Ten "Assault Weapons" and Accessories To Buy Before The Ban
In light of the recent house vote to ban "assault weapons" - a vote which, in reality, bans ALL semi-automatic weapons, I wanted to create a top ten list of things that I recommend everyone purchase prior to this bill heading to the Senate and possibly becoming law (even though I am the first to admit that the odds are very much stacked against it).
1. A lifetime supply of standard capacity magazines. I have lived through the tyranny we are currently presented with before and, between 1994 and 2004, one saving grace was the fact that "pre-ban" magazines were readily available and easy to come by. Some of them were not even that expensive. A 17rd Glock magazine was grossly inflated at about $120.00, but a 30rd USGI magazine for an AR-15 was only about $20.00 - $25.00. The new ban seeks to close that loophole. While the law permits the sale and transfer of firearms in possession prior to the enactment of the ban, the same language does not exist for standard capacity magazines. The bill as it is currently written permits possession of those magazines but does not permit their transfer. The clear purpose of this language is to more quickly "dry up" the supply of these items. The left knows that, without a magazine capable of holding a reasonable number of rounds, a semi-automatic firearm is really not all that useful. I personally have over fifty standard capacity magazines for my collection of AR-15s alone, but will be the first to admit this is overkill. My recommendation is to have at least ten and to guard them very closely. Even accounting for some getting lost or breaking, I would consider ten standard capacity magazines to be a lifetime supply for the careful shooter. Remember, you can always use the crappy politically correct 10 rd magazines for practice. In fact, you should. The ability to perform a speed reload will be far more important after this.
2. Magazine extensions. These will be just as valuable as magazines because they can extend the capacity of a smaller magazine. If you own a firearm such as the Glock 26, Glock 29, Sig P365 (and others) which allow the replacement of a basepad to extent the capacity of your magazine to more than ten rounds, these extensions are as good as gold. The same is true for the magazine extensions for other Glock magazines intended for use with a pistol caliber carbine (I have quite a few for my KRISS Vector). These will become illegal after the potential passage of this law and will be quite valuable.
3. AR-10. The AR-10 is the older brother of the AR-15 and, instead of shooting the rather puny 5.56mm bullet, it is typically chambered in 308 Win (7.62x51 NATO) and 6.5 Creedmoor. There are other chamberings available including 6mm Creedmoore and 243 Winchester (for those who like the 6mm - which I do not) as well as the 338 Federal for hunters. There are even some variants chambered in 300 WSM if you're like be and appreciate that raw power, although the magnum variants are finnicky and require heavy modification. The reason I put the AR-10 higher than the AR-15 on this list is because it's more versatile. The most common magazines are the 20rd variety, but 25rd magazines and even 60rd drums are also available. 308 Winchester is every bit as common as 5.56mm and has actually proven easier to find during the ammunition crisis. While the 5.56mm has a published maximum effect range of 600 meters (about 660 yards), most variants have shorter barrels (making the effective range closer to 400 yards). The 308 is a thumper with a published maximum effective range of 800m (880 yards). When chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, or when using 175gr Sierra Matchkings in 308, this weapon is quite capable of 1000 yard shots. It is a far superior choice for hunting over a 5.56mm with a multitude of loads available. Although heavier than the AR-15, the recoil quite manageable. Purchase in a 20" barrel and put a long range scope on it, or go with a 16" barrel and a low power variable optic. Either was, you will be very well armed. My recommendation: stick with the 308 Winchester over the 6.5 Creedmoor; it hits harder and is easier to find.
