC article summarises?)


- actual question here, not an attempt to make a point.

 Wulfmar wrote:


What is it about guns in the US that makes them a must-have item? (and do you agree with what that BBC article summarises?)


- actual question here, not an attempt to make a point.

Three weeks ago we had an incident where a road raging psycho tried multiple times to run us off the road while we (wife, daughter and self) were on the way home. Wife called 911 (the cops) and in over 25 minutes on the phone with the operator they could not vector us to a cop or a cop to us. I unfortunately was not carrying as we had gone shopping on Ft Bragg (can't have a weapon on post). When the gak bag slammed his brakes in front of us and came out of his car and tried to punch though my window, I REALLY wish I had the Glock. Clearly relying on the cops wasn't working.

A few months ago someone broke into an impound lot on one border of my property. We called the cops and it took them about and hour and a half to respond. My landlord's daughters house (about 2 miles from mine) was robbed, cops took over and hour to respond because 'no one was in danger'.

I also have animals (dogs, horses, a handful of goats and a couple of pigs which unfortunately are 'pets' and not allowed to be put on the smoker...). I've had to shoot coyotes, wild dogs, a fox (after land lords chickens) and a few snakes (copperheads, rattlers and a couple moccasins).

A gun is a tool. I like tools.

And they are fun.

And honestly, it is my right to have them, and I don't need a reason at all to justify exercising a constitutionally protected right.

 Wulfmar wrote:
Managed to unintentionally light some peoples fuses with the last comment.

I didn't really understand the whole shooting for fun thing so I looked it up on Google and found this on the BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3t2hv4

I've used weapons in the reserves and I've also gone hunting for food (part of a deer cull - it was part a job that had to be done and resulted in sausages), but range shooting has never really been much of a thing. Here in the UK most people find the idea of guns repulsive unless they are owned by the military or police. I've always viewed them as a destructive tool, much like a sledgehammer.


What is it about guns in the US that makes them a must-have item? (and do you agree with what that BBC article summarises?)


- actual question here, not an attempt to make a point.

You appear to have misread the intent of this thread. From the OP

 djones520 wrote:
Lets discuss the firearms you own, what you use them for, and online resources that you use to enhance your shooting experience. ANYONE is welcome post in here, but please keep it on the topic. Also share any online resources that you have for purchasing equipment, or just learning about the differant aspects of firearms.

Indeed. It has been made clear several times throughout this thread that it's pupose is not the gun debate. It's purpose is shinies what go bang and to give me severe attacks of jealousy.

 Ashiraya wrote:

- Rifle-type, or similar
- Semi-automatic
- Reliable in use, even if it requires high maintenance
- Modern (though not necessarily shining new)
- Highly accurate
- Not too large of caliber
- Preferably suppressor-compatible

Most people don't realize how old many gun designs are. Even the modern looking bullpup Steyr AUG is a 1970's design.

The AK-12 is hot off the press and has a lot of the better features of it's predecessors but remains as of yet unproven in the field.

Highly accurate is a bit subjective. A weapon that's been carefully tuned either by yourself or your local gunsmith to your personal specs will likely be more accurate for you than a similar weapon 'off the shelf'.

In theory, other than being 'modern', an AK 47 *can* have all the traits our looking for, and can be easily acquired, cheaply, in most countries, regardless of legality.

 BaronIveagh wrote:

In theory, other than being 'modern', an AK 47 *can* have all the traits our looking for, and can be easily acquired, cheaply, in most countries, regardless of legality.

And if you get away from the "cheap", an AK-47 can even fulfill the "modern" look:

 motyak wrote:
Indeed. It has been made clear several times throughout this thread that it's pupose is not the gun debate. It's purpose is shinies what go bang and to give me severe attacks of jealousy.

You can always come over and visit some time and enjoy a range session

 Ruberu wrote:
SHOT show looked interesting. New carbine length CZ EVO and Bren, new shorter M1A socom, Magpul's intergraded suppressed pistol that uses Glock magazines and sights and a pile of other updated goods from a slew of manufactures.

