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October 11, 2009
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Folks please forgive me for asking such a stupid question. What good is an AR over any other rifle? There is such panic buying going on in this country over the AR and other semi auto high capacity magazine fed firearms that I can not believe it. I know folks are afraid that if they ban AR's and such it will snowball to other firearms. That I can see. But what use does the average gun owner have for such a weapon? Besides the fact of just "Owning" it? I have been into firearms for over 35 years and have never had the desire to own one of these guns. I am a revolver fan. That's why I come to this Forum. I own a couple of semi auto pistol's. One is a 45 with a 7 shot mag and the other is a 22 target pistol with a 10 shot mag. I own one semi auto rifle. A Ruger 10-22. And it spends more time in my safe than any other gun that I own. I hunt with a lever action rifle or a bolt action or one of my revolvers. I have shot plenty of AR's in my day and can not for the life of me see what all the excitement is. They are no more accurate than any bolt action I have ever seen. And when I fired them all I felt was the bolt going slap, slap. And what good is a 20 or 30 round mag? If you need that many rounds to hit your target then you really need to see an eye specialist, take shooting lessons or just give up shooting all together. There are no such thing as hordes of Zombies. And in a SHTF scenario the military will be there and you had better not be armed period. The last thing they want are armed refugee's. You will be disarmed and probably arrested or shot. And if you survive when the military is destroyed there will be enough weapons laying around for you to grab one. I know I'm going to be burned for this. So please show my ignorance a little mercy. After all this is a "Revolver and 1911" forum. And by the way. Merry Christmas to All. 
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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I don't own an AR either, but I wouldn't mind having one. I have shot two or three & have found them a fun & interesting rifle to shoot. Like you, I prefer handguns overall, but there definitely are a few rifles on my wish list, an AR being one of them. I think most of the buying frenzy right now is for three reasons.
1) For the intrinsic value. If they are banned, the prices will go up dramatically & owners will be able to possibly double their money selling them.
2) New owners who have always wanted one are getting them while they can. True fans of the AR are trying to fill the holes in their collections.
3) We still have a 2nd amendment, and who are THEY to dictate to us what sort of firearm we are allowed to own? That reason alone makes me want to go snag one...just because I can.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Conversley, I do not see the value of owning a revolver. I mean you have to get too close to whatever you are hunting or shooting at. You have to pack all sorts of bulky speed loaders around and finally they loose accuracy too quickly when they get fouled. I hunt hogs with my 450 Bushmaster and shoot military long distance with my 5.56 NATO. Revolvers will be on the chopping block too as they are too easy to conceal where rifles are not. So you see; we're all in this together. Besides, you require a lot of ammo during a fire fight. Ask anyone who has been ambushed. Oh BTW, for those who do not know; I love my revolvers.
Merry Christmas,
Ron
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
September 25, 2012
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I have owned 3 AR's in .223. I bought/built them for myself and my 2 sons to go to the range. One son was like yourself and wasn't really interested in the AR, so I sold that rifle. The other son likes his and we go shooting regularly.
I used to hunt but not anymore. If I did I would probably try the .223. I have to agree the slap of the bolt and the spring can be a bit annoying. I have my rifle kind of retro style and I enjoy it. No different than my DW or my 1939 Sears Ranger .22 semi-auto, I like them all.
Need them? Need is relative, want one is more on point for me. I have considered selling mine after the CT shootings because I don't like the idea I am automatically a bad guy because I own one.
I only use the 20rnd mags here in Oregon because I don't like reloading mags at the range. When I move back to CA. I will be limited to 10rnd mags but I have several so reloading is kept to a minimum...Jim
BTW no offense taken or apologies needed, we're all firearms people here. Everybody have a enjoyable and SAFE holiday.
Here's mine..
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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You will not be burned at the stake. Good question actually. I have a few AR's and really never shoot them because I REALLY like my revolvers. I do feel though as CF mentioned it is a freedom issue, not a specific type of gun issue. The AR forum's could be stating the same thing if they were targeting revolvers first and they feared AR's would follow.
I feel we are all in this together, no matter what your preference of firearm. Make no mistake about it this is not about guns, really. It is 100% about freedom and we that have it and those that want to remove it, period!
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
November 14, 2012
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The AR is light, extremely accurate, and easy to clean and maintain. It's versatile, you can use .223 to kill the woodchuck destroying your garden in the morning, push 2 pins, change the upper and you can shoot hog or deer in the afternoon. It is cheap (was) to buy ammo for and is (was) fairly inexpensive to purchase, especially for what you could get for the money spent. It is easy to "accessorize", you can change from a long distance scope to a point and shoot red dot in a few minutes, or add grips, light or laser.It is probably the best one rifle solution for most people.