4. AR-15. This platform needs no introduction. This rifle is the boogeyman of the left. It is the most popular rifle in America for every good reason in the world. The recoil is extremely light and there are practically endless options for customization. I own variants in 5.56mm, 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, and 7.62x39. There are other common chamberings incluing the big bore 50 Beowulf, 458 SOCOM, 450 Bushmaster, and 350 Lengend. There are rimfire variants in 22 LR and 17 HMR. The platform can also be converted to pistol calibers such as 5.7 FN, 9mm, 45 Auto, and 10mm. Your options are limitless, but what you here is simple: A 16" barrel with a 223 Wylde chamber (will accept .223 Rem or 5.56mm NATO) with a 1x7 twist on a 0.750 profile barrel with standard threading. You want aluminum upper and lower receivers (none of this polymer crap, but the difference between a forged and milled receiver is academic). You want one of the lowers with the set screw to avoid rattle between the upper and lower receiver and you want a "low shelf" lower if you can get one (less weight). You want a good quality trigger (I like the ones made by LaRue Tactical) and a quality stock (Magpul is my preference). You want anti-rotation trigger pins to protect your valuable lower. You want an extended charging handle and you don't need an ambidextrous safety, bolt catch, or magazine release. Finally, you want a good quality optic. I have a strong preference for low power variable optics made by Tract, Trijicon, and Athlon. Some people like an EOTech holographic or Aimpoint red dot sight. This is very much a matter of personal preference and there is no right or wrong answer here except to say "buy once, cry once" is a great rule when it comes to optics. Acceptable alternatives include: FN SCAR series, Sig MCX series, IWI Tavor, Bushmaster ACR, HK 416. I do not list these alternatives separately because they are every bit as good (some like the Sig MCX may actually be better), but they are far more expensive.
5. Benelli M2, M3, or M4 Tactical. There is nothing more devastating at close range than a 12 gauge loaded with 00 buckshot. Not a pistol, not an AR-15, NOTHING. That is what makes this such a great choice for home defense: nobody foolish to break into your house while you're in it has much of a chance at survival if hit by one of these. You want one with an 18.5" barrel and an extended magazine tube (with the M4, you may need to purchase the extension or even a completely new tube because of import restrictions - which is why I like the M2). These are very reliable shotguns - far more reliable than their gas-operated counterparts - and don't need as much oil. As a bonus, you can add a long barrel and a magazine plug to these shotguns and take them waterfowl, dove, or turkey hunting with outstanding results. Just check to make sure you're legal before heading out. There are some magazine-fed shotguns out there and I do not like these as much. I have found them to be heavy and poorly made. While they are certainly fast, the speed they offer is really not worth the reliability issues they tend to have. Other good alternatives to these platforms are the Mossberg 930 series and the Beretta 1301 series. The Mossberg is awesome but you may have trouble finding an extended tube for the Beretta.
6. AK-47 (7.62x39). The AK is another weapon system that needs no introduction. It's another boogeyman of the left made famous by good guy and bad guy alike worldwide. I place this weapon lower on the list because it lacks the inherent accuracy of the AR-15 and bans on Russian imports is currently a threat to the supply of 7.62x39 and 5.45mm ammunition. This is a weapon system that is showing its age, but there is still nothing more reliable. Its operation is simple and there is nothing that takes a beating and keeps spitting out rounds like an AK-47. This is a system that you are best off purchasing in 7.62x39. It is very possible to get an AR platform working with 7.62x39 (I have one and I love it), but it will take a lot of work and the AK is easier. Avoid the 5.45mm and 5.56mm variants; the 5.45mm supply has mostly dried up and, for the price of most AK platforms today, you're better off with the AR if you want a 5.56mm. However, the 7.62x39mm AK is a classic that does good service at close range.
7.Taurus TX22 or Sig P322. No, I did not make a mistake. These two high capacity 22 caliber pistols will be considered "assault weapons" under the house-enacted bill because both ship with a threaded barrel adaptor. I have not fired the Sig P322 before but, because it's a Sig, I have no doubts as to its quality. The Taurus is a bit more cost effective (even though it holds 16 rounds instead of 21) and the spare magazines were far cheaper (see #1). I own many silencers and I am often asked which ones are best. Frankly, unless you're running it on a pistol caliber carbine like a Kriss Vector, pistol caliber cans are mostly range toys. A rimfire can, however, is a thing of beauty and I highly recommend them. Both of these platforms are excellent for mounting a silencer and come with a threaded barrel adaptor in the box. With ammo prices still in the statosphere, rimfire ammunition is still comparatively affordable. This allows for very important live fire practice during tough times as well an important tool for those times when one needs to be discreet.
