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So, I'm seriously considering buy a couple rifles in the near future. I've shot a few (including an AR-15 and an AK-47 style rifle whose make I can't remember). I've shot a whole lot of .22lr through a friend's rifle, and I'm either going to buy his out right or buy a .22lr just like it. For the other rifle, I'd like to get something that's not a .22lr. I've been checking out everything under the sun from traditional bolt-actions to AR-15's to the very non-traditional PS90 and FS2000. I thought I'd see what you guys thought given some of my goals.

1. Should be fun to plink with, yet still usable for home defense if that need should ever arise. If the lady of the house is going to plink with it too, then recoil needs to be pretty well-managed and not beat her up when she fires it.

2. Should be relatively easy to take apart, clean, and put back together.

3. Should be reliable.

4. At the ranges I'm going to probably be shooting (probably 100yards max), I'd like to avoid having to do/worry too much about separate optics. Decent iron sights are probably fine. I know some of the FN's come with optics which are also probably fine if they're any good at all.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Things to avoid or definitely look at?
Thanks!

newTexan wrote:1. Should be fun to plink with, yet still usable for home defense if that need should ever arise. If the lady of the house is going to plink with it too, then recoil needs to be pretty well-managed and not beat her up when she fires it.

AR15

newTexan wrote:2. Should be relatively easy to take apart, clean, and put back together.

AR15

newTexan wrote:3. Should be reliable.

AR15

newTexan wrote:4. At the ranges I'm going to probably be shooting (probably 100yards max), I'd like to avoid having to do/worry too much about separate optics. Decent iron sights are probably fine. I know some of the FN's come with optics which are also probably fine if they're any good at all.

AR15, with an inexpensive scope or a red dot/holographic sight

newTexan wrote:Any thoughts or suggestions?

AR15

newTexan wrote:Things to avoid or definitely look at?

Thanks!

Look at an AR15.

I hope I wasn't being too confusing.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

newTexan wrote:1. Should be fun to plink with, yet still usable for home defense if that need should ever arise. If the lady of the house is going to plink with it too, then recoil needs to be pretty well-managed and not beat her up when she fires it.

AR15

newTexan wrote:2. Should be relatively easy to take apart, clean, and put back together.

AR15

newTexan wrote:3. Should be reliable.

AR15

newTexan wrote:4. At the ranges I'm going to probably be shooting (probably 100yards max), I'd like to avoid having to do/worry too much about separate optics. Decent iron sights are probably fine. I know some of the FN's come with optics which are also probably fine if they're any good at all.

AR15, with an inexpensive scope or a red dot/holographic sight

newTexan wrote:Any thoughts or suggestions?

AR15

newTexan wrote:Things to avoid or definitely look at?

Thanks!

Look at an AR15.

I hope I wasn't being too confusing.

ARs are good all round carbines. Good for home defense, plinking, target shooting, even some hunting applications. Recoil is very VERY light, cleaning is a breeze, and they are highly reliable.

newTexan wrote: 1. Should be fun to plink with, yet still usable for home defense if that need should ever arise. If the lady of the house is going to plink with it too, then recoil needs to be pretty well-managed and not beat her up when she fires it.

AK-47

2. Should be relatively easy to take apart, clean, and put back together.

AK-47

3. Should be reliable.

AK-47

4. At the ranges I'm going to probably be shooting (probably 100yards max), I'd like to avoid having to do/worry too much about separate optics. Decent iron sights are probably fine.

AK-47

I am a petite lady and I have an AR-15, so your lady should have no problems with recoil as there isn't much. I enjoy shooting mine. Hubs does the cleaning and maintainence so I don't know about that part, but it doesn't take him too long to get it done. He also enjoys shooting it so that is why he doesn't mind cleaning it.

seniorshooteress wrote:I am a petite lady and I have an AR-15, so your lady should have no problems with recoil as there isn't much. I enjoy shooting mine. Hubs does the cleaning and maintainence so I don't know about that part, but it doesn't take him too long to get it done. He also enjoys shooting it so that is why he doesn't mind cleaning it.

I've taken lady friends out shooting with both an AR-15 and an AK....surprisingly, when given a second chance at shooting either, most of the girls opted to shoot the AK. Don't know why.

Do you have a budget? That can make a big difference particularly because you are buying two. Ar-15s and Ak-47s are great, no doubt about it. If you are trying to keep the cost down, SKS models might also be a choice. A Marlin lever action in 30-30 would do everything you want and be a good hunting rifle to boot as would a Remington 700. Ruger mini-14 also might be one to consider. There are an awful lot of good options out there. I am not sure there is a "correct" answer. It will depend on what you personally like and what you can make a good deal on. Good luck with your search.

At .35 cents/round (+/-) an AR doesn't seem like a "plinking" rifle to me. Get a .22 for fun, and a larger caliber for work. When you mix the two sacrifices are made or money is wasted.

Example: we have .22s that are great to mess around on, and have rapid fire fun with buddies. I have an amazing AR that is fun to shoot but to do the same thing I do with the .22s would cost me hundreds of dollars for a marginal return on entertainment vs the .22

I have an AR15 and an S&W M&P 15-22.

I like shooting both, but the S&W M&P 15-22 is cheap to shoot and I have a blast. I can easily go through 1,500 rounds in one Saturday. I'd hate to see my ammo bill doing that with my AR15.

I think within your parameters; a Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum.

I'd wouldn't use a rifle for home defense. I have handguns and a purpose built shotty for that.

I like the 17HMR caliber. You're only shooting 100yds, a .22lr is more then sufficient for that.

IMHO, every red-blooded American male (and female) needs three rifles: a rimfire, a semi-automatic centerfire, and a bolt-action, lever action, or single-shot "hunting rifle".

My choice?

Ruger 10/22
AR-15
.308 bolt-action rifle

Three very prevalent calibers, easy to find everything from plinking ammo and mil-surp to top-of-the-line hunting rounds for all three. First two are very popular models with easy to find parts and accessories.

So start by deciding which way you want to go on those three basic categories, then buy whichever one or two you want and will use the most now. Buy the third one later when you need it.

Personally, I'd always start with the rimfire and sounds like you're on the right track with that.

Oh, and you also need at least one shotgun .... a good Mossberg or Remington pump with an 18.5-inch home defense barrel and a 28-inch vent rib bird/clay pigeon barrel should have you covered for scattergun needs unless you get really into a particular type of shotgunning (sporting clays, waterfowl, three-gun shooting matches etc).

M1 Carbine would fit your criteria as well.

stroo wrote:M1 Carbine would fit your criteria as well.

Ammo is not so cheap though...and not something you are going to find on the shelf usually.

I say a nice 10/22 or an AR in 5.56 with a .22 conversion would do you nice.

Sounds like an AR-15 is the weapon of choice. Will I need to buy separate optics for it? Any recommendations that won't break the bank?