What caliber ar15 should I get first?
Posted by KeyHead4063@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 33 comments
I'm finally getting back into shooting and I'm thinking of getting my first ar. Issue is the price of ammo, any solid budget option ar's in 9mm? Or really just something cheaper than 5.56. Price range is abt $750 for the rifle itself but I would prefer something that is still decent while maybe being a bit under that. My families always been more into handguns so I don't know a whole lot about ar's figured it would be a good enough question for here.
Agammamon@reddit
5.56.
Then later you can get uppers in whatever.
Space__Whiskey@reddit
Don't forget .22, those make a nice AR15 for plinking for the whole family, and they look amazing.
Galen_Meric@reddit
If you are wanting a good 9mm PCC, I have heard great things about the Extar EP9. It is around 500 bucks, which leaves money for an optic or extra ammo.
ReverendReed@reddit
Hands down, 5.56. AR9s are still a niche category. If you're just starting out, get equipment that is very widely adopted.
However, I think every American gun owner should have 4 calibers:
5.56 9mm 12 Gauge .308
The first 3 should be self explanatory. I also know that while there may be arguments for better calibers over 308, my argument is that 308 is that it's nearly universal, you can shoot 7.62x51, and it can take down any large game on the North American continent.
genemaxwell4@reddit
Personally I think 30-06 is better as it's able to take down anything in North America and is pretty easy to come by but otherwise, the calibers chosen on your list are pretty good.
ReverendReed@reddit
Yes, 30-06 has more energy, but I'd argue for 308 because it still has more military adoption, and AR10s are far more common in 308.
genemaxwell4@reddit
That's fair.
Gonna be basically up to the person for that last caliber on what they value more and/or what they already have.
B4ND4GN@reddit
.223 Wylde AR or 5.56 AR. For $750, I would do a PSA. Ammo is around 25cpr to 50cpr. This is about the same price as 9mm.
You can find something like a Ruger PC Carbine for a similar price. There are a ton of PCC rifles in 9mm for around $1000.
Nyancide@reddit
where are you getting 9mm around 50cpr and 5.56 around 25cpr? I never see 5.56 lower than maybe 40cpr and 9mm above 28cpr.
B4ND4GN@reddit
Ammoseek shows 5.56 for 23.6cpr and 9mm for around 10cpr.
These prices don't necessarily have shipping prices included.
I put a generic price of 25-50cpr for both as those are split between Internet prices and in shop prices.
Nyancide@reddit
on ammoseek, it has shipping filters. this is mainly because they make the price of the item so low but get you in shipping. shipping will be like $100 sometimes.
B4ND4GN@reddit
Yes. I do believe I mentioned something along those lines. I tend to over explain some things so I try to make a short comment instead of long breakdowns.
WildlyWeasel@reddit
blackfriday2019 for the 556, and fudd LGS, present day, for 50 cpr 9mm, assuming ball. If it's defensive loads, $2 pr...
Nyancide@reddit
those are absolutely terrible 9mm prices lol. crazy stuff. and I'd 100% believe the 5.56 price of 2019 lol. nowadays though is a lil different. even employee price isn't much less than 50cpr for pmc bronze in my experience.
ParabolicFatality@reddit
You can di AR9 but honestly the best 9mm PCC are not AR style. They are great for indoor home defense suppressed. Not so great if you want something that also works outdoors or for any other purpose. 5.56 or 300blk provide much better ballistics
Hoplophilia@reddit
5.56 for the first. And hopefully not to check the "done that" box, but to actually train with. Gun, sling, optic <$1k, and then 500 rounds to get going.
BGMcGee@reddit
Team 556 Here
Future-Beach-5594@reddit
5.56, then a 9mm and then a 300blk and then a 45acp then a 22 and then.... well you get the idea
defsteph@reddit
Obligatory "get a MULTI lower and buy two used uppers" response.
Dry_Chair3124@reddit
5.56 should be your first. If you want others down the line, that's fine
Melkor7410@reddit
Brace case 5.56 at 55gr runs roughly 39c on ammoseek, so not breaking the bank. More expensive than 9mm (which is roughly 21c a round right now), but cheaper than other rifle rounds (except 22LR).
I'd recommend an AR-15 in 5.56. For that price, PSA is fine, their firearms are good quality for the price.
KeyHead4063@reddit (OP)
Do you know if the pa-15 is super safe ready?
Melkor7410@reddit
Someone else would need to answer that, I don't know anything about super safeties or whatever they are.
TRH-17@reddit
.308
KeyHead4063@reddit (OP)
U have any budget ar10's you would recommend?
Melkor7410@reddit
PSA is good. My AR-10 from then is a 1 MOA gun and I was hitting targets out to 800+ yards. 1 MOA is pretty standard. Besides, if you want sub-MOA, just replace the barrel with a Wilson Combat supersniper or something. AR-10s can swap out 308 with 6.5cm with about the same effort as an AR-15 switching between 5.56 and 300BLK.
KeyHead4063@reddit (OP)
Im thinking of a blem grade pa-15 because its cheaper than dirt, good rifle for the money?
Melkor7410@reddit
Yeah often times their blemished guns, you don't even see the blemish unless you really look. There's nothing mechanically wrong with them. A perfectly good rifle for the price. You won't have 1/2 inch groups but it'll go bang when you pull the trigger, and should be a 1 MOA gun anyway.
Have you thought about accessories? Optics / sights? lights? slings? What's your use case? That'll often dictate what type of gun you want. If you're hunting maybe you want an 18" barrel vs a 16", maybe you want a bipod vs a VFG, etc.
TRH-17@reddit
Diamondback and Palmetto State Armory. Keep in mind you can always switch out parts for better ones in the future, but in my opinion those would probably be your best budget option. Both or pretty solid companies.
Darksept@reddit
r/AR9 would have some suggestions.
Budget 9mm AR? Sounds like the Extar EP9. They sell out fast so you'll have to use restock alerts. But there are plenty of other budget AR9s under $750. PSA, Foxtrot Mike, Spikes Tactical, any AR15 lower paired with Endomags, etc. It's not hard to get one in that price range.
Birdwclippedwings@reddit
Springfield makes a pretty good little carbine. The saint victor carbine in 9mm. Cheap ammo, easy recoil, feels great in your hands. I highly recommend it.
I would stay away from anything Ruger. At least what's made at the mayodan facility. I worked there for awhile as a machinist and I can't say much because of a NDA.
Same_Net2953@reddit
5.56 so you can shoot 5.56 and .22lr rounds.
MentalTelephone5080@reddit
Your first should be the standard 556 unless you're planning to hunt with it. The 350 legend is a great hunting round.