8.FN FAL and/or Springfield M1A. These cold war era weapons are showing their age, but I add them to this list simply because they are really cool weapons one can still utilized in a pinch. Is the AR-10 better and more user friendly than either of these? Yes, it is. But neither the M1A nor the FAL is dead. I have a FAL and, although not my first choice, I would be quite comfortable using it if that is what I had available. These two weapons helped the West fight communism and, perhaps at some point in the near future, they may be used to fight against communism again. They are fun to shoot and the 308 packs a punch.
9. Threaded barrels for all your other weapons.. Although the new ban does not affect silencer ownership, it severely regulated threaded barrels. Any semi-automatic rifle or pistol with a threaded barrel will be considered an "assault weapon" under the new law. This will likely chill the sale of threaded barrels for certain pistols. Once this bill becomes law, it will be unlawful for a threaded barrel to be added to ANY pre-existing pistol, as doing so would constitute the manufacture of a new assault weapon!. This also shows just how stupid Congress truly is: threaded barrels are common accessories and unregulated. Proving the creation of a new "assault weapon" in this manner will be next to impossible. However, the wise man will have a threaded barrel for everything beforehand and be able to prove it.
10.Barrett M107A1 or M82. These are heavy. They shoot $5.00 bills. They are very expensive in their own right. There is also no substitute for one of these rifles; because this is your "go to" when door-to-door gun confiscation starts at some point in the indefinite future. For those like me who would resist, this is what you want if you decide that your home will be your Alamo. There are no countermeasures available for a 50 BMG and it strikes terror into the hearts of those downrange of it for every good reason in the world: it's throwing a piece of leade the size of your thumb weighing over an ounce in a half at just under 3,000 fps. Armor piecing and incendiary ammunition is readily available for the 50 BMG. It's inherently accurate and can be made even more accurate if you add a scope and have some custom trigger work done. I have the M107A1 and I love it. No matter how bad I feel, putting a few rounds down range with this gun always manages to cheer me up.
1. A lifetime supply of standard capacity magazines. I have lived through the tyranny we are currently presented with before and, between 1994 and 2004, one saving grace was the fact that "pre-ban" magazines were readily available and easy to come by. Some of them were not even that expensive. A 17rd Glock magazine was grossly inflated at about $120.00, but a 30rd USGI magazine for an AR-15 was only about $20.00 - $25.00. The new ban seeks to close that loophole. While the law permits the sale and transfer of firearms in possession prior to the enactment of the ban, the same language does not exist for standard capacity magazines. The bill as it is currently written permits possession of those magazines but does not permit their transfer. The clear purpose of this language is to more quickly "dry up" the supply of these items. The left knows that, without a magazine capable of holding a reasonable number of rounds, a semi-automatic firearm is really not all that useful. I personally have over fifty standard capacity magazines for my collection of AR-15s alone, but will be the first to admit this is overkill. My recommendation is to have at least ten and to guard them very closely. Even accounting for some getting lost or breaking, I would consider ten standard capacity magazines to be a lifetime supply for the careful shooter. Remember, you can always use the crappy politically correct 10 rd magazines for practice. In fact, you should. The ability to perform a speed reload will be far more important after this.
2. Magazine extensions. These will be just as valuable as magazines because they can extend the capacity of a smaller magazine. If you own a firearm such as the Glock 26, Glock 29, Sig P365 (and others) which allow the replacement of a basepad to extent the capacity of your magazine to more than ten rounds, these extensions are as good as gold. The same is true for the magazine extensions for other Glock magazines intended for use with a pistol caliber carbine (I have quite a few for my KRISS Vector). These will become illegal after the potential passage of this law and will be quite valuable.
