sorry, should have been clear. 39.

If you are just going to the range, how about an M1A or M1 Garand. .308 or 30-06. Fun to shoot and historic. Well the M1A isn't full auto like the M14 but you get the point.

I see the point on price but how much are you shooting at the range?

HK94 in 9mm MP5 9mm by Gewehr Werks, HK parts, HK94, not mke : Semi Auto Rifles at GunBroker.com
Uzi gangster pistol and H&K Turkish knockoffs in 9mm: Miscellaneous (HK, UZI, MAC Type)
Walther is only selling new in .22LR (good luck finding that): HK MP5 A5 - Walther Arms

Steyr in .223: Steyr Firearms for Sale

I have both a PS90 (and the associated Five-Seven) and a SCAR 17S. The positive thing about the PS90 is the recoil is light so my kids when closely supervised can shoot it. The ammo can be found most places now as well. Don't forget the 50 round mags either, that makes it nice.

The SCAR is just bad a$$, but like you said, $$$$.

Bill

I think you should take a long look at pistol caliber carbines. If you've got a handgun, you can probably find a carbine that takes the magazines the handgun uses, as well as using the same ammo. There are some interesting options out there, but do your research. If you're a revolver guy (you know, one of the good guys) there are good lever action options.

I'm starting to lean either this way or towards the PS90 as Bill suggested. Both give me something different than my AR, but still would be fun at the range. The FN 5.7x28 ammo isn't super expensive either.

I have a Rock River AR chambered in 9mm and it is a hoot...plus I love the fact when I head to the range that my Glock shoots the same ammo. From a practical standpoint if the world melts down and I have to travel light as possible.... 1 ammo 2 great guns..

32 round mags is also cool and as long as I shoot quality brass ammo it has been dead reliable.

If Miata is the answer for car related questions, VEPR 12 is the answer for zombie killin'

Long gun chambered in a handgun round is a brilliant idea, BTW

PTR Rifles
 

I have one of these chambered for the 7.62 x 39 round. It takes the standard AK style mags so there are lots available at low prices. This rifle is a clone of the HK91, uses a roller delayed blowback type action. Recoil is tolerable, more so than the same gun in .308. I also had one of the Spanish made guns in 7.62x51 but sold it after shooting the the one in 7.62x39. This rifle gives you the advantage of a .30 caliber bullet weighing around 125 grains vs 55 or 62 gains in the 5.56. Also, the sights are like the HK91 sights, a rear drum that has 4 different apertures making sight adjustment easy and quick. I also have an AR rifle, but in an emergency would probably grab the PTR91 first. Try it, you will like it!

PS: Before you buy a 7.62 x 51 (308), borrow one and put 100 rds thru it as quickly as you can change mags. I bet you won't want to shoot any more right then! Recoil is "substantial"!

223 77 grain Black Hills will reach out and touch someone..

77 Grain
 

What twist rifling is needed to stabilize a .223 bullet that heavy?

Yeah, .300BLK is definitely not cheap, but it seems to be getting a little better as more players come to the table with factory ammo offerings (and popularity increases).
If you are among the roll-your-own crowd as a lot of .300BLK shooters are, it certainly helps. Right now, you can typically fight decent factory ammo for around $0.60/rd, and even down towards $.040/rd if you are willing to consider reloads.

Still, it is hard to beat if you are looking for an alternative to 5.56 and are already invested in the AR platform. You could simply build/buy a dedicated .300BLK upper, and use your existing lower, bolt, and mags.
Or, a compete .300BLK AR set-up wouldn't be too expensive to put together.

The round isn't nearly as sensitive to velocity loss (compared to .223/5.56) when going with shorter barrel lengths either, so it is perfect for SBR-ing (or even a "pistol" AR build).
Also, once you hear/shoot one suppressed with subsonic ammo, you may be inclined to call your nearest class III FFL to order a can. If you do pick up a decent .30cal can, you would be able to use it on the 5.56 stuff (and .308 bolt guns) too.

SmileWavy

1:7 does the trick, and is pretty ubiquitous in the AR (barrel) world. Black Hills is the gold standard for the 77gr OTM SMK stuff (MK262), but there are a couple alternatives that are right up there, for much cheaper. The two that come to mind are CBC 5.56 77gr OTM, and IMI 5.56 77gr OTM. The most accurate stuff I've found so far is Hornady TAP T2 5.56 75gr, but it is unobtanium, and not cheap when you can find it. ;)

Tell me about this please!

My list of rifles other than AR Poodle shooter runs M1A for targets that are 700m to 400m out that need to be rung,

M1 Garand when I need to stay under 300m and I need to hear BANG! X 8 + PING for the win!

That and a Marlin Camp 45 carbine that takes 1911 magazines, figure it as an accessory for a 1911 that makes 45 acp run out the barrel slower than your 1911 with a rainbow trajectory that if you watch you might see it run down range to 100 yards

I would stay with .223 as you probably have decided by now. Of course then there is little excuse to get a second gun with the same caliber.

G

Oh no, there's always an excuse!:D

I am trying to find something that offers different features though. Hence my interest in the "bullpup" style rifles like the PS90. At $1200 it's a little pricey compared to the AR, but I like the combination of compact form factor along with the capability of a small rifle. It doesn't offer 300 yard range, but I don't have anywhere to shoot those distances anyway.

You can also get an upper for the AR that is compatible with the 5.7 ammo. And a 5.7 handgun, and a 9mm upper for the AR that uses the same magazines as your 9mm handgun, and a bolt action rifle in .223, say a Ruger American, or if you're feeling less utitarian a CZ 527, just for the sake of cross compatibility of ammo. As you said lots of justification for filling the interior of a gun safe.;)

After years of weekly trips to the range with a .308, I was looking for reasons to not go because of recoil and noise.

.223 all day long unless you need to kill something that is really pissed off at you for wounding it.

I've got a few different calibers and 9mm is the most fun in a carbine, .223/.556 is a great versatile round, but I've always had more enjoyment with 7.62x54. PSL, Dragunov, Mosin Nagant. Fun times, super cheap (I've got 1200rds stashed away somewhere in the garage).