Why I do not like AR rifles
 

First I must say that I fully support anyone's rights to own and use any legal firearm - including AR rifles.

I know that the AR is simply a gas operated semi-auto rifle not really different from most other sporting semi-autos, but still I do not really care for them. Many years ago I carried a similar looking rifle with a triangular fore end. Every time I see an AR I can not help getting a little twinge.

It does not help that I often see them at the range being used by the tactical crowd of wannabe dudes showing each other how fast they can dump a magazine somewhere down range.

I also see them in the hands of sportsmen. Good folks. That is great and I wish them well, but I will never touch one.

That's really fair, and it's honest of you to admit why you don't like AR's.

I come from a Navy family, so I've had interesting discussions about why the generation of uncles that carried M16's won't own one today (same reason as yourself), whereas the older 2 generations that carried Garands and Carbines in Europe are so proud of their "bring home rifles". Since we're Navy, but I can't swim, I tried to sign up with USMC when I was 18, but I got rejected for combat service due to my knee surgeries - which drove me to go to college instead. I regret not having served, but having that family experience has given me an "outside looking in" perspective on why my great uncles and great great uncles were praised of their service, and so many of the younger generations were hurt by it - which follows in the same stroke as your disposition towards the AR action.

I can relate, as well, that I have a distaste for being lumped in with the "magpul ninja" crowd just because I'm a relatively young guy that runs a lot of AR's. Outside of test firing rifle's I've built or a birthday "shoot-schitt party," I can't remember the last time I've done a mag-dump. I did a lot of 3gun competition in college and shortly thereafter, but I never thought it made me a soldier - it just made me good at competitive 3gun. AR's have a huge advantage for my style of coyote hunting, and I enjoy shooting the platform recreationally - it doesn't make me Rambo, nor do I pretend it does.

To steal a line from the specialty pistol master Ernie Bishop - I'm "untactical".

Agreed. It's almost like whether you prefer wood, laminate or some other kind of synthetic stock on a rifle. Each has advantages but in the end, it's really what you prefer. I own AR rifles (mainly for work) but so far seem to prefer bolt or semi-auto rifles for hunting. I can definitely see where an AR platform would work well for multiple coyotes or follow up shots on the run.

It's an almost impossible platform to beat for Hog elimination as well! A good accurate AR in the proper cartridge is one mean rifle to a sounder!

Uncle - each to their own, of course.

It took me a long time before I purchased one, and the only reason I do is to shoot coyotes (multiple dogs on one stand).

I sometime feel like 3gun would be fun, but I haven't succumbed yet !

I guess I still like hunting more............................

Although I never though I would enjoy shooting paper, but I do now ?!?!

Then again, I also enjoy shooting clays.

I totally agree! My last AR was a super accurate semi-custom... but I grew tired of it and ended up trading it towards my dream rifle... a Dakota 10. Couldn't be happier.

As a reloader I couldn't stand the Winchester Model 100 I had. Never did get used to looking for the cases in the grass snow and other crap.
I was carrying a M 14 till almost my last days in country.

If you want one and have the money I say go for it.

:D Al

Coyote hunting is the big reason I got into AR's. Having 3 coyotes come into a stand and laying all 3 out in short order is probably one of the biggest hunting thrills I can remember. I stayed with AR's because I quickly learned that it is one of the most accurate semi-automatic platforms available and that it is easily adaptable to fit a pretty wide variety of hunting styles and types of game.

I also recognize that not everyone shares the love I have for the platform. Some prefer the feel of checkered walnut and the smooth operation of a finely crafted bolt as it locks a new cartridge into the chamber. There definitely isn't as much "heart and soul" in a lump of plastic and aluminum. For others, that "made by mattel" look just brings back bad memories. All of these are things I understand and can, relatively speaking, relate to. Just like any other style of rifle - some will love it, some will hate it, and some will look at it and just go "meh."

For what its worth, those tacticool commando wannabes drive me up the wall. I'd love to knock some sense into 'em, but they don't make bricks hard enough for that!

When you get to my age you will learn how to use a hammer for that :s2:

I had a good friend, that was shot in the Korean war and when i showed him my new SKS and cycled it he flinched and told me to take it away. I don't think they were used much in that war but he said it was like the gun that shot him. Hey bad memories are real.

Big Uncle---I thought I was the only one with your feelings towards ARs. Glad to hear you express your feelings and I'm in your corner 100% and will never touch one either!

I remember the type, the tactical AR guys hanging out at the 25 yard range and camped there till they ran out of ammo. It was an easy time getting to use the 100 and 200 yard ranges when those guys showed up. I remember those who owned the AR-15's that would jam every 3 rounds because they never maintained their rifles.

My military experience was very limited with the M-16 rifle and I always felt the same way as the OP about the AR-15 for many years. It wasn't until I became very experienced with shooting, hunting, and reloading with bolt action and lever action rifles that I re-introduced myself to the AR M-4 carbine variant just a week ago. The price was just too right and I bought one.

With all the gadgets one can put on the rifle, it is like a grown man's Barbie doll. I see why there is a large tacticool crowd who doesn't hunt or even shoot well. I can see why hunters and experienced marksmen think they are MEEHH. Oh well, to each their own, we live in the land of the free. But I can say one thing, I will be coyote hunting with it. It will not stay idle in the gun safe.

