What kind of semi-auto long spoon, AR or something else, FAL?

[masraum]

If you were going to spend some money on something like a decent semi-auto long-spoon to be a jack of all trades (probably mostly target, but could end up being home security, probably not hunting, what would you get. The AR-15 seems to be the gun of choice for many these days, but I know there are lots of various options out there. You don't need something super powerful, no moose hunting. You don't need super long range. This would be more like an introduction. The missus could even potentially fueling this endeavor.

This seems like an interesting article, but you never know if the goal is to sell you X.
https://www.everydaymarksman.co/equipment/buying-your-first-ar-15/

In the Fun with FAL thread, several things have been discussed.

I've also seen the mini-14 discussed here on the board before in the past, which you can get in wood (which is so much nicer to look at than black plastic covered in rails).

Thoughts for something reliable, accurate, that can be had for a reasonable price (initial and ongoing) (just throwing out a random number, <1500) and will last.

Pros and Cons of various options?

My knowledge of long spoons is pretty (OK, very) limited.

[KFC911]

I'm old skool...how about a lever .357?

Hooty hoot ....

[MMiller]

9mm in the AR platform. I had mine at the range over the weekend.. easy to shoot, reliable with quality ammo, 35 round mags, very accurate out to 50+ yards with open sights. Plus the added convenience of the same ammo of the pistol on your hip.

Or a lever action chambered in .357 also the same ammo as the pistol on your hip.

[Jeff Higgins]

Ruger 10-22 semi-auto rimfire. Even more aftermarket accessories than the AR platform, available in many wood stocked variants, and cheap as hell to shoot. With no real purpose, no need for any kind of "power", the lowly .22 is a fantastic option.

[sc_rufctr]

If I was able to buy any rifle it would be the "SIG SG 552 Commando" but I live in Aus so that's just not going to happen.

... For the money you really can't do much better than a AR-15.
If you have money to burn you could build a semi auto only H&K G36 from an American parts kit.
The FN FAL may be another option but they are a lot heavier and ammo is more expensive.

(I was issued the M-16 and the SLR (FN FAL) when I was in the army and the M-16 is the better rifle IMO)

[masraum]

Originally Posted by MMiller

9mm in the AR platform. I had mine at the range over the weekend.. easy to shoot, reliable with quality ammo, 35 round mags, very accurate out to 50+ yards with open sights. Plus the added convenience of the same ammo of the pistol on your hip.

Or a lever action chambered in .357 also the same ammo as the pistol on your hip.

Hypothetically, if I had spoons, they would probably be 9mm. I've also got a hankerin' for a very specific old S&W in 357.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Ruger 10-22 semi-auto rimfire. Even more aftermarket accessories than the AR platform, available in many wood stocked variants, and cheap as hell to shoot. With no real purpose, no need for any kind of "power", the lowly .22 is a fantastic option.

If you were in this position, the missus might be thinking, "home security" or zombie apocalypse. I wouldn't want to be shot by a 22, but I'm not sure that it sounds scary enough for a zombie apocalypse. (but yes, much less expensive to own and shoot). All of my long spoon experience has been with single shot bolt action 22s.

[fred cook]

If you have a Glock, then the Ruger PCC equipped to use the Glock magazines might be the right gun for you. I have a longslide Glock G34 that uses the same 17 rd mags in the Ruger. 9mm fired from a rifle/carbine has a significant increase in muzzle velocity and muzzle energy.

[regency]

I have my Browning BAR in 30.06.

Steve

[KFC911]

I thought you had that S&W .357 already....2 fer one...
Marlin & Smif

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by masraum

If you were in this position, the missus might be thinking, "home security" or zombie apocalypse. I wouldn't want to be shot by a 22, but I'm not sure that it sounds scary enough for a zombie apocalypse. (but yes, much less expensive to own and shoot). All of my long spoon experience has been with single shot bolt action 22s.

Fair enough. Under those criteria, I have already voted with my wallet - Ruger Mini-14. Not as many aftermarket farkles, but I truly believe it is a better design than the AR-15. Eugene Stoner, who designed the M-16 and later helped Bill Ruger on the Mini-14, agreed. It was his opinion that had he designed the Mini-14 first, the M-16 would either have never been adopted, of maybe even never designed. The design of the Mini-14 is that much better...

