Final plans for my first rifle, what y'all think?
Posted by Goku_T800@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 62 comments
I've finalized my idea on my first rifle when I turn 18 (or 19, it's kinda expensive)
I'm going for an Ohio Ordinance M1918A3 BAR, 1st thing I'm gonna do is buy the base gun and an extra trigger assembly, I'm thinking of having a Force Reset Trigger made so I'll get that done first and tested a bit.
If that works, I'll put in for an SBR Form-1 (since I'll be able to do that), once that's approved and I have it engraved with the requisite info, I'll have the barrel cut-down to 15" (same as the BAR Jungle Carbine). Then go to someone to have custom furniture made. Thinking a Circassian Walnut Pistol Grip and Handgaurd inspired by the Colt Monitor. Finally I'll get the external parts nickle plated as well as having a few HCAR 30 rounders done up as well for some finishing touches.
I'll probably be looking at ~$20,000 Which isn't impossible
sirbassist83@reddit
>15"
that was when i was sure this was an april 1st post.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Some of my peers spend this on a fursuit, I want this more than a fursuit tho lol
Blumpus1234@reddit
Ok now we know this is a troll
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
I'm sure there was some expensive gun you wanted at 17, like an M91/28 Moschetti
Blumpus1234@reddit
At 17 I wanted a Remington 1100 Competition which was both practical and affordable. If you actually have $20000 saved up you are robbing from your own future spending it on garbage like this. Id say the same thing if you wanted a sports car. Assuming you aren't a trust fund baby this is consumption for consumption sake. $20000 is a college education or a down payment on a home. Hell go backpack across Asia if that's your thing, it'd be money far better spent than whatever this is.
Notice how all the adults in the room say don't do it. It's not because everyone's just w crumudgeon, it's because we did stupid shit with money when we were young and this is a life changing amount of stupid.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Is $20,000 somehow less money spent if you spend it backpacking across Asia, or doing something that happens to be YOUR thing? Guns are MY thing lol
Blumpus1234@reddit
Best of luck to you
sirbassist83@reddit
i could probably come up with 10,000 things to spend $20k on before a tricked out BAR or a fursuit
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
9,000 of those things aren't practical either. 9,999 of them aren't as cool
sirbassist83@reddit
>9,999 of them aren't as cool
strong disagree there, but its your life, your money, and it sounds like youre going full steam ahead regardless of what anyone here has to say, so best of luck.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Well, for me, the only potential candidate for something "cooler" would have to be another gun anyways lol
sirbassist83@reddit
if i was going to get myself a $20k present for my 18th birthday with the knowledge i have now, an extravagant month in europe would be real high up on the list. the guns will still be there and the money will come back, but your youth is fleeting.
Diligent-Parfait-236@reddit
Sanest comment.
Blumpus1234@reddit
Get something normal. Future you will thank you for not blowing thousands on a gun at 18.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
I've thought about that, but a collection of cool guns has pretty much been my goal my whole life. So much so, I doubt that's set to change
Blumpus1234@reddit
So if you have this money all saved up and blow it on a silly gun rather than something responsible like an education or moving out of your parents house expect some.. strain in those familial relationships.
It's your life but Mommy and Daddy aren't going to foot your bills forever.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
I'll have to move out, where am I gonna keep all my guns otherwise? Lol
Beagalltach@reddit
Cool gun collection being the goal, there are a LOT cooler guns in that range. That is approaching Full Auto BAR levels of money.
Or you can easily buy this very nice Ruger AC-555 (full auto Mini 14) which looks sweeeeet. Also if you love that 30-06 in a fun package, the M1941 Johnson is a funky cool gun.
I get the love for the BAR, but you can get so much more and better mileage off of 20k in the gun space.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
The only reason I want to build this one out is that it'd be something unique. This obviously hasn't been dome before. I could've forked in a bit more for a transferable BAR, but I feel I wouldn't have gotten as much out of it personally. I have shot an AC556, it's a cool gun for sure (also has a burst mode, which is pretty dope). The BAR is my favorite gun, but I certainly don't plan on not buying any other guns after this lol
Exact-Event-5772@reddit
I thought this was a joke like everyone else, but dude, I can’t think of a worse thing to spend $20,000 on at the age of 18. Lmao
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Should I buy furry art with it instead?
sirbassist83@reddit
furry art would have significantly higher resale value
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Furry art is done for your own custom character, the BAR at least has some liquidity. That has NO liquidity lol
sirbassist83@reddit
nevermind then, i dont know any about furry culture and made a wrong assumption.
the point is that the bubba'd HCAR will be worth about half of what you put into it, if you can find a buyer
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
If I wanted it to be a tangible asset, I'd have just gone for a transferable. That has a decent margin of return. But that ain't why I wanna buy guns
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Furry art is done for your own custom character, the BAR at least has some liquidity. That has NO liquidity lol
ilikerelish@reddit
30-06 from 15", I guess you won't ever need a flashlight attachment...