3. AR-10. The AR-10 is the older brother of the AR-15 and, instead of shooting the rather puny 5.56mm bullet, it is typically chambered in 308 Win (7.62x51 NATO) and 6.5 Creedmoor. There are other chamberings available including 6mm Creedmoore and 243 Winchester (for those who like the 6mm - which I do not) as well as the 338 Federal for hunters. There are even some variants chambered in 300 WSM if you're like be and appreciate that raw power, although the magnum variants are finnicky and require heavy modification. The reason I put the AR-10 higher than the AR-15 on this list is because it's more versatile. The most common magazines are the 20rd variety, but 25rd magazines and even 60rd drums are also available. 308 Winchester is every bit as common as 5.56mm and has actually proven easier to find during the ammunition crisis. While the 5.56mm has a published maximum effect range of 600 meters (about 660 yards), most variants have shorter barrels (making the effective range closer to 400 yards). The 308 is a thumper with a published maximum effective range of 800m (880 yards). When chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, or when using 175gr Sierra Matchkings in 308, this weapon is quite capable of 1000 yard shots. It is a far superior choice for hunting over a 5.56mm with a multitude of loads available. Although heavier than the AR-15, the recoil quite manageable. Purchase in a 20" barrel and put a long range scope on it, or go with a 16" barrel and a low power variable optic. Either was, you will be very well armed. My recommendation: stick with the 308 Winchester over the 6.5 Creedmoor; it hits harder and is easier to find.
4. AR-15. This platform needs no introduction. This rifle is the boogeyman of the left. It is the most popular rifle in America for every good reason in the world. The recoil is extremely light and there are practically endless options for customization. I own variants in 5.56mm, 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, and 7.62x39. There are other common chamberings incluing the big bore 50 Beowulf, 458 SOCOM, 450 Bushmaster, and 350 Lengend. There are rimfire variants in 22 LR and 17 HMR. The platform can also be converted to pistol calibers such as 5.7 FN, 9mm, 45 Auto, and 10mm. Your options are limitless, but what you here is simple: A 16" barrel with a 223 Wylde chamber (will accept .223 Rem or 5.56mm NATO) with a 1x7 twist on a 0.750 profile barrel with standard threading. You want aluminum upper and lower receivers (none of this polymer crap, but the difference between a forged and milled receiver is academic). You want one of the lowers with the set screw to avoid rattle between the upper and lower receiver and you want a "low shelf" lower if you can get one (less weight). You want a good quality trigger (I like the ones made by LaRue Tactical) and a quality stock (Magpul is my preference). You want anti-rotation trigger pins to protect your valuable lower. You want an extended charging handle and you don't need an ambidextrous safety, bolt catch, or magazine release. Finally, you want a good quality optic. I have a strong preference for low power variable optics made by Tract, Trijicon, and Athlon. Some people like an EOTech holographic or Aimpoint red dot sight. This is very much a matter of personal preference and there is no right or wrong answer here except to say "buy once, cry once" is a great rule when it comes to optics. Acceptable alternatives include: FN SCAR series, Sig MCX series, IWI Tavor, Bushmaster ACR, HK 416. I do not list these alternatives separately because they are every bit as good (some like the Sig MCX may actually be better), but they are far more expensive.
5. Benelli M2, M3, or M4 Tactical. There is nothing more devastating at close range than a 12 gauge loaded with 00 buckshot. Not a pistol, not an AR-15, NOTHING. That is what makes this such a great choice for home defense: nobody foolish to break into your house while you're in it has much of a chance at survival if hit by one of these. You want one with an 18.5" barrel and an extended magazine tube (with the M4, you may need to purchase the extension or even a completely new tube because of import restrictions - which is why I like the M2). These are very reliable shotguns - far more reliable than their gas-operated counterparts - and don't need as much oil. As a bonus, you can add a long barrel and a magazine plug to these shotguns and take them waterfowl, dove, or turkey hunting with outstanding results. Just check to make sure you're legal before heading out. There are some magazine-fed shotguns out there and I do not like these as much. I have found them to be heavy and poorly made. While they are certainly fast, the speed they offer is really not worth the reliability issues they tend to have. Other good alternatives to these platforms are the Mossberg 930 series and the Beretta 1301 series. The Mossberg is awesome but you may have trouble finding an extended tube for the Beretta.
