If you could only own 1, which would it be: Colt AR15 .223/5.56 OR Springfield M1A .308 Cost of each is approximately the same. $1000. 30 rd mag for the AR15, 20 round for the Springfield. Ammo higher for the .308, but not extremely higher. I have the Springfield and no AR15. If I hit something, I want to hit it HARD. But rate of accurate fire due to lower recoil recovery time is definitely higher for the AR15 in .223/5.56. Which is better? Rapidly slinging out a lot of small bullets? Or the first one doing the greatest damage with a larger bullet? Every time I read of one of these mass shootings, I tend to think "at least the shooter wasn't firing .308s. There would be a lot more dead, less wounded." I shutter to think of the even higher numbers if the Las Vegas shooter has been firing a belt fed Browning 1919 .308 or 30.06 - entirely legal to own. For as much money as he had in guns, he could have even had a 50 cal belt fed Browning - also legal to own and OMG the death rate that would have caused. In that densely packed crowd one 50 cal bullet could have killed 3, 4, 5 people each. Even a jacketed or black tip .308s or 30.06s could have killed 2 or 3 with one bullet. So, in a way, I'm glad the fixation is always on the AR15 .223 rather than bigger calibers.
Or you could do the AR platform as I do, a single lower with an excellent trigger group and multiple uppers chambered for different tasks.
AR-15. I can build one for half the price and have a couple of extra uppers for different tasks for $1000.
The consumer gun market does not revolve around people building their own firearms from parts, anymore than the computer market revolves around people who assemble their own PC towers.
Great plan. If there is a home invasion you just tell them "stop, give me a few minutes while I change the upper on my AR." I suppose you could throw the other parts at them. If you are going to build an AR15 out of cheap or used parts, why not then just buy 2 used AR15s of difference calibers? Accordingly, your post makes no sense OTHER than you maybe like to tinker with your firearms. I could turn a Colt 1911 in to nearly any caliber from .22 to 45acp with parts, but why? If I want a .22, just buy a .22. Then I have two firearms, where no matter what you always only have 1. It doesn't matter if you have 20 different sets of parts, you only have one working rifle. So all this about swapping parts is absolutely pointless. Not 1 on 10,000 gun owners will alter their firearm other than possibly adding a light, laser sight, muzzle brake, different magazine, sight choice or other stick-ons. The ability to tinker with an AR15 does not in any way make it superior to anything.
The reason I picked a Colt AR15 is because too many companies of unknown quality and too many people are putting together AR15s of unknown skill using parts of unknown quality. While Colt certainly is not the only company that makes good AR15s, I did not want to include the generic AR15 because many are "homemade" pieced together crap - and most buyers wouldn't know the difference. A topic can be taken in any direction, but the OP is asking the question of whether a small caliber or larger caliber is more desirable - noting the pluses and minuses of each. Small caliber - faster rate of fire and 50% more magazine capacity. Large caliber - more impact power.
I have multiple ARs, and if I only had one with multple uppers, I would of course store it in the self-defense mode. What does what the industry runs on, what 1 in 10,000 gun owners will do, nor is swapping parts pointless when the OP asked, "If you could only own 1, which would it be:"
Hardware is only part of a build. Then, you add different IOSs, and software designed for different tasks. There is a huge market in the digital industry for customizing products. There is a huge and growing consumer market for customizing firearms and for accessories. You’d be surprised at the number of customers I serve by custom AR builds/Mods which for two shops I work with come close to equaling the number of off the shelf sales, many of which are custom builds, themselves. The AR market in particular, I often liken to the car market, you can buy off the lot or you can load on options ... but, I confess, I haven’t had a customer request a stereo and speakers yet.
Wrong on both counts. ( Computers ) Plug & Play was developed exactly for the reasons you just simply discounted. Anyway the days of Merlin's (computer) Tower of Doom are done, The Tower has given way to the Tablet & Cloud. ( Guns ) first, the Ruger 10-22 .22 LR The Lego © equivalent in a Rifle, you can swap a barrel with a cheap Allen key, no barrel vice needed, there are many Aftermarket parts available. The AR Rifle: Also the Lego © Equivalent in a Rifle. Why I love this design: A barrel swap is so darn easy, simple inexpensive tools. Mulitple calibers, many options, tons of Good quality Aftermarket parts. My favorite method ? A Top Quality Mil Spec lower receiver, A "Quality" set of AR parts, I will pay more for them. Shop around for a Mil Spec complete Upper Flat top, for .300 Blackout removable flip down sights Front guard with accessory rails Yes many people prefer a DYI approach when it comes to Guns and quite a few others Home repairs etc....
I fired the M-14 it was ok..... Military full auto. I was more impressed with a Fal T-58, Also, the H&K G-3 was quite the Battle rifle. Still, the AR -10 gets my current vote. AR-10 Layaway Available $937.30 $910.00 From Bud's
I guess to each his own. I knew Hook Boutin. He was one of the armorers who tested the M14 against the FAL when the military opted for the M14. The man was so famous I think half this state turned out for his funeral. He was a great guy that taught me a lot, reminding me "I won't be around forever. You guys better learn how to do this stuff." I wouldn't throw any of those weapons you mentioned in the ditch as they are all good, but you can understand my bias for the M1A.
I got to play with many Battle rifles, lots of Ammo expended, Nothing wrong with either the M-14 or The M1A, I just liked the balance of the Fal and other features. I had the opportunity to compare the various Battle rifles.