I believe it's popularity has increased for these reasons, and because as troops return from combat they want to have and use the same weapon that they are most familiar with. The same happened with the 03 spingfields, garands, m1 carbine ect... As for high capacity magazines, people may not "need" them, but when you can pick up used 30 rounders at the gun show for$4-$6 apiece, why spend the extra $20-$30 for a 5-10 round mag. For many of us this extra money is a big deal.
I beg to differ with you about a SHTF scenario, I want the most firepower available within arms reach. In 2004 we had 2 hurricanes hit within a month of each other, no or sporadic power for almost 7 weeks. No electricity, no gas. No electricity, no cell service. I learned first hand that in an emergency you or your family are on your own. Look at Katrina, a major city devastated. People complain that the government has not done enough, but in all actuality, they probably could not do much more. These events were pretty minor in the whole scheme of things. All is great when everything runs along smoothly, but how do you think it would be if something major happened. I don't want to have to defend me or my family with a handgun and a bolt action rifle.
I carry a revolver or automatic with me where ever I go, as my job puts me in the worst parts of towns or cities. It has prevented on 3 occasions, from being robbed or carjacked. Paranoid? you may think so, I don't. When I was younger I was an avid hunter, now I mostly target shoot. I don't have guns for just the above reasons, I do not believe any government should be the only ones with weapons.
Sorry for the long winded post, merry Christmas and happy new year to all.
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
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Dantanna,
Not a stupid question at all and one that many in the country are asking. I don't want to get into the 2nd amendment debate too far I will just say that I believe if you give up a certain style of firearm and let it be banned, it opens the way for any other type of firearm to be banned too. I will give just one quick example- I own a lever action rifle I used many years for deer hunting, it holds 7 rounds. Tube fed. I've shot it many times and am very quick with it. Quicker and more accurate perhaps than many guys I met at the local range with black rifles. the argument could be made, 'why do you need a rifle with 7 bullets, if you can't hit a deer with 3 or 4 you should give up hunting! there are other style rifles that could take the place of lever rifles.'
Remember when Reagan was shot the big push was to ban cheap 'Saturday night special' pistols. No matter what the gun control advocates take away, they will never be satisfied. They will just pick a new angle of attack on gun ownership.
We have a saying at work, "it's not the needin', it's the havin'."
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
October 11, 2009
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That's what I meant when I said "Snowball Effect". I'll support anyone's "Right To Bear Arm's". As long as he is a safe and responsible person of good background and character. No felon's, psycho's, drug dealer's etc. I guess I'm just getting old. I must seem like the old Amish man driving is horse drawn buggy with its big triangular sign on the back of it going down the turnpike. I'm just getting in every ones way and slowing up traffic. And wondering why everyone is worrying about gas prices. I just hate to see such panic and gouging on something that a month ago the market was flooded with. 30 years ago hardly anyone owned one of these gun's. I just never saw the use of it except in war. I'll shut up now, its just I never saw the appeal of it. There is a new generation of gun owner today. And I know I sound like my Great grandfather when I heard him once say " I'll never ride in one of those Air Imo Plane's. "
So I'll just hitch up my buggy and drive on down the rode. I'll sign whatever so they can keep their black plastic rifle's. I just hate to see mass panic in our community.
November 14, 2012
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Built this about a month ago for my son for Christmas. He has wanted an AR, but could not afford one. The other day he says to me, after seeing and hearing all this on the news, I don't see the reason why anyone needs this type of weapon. We will see if his tune changes when I pull this out of the safe!
I have less than $500 in this rifle and it has now doubled or tripled in value (at least in the short term). Yes that is a $6 mag.
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DWF Supporters
Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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For me its a rights issue as much as anything. If the anti's are successful at eroding the second ammendment, whats to stop them from assulting the 1St or 3Rd ammendments next? I do think that proper background checks are a MUST and I don't want to see criminals with semi auto weapons. BUT, I don't think the vast majority of law abiding citizens should be punished for the irresponsible actions of a hand full of sick people.
I don't think even the anti's would suggest banning driving for all due to the bad behavior of drunk drivers. So why apply that same standard to firearms?