Execution, however, has not always been all that great. Early examples are notoriously inaccurate. Newer production has, however, corrected all of the faults that led to that reputation. I got lucky - I have an early first gen ("pre-warning") rifle that is acceptably accurate (2-3 MOA). The newer ones are every bit that accurate.

I really like the notion that they do not have the "black rifle" cloud hanging over them. I also like the fact that they are not "plastic" guns - real wood and steel, if that's the model you choose. Stainless steel even, if you want. And relatively cheap, compared to even cheap AR's.

Of course if you want to up the ante a bit, there is its big brother - the M1A. Mine is the intermediate length "Scout Squad" version. Unquestioned quality, reliability, and a good deal more power, for those really determined zombies... Having now had the opportunity to compare it to three FAL's, I find I much prefer the M1A. My sons, however, like their FAL's, which are outstanding rifles as well.

[Rapewta]

I agree with post #7 by Fred Cook.

The Ruger 9mm PC Carbine is a "Take-down." You can stuff it in a back pack. Glock and Ruger mags.
Peak Case Company makes a Violin case for it.

[Bill Douglas]

The later mini-14s are not bad guns. And they don't look as threatening as an AR 15. If a situation ever ended up in court the gun would be viewed as being a fuddy duddy farmers looking gun, not a urban commando's gun.

[Evans, Marv]

I'm happy with my M1A scout rifle. One drawback for you might be the price of ammo, since you say you want something primarily for target shooting.

[tabs]

Ruger 10/22 is hard to beat..cost to buy and shoot.

Mini 14 good choice..dont know over AR?

I have Noveske AR.. lots of boutique ar mfgs..top of the heap is Knights sr15. Bcm, Daniel Defense and Noveske.

If you stumble over a knights sr15 used for around 1500 pretty much buy it now.. i think i may start to keep my eyes open for one.

The bad boy is the Knights sr25...in 308..about 5k a pop.they are sub moa at 600 yards. The us military.has used a 20 inch barrel as a designated marksman rifle in the Sandboxes.


Consider Ak 47..7.62 x 39..ammo is plentiful and relativily cheap..200m produced ..a monkey can operate an maintain. Recoil is not bad.

The Serbian Zastava makes a m70 zpap wt 150mm Receiver wt Chrome lined barrel....830.00 msrp..

They came in in May and were out of atockin a coupla weeks. Ak Union raved about them.as the best ak for the money.

Then there are the Bulgarian Arsenals Sam7s milled receiver chrome lined barrel..the cadilliac of Aks..there is the fixed stock R model which they had in stock earlier for 1369.00 and the sf model side folder. a subsidery of Aresnal ..kvar had a few that they put up on gun broker..they were going for 2300.00...it is one he11 of an ak.

I found a nib SF in Ohio in early February for 1505 to the door. I knew they were getting expensive..

Rock Island auctions has a sf coming up soon at auction. They dont come up frequently.

Whatever ya do buy quality..it has better resale value if nothing else.

[red-beard]

There is a reason the M-16/M-4 has been the rifle of the US Military for over 50 years. It is an excellent platform. The inline stock and low recoil make the rifle very easy to learn and operate. I hate to disagree with Jeff, but I do...

[masraum]

Lots of good stuff here, folks, thanks.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Damn, now you guys have me thinking I need a Mini 14....

[masraum]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Damn, now you guys have me thinking I need a Mini 14....

Don't we all!

[Seahawk]

I am most familiar with the AR and the Mini-14...before the tragic boating accident in which all my spoons were lost I used to shoot both quite a bit

It really comes down to, at least in my case, ergonomics: I simply prefer the Mini-14 to the AR in terms of how the rifle interfaces with me. I have no issues with the AR at all, the Mini just "feels" better in all phases of employment to me.

My son, on the other hand, has a custom AR that he loves and shoots extremely well. He has no interest in the Mini other than the occasional use on our outdoor range when I am practicing.

Come on up to Maryland and you can shoot both - as soon as they dry out!

[Cajundaddy]

I prefer 2 different spoons. A 10-22 for introduction to firearms and a Rem 870 for home protection. The scattergun provides a lot of short range stopping power with #4 duck load while far less likely to penetrate walls and take out a neighbor if you are spraying bullets in the dark. The 10-22 is a really well engineered .22 that shoots straight and rarely fails. A great way to get comfortable with the sport of shooting without all the kick and bang.

Not a personal fan of hand spoons so I will leave those recommendations to others.