Well, im 19 and live in florida and was thinking about purchasing my first gun. Im not sure what to get but am thinking about an ar-15. The reason for this is because it would be a fun one to have and I could also use it for what most people use it for (home defese). Just went to the local gun store today and they had like 7 different makes prices ranging from $800-$1300.

As I said, I really dont know too much and im looking for some information on the subject. Like what I would need to do for matinence. and exactly what im looking at before I actually put the cash down. Thanks in advanced.

A much better choice for a home defense weapon would be a shotgun, preferably 12 gauge loaded with buckshot. Try a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500, both of which will run you only a few hundred dollars and have a plethora of aftermarket parts for customization.

For a plinking/target shooting rifle, look for a Ruger 10/22. Fun rifle to shoot, quite reliable, ammunition is cheap, and aftermarket parts comprise an entire cottage industry.

Then maybe pick up a surplus rifle to own a piece of history? Mosin-Nagants are quite cheap.

You could easily own all three of the above weapons for the price you're contemplating spending on an AR.

Where in Florida do you live? I will be moving to Orlando in december, I am a fellow gun enthusiast (i've got an AR15 in my dads house in miami).

Maybe we can hang out sometime

Well, I want to have a gun that I can have some fun with as well. Also I know for a fact that I want to have an AR some time later in my life and with the next presidential canidate who knows what can happen =/.

And I live around Fort Myers. Kinda far from Orlando and Miami

i would say go with the ar if thats what you want. dpms, olympic arms, bushmaster are all decent. upper tier would be like colt and armelite. Just dont get some no name brand. You could go with the 800$ one as long as it is a decent brand.

An AR-15 can be a perfectly valid weapon for home defense if you use the correct ammunition for it, but a shotgun would likely suit that particular arena better... however, given that you want one for other reasons as well, you might look stick with the AR.

What would constitute "correct ammunition"?

Frangible rounds?

What would constitute "correct ammunition"?

Frangible rounds?

That would make sense, considering that is what is used in aircraft,to prevent penetrating the fuselage. They have pistol ammo with the blue tips that is supposed to have less over-penetration. But maybe lower velocity ammo could be used? expanding ammo would not overpentrate as bad as ball/fmjs?

What would constitute "correct ammunition"?

Frangible rounds?

Low grain ammunition. Low grain or standard grain JSP or JHP ammunition tends to penetrate less than handgun rounds in houses while providing better stopping statistics and more power.

^^Yeah but none of those are an AR. I'll let you shoot mine, then you'll understand.

To OP, An AR is great for a lot of things but home defense is not first on my list. Don't get me wrong it will do the job, but I have two kids in my house and would be leery of opening fire with the AR in the house in a defense situation. The WWB 45gr hp's most times will not exit a groundhog but I don't know how they would react through drywall. A pistol or shotgun is a much better choice for home defense IMHO.
If you are thinking about buying one I say go for it, you won't be disappointed. It beats a baseball bat but its not the best tool for home defense.

I think any of the more known brands make good AR's I would consider Bushmaster, DPMS, and RRA some of the best factory guns. Colts are good but overpriced IMO. Everyone has their own opinion and result may vary, so do your homework and buy all that you can afford.

You obviously have never shot an ar15, they are fine rifles, even the kit builds are nice. so dont knock it until you try it.
Yeah I knocked the ar15 and I bought a mini14. I realized that I could build an ar15 for the price of my mini14 , so i built one, and now i hardly ever use the mini14. I used to think my mini was just as good and it is pretty reliable. But it does not beat my Car15, i love that gun, it is wonderful to shoot, much more accurate and seems just as reliable.

sure you can get a nagant or a 10/22 but it just not the same as a ar15. I have a nagant and i also have a 12ga mossberg 500 and a marlin .22 so it doesnt eally matter for me but if he has the money to get an ar15 i would say get it.
Go with a carbine if you want it for home d.

Well, thanks for the help everyone! Now that im thinking a little more about it I might end up with a hand gun but who knows. Also, how would I go about learning how to clean and take care of all of the matinence involved? Would it be best to have it before I try to work without an actual picture?