Out of everything, the ones that stood out to me as future purchases will be the MKE MP5SD, the Korth Sky Marshall, and possibly a reproduction of the Colt Python by Pietta.

A lot of new stuff coming out this year. I have a feeling my wallet might get a lot lighter.

So much cool stuff...so little money. Of course right after I file the form 1 on my scorpion, they come out with the Carbine...

But then the new BREN rifle (as opposed to the pistol they were importing) looks so cool...just twice as much as the Scorpion. CZ's really hit the spot of late.

H&MGW's STG44 looks awesome, if they actually start shipping and they turn out to be functional, I'm totally buying one.

 d-usa wrote:

 BaronIveagh wrote:

In theory, other than being 'modern', an AK 47 *can* have all the traits our looking for, and can be easily acquired, cheaply, in most countries, regardless of legality.

And if you get away from the "cheap", an AK-47 can even fulfill the "modern" look:

Indeed, AK's can be made to do anything most other rifles can, and I'd certainly take the Pepsi Challenge with a service-issue AK-74 next to a service issue M4/M16, L85A2, AUG, and most other weapons out there...



Speaking of which, I got another new toy this week to share with everyone.



5.45x39mm Bulgarian SLR-104-32 (AK-74M clone in Plum color).

Nice.

Eh. I'm not a fan of synthetic stocks.

Give me black walnut any day.

I like the Plum synthetics a lot (though US plum and original Russian/Bulgarian plum are different). The black synthetics I'm "meh" on, the sand/tan synthetics look like GI-Joe guns. I'm a fan of a nice wood furniture set, but you can't get factory-built AK-74's with wood furniture for the most part. The ones you can find are parts kit guns (aside from a couple of expensive "Krinkov" style 74SU type guns for...a lot of money). As this gun was bought as a "go-to" gun, I went with a factory built model, I just cannot trust parts kit guns for anything other than range-toys. I learned that lesson the hard way, and I like the plum furniture enough to not bother trying to source 922r-compliant wood furniture :(

 Wulfmar wrote:
Managed to unintentionally light some peoples fuses with the last comment.

I didn't really understand the whole shooting for fun thing so I looked it up on Google and found this on the BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3t2hv4

I've used weapons in the reserves and I've also gone hunting for food (part of a deer cull - it was part a job that had to be done and resulted in sausages), but range shooting has never really been much of a thing. Here in the UK most people find the idea of guns repulsive unless they are owned by the military or police. I've always viewed them as a destructive tool, much like a sledgehammer.


What is it about guns in the US that makes them a must-have item? (and do you agree with what that BBC article summarises?)


- actual question here, not an attempt to make a point.

I'll try and address your point within the confines of the topic "Firearms you own, and their uses". Shooting for fun has a lot of draws to it.

Shooting in and of itself can be a lot of fun. Target shooting has its own challenge and reward for obvious reasons, in the same way any accuracy based skill challenge has be it Archery or free-throw Basketball shots. Aside from that, the simple feel of a firearm operating is its own kind of thrill, putting the target in your sights, pulling the trigger, feeling the mechanical operation and moving of parts in your hands, the recoil and muzzle blast, etc, they're all their own sorts of experience that can get people hooked. Even people from places like Japan, where civilian firearms ownership is practically nonexistent even compared with the UK, and where almost nobody has a problem with that, often come to the US and enjoy renting & experiencing firearms (it's actually a huge tourism hook in Hawaii).

Then there's the firearms themselves. In the same some people can be into cars, or watches, or motorcycles, some people are into guns. There's a lot to admire. The history, the look and visuals, the engineering & machining, heft & feel, etc. Some people want to own a piece of history or a cultural icon, some people admire the engineering, etc. Even the anti-gun superhero, Batman, clearly understands the attractions in Gotham Knight.

