Recommendations for a Combat Rifle

[Josh3239]

Wrong on both accounts! Although the chances of you getting approval for an NFA item is slim to none, if you get approval, you can have then in Ca! Also, I have many many mags that hold over 10 rounds and, they are all legal for me to have!

I don't understand why you would suggest a featureless build if 10 round mags are all you are planning to use.

Assuming that you don't currently own magazines capable of containing more than 10 rounds, I would suggest a regular OLL build complete with a pistol grip and bullet button.

I was under the impression that we was talking about SHTF style combat rifle. If so, I think most people would advise against the bullet button and prefer a rifle that can have detachable mags or go featureless. My reasoning for a featureless was that in a SHTF scenario, a person could reload faster than a bullet button.

I also answered the other question with, short answer no, because if he had to ask about magazine capacity. Chance is really good he doesn't have pre bans. And if he has to ask, he won't be able to get NFA. Do I know that for a fact? No, but I did assume based on how he asked the questions.

The long answer would of course be yes, but I didn't want to get into that. Chances are if he had no ask the answer is no.

[Jicko]

Wow...About 70% of what was mentioned above went completely over my head. My budget for my rifle is $1500. I want to invest no more than $1500, including mags, sling, scope, the actual rifle, heat shield, and stock. I have an HK USP .45f and a mossberg 590. These are my secondary and close combat weapons, respectively. I most likely will not be in a situation where I would have to be accurate at over 150 yards, so I would not want to sacrifice mobility at the expense of increased accuracy at distances unlikely to be targeted. Thanks for all the great information!

Have you seen "I am Legend"??

Just get yourself an AR (OLL). Build it yourself, it is super-easy, and many of us can help you.

Even if you don't already have 10+ rounds magazines for it, you should do a featureless build, so that you can practice quick mag change.... and you can have a bunch of 10 rounds magazines.... it is still very effective.. and if you ever move out of CA, there are plenty of 30rounders available!

Equip it with an EOTech, and a dependable BUIS(backup iron-sight). You can get the whole thing around $1200, I think.

[-hanko]

The rifle would be used for defensive purposes, the shooting range, and if SHTF. I want a combat type weapon, with a preference for a compact, lightweight design.
A combat weapon that's compact and lightweight defines the AR15. It has less penetration than buckshot or most pistol rounds when used for home defense with the right ammo.

An AK will have a lot more penetration. An FAL (90+ armies can't all be wrong) is nice if you need a lot of shots past 400yds, an M1A is about the same.

Your requirement ends up as an AR. Simple.

-hanko

[chunger]

featureless AR . . . simple, accurate, works. . . U-15 grips rock. You'll easily push your budget to the limit if you include mags, optics, sling, duracoat I believe featurless AK would be much cheaper. I built to hopefully play 3 gun and 5.56 recoil is easier on the wife, so AR it was, and we experienced no insurmountable ergonomic issues whatsoever w/ a featurless build.

[troyus]

Or you could spend half as much on an well-built AK from Henderson Defense who is selling them on here. Just sayin'....

[chunger]

no doubt an AK would cost ~ 1/2 of a nice AR build. Get what suits the end use. I aspire to play the "games" that are established for rifle competition. . . so AR it was.

Other people might want a defensive rifle you don't have to clean and w/ better punch. AK would work better for that in a lot of cases.

But, he specified compact and lightweight. I don't think AK falls into those criteria. I was able to get my wife's U-15 build down to 6.71 lbs. w/o optics. 7.44 lbs. with the Eotech onboard. It's handy. Going down to a 14.5" barrel will shave a bit more off.