You obviously have never shot an ar15, they are fine rifles, even the kit builds are nice. so dont knock it until you try it.
Yeah I knocked the ar15 and I bought a mini14. I realized that I could build an ar15 for the price of my mini14 , so i built one, and now i hardly ever use the mini14. I used to think my mini was just as good and it is pretty reliable. But it does not beat my Car15, i love that gun, it is wonderful to shoot, much more accurate and seems just as reliable.

sure you can get a nagant or a 10/22 but it just not the same as a ar15. I have a nagant and i also have a 12ga mossberg 500 and a marlin .22 so it doesnt eally matter for me but if he has the money to get an ar15 i would say get it.
Go with a carbine if you want it for home d.
If you'll reread my post you'd notice that I never "knocked" the AR, I simply stated that there are better choices for home defense.

(And no, I am not suggesting a Nagant or 10/22 for that purpose. Lawl.)

AR would be a good choice. I suggest building good shooting skills on a rifle before you go to a pistol, rifle is a lot easier for beginners to shoot well.

Routine cleaning and dissasembly should be covered in the owners manual.

I agree with Looney on ammo. Low(55gr) FMJ or, heavier JHPs or JSPs will frag at close range and wont penetrate barriers such as sheetrock as much as most pistol rounds. Frangibles are too expensive, and with them your common failure to feed malfunction often turns into a broken bullet in your chamber mess.

Rock River Arms makes great AR15s, I have one and love it. That said, they aren't the only company to make great AR15s but they definitely make the top 5 and of the brands I've used(not many admittedly) I like them the best.

Also, if you decide to go with a handgun, being 19 you cannot buy one from the store (or more accurately the store can't sell it to you) however here in Florida you can buy one through private party sale.

Also, if you decide to go with a handgun, being 19 you cannot buy one from the store (or more accurately the store can't sell it to you) however here in Florida you can buy one through private party sale.

Yea, i was going to have my dad buy one for me (prob a Sig) Although as I said idk yet.

The only real downside to using an AR-15 indoors is noise. I forgot to mention it earlier,

Yea, i was going to have my dad buy one for me (prob a Sig) Although as I said idk yet.

Technically that would be illegal, it's called a "straw purchase." That said, how would they find out? Of course it's still better to go private party and avoid any possible legal problem what so ever, especially since you will probably get a better deal that way anyway. Since you are in Florida check out floridashootersnetwork.com they have a buy/sell/trade section.

EDIT: Appearently you have to be logged in to view it now, but it is there, just make an account.

I don't know if this is a standard rule at most indoor ranges but Cincinnati's only convenient shooting place out of the weather doesn't allow high-powered rifles in the first place.

Cause they usually have ground up tires as the backstop.

I don't know if this is a standard rule at most indoor ranges but Cincinnati's only convenient shooting place out of the weather doesn't allow high-powered rifles in the first place.

Yes this is pretty common. The range I frequent does not allow weapons that shoot over 1800fps.

I don't know if this is a standard rule at most indoor ranges but Cincinnati's only convenient shooting place out of the weather doesn't allow high-powered rifles in the first place.

Not standard. Jodevil's right; the backstop repair and replacement is expensive.

Yea, i was going to have my dad buy one for me (prob a Sig) Although as I said idk yet.

wouldnt that constitute an illegal purchase? It has to be a gift.

wouldnt that constitute an illegal purchase? It has to be a gift.

A gift that he doesn't know is coming before hand to be specific, and I already said this.

A gift that he doesn't know is coming before hand to be specific, and I already said this.

Dude he said he was going to have his dad buy it for him . that means he knows it is coming before hand. It also implies he will be paying for it and his dad will be buying it. (that could just be an assumption)

Dude he said he was going to have his dad buy it for him . that means he knows it is coming before hand. It also implies he will be paying for it and his dad will be buying it. (that could just be an assumption)

Indeed, which is why I made the distinction. If his dad gave it to him as a gift but he knew about this gift before hand it would still be a straw purchase. Your post could have been interpeted to mean that as long as he didn't pay for it and his dad gave it to him as a "gift" it would have been ok, this is not the case. I just wanted to make sure it was clear, we don't want anyone unknowingly violating the law afterall due to not understanding it. Knowingly violating the law due to the law being stupid and/or unjust on the other hand....

What has happened to totse? Seriously, its not like it has to be registered. Theres almost no possible way of anyone finding out as well. Or is there?

this is not bad ideas, this is weapons and combat. And you admiting it on here could show your intent. your right no one is really going to know. But admitting it on here is not a good idea. That would be something to keep to your self man.
BB: (i am in no way encouraging or condoning this person breaking the law)




I get what you are saying cloaked dagger, it is good to clear that up. aLSO, i did not notice you pointed that out before me.