Favorite AR-15 Alternatives?

[KeeperoftheH]

Hey all, have a general question for you fine folks: what is your favorite AR alternative? I have no hate for ARs, they are great weapons and I've owned a couple over the years, but they've never been my favorite way to throw .223/5.56 lead downrange; for me, that will always be a Ruger Mini 14 (I'm on the hunt for one now). I know in a lot of ways it's objectively not as good as an AR, but man, do I love the way they look and hold. So, I'm curious, what are your favorites, and why do you prefer them over an AR?

 

[Hookeye]

FNC
But they spendy nowadays.
Makes an AR look pretty LOL

Shoot well, take AR mags, and in para, they make a smaller package.
Think they only imported 500 or 600 of the non paratrooper.

Pops had one of each and I shot a few groundhogs w the para.
He sold the fixed stock to a bud many yrs ago.
That guy passed away and dunno what happened to that rifle.

Pops is gone too now, and I could have bought the para from the estate.
Parts would be $ if it ever took a dump. So didn't.
Flat top AR works good for varming, easier to scope.

FNC took a mount that had to be fitted, kind of a PITA.

 

[Principal Skinr]

Hey all, have a general question for you fine folks: what is your favorite AR alternative? I have no hate for ARs, they are great weapons and I've owned a couple over the years, but they've never been my favorite way to throw .223/5.56 lead downrange; for me, that will always be a Ruger Mini 14 (I'm on the hunt for one now). I know in a lot of ways it's objectively not as good as an AR, but man, do I love the way they look and hold. So, I'm curious, what are your favorites, and why do you prefer them over an AR?

I've always thought the Tavor SAR and X95 were neat guns. You can swap them out to 9mm, as well, and they have built in BUIS with tritium in the front for night use. Their gas system is based on the AK, so they should be about as rugged and reliable. They are great for lefties, too, as they can be converted for the ejector and charging handle to move to the opposite side.

 

[Squid556]

I’ve gotten to handle and familiarize with a lot of non ARs from working in a shop the last 5 years…..but no actual trigger time so take my opinions for what it’s worth.

The Beretta ARX incorporated some good ideas, toolless handle swaps, quick remove barrel, folding stock, super lightweight. But man it’s REALLY ugly and kinda felt cheap to me. Customers kept calling it a fish. Not impressed.

The Tavor SAR seemed very well built and fairly refined. The charging handle was in a nice spot for me (righty). It’s got some weight but balances extremely well. Trigger is… awful. Haven’t handled the X95 but it would seem an even more refined variant of a well refined rifle. I would probably buy the X95 or SAR.

I imagine there will be a lot of people touting the Mini 14 in here and they’d be right. It’s got some fun advantages over an AR. It would seem that it’s best left in its wood stocked form. I’ve handled about a half dozen, and the “tactical” models just seem to take away from the form that makes the mini so fun and unique. Also it’s wood stocked nature makes it more friendly around people that are brainwashed enough to be scared of a black plastic rifle. I would buy a mini for sure. There’s even a 300 BLK model that I think makes a lot of sense.

The SCAR-L seems like a proper battle rifle with good modern construction. I love the controls and how the stock feels. Nothing wrong with it besides the price. I think FN is wrong for keeping that good rifle out of the price range of the majority of consumers. Not worth the money. But otherwise 10/10

The Sig MCX is technically not an an AR. I think there are enough differences that make it it’s own animal. But honestly still seems like an AR to me. It’s built really well, controls are good and the rifle feels strong. The finish was too gritty for me. It’s a good rifle that I think we will be seeing much more of due to the contract SIG just won. I honestly don’t have a place for one since it just seems like another more expensive AR to me.

The Steyr AUG is still around as far as I know. The controls take some getting used to. Charging handle can sometimes interfere with optics. It’s smartly built and feels like quality. Although I feel the TAVOR is the better bullpup.

All in all, mini 14 being my favorite alternative.

 

[yote hunter]

A lot of cool looking futurist guns out there but give me a good 270 bolt gun or a 308 bolt gun and you can keep all them cool looking futurist stuff.
But don’t get me wrong I will keep the AR as well.

From the comment above I would take the Mini 14 above the rest shone .

 

[wcd]

My vote go to the Mini 14 as well

 

[Hookeye]

Am no mini 14 fan. Shot some that did well enough scoped. Some didnt.

Am no AR fan either, but for a 223 semi....thats the best bang for the buck.

Buddy had the HK wood stock 223. SL7 ?
Saw one at gunshow, not mint, for 2500.