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
September 25, 2012
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Dantanna58 said
So I'll just hitch up my buggy and drive on down the rode. I'll sign whatever so they can keep their black plastic rifle's. I just hate to see mass panic in our community.
Hey Buddy I'm right with you. I'm going on 63, can't see without the scope, and have hand tremors that make pistol shooting difficult. Hitting the target is the difficult part. I could beat out Don Knotts for shakiest gun in the west. 
At least with the black rifle, sand bags and that little 4x20 scope I can hit the 500yd targets when I shoot at the Laguna Seca range near my home in CA.
As for the "Air imo planes" I've been avoiding trains my whole life, don't ask me why, I don't know.
Have a great holiday,
Jim
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I'll do the "Moderator thing" first and say this is a valid Topic, and the responses are all what I expect to see from our Members, on topic and avoiding personal attacks.
Now, my personal response is, I own one AR type rifle, and it is my only long gun, I am a handgunner. What I like about the AR is exactly what I like about both the Dan Wesson revolver and the 1911. They are "modular" and customizable very easily at the owner level.
No other revolver allows me to do what I can do with a DW, no other pistol allows me to do what I can with a 1911, no other long gun allows me to do what I can with my AR. I can customize and accessorize all three myself, and I can gunsmith on them for myself.
I own 30 round magazines for my AR, frankly I don't really need them for any practical, daily use. Ironically, about three weeks ago I was planning to buy 20 rd PMags because they are a better fit when I am shooting from a bipod. A week ago I realized that I need to get 10 rd magazines, very soon that is all the law will allow me to own.
Here's a picture of my EBR
It now sports a bipod and a 3-9x scope. Since I live in CT, it is fully compliant with the '94 AWB, except for the magazine, which is still (briefly, I fear) CT legal.
I'm can do everything I need or want to with this rifle with 10 round magazines. That does not mean that I yield one inch on magazine capacity, because once we start to give up anything to the "takers", they keep taking.
I will also share the thing that makes THIS gun more special than any other that I own:
When my son deployed to the Persian Gulf, for every Christmas, birthday, Fathers Day, etc., he bought and had sent home a piece of this rifle. He talked with me about exactly what I wanted, gave me advice, shared his expertise, etc.
When he came home safe and sound, we sat down and built this rifle together on the kitchen table in the house he grew up in.
Who the Hell thinks they have the right to take this away from me?
Sorry for the rant, but I'm pretty concerned about what the future holds for responsible, law abiding Americans exercising their Rights.
I'll say again, this is a good Topic, it highlights the essential element of what is mistakenly referred to as "Gun Control", it is really really an attempt to control We, The People.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Hey, just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all! Now send me those 30 round mags! I too have an AR bought 2 of them at a right price! I just like guns, big ones, small ones. wheel guns, slide guns, bolt acton, pumps, double barrel, single shot heck even bb guns are fun! At the last gun show picked up a salt shooter for flies and other pesky bugs!
I think it was because my dad was a foot soldier in WW2 and brought back a few things that grasped my interest in guns.
Then the Dan Wesson showed up a W12 pac, now that is a revolver, one that hardly any one else had!
Do I need a 30 round mag or a 25 for my 1022 nope, i just like to keep plinking. Quick and easy change and tons of cool stuff to add to (the AR or 1022)!
http://www.youtube.com/user/steveleeilikeguns check this guy out way to much fun and time on his hands!
So I will keep my guns and they can keep the change!
October 13, 2009
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I am also in the camp of the AR's really aren't my thing, but I fully support civilian use and ownership of them.
As for the application of the AR platform and high capacity magazines, they have have many applications, but they really shine in self defense when the bad guys are shooting back at you. When I first moved into the shop here, I had scrap metal thieves break in. I didn't have any of my guns with me, but fortunately I was able to stop from driving away with brandishing a metal bar. 
Now that situation, if it was a little more different, had the potential to turn very ugly. I first called 911 and told them I had a robbery in progress. They told me they dispatched an officer. I then informed them I was going to go out and confront them. 911 warned me not to do it, which in retrospect, me doing so without a gun was a bad idea. I was able to delay the robbers talking till the cops showed up, but it took FOREVER like 15 min!
Now if they were armed and when confronted decided to shoot back at me (there was 3 of them) having a large cap mag is essential. Don't care how good of a shot someone is, when you are pinned down under gunfire its hard to get a good shot, and "pray and spray" is usually the best option to stop them from shooting so you can get a good shot!
