Need Help Deciding on order of future purchases

AR/M4 Beyond 5.56/.223
1

Sorry this is a long post, but I could really use some clarification and experience before I make some high dollar bad decisions. I titled sections as all are not relevant to read. I tried to include as much of my thought process as possible to reduce the need for back and forth Q&A’s. Skip what you wish and thanks in advance. Stuff in typed like this can probably be skipped so I put it at the end of the post. [COLOR=“Green”] Comments I am not sure of and would like confirmation are typed like this.
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MAIN QUESTION. Given the state of the industry, I would appreciate advice on where I currently stand in what I want to purchase AND the order in which to purchase regarding SEMI AUTO RIFLES ONLY. I am happy where I am at with pistols and shotguns.

FIREARMS WISHLIST IN ORDER I PLAN TO PURCHASE AS OF POSTING.

[ol]
[li]300 AAC BLK 7” or so upper and Suppressor for subsonic suppressed GOTO HD weapon.[/li]I believe I can get the SBR upper without worrying about a tax stamp, but may need to report it to NFA for use with my currently registered DD 5.56 sbr lower???
Suppressor– didn’t think this would serve a purpose until I realized that hearing protection would be the last thing on my mind if a break-in / life or death situation happens. So I will do what I can for to preserve my hearing now. Ideally I wish I would have just bought the 300BLK version of the Daniel Defense SBR instead. If I try to add a silencer to my NFA Trust is there a good chance I will lose a lot of money if they restrict them before my stamp arrives a year from now???

[li].308 - Semi Auto for SHTF hunting, long range defense, and more power over 5.56. Eventually I KNOW I will want to step up the game. I am thinking I need to now in case restrictions and bans come into effect. I want to have a long range rifle as well. I do not hunt, but if SHTF it would be my hunting rifle I guess + long range SHTF protection. Originally I wanted a COLT LE901 or a SIG 716, but I do not think either of those would serve any purpose for me. As I understand it the 16” barrels on these would just make it a more powerful CQB. I am now considering one of the two following options:[/li].308 OPTION 1
[INDENT]FN FNAR I almost bought last night but I am still on the fence.
CONS:
• Mags were hard to find and expensive even before the current ban scare.
• I have no knowledge of the workings and I read a field strip on this thing is a pain in the A$$.
• Are parts hard to come by? Will I need additional tools to work on this?
PROS:
• In my limited knowledge, as a semi-automatic it is the closest thing to a 20rd mag capacity AR style .308 that doesn’t seem ridiculous to double as a hunting rifle.
• Price. The one I was about to purchase was $1300, a little high for normal, but given all the price increases probably fair, and much cheaper than option 2.
• Will have a complete rifle when it is delivered.
• Can get 5rd mags for hunting.
[/INDENT]

.308 OPTION 2
[INDENT]Built DPMS version of AR-10 - I am leaning towards this: Precision Firearms .308 Upper
CONS:
• I would be stuck looking for a lower receiver and as I understand with .308’s, there is no compatibility guarantees as they are not as interchangeable as AR-15’s.
• Way more expensive than FN FNAR.
• Will not have a completed rifle. I will be at the mercy of one ETA for the upper and one for the lower. Not sure if you can get 5rd hunting mags???
PROS:
• A HUGE PLUS to going this route is it says DPMS Type receiver. So Pmags will work (which I bought three already while I could), and even though they are hard to come by, they seem cheaper and easier to find than the FNAR mags.
• as I understand it, DPMS style (as opposed to Armalite AR-10) uses the same lower parts as AR-15s??? Which I already have a backup LPK, the knowledge and tools to work with it.
[/INDENT]

[li]A Wildcat AR-15 upper for my spare AR-15 lower - possibly a 6.5 Grendel[/ol][/li]After getting a short range hearing safe 300 AAC BLK and a Long range .308 there really is not a huge necessity for this caliber (for lack of a better word because non of these are really NECESSARY) , other than I already have a lower for it and it seems to be the best “all round” caliber for the AR-15 platform as far as range, precision, and effective range considering self defense / hunting. Since it is a decent hunting round, I am of the opinion if Uncle Sam bans all ARs, 6.5 Grendel ammo will still be in demand for bolt action rifles. Most of the forums I have read on calibers other than 5.56 in the AR-15 arena are at least a couple years old. I know that Hornady makes 6.5 Grendel ammo now as well as others. I was thinking Beowulf just for the fun of shooting and having a .50, but Beowulf being proprietary and with the “2013 Obama Care/gun scare” I can see this upper ending up an expensive club for which I cannot get ammo.

I am trying to be patient, but not so patient that I am left wishing I had bought these while I could. Ideally I would shoot my 5.56 for a while. Ask around and maybe shoot others’ higher caliber weapons at the range when I bump into someone shooting one, but I would rather jump the gun and buy now and be able to sell later than not buy anything now and be stuck with nothing later.

SO AGAIN: ADVICE OR OPINIONS greatly appreciated.
Am I on track with my thoughts on buying these now while I can??

