"Best" combat rifle recommendations

I would second Doug's recommendation of Windham.. they are a small outfit in Maine made up mostly folks that used to make the Bushmaster rifles before that company was bought and consolidated elsewhere.  I am on a waiting list at my local FFL to get the next one he receives, which I hope will happen before Congress does whatever they are going to do in their efforts to unconstitutionally disarm us.  Although I have and heartily recommend HiPoint pistol caliber carbines in both 9mm and .45, I still feel the need to own a weapon that is more proficient beyond, say, 100 yards, and the pistol rounds are just not designed for this... hence my desire for the .223.  The Windham is just over $1000 for the model I want.

A second great choice is the S&W M&P 15 sport ... and it's super cheap.  Here is the Nutnfancy review;

A friend of mine who is a gun expert bought one in Nov. and he swears by it... $650!!!!   My local FFL has both Windhams and these S&W's on order... and I may just take whatever comes in first since I am that worried about being frozen out.  The other issue is ammo... it is getting very hard to find .223   I have bought many times from Bulkammo.com... they are out of stock on .223    Even though I don't have the rifle yet, I have started accruing some .223.. have some pretty expensive Hornady Zombie max on order since it was one of the few I could find.  Good luck Sandpuppy

...my absolute preference as the all purpose weapon however is 12GA. pump action Mossberg ($350 ish). Point and Kaboom, clears a hallway and everyone in it should it come to that. Recoil is non-existent so from the shoulder to your hips, drop down or through your legs it's a can't miss. Blows a nice hole through a wall and that must be factored in a home invasion. Case is $45 bucks. Then ammo and that isn't pricey. 

Hunting: Point and shoot (slug) and no deer stands from 50/100 yards and frankly that's enough in any take down. Rarely do you have to get the long shot off. Bird hunting and you have the perfect weapon for sport and protection. Squeeze a round off (freebee) and most crooks will drop a load as they flee your home. Win, Win

Personally (non-hunting), aim and shoot don't work for me, I just want my weapon to do its business, and I don't want to sight anything in as I need to bear some serious power down line and quick. Shot gun is the very best weapon in most all situations.

At your price range you get the shot gun ($350-$450) and a nice Colt 45cal steel, don't get composite as it feels better in your hand and no recoil ($750-$950). You have all you need plus all the bells and whistles. Don't get a laser scope for the 45cal as I think it's a waste of money. If you need to use your weapon you want a tick, tick, tick firing rhythm are my thoughts, and not worry about whether the laser is on target. Just practice by renting at the range, most ranges will rent (10 bucks to rent a 45, 357 plus ammo $25-$35) and you figure it all out, and a nice stock of ammunition's again for your price range. My guess you will never have to fire your weapon on another human being. Some here probably don't agree with me but I'm right so consider practicality, and practice to know your weapon. It's fun. 

My $.02 cents for what it's worth, and probably more information than you wanted.

BOB

On what action is the .340 weatherby built? I've one on a BAT, I'm a former IBS shooter, action but am considering a repeater, 700 long action rem to duplicate a more efficient .338 lapua.

thanks, robie

Gee, it's nice to be unspanked.  I can post again ...

With regards to the above comments, I agree with LR.  Aaron knows his cookies and gives some of the best advice out there on this subject.  I'd go with what he says.  He even converted me into adopting AKs into my armament fold and that's saying something.  BTW, thank you Aaron. 

I'd respetfully disagree with Jim and Bob about the Thunder Ranch shotgun.  It's overpriced for what you get.  Mossberg makes good, reliable pumps but you can pick up a simple used police model 500 for less than half that price with the same basic features or a better military grade one like the 590A1 with a larger capacity if you're interested in that price range.  If I'd spend more money, I'd get a semi-auto shotgun.  They're used in the military now, virtually as reliable as the pumps, can't be short stroked by accident, have less recoil for the ladies  (Bob, I don't know what Mossberg pump you're firing but mine still kick) without resorting to a 20 gauge (with ammo harder to find, no cheaper, and adds additional, unnecessary complexity to the equation), and can be operated with one hand (rapidly) if necessary (without the slower Sarah Connor one handed theatrics).  I use the FN SLPs (but I picked mine up before they became outrageously expensive) but a friend is pleased with his (later edition) Mossberg 930 (but from what I understand, some of the earlier 930s had problems).

If you choose an AR, I'd use a quality holographic sight like a nnight vision compatible EoTech with back-up flip-up iron (or heavy duty polymer) sights and, if you want, you can even add a flip-up magnifier.  That set-up is rugged, reliable, and has useful redundancy.  If have my ARs set-up that way.  With the AKs, I've kept them basic with the stock iron sights.  They're my pack 'em in cosmoline and bury 'em back-ups, if it ever comes to that.  With the ARs, I have both .308 (7.62x51 mm.) and 5.56 mm.  The guys get the .308s, the gals get the 5.56 mm.  I prefer the .308 (7.62x51) for its power, range, and legality if I want to hunt larger game like deer with it (but you'll need a small capacity 5 round magazine for legal hunting).  There's a reason many special ops groups used the M-14 (7.62x51) in Iraq and Afghanistan. It'll punch through masonry, steel, and other cover better when used at closer range and reach out farther for longer range.  But then again, I don't live in a densely populated area where such ballistic properties may work against you from a legal risk perpsective.   