I used to work with a guy who was kind of the opposite. He did 3 tours in Iraq with the marines, and he had a hard time sleeping at night without his AR. It was almost like a grownup pacifier, I guess. He'd sleep like a baby as long as it was next to him (unloaded of course). If he woke up and it was out of reach, he had to put it back next to him and he was back to sleep no problems. I guess everyone handles it differently.

I LOVE going coyote hunting with my exquisitely accurate bull barreled scoped AR! I was able to bust 3 coyotes out of a pack several years ago and that sold me on hunting coyotes with a AR! With 1 of my beloved bolt rifles I'd never have gotten over 1. Of course I set this 1 up specifically to do that, and it's a solid 1/2 moa performer with my handloads!

Understandable.

And precisely why I won't own a Kalashnikov or anything that remotely LOOKS like a Kalashnikov or anything in 7.52x39 or 7.62x54R. Various versions of the M16/M4 kept me safe from them, so there's a place in my heart for the ugly black rifle.

And, while they're not usually my first choice, my ARs have spent time over prairie dog towns, coyote setups, and chasing spring turkeys. They're durable and, maintained like any other rifle should be, make a good "truck gun".

They do bring out the fool in many shooters (I did not say "marksmen"). When things got hot, we always used to stress that "one bullet, placed through the bad guy's forehead, will end every engagement favorably." That doesn't happen if you're ventilating the palm fronds and fig trees. Let those guys burn up the cheap steel-cased ammo in their tortured Bushmasters. What they don't learn with their brains they can learn with their wallets.

A rifle is simply a tool. Some day I'll maybe try to figure out why everyone buys those horrid-looking stainless-steel, black composite-stocked 700s and the like. Or, maybe I won't?

They make us hunters look Bad!

Pardon you? I've been a hunter since before a majority of the people on this forum have been breathing. I own and use 3 AR's with a 4'rth coming soon. I use them for hog hunting. I would really like for you to explain that ridiculous comment there RWK. Just how in the world does a certain kind of rifle "make us hunters look bad". It's a semi automatic rifle. Plain and simple. Does someone using a Remington 750 make us look bad? It's a semi! Must be evil! Detachable magazine? Browning BAR .30/06 must be the devil's handiwork there! Because it was/is patterned off of a military rifle? Guess what, almost EVERY rifle, be it bolt action, semi, pump is patterned off a military action! It's comments like yours that make hunters look bad! Not the rifle they may or may not prefer.

So, I guess there's like 3 things we agree on. I just had this discussion with a cousin of mine. He uses his ruger ranch rifle for coyotes all the time and, without batting an eye, tells me my AR's are bad for hunting because they look more dangerous. I think I'm gonna stay outta this one because it looks like you already got it covered....and I'd get banned if I said what I was really thinking right now.

The Ruger ranch rifle is miniature M-14 and uses Garand style opertion. As previously said many popular firearm design had its time in service such as a Mauser style controlled round feed bolt action rifle that many hunters use.

There was a time when I would get doors closed in my face when I asked for permission with an AR on my back. I can say that those days are over.

For a new hunting property, I USED to have the policy of taking a non-AR at first to make them comfortable. In the last few years, I've had farmers and ranchers ASK ME WHY I'M NOT USING AN AR-15!!! I own up to trying to keep them comfortable, and the response has been "bring out the AR and bring out a buddy with one too, I want you to kill every one of them you see!".

I've even had 3 farmer/ranchers ask me to build them AR's in the last 2yrs such that they could have their own - nobody takes away my permission, but they want to be able to run them off or kill them at any cost.

There was a time when AR's had a negative stigma with landowners. These days, I don't get that impression any more.

Let me add that I have absolutely NO qualm about how Big Uncle feels about them. There are some that saw military service that I am dang near shocked that they would even LOOK at ANY kind of firearm again. Let alone the same type they carried. Some service Vets are affected that way. That is a personal matter and not one that reflects poorly on our hunting community. AR based platforms are merely a tool. A very serviceable and useful one for many hunting uses. But if picking one up gives you flashbacks to a horrendous period in your life then by all means don't pick one up.

That's what I tried to explain to him. Just because the ranch rifle doesn't have a pistol grip and comes with a cute little 5 round mag doesn't change the fact that it's still a gas-powered semiautomatic rifle...just like the AR.

A semi- automatic rifle, PERIOD ! :patriot:

NOT an assault rifle !!! :devil:


AR = "Armalite" the company who popularized the platform for the civilian market.

"Two shots in two seconds in the heart area --- bullet holes touching each other --- Or six shots in two seconds, in a combat effective zone over the human torso --- Both are effective...but one is obviously much more efficient."

Quote: Travis Haley

Not sure I get it. Are you trying to say the AR is less accurate than something else?

Travis Haley was referring to select fire full auto M16 verses the M1 Garand semi. Had he had an AR15 semi or even an M16 on semi he may have changed his tune a bit. He, like me, was not a fan of "spray and pray" full auto offensive.