 

[KLB]

I've always thought the Tavor SAR and X95 were neat guns. You can swap them out to 9mm, as well, and they have built in BUIS with tritium in the front for night use. Their gas system is based on the AK, so they should be about as rugged and reliable. They are great for lefties, too, as they can be converted for the ejector and charging handle to move to the opposite side.

I'm a fan of the SAR. I have a 9mm version.

 

[Magyars]

I've owned more SA 223/5.56 rifles than I care to admit. I always come back to the Mini 14....
Growing up with t g e M1 Garand and having some time around the M14...it's my favorite action and I'm comfortable with them.
Never could get used to the AR

 

[baldmax]

I have a Beretta ARX. I like the way it shoots. It is light weight. It does feel cheap, but is is durable. I like that I can switch it from RH to LH eject with a push of a button. Fully ambidextrous. A very under rated rifle.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

Ar-10

 

[Ark]

There's guns that are cool because they're different, and there's guns that are trying to compete directly with the AR15.

The BRN180 comes the closest to being a direct AR competitor on the AR's own turf. They can run right alongside each other on the clock, the 180 suppresses better, but the AR seals against dirt better. The 180 can be outfitted and used the exact same way with no changes or accommodations. All your furniture, lights, IR, wiring, optics, etc will bolt straight on.

A properly outfitted modern 5.56 AK comes very close.

There are short stroke piston gucci guns like 416s, SCARs, CZ Brens, etc that tend to be both heavier and much more expensive, and I don't consider them direct competitors.

 

[IUKalash429]

Arsenal SAM-5. FB Beryl. IWI Galil ACE. Steyr AUG.

 

[snapping turtle]

Browning BLR 223. (The cowboy 223)

 

[DadSmith]

About 30 years ago I had a Mini 14. I liked it but hated the accuracy. So I sold it.

I've shot the Kel Tec SU16 it was very light and about as accurate as my old Mini 14. It might have not liked the ammunition used not sure. It was my nephews backpacking gun.

 

[Ggreen]

I will never understand the love of the mini14. They are and have always been the worst choice in semi auto 223.

Is there a better semi auto alternative to the ar15, no. I've tried most. There isn't a semi auto 223 that is better than what an ar can be built to.

If you just like variety a scar16 is a great gun. But id still take a knights sr15 over a scar.

Tavors are not great. They are neat but even after a long run with the Israeli military trying to keep sales alive with cool action pics they have gone back to stoner carbines. Augs are cool and fun but things lack with them like mounting a light or suppressor plugs being nonexistent. The best bull pup I've shot (I've ran all of the above) was the desert tech mdrx. That thing is nice. Great options for lights and optic mounting, super soft recoil, amazing accuracy, but it's heavy af.

Lots of other modern 223 that i would consider but haven't ran like the b&t apc223 etc...

end of the day it's fun to shoot them all but a good knights armament will make about every other automatic in your safe obsolete.

 

[MindfulMan]

I'm going to agree with Ggreen ..... he said "Is there a better semi auto alternative to the ar15, no"
That's my truth, also !

 

[Dean C.]

Right now the "best" alternative IMHO is the SIG MCX especially as we see the platform developed more over the coming years.

I have a soft spot for the Tavor / X95 but for a gun that cost 2k the 3MOA accuracy at best and the abysmal trigger just prevent me from dropping the coin on one.

Then FN 17/16's I don't consider due to the extreme price , and untill very recently fixed reciprocating charging handle issues (yes I know it was in the stupid SOCOM specifications).

The AR is king due to 70 years of US military service and the fact most parts can be made in a garage CNC shop. Now this is 2016~ prices but a rifle that cost 1.1k can shoot 1.0 MOA with semi decent ammo and even better with 77gr OTM's and had a decent out of box trigger. Why would I settle for another platform at this point as a civilian?

Now if I were the .gov and did not have to pay for ammo, guns or parts then the new 6.8 Sig guns look epic, very stupid move , but cool

 

[rooster]

Best alternative to an AR15 is an AR10

 

[stocknup]

I've owned more SA 223/5.56 rifles than I care to admit. I always come back to the Mini 14....
Growing up with t g e M1 Garand and having some time around the M14...it's my favorite action and I'm comfortable with them.
Never could get used to the AR

Another vote for the Mini-14 ...........I have 3 (1 ,186 series and 2, 196 series ) pencil barrels .
Like yourself , I never got comfortable with the AR platform( even though I do own a few )
To me , the Mini`s are like the "AK" for the 223/5.56 round .........