Thinking of getting an AR-15...

[greg72982]

With my healthy tax rebate check coming I decided to do what I did last year and buy a gun with it. My depts. are too poor to buy us patrol rifles so I am thinking I will buy my own. What should I expect to pay? I plan on going to a place that offers a police discount.

BTW I'd like to get on with a collapsible stock...

[Sgt. Slaughter]

That seems to be a pretty open-ended question and subjective at that. Depending on where you go and what kind of discount they give, who the hell knows? It matters much on which manufacturer you choose as well. What Switch, Bjjvad and Samuel may choose to match their ninja-level skills may be too much for a young padawan like yourself. Having said that, I'd prefer you to get decent hardware and then increase your skillset to match the weapon.

[Samuel]

Definitely agree with Sarge on getting outside training! I would love to go take tactical rifle courses from a few different groups - just don't have the time...

As for me, I'm waiting for Switch to get tired of what he's using now - I call dibs on his used gear... I'll bet Insayn's got some nice toys too...

In case that doesn't happen, I was thinking about putting a frankenstein rifle together - maybe an Addax Tactical gas piston upper, generic lower (I think Spikes had a sterile one for like $85), Geissele two stage trigger, Magpul stock, troy front and rear BUIS with co-witness Eotech, etc...

[sgtbear111]

Rock River Arms are ok, so are Olympic Arms. Base models are under a thousand, better price with an agency letter order. Watch out for some who build guns with inferior no-name parts.

[Switchback]

First of all, let me put it out there, I am a lot lighter on the gear these days. I gave up the bolt gun and have to make due with this little 6.5" AR.

I'll mirror what the other guys are saying about training. If your department is like most, they tend to do a little less training than they should. Hell, I loaned my rifle out to a girl at one of our range day last week. She has been on 6-7 years and asked me, "Can you give me a refresher on how to use this thing?" I know she has shot the AR, as we all have to at quals every 6 months Obviously, that is not enough. So, if you can, get out for some training...even if it is informal with some squared-away guys. FWIW, because Billy-Bob is a nice guy and shoots well, it doesn't mean that he knows decent mechanics and can teach worth a damn.

Now, back to the rifle question. I think that, as long as you get it from one of the big manufacturers, you will be fine. All of their quality control seems to go in spurts. However, if you have an issue, they will take care of you. Personally, I am partial to the Rock River lower, as their 2-stage trigger is phenomenal... every bit as good as the Jewel competition trigger that is an option on many other rifles.

I'd go for a chrome barrel. It's easier to clean. If you are just buying the rifle, but intend to throw sights/optics on it later, then buy an A3 type (carry handle is removable). You can zero with the irons and shoot it just fine. Once you get a red dot sight and/or back-up iron sights, you can sell the carry handle (I think I sold one for $80) 8-9 years ago.

I could not worry about much of anything else, as everything else is customizable later on down the road when you want to spend the money. If you want a few more accessories, let us know. I am sure people will chime in with what they consider "essentials", such as slings, rails systems, lights, etc.

[greg72982]

I'm not trying to be Rambo, but we got a lot of cops getting shot around here and I feel like all I got is a squirtgun compared to the bad guys. Pretty much everyone I know has a patrol rifle and I got some buddies that know their way around them.

All I got right now is a .40 cal Glock and a shotgun so old and beaten it's a wonder if it would even fire...

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Maybe you need to get some more training with your shotgun. Get a Knoxx stock and some Federal Tactical Load busckot and slugs. You could put a big hurtin' on someone if you know how to work that thang.

Is there still a backlog on AR builds? There for a while you had to wait months and months to get one delivered. Bravo Company had almost a 6 month wait IIRC. LMT did too, but there priority is their contract productions to the military and U.S. government.

[greg72982]

Maybe you need to get some more training with your shotgun. Get a Knoxx stock and some Federal Tactical Load busckot and slugs. You could put a big hurtin' on someone if you know how to work that thang.

Is there still a backlog on AR builds? There for a while you had to wait months and months to get one delivered. Bravo Company had almost a 6 month wait IIRC. LMT did too, but there priority is their contract productions to the military and U.S. government.

It's not mine, it's the depts. I used to do alot of shotgun hunting so I'm pretty good with that, I just think firing off slugs/buckshot while getting riddled with assault rifle rounds isn't really a good advantage, especially when we only have six in there.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

It's not mine, it's the depts. I used to do alot of shotgun hunting so I'm pretty good with that, I just think firing off slugs/buckshot while getting riddled with assault rifle rounds isn't really a good advantage, especially when we only have six in there.

"Assault rifle" is a misnomer created by people scared of weapons to incite fear. A .223/5.56 round commonly associated with an AR is a varmint round. A .308/7.62 round is associated with larger game like deer or elk. I'm not trying to diminish the lethality of either one. Believe me, if you're being engaged with one of those, they can kill you. However, throwing back a 1 oz. 12 gauge slug will cause buttholes to pucker up on their end. I know they don't carry as many rounds as an AR, just don't discount what you currently have as "inferior."

Most police engagements occur at less than 100 yards. Federal's Tactical Truball Low Recoil Rifled Slugs give you 2" at 50 yards from a smooth barrel. I'm sure you're aware that's pretty effing good.

Since I've damn near turned this into a shotgun vs. patrol rifle thread, let me get it back on topic for you.

Which rifle is available near you that you can get at a discount?

[greg72982]

"Assault rifle" is a misnomer created by people scared of weapons to incite fear. A .223/5.56 round commonly associated with an AR is a varmint round. A .308/7.62 round is associated with larger game like deer or elk. I'm not trying to diminish the lethality of either one. Believe me, if you're being engaged with one of those, they can kill you. However, throwing back a 1 oz. 12 gauge slug will cause buttholes to pucker up on their end.
I know they don't carry as many rounds as an AR, just don't discount what you currently have as "inferior."

Most police engagements occur at less than 100 yards. Federal's Tactical Truball Low Recoil Rifled Slugs give you 2" at 50 yards from a smooth barrel. I'm sure you're aware that's pretty effing good.

Since I've damn near turned this into a shotgun vs. patrol rifle thread, let me get it back on topic for you.

Which rifle is available near you that you can get at a discount?

Well the place I had in mind sells Bushmasters. I didn't call yet when I made this thread and after reading it now I kind of feel talked out of it :-/

[Samuel]

also check the item mentioned at 4:30... I gotta get me some of those!

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Well the place I had in mind sells Bushmasters. I didn't call yet when I made this thread and after reading it now I kind of feel talked out of it :-/

I wasn't trying to talk you out of buying one, just trying to illustrate the point that you're already well-armed. Most people don't recognize the versatility and range of a shotgun or its psychological effectiveness.

There's nothing wrong with getting a patrol rifle and the training to go with it.

[cntryboy0531]

Bushmaster is a good Rifle, I have one and have no Complaints. My agency issues out Olympic Arms AR-15 A3 type with no carry handle, Tactical Light, and Iron sights so we can put EOTechs on them. I love that Rifle.

[Samuel]

Benelli USA | Team Benelli Pro Shooter and three-time world record holder Tom Knapp (8 hand thrown with a pump action!)

[greg72982]

I wasn't trying to talk you out of buying one, just trying to illustrate the point that you're already well-armed. Most people don't recognize the versatility and range of a shotgun or its psychological effectiveness.

There's nothing wrong with getting a patrol rifle and the training to go with it.

I'm not discounting the shotgun's effectiveness by any means, it's just that fact that I better hit the target within like 6 shots lol.