AR 15 Alternatives?

[Trigger Time]

I had to spend used car money to get an accurate ak lol. Ar's are better all around. I don't even think there is a good argument against them being the best defensive carbine currently on the planet. I love my ak, but... ar's are just about perfect when it comes to cost/capability/function/accuracy. AK's are good pewpewpew, and with the right amount of money are very effective defensive rifles... still hard to beat a nice ar15.

Ha, yeah like AR's not all are created equal as you know.
I do really love my AR's and now only have a couple sentimental AK's left. I do miss them. I had some great ones.
But, I have a cannon now so I pretty much could sell all my guns and be ok.

 

[Bfish]

If you don't like the AR buy an AK. Not to be harsh but it would sound like a training issue. No harm in jumping into an AK though.

 

[roscott]

The AR is a great gun, but there’s nothing wrong with preferring something else.

M1 Garand
M1A
Fal
G3
Vepr .308
AK

There’s a bunch of solid .30 caliber alternatives. 5.56 is a fine round, but there’s nothing wrong with more power either.

Could you train and learn to use an AR without issue, as many have stated above? Sure. You could also get a different rifle, train with that and be equally happy. Variety is the spice of life, and if you show up at a training class with an M1 Garand, you’ll get awesome style points.

 

[indygunguy]

Since you already have the AR, I suggest taking a class with it. After 2 days of shooting the thing, working the controls, reloading, etc, you will likely find the ergonomics & placement of controls are better than you originally thought.

That's what happened with me. I didn't love the AR15 until after my first class/event. Now I "get it." And now all the other platforms seem silly to me.

Aaaaaaand Wilson Combat just came out with the "300 HAMR". Looking at the numbers, it looks like a great option in 30 cal for the AR-15 platform that would only require you to buy another upper.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Since you already have the AR, I suggest taking a class with it. After 2 days of shooting the thing, working the controls, reloading, etc, you will likely find the ergonomics & placement of controls are better than you originally thought.

That's what happened with me. I didn't love the AR15 until after my first class/event. Now I "get it." And now all the other platforms seem silly to me.

Wait, wait, are you suggesting that education will defeat ignorance and you will then realize that there are no magic swords.

How dare you. Have you no shame?

 

[Expat]

Since you already have the AR, I suggest taking a class with it. After 2 days of shooting the thing, working the controls, reloading, etc, you will likely find the ergonomics & placement of controls are better than you originally thought.

That's what happened with me. I didn't love the AR15 until after my first class/event. Now I "get it." And now all the other platforms seem silly to me.

Dude! Everyone knows you are just one gun away from the perfect one.

 

[indygunguy]

Wait, wait, are you suggesting that education will defeat ignorance and you will then realize that there are no magic swords.

How dare you. Have you no shame?

Sorry Kirk, you're right. I've reconsidered my answer. How's this:

The Ruger Mini-30 is perfect in every way. You should go buy one today.

 

[indygunguy]

Dude! Everyone knows you are just one gun away from the perfect one.

In my case I'm just one OPTIC away from the perfect one.

 

[T.Lex]

If you don't like an AR-15, there are all sorts of alternatives.

Colt LE6920
Sig Sauer M400
Daniel Defense DDM4
Springfield Saint

Lots of options that aren't AR-15s!

 

[Expat]

In my case I'm just one OPTIC away from the perfect one.

Every time I think I have The One, I find one just a little bit more gooder and lots more spensive....

 

[LarryC]

OP, I personally don't care a lot for the AR-15 in 5.56. I also feel it is under powered and has a short EFFECTIVE range. I have seen documentaries where GI's in either Iraq or Afghanistan were carrying AK's in their vehicles along with the AR as the enemy was hiding at a distance behind thin barriers the 5.56 would not penetrate. In those cases the GI's were using the AK-47.

I have 3 AR-15's, two in 5.56 and one a Grendel. I also have AK, Garands, SVD 40, LR-308, lever action .308, Mosin's, Mauser's, Enfield, Swedish K-31 etc.. I too prefer larger calibers and would not choose the AR-15 as my first choice in a SHTF situation. However they are a fun target rifle!