October 11, 2009
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Sir, I admire your bravery. But at my age , 55, I am not as spry as I was at 35. If at all possible, I will barricade my loved ones behind me in my room and have my 12 gauge aimed at the door and my wife armed with my .357 with which she is well trained with and stay on the phone with 911 informing them of my situation and God help the SOB that breaks through the door. I am not about to go skulking around in the dark and get killed over something that I have insured. I know it sounds cowardly but I'll let the boys with the body armour, dogs and Tack Squad skulk around in the dark. I know there are some brave souls out there that will risk their lives for their prized microwave oven or dvd player. But I'm staying close to my loved ones and fight to the death for them. Me getting killed in another part of my home while my armed wife and my mentally handicapped son are left alone is not for me. I do support any law abiding citizen the right to bear arms. I just could not understand why the AR is the most popular rifle in America now. It's a different world now than what it was 35 years ago.
Gun shows are looking more like Military reviews than the old camping equipment, plaid shirt, blue steel and walnut guns of my time.
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
Moderators
November 17, 2008
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Just a thought or two.
I believe If forced to fight, We all would want the very best equipment we could get our hands on. (Yes best equip is relative and subjective to a lot of opinions.) Remember once upon a time a cap and ball revolver was the hottest assault weapon of it's time era. I still don't like others telling me what I can and can't have.
No my home defense weapon is not a tricked out M4 with all the tacticool attachments.
Hopefully I will never need to defend my home or family and if so likely one of my handguns will do. If the world goes crazy well the safe holds the EBR.
One last thought- Disarmed Democracy equals Dictatorship; we are a long way from that, but baby steps turn into Olympic Athletes with enough drive.
LB
P.S. I still wear plaid shirts and prefer wood stocks.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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I did write earlier in this post, but after Steve's post I thought I must write again. Considering all the mass histeria and opinions flying around the last week and a half I am very Proud to belong to a Forum that has members as Adult and refined as our membership. A subject like this one could draw out very extreme opinions and it has created very interesting and thought provoking discussion instead.
Glad to be a member here!
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
September 25, 2012
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Supermagfan said
I did write earlier in this post, but after Steve's post I thought I must write again. Considering all the mass histeria and opinions flying around the last week and a half I am very Proud to belong to a Forum that has members as Adult and refined as our membership. A subject like this one could draw out very extreme opinions and it has created very interesting and thought provoking discussion instead.
Glad to be a member here!
SMF
This +1000
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Supermagfan said
I did write earlier in this post, but after Steve's post I thought I must write again. Considering all the mass histeria and opinions flying around the last week and a half I am very Proud to belong to a Forum that has members as Adult and refined as our membership. A subject like this one could draw out very extreme opinions and it has created very interesting and thought provoking discussion instead.
Glad to be a member here!
SMF
I visit 3 other Shooting Forums daily.
The one I expected to go crazy (ar15.com, especially the NE Hometown Forum) has been very minimally involved.
My "Social"forum (cotep.org) has been pretty quiet, after a few days the Forum Mod actually asked the guys to slow things down on the CT shootings with Xmas coming up. There has been some 2A and RTKBA discussion, all very informative and on point.
THR, on the other hand, is buried in discussion, alternating "panic/don't worry", linking to media misrepresentation, "What IF?", etc. I know The High Road is a BIG forum, always very positively moderated. I really think the Admin and Mods have decided to loosen up on these discussions. Lots of ridiculous discussion, duplicated discussion, a little flaming and personal attack,etc.
Thank you all for being the Gentlemen I know you all to be.
December 26, so this is likely to be the last one for this year...
It's Still Fun!
Steve
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
January 22, 2008
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I'm late to discussion here but I'm also one that doesn't see what is so fascinating about an AR. I understand they are a very versatile firearm and useful in a lot of ways but just no appeal for me. As SMF stated the issue is about personal freedom and I don't feel anyone should be able to limit my rights.
I did have the opportunity to buy a Colt AR from my brother-in-law a few years ago. I took it out to the range and we didn't click so I sold it.
Steve CT Wrote:
I will also share the thing that makes THIS gun more special than any other that I own:
When my son deployed to the Persian Gulf, for every Christmas, birthday, Fathers Day, etc., he bought and had sent home a piece of this rifle. He talked with me about exactly what I wanted, gave me advice, shared his expertise, etc.
When he came home safe and sound, we sat down and built this rifle together on the kitchen table in the house he grew up in.
Even though I have read this story before it's a touching as ever and I have to agree no one should be able to take that away from you or any of us.
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