Having many M1s and MIAs, plus a Mini 14 .223/5.56, I decided about a decade ago I would never have an AR10 (.308) or AR15 (.223/5/56) for a specific reason. In case I ever had to appear before jury for a self defense shooting. The Mini without the mag looks like a hunting rifle and with wood stocks the MI and MIA look OLD and not intimidating. I could see some women on a jury - possibly never touched a gun in their lives - seeing an AR as terrorist/kook weapons. Not being a target or competition shooter, there is NOTHING an M1, M1A or Mini 14 can do that an AR can't - and reliably. I sold the Mini 14 years ago - and regretted it.
"Birds of a feather flock together." When I picked up a used unmodified AR15 - other than top rail and cheap scope/laser and muzzle brake and fired it - I REALLY liked it. A LOT. A whole lot. And began ordering top quality parts to upgrade it. But after ordering a few exact items I wanted - adjustable for length and cheek pad butt stock, 1.5 pound fully adjustable as to height, pull firing point and a selection of triggers - trigger group, different padded rear grip, extended bolt lock/release accessible from the trigger position, specialty 5.5 inch flash can with internal muzzle brake and a better fire selection, I paused for more research.
After a couple thousand rounds thru the AR15, I'll probably upgrade it to a .300 Blackout with 20 inch chrome lined bull barrel that I'll have beehive fluted. Unless I don't. Regardless, I want a chrome lined barrel as they last almost forever - though at a slight accuracy lose.
I am a gun kook in terms of the number of guns - antique, old, modern, civilian and military, plus gobs of accessories and at least a ton of ammo. So I put out the word among us gun kooks what I wanted. I wanted a better new AR15 and I wanted a Mini 14 - to buy or trade as a private transaction. So I traded the used AR15 I just bought and a few other firearms for a new custom built AR15 and a Mini 14 with a scope - plus picked up 3 scopes (long range adjustable, short range non-adjustable also with fiber optics "iron sights" on top, and a red dot scope. The Mini 14 came with 6 magazines, 2 each of 10, 20 and 30 round capacity.
This are my additions:
Everything on the AR15 is new except the upper, lower and a few minor items - and mostly aftermarket including the stainless steel barrel. The price wanted was $700 for the AR15 and $500 for the Mini 14, including the scope and six magazines. Instead, I traded.
I will add a flash can and wood thumbhole stock to the Mini 14, which I will keep in my truck's tool box.
I have a 1.5 lb pull adjustable trigger group, different grip, adjustable target buttstock, a 5.5 inch flash can with internal muzzle
brake, upgraded selector switch and bolt lock/release, that is accessible nearer the trigger and thumb rest to put on the replacement AR15.
Who knows what I'll add or trade off next week? Somehow, usually, it ends up having more firearms than before - but not always. I honestly don't know how many firearms I have. They cover the 1700s thru the Vietnam era for military and civilian handguns, long guns and shotguns. As small as 1 shot cap and ball tiny derringers and pocket rotating barrels cap and ball pocket guns - to as large as Brown belt fed 30.06, .308 and 1 50 cal belt fed Browning - and about everything in between. But I RARELY shoot and when I do it 99.9% of the time is a bb gun, pellet gun, airsoft or .22. I'm a collector, not a shooter - though now am working on speed and precision - practice, practice, practice. Methodically.