6. AK-47 (7.62x39). The AK is another weapon system that needs no introduction. It's another boogeyman of the left made famous by good guy and bad guy alike worldwide. I place this weapon lower on the list because it lacks the inherent accuracy of the AR-15 and bans on Russian imports is currently a threat to the supply of 7.62x39 and 5.45mm ammunition. This is a weapon system that is showing its age, but there is still nothing more reliable. Its operation is simple and there is nothing that takes a beating and keeps spitting out rounds like an AK-47. This is a system that you are best off purchasing in 7.62x39. It is very possible to get an AR platform working with 7.62x39 (I have one and I love it), but it will take a lot of work and the AK is easier. Avoid the 5.45mm and 5.56mm variants; the 5.45mm supply has mostly dried up and, for the price of most AK platforms today, you're better off with the AR if you want a 5.56mm. However, the 7.62x39mm AK is a classic that does good service at close range.
7.Taurus TX22 or Sig P322. No, I did not make a mistake. These two high capacity 22 caliber pistols will be considered "assault weapons" under the house-enacted bill because both ship with a threaded barrel adaptor. I have not fired the Sig P322 before but, because it's a Sig, I have no doubts as to its quality. The Taurus is a bit more cost effective (even though it holds 16 rounds instead of 21) and the spare magazines were far cheaper (see #1). I own many silencers and I am often asked which ones are best. Frankly, unless you're running it on a pistol caliber carbine like a Kriss Vector, pistol caliber cans are mostly range toys. A rimfire can, however, is a thing of beauty and I highly recommend them. Both of these platforms are excellent for mounting a silencer and come with a threaded barrel adaptor in the box. With ammo prices still in the statosphere, rimfire ammunition is still comparatively affordable. This allows for very important live fire practice during tough times as well an important tool for those times when one needs to be discreet.
8.FN FAL and/or Springfield M1A. These cold war era weapons are showing their age, but I add them to this list simply because they are really cool weapons one can still utilized in a pinch. Is the AR-10 better and more user friendly than either of these? Yes, it is. But neither the M1A nor the FAL is dead. I have a FAL and, although not my first choice, I would be quite comfortable using it if that is what I had available. These two weapons helped the West fight communism and, perhaps at some point in the near future, they may be used to fight against communism again. They are fun to shoot and the 308 packs a punch.
9. Threaded barrels for all your other weapons.. Although the new ban does not affect silencer ownership, it severely regulated threaded barrels. Any semi-automatic rifle or pistol with a threaded barrel will be considered an "assault weapon" under the new law. This will likely chill the sale of threaded barrels for certain pistols. Once this bill becomes law, it will be unlawful for a threaded barrel to be added to ANY pre-existing pistol, as doing so would constitute the manufacture of a new assault weapon!. This also shows just how stupid Congress truly is: threaded barrels are common accessories and unregulated. Proving the creation of a new "assault weapon" in this manner will be next to impossible. However, the wise man will have a threaded barrel for everything beforehand and be able to prove it.
10.Barrett M107A1 or M82. These are heavy. They shoot $5.00 bills. They are very expensive in their own right. There is also no substitute for one of these rifles; because this is your "go to" when door-to-door gun confiscation starts at some point in the indefinite future. For those like me who would resist, this is what you want if you decide that your home will be your Alamo. There are no countermeasures available for a 50 BMG and it strikes terror into the hearts of those downrange of it for every good reason in the world: it's throwing a piece of leade the size of your thumb weighing over an ounce in a half at just under 3,000 fps. Armor piecing and incendiary ammunition is readily available for the 50 BMG. It's inherently accurate and can be made even more accurate if you add a scope and have some custom trigger work done. I have the M107A1 and I love it. No matter how bad I feel, putting a few rounds down range with this gun always manages to cheer me up.
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