 

[BrettonJudy7]

The ergonomics just don't appeal to me. I find myself fumbling for the bolt lock switch and mag release, and always have to smack the bottom of mags twice to seat it properly. I know that would improve if I forced myself to train with the rifle; I just have other rifles I like to shoot more.

The lack of practicality confuses me. It's too small for deer (and illegal). It's not a great target rifle, because of the semi auto platform. I know you could 'accurize' it, but you'd just get to the starting point of a factory bolt gun.

It's more expensive to shoot because of the rifle round cost, but not so expensive I'd save the money worth the time to reload the cases.

The caliber feels too small. I much prefer the .30 caliber rounds (762x39, 308, 3006, etc).

Anyone like any other semi auto platform?

I was in the same boat as you. I just couldn't get into the ergonomics of the AR15 platform, but I think it was just because of my height/build and the lack of practice with the rifle.

Pistol grips are great, but for some reason I enjoy a rifle with a traditional stock as opposed to a pistol grip. I love shooting my SKS, and my M1 carbine. Although my carbine is very short, I enjoy shooting the minimal recoil.

However, that being said, Once I familiarized myself more with the AR15 platform, I found myself wanting to shoot it more and more than my others. There are so many options for customization, and larger calibers (even some mutants shooting 7.62x39). Also, with my height/build the recoil is almost non existent. I would love more options in .30 carbine though. I love shooting it.

 

[1nderbeard]

If I get another defensive rifle/carbine, I'm seriously considering a bullpup.

I thought that, too. Keltech has an interesting offering.

 

[KLB]

I thought that, too. Keltech has an interesting offering.

Look at the Tavor. They have a .300Blk model now, both for the x95 and SAR.

Plus they have this Tavor 7 now
https://iwi.us/product/tavor-7-7-62-nato-16-5-barrel/

 

[1nderbeard]

Thanks

Look at the Tavor. They have a .300Blk model now, both for the x95 and SAR.

Plus they have this Tavor 7 now
https://iwi.us/product/tavor-7-7-62-nato-16-5-barrel/

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I have shot a number of bullpups and found triggers to be bad

Concur. I'm not a trigger snob. I'm ok with a GI trigger in an AR. Bullpup triggers are never as good as their AR counterparts due to the simple mechanics of the build. Even expensive "nice" aftermarket ones are improvements but heavier and not as smooth as the equivalent AR.

OP, I personally don't care a lot for the AR-15 in 5.56. I also feel it is under powered and has a short EFFECTIVE range. I have seen documentaries where GI's in either Iraq or Afghanistan were carrying AK's in their vehicles along with the AR as the enemy was hiding at a distance behind thin barriers the 5.56 would not penetrate

Ammo selection matters.

If you don't like the AR buy an AK. Not to be harsh but it would sound like a training issue. No harm in jumping into an AK though.

If the complaint is ergonomics of the controls, I wouldn't suggest an AK.

 

[Hookeye]

I dislike ARs.
But they work pretty well.
JP trigger springs and the puny 5.56................decent yote or chuck rig.

Eh, I used to shoot chucks along creekbanks with an FNC Para.

 

[kaveman]

I've got five of the Kel Tec bullpups,....no, make that six with the RFB,.....and all six triggers are miles ahead of any standard AR trigger. And all of them are ambi perfect. And an RDB is half the cost of a Tavor with the necessary trigger upgrade and not half as bulky. They're really neat rifles,....err, uhm,.....bullpups. If/when they make one in Grendel they'll be perfect.

Lotta people like to hate on Kel Tec and maybe they're not wrong. Maybe they're just a little out of date. If you try an updated RFB or an RDB there's not too much to not like.

 

[Dean C.]

Sounds like you have literally no idea what you are talking about, either learn the AR platform, pony up 3K for a SCAR 16 or get a commie gun

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Sounds like you have literally no idea what you are talking about, either learn the AR platform, pony up 3K for a SCAR 16 or get a commie gun

Most of the "I hate this gun" threads are simply manifestations of the externalization of the internal realization that the person needs to train.

It's human nature.