First, well I'm in the military and one weapon I do know about is the M4 or it's brother AR15. It's all I ever train with. A other reason I want to get a AR15 so I can go to the range on my own, and get better with techniques. I want to purchase a firearm or two when I get back. Only difference I know about the AR15, is it doesn't have burst like m4. I also want to get a AK-47, and a simple sniper weapon for hunting. So I can just practice. Also would like get a classic revolver. Anyways where to go about purchasing firearms? local gun store, internet, gun shows? I don't want to be ripped off either, basically how do you guys go about doing your due diligence regarding purchasing firearms of any kind?
Lots of gun stores will give military discounts and gun shows will teach you what a weapon should cost. I would say go for the AR-15, master what you already know. Then get a shotgun or CCW. Follow that with the sniper rifle. No need for an AK47 when you already have the AR-15. You can only carry one in all reality. Just my order.
Check with your Px. Odds on they can get what you want or arrange it with a local gun shop. (At least they did back in the day for long guns.)
I'm assuming you're not in the Marines. Why don't you go visit your base 91F...he should be able to give you some advice.
I'm deployed at the moment, no I'm not Marines. I've been in the military less than a year. I never heard of Rod and gun clubs. Never knew PX did firearms.
I have, that is, I like to think about buying firearms. Sig Sauer has a military/LE discount and they have a tidy little M400 SWAT (like M4) with a quad rail system and a direct impingement gas operating system that you could buy for $946. If you're into that kind of stuff. Glock also has a military discount that is pretty good. I've heard. Sig link: http://www.sigsauer.com/LawEnforcement/Le-Mil-Non-Letterhead.aspx I'm at a joint command right now. From what I hear from the hooahs, Army exchanges don't carry firearms any more. Marine exchanges do (at least they still did earlier this year). BassPro will beat the best price from a competitor. Believe it or not, Wal-Mart (location dependent) may have a decent selection and usually has a substantial catalog from which you can order. Try hard not to walk into the first gun store and shoot your deployment load. By the way, since I'm on the topic, don't buy a car or blow all the money you saved on deployment. I don't know why I waste RAM with all this gun information. I hear guns hurt people. Keep asking questions.
I don't know if you are in the south, but Academy also has great prices! As far as the AR15, totally recommend it! If you want the short burst you can get the sliding stock that makes it like a short burst. My friends love them. I shoot left handed, so it is not as much fun! : / I recommend a Glock If you get a pistol. It's tough and a great gun to get started on. I love my 19! Thanks for your service!!
No...because he said he only knew about the M4 and wanted to "get better with technique." Marines use the M16A4 (possibly A2) to train with and after boot camp, a Marine is a master of that rifle....it is his life. There would be no insecurity there.
Everybody has an opinion, here are my 2 cents. Get the AR. The AK can wait. A Remington 700 SPS in .308 Winchester is okay (read adequate) for your PSAF role. For a shotgun, either a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 are pretty basic. I am considering a few double barrel 12g coach guns from Wideners.com for some family members at Christmas...simple, reliable for those who don't practice much. For a classic, all-around revolver, a Ruger GP100 stainless .357 mag with a 4 inch barrel is never wrong, although it is cumbersome for concealed carry. Glock offers a military/police discount of about 100 off the gun. A G19 is a good choice for just about shooter. The BX at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Base both sell firearms tax free and will special order them for you. The outdoor rec center on Lewis will also and will receive transfers as a dealer for $35 bucks. Don't know if any other bases do that as well.
We transitioned from the M16A2 to the M16A4 a couple of years ago, but some units use the M4 (my Truck platoon from a few years back was issued only M4s). Also, a few years ago (I think it was '08), the T/O weapon for most officers changed from M9 to M4. For instance, in an infantry battalion, the only person (except armorers) for whom the T/O weapon is still an M9 is the battalion commander. My current T/O weapon is an M4 and I'm on the USFOR-A staff. You'll love this--we now have the option of qualifying with either iron sights or the issued sight (Trijicon ACOG). But yes, "This is my rifle, there are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life. I must master it as I master my life..." Bud's (online) also has a military discount for you crazy, gun-loving wackos. http://www.budspolicesupply.com/catalog/index.php
Here is my .02 cents worth. I have a weapon that combines both the AR series rifle with a 308 Winchester cartridge. This is what is known as the AR 10 type weapons. There are now several makers of this type of weapon. Knight Armaments, Armalite, Panther Arms, HK, Colt, and a bunch more that I can't think of. Prices ranges are all over the place for these rifles, but buy no means are any of these makers making total crap. They all have their particular drawbacks for what they make. I will go through some of the better known drawbacks that you can use. Knight Armaments, great product, but ubber expensive,and customer service for non LE/Military is spotty,(sometimes good, sometimes very bad). Armalite, another great product with an in the middle price range. Their rifle use a modified type M-14 Magazine and cannot use the original pattern AR10 magazine. Panther Arms, good product at a very affordable price. I have two of the LR308 rifles. The AP4(M4 configuration) and a 24" Stainless Barreled tack driver. The quality of some of these rifles can be questionable, but they have a three year warranty. As for a good bolt gun, I would recommend going with a magnum cartridge for the added versatility.
How about read up on things first? Get BOSTON'S GUN BIBLE 2ed ed and read it. That should tell you everything you need to know about all sorts of guns. After that the field is wide open as far as gun books are concerned. Get some general "buying your first gun" books, then get books on the firearms you are interested in. The PX or rod and gun clubs will really hep you too. Sorry, just saw it was an old post.
If you want to hunt buy a deer rifle. My Tikka M595 shoots under an inch 250m, it also weighs 4.1 kg or 9 pounds unloaded, add sights and ammo and it really isn't a deer rifle. Any decent bolt gun will shoot a MOA with good ammo at 100 and weighs a lot less. Therefore, perfect for a long day in the woods. Weapons are specialists or they are best at what they are intended to do. For hunting a sniper platform is too heavy. Just my opinion, YMMV. A decent AR at a low price is easy to find. I recommend a Wylde chamber as it shoots either .223 or 5,56. Personally, I prefer the Wylde chamber with a hammer forged barrel. As it extends the effective range of the 5,56 to ~500m, a decent self defense and hunting caliber for the AR is the 6.8 SPC. They drop elk with them. The 6.8 SPC is a very sweet caliber; SOCOM, the ATU (Army Marksmanship Unit) and Remington came up with it. Ammo for the 6.8 is more expensive; however, unlike the 5,56's M193 or 855, Russian steel jacket etc. it is legal for hunting. A sweet thing about ARs, is push out 2 pins and swap calibers by changing the upper. AKs (5,45 or 7,62x39) are fun and the ammunition is inexpensive. A thousand rounds will cost about ~220 as compared to 5,56 M193 or 855.SS109 at $340. A 1080 round spam can of 5,45 is about 250. A good pistol depends on what you want it to do. Pistols are similar to shoes what fits you, may not fit me. A few of the military issue types come real close to one size fits all. Whatever you choose, be sure the shop has an indoor range to try it out. A simple test is point it without aiming; then move your head to see where it would hit. Not the greatest, but a good base test. Most folks will recommend what they own. As I celebrate firearm's diversity and own a lot of them; I'm more open minded.
