AR10 vs AR15

[LedJedi]

well, as par with the course with me I had a good debate with a friend of mine and conceded to better logic when I saw it.

Instead of getting an expensive assault rifle with a big punch that could be a so/so hunting/distance gun I'm opting to get an AK47 and a bolt action 30.06 (savage arms most likely) for what I'm calculating to be roughly the same cost as the original AR10 I was looking at. The ammo for the AK is WAY cheaper than 308 ammo and the 30.06 ammo is on par with the 308 cost. That'll give me a good solid assault rifle with plentiful ammo and a good solid hunting rifle. No middle of the road compromise and generally cheaper all the way around.

What do you guys think?

[Ashlar]

Probably not as much upgrade-ability down the road, but definitely cheaper.

[The Annoyed Man]

Probably not as much upgrade-ability down the road, but definitely cheaper.

That was my thought too.

I think the bottom line is, what do you really want? And then get that. I think an AR10 is much better than a "so so" hunting distance gun. I think it is a great hunting distance gun. I think its weakness would be in CQB.

Another possibility to consider... You can get an AR chambered in 7.62x39, have a good CQB rifle, have your cheaper ammo, have the greater accuracy of the AR platform over the AK platform, have the upgradability in terms of extra gee-gaws for it, a larger array of different optics mounts (and therefore a greater array of optics choices), and down the road you can buy different uppers in other calibers (.204, .223/5.56, 6.8SPC, .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf) and mount each one of those onto the same lower for less than the cost of a whole new rifle.

You'll never have that range of options on an AK, and an AR in 7.62x39 will set you back a lot less than a one in .308.

Sorry if I complicated the picture for you.

[LedJedi]

well, what I really want is to own all the neat guns. The problem is I think they're all neat!!!

I've wanted an AR10 forever, but i think I'd enjoy an AK and 30.06 more at the range so this year get the AK and 30.06 and next year maybe pick up the AR10 till my buddy talks me out of buying a 308 again :) It's a vicious cycle. A lovely lovely vicious cycle. :)

[RECIT]

Your buddy should have talked you into buying the .308 gun. Then he would get to shoot it too. I have an AK, AR in 5.56, and an AR in .308. The a problem arises gun is the .308 gun. Mine is a 16" gun, but light it is NOT. I am surprised how hefty it is every time I pick it up. The AK is as light as a feather in my opinion. If you go the AK route do your self a favor and spend some money and don't get a bargain basement value AK that has the potential to have problems to work out. Aimsurplus.com has some right now that are priced right. I would stay away from the Romanian AK's from what EVREYONE says.