I must have looked at the site a bit before you because they had 50 round boxes for sale at cheaper prices than the 1000 round lots.  They disappeared in a hurry.

Doug

Oops, now the 1000 round lots are gone. 

I'd forego shotguns and 1911 for right now.
They may end up being the most logical choices soon, though, as it will be pretty tough to ban those.
Right now, get things you will not have access to if there is a ban.

The rifle itself.
Magazines.
Ammunition.

And for the love of all that's decent, be responsible with them!
A more rigorous buying process is a minimum we can expect, and for all my vitriol, i actually can see that as a sensible solution. Extra training and security are necessary with the additional capability of a military pattern rifle. I expect another magazine restriction and laws regarding the sales of new rifles. If you're mil or leo, expect supplies to be available. All others, get your supplies if you are so inclined. There is a serious change on sentiment in the politics of firearms right now, and it will probably be permanent.

Cheers,
Aaron

6. Economics. Ideally you should buy the one that you can afford, and practice with. It may be more practical to own more than one. One that is very cheap to practice with and another that provides you the distance and stopping power. Besure to check out the availability of ammo and ammo pricing. 

7. Your options may be limited. As with the recent buying spree, don't expect to get the one that you want. You may have to settle for what is available, or wait a year or more before the model you want become available. Assuming that federal regulations do not block it in the future. Its better settle for the one that is available than wait for the one you want. The perfect rifle may be the one that is available, simply because its not on a 2 year backorder.

8. Not all ammo is equal. The cheap stuff today is laquered steel which can jam your rifle. Cheaper ammo also uses dirty/corrosive powder, which can be a problem with some rifles or cause problems in the future. Check online to see if the rifle you want has problems with the ammo you wan to buy.

Nice rifle; I have a Sig 556 and didn't know Sig was making a M4 variant.  Great products from the Swiss.  I wouldn't worry too much about the overpayment, soon enough that rifle will be priceless, and the cash you used to buy it will be worthless.  I look at these rifles as alternative investments and there is NO substitute for a tool like this in the event you need one.  

Rector

Good morning all,

There is an old saying, 'Beware the man with only one gun!'  The reasoning is simple.  If that individual has only one gun, they know how to use it properly and they know how much they depend on it.  For the longest of time, I had one firearm.  It was an Ithaca Model 37 12 gauge pump shotgun.  Shotguns have been used in the front lines of every war and revolution going back hundreds of years.  I used it to hunt deer, small game (pheasants, rabbits, and such), for trap and skeet, and for home defense.  I did not use buchshot for home defense as I am intimately aware of the damage a shotgun can do at close range.  I did not with to endanger my neighbors.  I used bird shot instead.  I've been known to go 25 for 25 on the trap range. Many a man with an expensive double barrel trap gun has shot trap against me only to lose to that old Ithaca.  I've had that pump shotgun since I was 16!  Beware the man with only one gun!

For men, I recommend a 12 gauge pump and for women I recommend a 20 gauge pump shotgun.  There is no scarier sound in the night than hearing a round being chambered into a pump shotgun.  There are many really good tactical shotguns out there.  The mechanicals of making a reliable shotgun have been known for ages.  Have a look at what is still available and purchase one.  

For safety, purchase a suitable lock or lockable gun case please.  I now have two pump shotguns even one that is a single shot break-action antique.  Loads of fun to shoot.  When I don't use my shotguns, I have been known to remove the barrels and hide them in my home separate from the action/pump/stock.  The unltimate in firearms safety.  

Due to the recent media and political blitz around gun control, I recommend that you purchase a shotgun from a US-based manufacturer.  The easiest thing for the Obama administration to do is create an Executive Order to ban the import of any firearm they deem dangerous to our health.  That is likely to include shotguns.

The M4/AR15 variants out there in 5.56/.223 are the best battle rifle out there at this point in time.  They can be customized to meet the needs of any and all citizens.  They can be modified in barrel, forearm grip, stock, optics, caliber and more!  I cannot recall any other firearm that is this customizable, except maybe the Ruger 10/22.  My entire family are comfortable with the 5.56 M4/AR15.  The recoil is negligable and allows a rifleman to stay on target.  

Due to the recent controversy on gun control, prices have risen significantly for these rifles.  I am lucky enough to have worked my way through college working in a machine shop.  I build my rifles from the lower receiver on up.  This isn't hard if you have the right tools and are willing to learn from a video or friend.  Right now it doesn't even matter.  The USA inventory of lower receiver and upper receiver parts and accessories have been stripped from everyone's shelves for the moment.  As some items are imported in order to meet deman, we may be in for a hard time while inventories are returned to normal levels.

In my humble opinion of course....

this morning in NY, Dutchess County, post Lord Cuomo's fire and brimstone, "who needs 10 bullets to shoot a deer" speech yesterday.  My Lord, you would have thought it was Black Friday and they were selling iPads at 1/2 off.  After 1 hour in line with a great group of guys...felt like I was attending an Oath Keepers meeting... I walked out with one of the last assembled weapons they had that shoots .223..a Ruger Mini-14 (Tactical) for under MSRP!  I gave up on trying to get an AR after I saw the last few at another store earlier in the week going for $1500 OVER MSRP... choke, gasp.  Now we wait and see what changes in the law shake out of all the Bills in play, State and Federal.