[i]CURRENT FIREARMS OWNED (RIFLES ONLY).
• COLT - LE6920 (16” .223/5.56) – First rifle I ever purchased (impulsively, but happy I did.)
• Custom Left Handed 16” .223/5.56 I built.
• DANIEL DEFENSE MK18 Factory SBR (10.3”.223/5.56)
• Spare AR-15 complete Lower with stock assembly

BACKGROUND. I live in Texas and got into firearms a few months before all the shootings and the “ban scare” hit, so I am trying to REALLY research firearms and calibers, spectate on what the “ban scare” will do and the effects of any ban that may be implemented, and decide on fair compromise based on price increases vs. availability. Before this time I had very little knowledge of guns. Even now, all the knowledge I have is from the internet and not 1st person.[/i]

2

I would never consider an FNAR as an alternative to an AR10 type rifle, but you can do better than the DPMS. Look for the S&W .308 offering. I have never seen FNAR parts for sale anywhere. I see AR10 parts for sale everywhere. Actually, I really can’t even figure out what the FNAR is trying to be. It doesn’t make any sense.

I would never consider ‘the money I might loose’ as a reason to not buy NFA stuff. No point on speculating what happens when the sky falls, just buy the suppressor and be done with it.

You can turn any magazine into a 5 round hunting magazine.

I would pick either 6.5 grendel, or .308, getting both doesn’t make sense to me. Actually, getting any caliber besides 5.56 or .308 doesn’t make any sense to me, unless you reload. 6.5, 6.8, and 300 do certain things well, but from what you described, and where you are at in the hobby, it sounds like you should take all the money you save not buying exotic calibers and go shooting more often.

If you already have an SBR lower, you don’t need to tell the ATF anything about new SBR uppers.

3

I had an fnar and got rid of it, too hard to take apart.

4

The only caliber that you do not have is .308 and that is the direction I would go. Ammo is plentiful, many different platforms to choose from and decent power out to 600-800yrds. Now the trick is actually finding a decent platform for less than your right or left arm. IMO, 6.5 and 300blk are still fairly new to the market and would consider them only if I were going to reload as factory ammo could be pricey and hard to come by. Just thinking about the current state of affairs is all. Good luck.

5

Easy day.

Colt 901 or LMT MWS L8
168/175 gr
1x8 Variable
Call it good.

6

Thanks for your replies, I am not accustomed to forums. I probably should have broke all this up into different threads - it’s kinda long. Thanks for sticking with me.

Thanks, I am glad I did not purchase it. There was one left in stock so I almost jumped on it the other day. I watched this guys review of it. It is long but I thought well made, if you need youtube material to kill some time - “FN FNAR: Heavy Hitter, Accurate” by Nutnfancy

Sorry, I did not explain myself too well on the “AR-10” option I was looking at, and I may need some correction here. I do not want a DPMS but will not neglect it as an option today if I came across one that was priced right.

I am of the impression there are two different ways to build an “AR-10”. I wish I could find the guide I read.
(1) Armalite’s version who has the name “AR-10” and some manufacturers follow this specification. Within this specification, AR-10 parts are specific to this rifle only, i.e. AR-10 specific LPK, stock assemblies, and proprietary Armalite mags are needed.
(2) DPMS’s version who does not use the name AR-10 and other manufacturers follow this specification which allows AR-15 LPK and stock assemblies, and multiple mag options like C-products, DPMS, Pmags.

If this is correct I think I want to go DPMS style, but no DPMS parts.

What do you guys think of the upper I link from Precision Firearms. I saw one review of them and it was good, however it looks as though it is only chambered for .308.
How I understand it, I would need to find a DPMS style lower (not necessarily by DPMS), but this would allow me to use standard AR-15 lower parts and more stock and mag options.

I agree and take both of your advice on the 6.5 grendel. That would of just be a last purchase for the hell of it down the road. But the reason I was turned on to the 300blk was I learned of it after my DD 5.56 SBR was in the NFA wait time. I bought that for a HD gun, and while I agree 5.56 is a much better choice for me at the range and casual plinking, what turned me on to the 300blk was that it is supposed to be more reliable from my sbr, subsonic, more stopping power short range, and suppressible. All in all for a Home Defense sbr it seems way better option over 5.56. Just the fact it can be shot (suppressed) seems worth it to me, as I do not see myself putting on my muffs if the time were to arise I needed an HD gun. I want to address this decision now because I have not fired my DD 5.56 sbr for the reason I can possibly sell it or trade it unfired for a 300 blk upper. With this in mind do you guys still think I should avoid 300blk?
Maybe I can find a used or “cheap” barrel just to try a few rounds out?

Thanks guys for your help so far, and in advance.

7

I would buy a pimp ass 308 (Scar 17, larue predatOBR, LMT, PWS etc) maybe 2 if you want a back up.

Skip the 300BO and especially the wildcat AR and then stock a metric shit ton of 5.56 and 308 ammo. Now you have robust hardware kit and consolidated supply chain to feed it. (Don’t forget some really pricey optics and mags etc inbetween)

Then take 1 class with every gun you own. (Which between ammo and class cost is like 3 grand but still a better return on investment at that point with 4-5 usable rifles on hand)

Then decide what your operational and tactical deficiencies are before endevouring into more caliber and gun purchases.

But more importantly do whatever floats your boat and brings a big ass smile to your face.
A

8

If you are interested in 300 blk, it certainly has its place but I wouldn’t use the subsonic rounds for HD.

9

If you are going to buy a complete 308 -
Colt 901
LMT MWS
S&W MP-10
GAP 10
Maybe a JP LRP-07?

If you are going to build one:
DPMS pattern, but add better parts. Try Fulton Armory for a Criterion barrel. I just build one on an SI Defense billet upper/lower. Mega is pretty fair as well.

Optics:
1-8 or 2.5-10 variable

As for the AR-15 in a more exotic caliber, the 300 BLK is hard to beat. Outstanding for suppressed use and retained commonality with a 5.56 AR. I have one and like it alot, especially suppressed.