That said, many people also view them as tools, as you said, the difference is that there's a greater need, both real and perceived for such tools in the US (have to remember the US has a lot of open land with wild critters that the UK does not have and a much more thinly spread population). One must remember that the US has had conflicts within its borders (or what the US declared to be its borders, I'm sure Baronlveagh may have something to add on that) almost within living memory. Conflicts with Native Americans and raiding Mexican groups occurred within the last hundred years. For some people living on the US-Mexican border today, owning a firearm for self defense if they come upon a group of Coyote's engaged in human trafficking is a very real thing. Aside from Northern Ireland, the UK hasn't really had the same issues (though one will note, in Northern Ireland, people can still own handguns for this very reason, where citizens in England/Scotland/Wales cannot). The need, real or perceived, for firearms is much greater in the US and are very much seen as tools by many.

For me, I own firearms for all of the above reasons. Some are there simply because I think they're fun (Ruger 10/22 and CZ Scorpion). Others I see distinctly as tools for use in a life threatening situation (my carry LCR for instance, and my AK's). Yet others are a piece of living history (my Swiss K-31 and hopefully eventually a WW1 rifle collection) or cultural icons (my Berreta CX4 for instance, the "Battlestar Galactica" gun, and also AK's simply because they're so distinctive). They have a lot of uses that many can appreciate.

I think my favorite AK furniture is red wood, as:



Of course, I have my AK finished with a quad rail because I like bolting a lot of dumb mall ninja tacticool stuff to it. But for pure collecting, I find that beautiful.

Oh that's beautiful...but then I'd feel bad if I ding'd it :(

After like... a decade... of civilian life I finally got myself a firearm. Adorable little Mossberg Plinkster



because I was tired of not shooting things. It's fun, but man, belt fed weapons really ruin you for anything else. Plus having to pay for ammo... yuck.

Still though, better than nothing.

I had a plinkster, fun little gun!

You guys ever use GunBot to find ammo?

http://gunbot.net/ammo/pistol/9mm/

You can pick the caliber and it shows current prices (you see price by round and by package) and then links you to the seller's website.

I've used to source .22 and others.


My go to source is BulkAmmo.com, but the Bot is nice when you want to shop around. Their price per round does not include the retailer's shipping add on, so you do need to watch that.

 CptJake wrote:
I had (and Son2 renting the place now has) an are on our GA property where we could shoot. It wasn't a fancy as what I have now in NC.


One thing on the .22 M4, it is about as heavy as a regular M4, o smaller kids will have trouble with it. My daughter likes it but is still more comfortable with a semi-auto .22 Remington we have.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Nostromodamus wrote:

 CptJake wrote:
Heckler and Koch MR556. A piston AR, based on the HK416 that a lot of our spec ops use.

Just coz you got one, lucky git

Just put an Aimpoint PRO on it last week.

CaptJake:

Did you look into the S&W M&P 15-22? All the features and size of a regular AR but extremely low on weight. I have a seven year old who is pretty thin, but he loves shooting the ARs. He shoots prone because it is impossible for him to wield the AR. The M&P 15-22 takes car of that so he can shoot safely. It's also alot of fun to shoot indoors:

I don't think my land lord nor the wife would approve of me shooting indoors.



If I get another 'tactical rimfire' gun it will probably be one of the HK MP5 looking ones, just to get something different.

Thanks Vaktathi! Think I have a better understanding now

 Ouze wrote:
I think my favorite AK furniture is red wood, as:



Of course, I have my AK finished with a quad rail because I like bolting a lot of dumb mall ninja tacticool stuff to it. But for pure collecting, I find that beautiful.

If it was going to be for just collecting and sitting in a glass case that is beautiful. I would love to get an AKM pattern at some point, and yes it would probably end up with rails for a sight and light.

On a gun that's going to be run hard I prefer synthetic furniture, That way when it gets scratched I don't care. To me an AK is a gun that's meant to be run hard.i save the Nice looking wood for my hunting rifles.