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Yeah lol, I'm not TOO worried about the ballistics or anything practical. There's no real practical modern application for a machine rifle made for suppresive fire in a war of Bolt Action Rifles anyways
StormyRadish45@reddit
this is kinda silly ngl. BAR is a pig for what it is,and the ergonomics aren't very ideal. I would recommend some form of .308 battle rifle you can modify and has better aftermarket support ie spare parts and furniture if you wanna play around. FAL, M14,G3,AR10 if you want one off the bat, i don't recommend a bar as your first, just seems impractical as hell.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Not meant to be practical, I just like the look of the BAR over .308 battle rifles. Cutting down the barrel and the monitor furniture should help with the ergonomics a bit. But it's still very much meant to be a vanity piece, like a .308 battle rifle would be as well anyways, just a lot more unique of a gun.
iBoofWholeZipsNoLube@reddit
You can get the majority of guns for $450ish dollars. You are wanting to trade an arsenal of 100 different guns for one single solitary shitty rifle. A fool and his money are soon parted. Maybe you should accept that you are young and dumb and we were all young and dumb once. A lot of us learned the hard way and can save you a few thousands and a few years because we know better than you. You gotta remain teachable my dude. If you got folks with 30 years experience telling you not to do it then don't do it. I spent 5 years building ar-15's and AR-9's and I just don't care for them anymore. I'm having more fun with my $200 single shots. You can hemorrhage money into this gun but I promise 10 years down the road you will want nothing to do with it. It will be too heavy, too loud, too much recoil, too expensive to feed, ect. You will get tired of being outshot by folks in the other lanes with $700 ar-10's with $400 triggers. What you are suggesting is buying a solid gold hammer when you don't even own a saw, wrench, or screwdriver. It's silly. You don't even know who you are or what you are about yet my guy. You could find that your only true passion is skeet or long range target shooting and a $30,000 BAR just isn't fun for you. Most folks suggest a new $600 Glock as a first gun but I have much more fun shooting $60 Saturday night specials. Get a variety of different guns and figure out what you like. If you really like your $450 bolt gun then and only then try a $1200 rifle. Get some experience under your belt and some variety in the safe before you make a $30,000 commitment to something silly that won't hold its value.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Ofc, I'm not exactly planning this to be the only gun I ever buy, why should I? If I want another gun, I can just buy that as well
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
I know my personality has always been wanting the big and bombastic, It's not just for guns. It's not even really shooting I love. Even just having something cool is all I've really wanted lol
Gunpowder-@reddit
Holy mother of all bubba
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
There's no historical value in an OOW clone, I'd never do this to an actual BAR lol
Gunpowder-@reddit
Yeah that's true, I'm just thinking someone's gonna look at this thing and not know where to start figuring out everything that happened to it lol
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Garand Thumb actually had Monitor Furniture made for his M1918A3. Ik my name isn't Mike Jones, neither Garand Thumb nor the rapper, but just shows it's do-able lol
One-Challenge4183@reddit
This is dumb.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
The gun itself?
One-Challenge4183@reddit
Everything about this. Your first rifle…. At 18….. is going to be a $7500 you plan to chop and put another 13 grand into? That’s dumb. This is dumb.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
The biggest variable will be the FRT trigger, since that'll be done on commission. 20k is just what I'll have set aside for it. I doubt it'll cost the full cost, I could very well have several grand left over. Which I can just roll-over into a HYSA and other stuff. It's gonna be disposable anyways.
MrJohnMosesBrowning@reddit
What do you do that you have or plan to have $20,000 of expendable income?
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
I've been working most of my earlier teenage years. I was lucky to have a better than average paying job. My parents don't ask for my money at all, and I don't really spend it on anything. So I have a fair bit already.
Since guns are something I'm passionate abt, I'll probably do this build and put the rest away towards actual stuff
NOT_THE_BATF@reddit
I'm gonna give you advice you won't take, cause I wouldn't have taken it at 18 either. Don't chase the shiny. Put it in a HYSA or T-Bills or something grow it into the down payment on a house or the beginnings of a retirement account.
