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Thread: Looking to purchase my first AR, full blown 5.56 or start with a .22?

  1. #1
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    Looking to purchase my first AR, full blown 5.56 or start with a .22?

    Hey, sorry if this has been addressed before but after using the search engine all I've come across is tips on getting started with the different 5.56 ARs.

    My question is for a first time purchase into the AR world (and in fact my first rifle, own several shotguns and fired numerous rifles and handguns but own none) if I'm looking to really get the best experience in an AR platform should I go with a .22 such as the M&P for the price perspective or should I go for a quality 5.56 AR such as a Colt or a Daniel Defense?

    Budget isn't necessarily an issue over the past few years I've saved roughly Thirty-five hundred for a future firearms purchase just looking for some advice

    Additional Info: I have shot a 5.56 AR, including several carbine, two mid-lengths and was lucky enough to get to shoot my buddies Rifle-length so I am defiantly set on the AR platform

    Thanks in advance and again sorry if this has been addressed before

  2. #2
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    Whats the use for the rifle?

    If you want something cheap to plink with at the range, the .22s are great.

    If you want something that has range, power and the ability to defend you and yours... the 5.56 would be a much better choice.
    C co 1/30th Infantry Regiment
    3rd Brigade 3rd Infantry Division
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    OIF 1 and 3

    IraqGunz:
    No dude is going to get shot in the chest at 300 yards and look down and say "What is that, a 3 MOA group?"

  3. #3
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    [QUOTE=C-grunt;941511]Whats the use for the rifle?[QUOTE]

    You beat Rob to the punch

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by C-grunt View Post
    Whats the use for the rifle?
    I'm looking to get acquainted with the platform, and hopefully at some point be able to run in different Carbine courses, it could see possible use as a Home defender but overall would be target shooting for the beginning of its life

    If you want something cheap to plink with at the range, the .22s are great.
    For the early part of its service that's the majority if what it would be doing but I would hope to eventually have it fill more roles

    If you want something that has range, power and the ability to defend you and yours... the 5.56 would be a much better choice.
    I was thinking that also I'm just worrying about the cost of ammo burning through my funds
    Last edited by Fearless_One; 03-16-11 at 19:29.

  5. #5
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    They have conversion kits that let you run .22lr through the 5.56 guns.
    C co 1/30th Infantry Regiment
    3rd Brigade 3rd Infantry Division
    2002-2006
    OIF 1 and 3

    IraqGunz:
    No dude is going to get shot in the chest at 300 yards and look down and say "What is that, a 3 MOA group?"

  6. #6
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    5.56. If you start really running the round count up, you can look into a .22 conversion bolt or upper.
    If you've already had some time on the platform, you know its not difficult to manage the recoil, and going this route means that you won't have to upgrade later.
    The advice above is worth exactly what you paid for it.

  7. #7
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    It's reasonable to buy a 5.56 rifle and then buy a decent .22 kit to use. This way, you get 2 birds with one stone--I wholeheartedly agree with this rationale.

  8. #8
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    I would buy a quality 5.56 rifle it will allow you to do more. You can then move on to a dedicated .22 upper or something like the S&W 15-22 in .22.
    Last edited by usmcvet; 03-18-11 at 12:27. Reason: S&W
    "Real men have always needed to know what time it is so they are at the airfield on time, pumping rounds into savages at the right time, etc. Being able to see such in the dark while light weights were comfy in bed without using a light required luminous material." -Originally Posted by ramairthree

  9. #9
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    Buy the 5.56 first so that you have a real battle proven rifle design, buy a good piece of kit and not just lowest price. You can always put on the six additional pounds of "improvements" later. A lot of good info here if you want to "search" for it. Buy the toy later if you think you'll save enough money "shooting those thousands of rounds each year" to be worth it. Me, I'd just buy a second 5.56 ;-)
    Last edited by Fidalgoman; 03-18-11 at 02:50.

  10. #10
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    I see very little reason for purchasing a .22 M&P M4 clone as opposed to a 5.56. Other then cost all you are doing is purchasing an inferior replica of a tool that was designed to function in a certain way, for a certain purpose.

    I've grown up with firearms and been taught that ALL firearms are equal in that they can kill you, or destroy what the muzzle is pointed at, regardless of caliber. This is absolute truth, therefore making decisions on "lesser calibers" for the purpose of anything other then cost, and recoil is pointless. You have already stated that cost is not an issue, and since the 5.56 M4 has literally no recoil worth mentioning if shot properly there is not a choice to be made. Go with the caliber the system was designed for. It's not like since it's a bigger caliber it's going to jump up and bite you or something.

    I've seen these questions pop up from time to time, and I always scratch my head. Do you mind telling me why exactly you are even considering the options?
    Mobocracy is alive and well in America.*
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    'All of my firearms have 4 military features, a barrel, a trigger, a hammer, and a stock."
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