Since you're probably gonna ignore the advice and chase the shiny, I look forward to pictures.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
If I have any leftover, it's going right into my IRA and a High Yield. Maybe shorter term holdings as well. The full ammount is set aside as disposable anyways
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
I actually do have the money for the gun set aside already. The only thing I'll really have to deduct from the income I'd live off of is if the build goes overbudget (which is possible), but i'll only be out at most a couple grand. As opposed to just eating the whole 20 grand off the money I use to buy food.
David_Shagzz@reddit
If you can dream it you can build it👍
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
I've been saving up since I was 16, so this gonna be my first BIG gun purchase, I'll probably get like a Glock 45 or something just as a gun I'll actually use lol
David_Shagzz@reddit
Trust me. Get your hands on all the parts needed to piece that bad boy together, you’re gonna wanna use that too. Most people would look at it as too much money to spend, but everything has a worth. Only thing that matters is if YOU think it’s worth it. That is going to be one badass gun. All the people saying it’s a waste of money are also the same ones paying 60k-90k on a brand new vehicle that’s got problems off the floor that the warranty won’t cover half of. You’ll get it and get it right. It’s gonna be a helluva gun. Just remember. Follow laws, do the right processes, and BE SAFE, BE RESPONSIBLE, and keep your rights.
Sand_Trout@reddit
Good, economic starter gun you definitely won't regret.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
It ain't, I'm aware of the date lol
Sand_Trout@reddit
OK, my honest opinion is that this is an awful pick as a first rifle. The base rifle is expensive, heavier than necessary, expensive to feed, and lacks an environment of technical expertise to support it if anything goes wrong.
For a first rifle, I strongly recommend sticking woth something more common, even if it's more boring, because it will give you a basis to learn what you actually want in a rifle as opposed to what seems cool from a place of ignorance.
Something based on the AR-15, AR-18, or AK platforms will be cheaper and easier to acquire, have a lot more supporting technical expertise available, will be cheaper to feed, and if you want something heavier, you can still buy and FAL and an M1A while still ending up with $15k leftover from your original budget after buying all 3 of these guns.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
I do agree with your points, this is more a gift to myself for having endured 18 grueling years of not being able to fill out a 4473 due to my age. All my guns won't be like this, don't worry lol, I do want actual pratical stuff as well
Sand_Trout@reddit
Then buy yourself a toyota instead.
Dropping $20k on a goofy rifle is a "gift" you'll be kicking yourself for.
Please listen to the old men trying to save you from our own past mistakes.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Honest question, I'm not trying to be dense.
But what's the financial benefit of spending it on a car? They're both depreciating assets, with one maybe having a bit more practicality. I was more worried abt missing out on capital for personal finance and having a bit less money than I could've for other stuff.
Sand_Trout@reddit
Mainly, you're going to need a car almost 100% guaranteed regardless of anything else, so buying a reliable vehichle that retains more of its value relative to other options is just generally a good idea. It was also the first thing that popped into my head in the $20k range.
You'll also use your car a hell of a lot more than any gun you're going to own, especially the overweight novelty of a BAR replica, so it's fundamentally a better value proposition in that regard.
If you have a good enough car, off the top of my head there's plenty of better ways to use 75% of that money even if you set asside $5k for gun stuff, like starting your retirement fund, saving towards buying a house or other property (you could build your own gun range!), paying for your education without going into debt...
The BAR replica is just a waste of an opportunity.
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the insight, I actually do have a car, 2022 year model F150, so it should be good for a while. Guns are just my financial blindspot, lol
sirbassist83@reddit
>one maybe having a bit more practicality.
one is something youll use daily for 10-15 years. the gun will get taken out a few times a a year for the first 2-3 years, and then youll have enough guns you wont want to shoot the heavy thing that costs $2/rd every time it goes bang, ever again. "a bit more practicality" is like saying a smartphone is just a little bit better than a pencil and paper, as long as you know 2nd grade arithmetic.
Winner_Pristine@reddit
Happy April fools!
mrbear48@reddit
I appreciate your enthusiasm but I think as a first firearm you should probably buy something cheaper and effective. Try an M&P Sport AR or a Savage 308 bolt action rifle. If you have some friends or family go out with them first before you buy to see what you like
Goku_T800@reddit (OP)
My uncle's gonna sell me one of his 16" KAC SR-15 uppers, I've heard Knights ARs are pretty nice. So I'll probably have that built some time as well. (After all, having guns I can afford to actually fuckin shoot and train with would be nice lol)
mrbear48@reddit
That’s a great idea, work on a building that, practicing and then saving up for your dream gun