I am looking into getting a black gun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />....was wondering what would be the better caliber...

as far as stopping power...

will mainly be used for recreation, and home defense...but might eventually take it hunting.

what caliber? single choice
	9mm
	5.56
	.223
Votes accepted starting: 10/28/08 02:39 PM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

5.56mm and .223 are close to each other and almost the same. You can fire .223 in 5.56mm guns, but NOT 5.56mm in .223 guns. I've got a Bushmaster XM15-E2S (AR15) and I love it. It's chambered in 5.56mm. If you're looking for hunting, it'll do some smaller game just fine. I've seen it done with deer too, but it's not a preferred caliber; too likely to not stop the deer unless it's a good shot. They make the AR in 6.68mm(?) and that would do fine for deer.

If you're looking to hunt with it, maybe pick up an m44. I've got one and I love it. Kicks like a mule, but quite accurate. It's 7.62mmx54r. Plenty of knockdown power.

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

thanks for the info Richard. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

7.62 is a little bigger than I want...but I bet it's fun to shoot.

Check your state laws about hunting with a .223 before you buy one.
It's an illegal round for big game here in WA state.

For home defense nothing beats a 12 gauge in my opinion. Miss by a foot and you'll still pepper them with scatter. And the ever present 12 racking sound will stop just about anyone dead in thier tracks. Only gun I keep loaded. 1st round in non-lethal 80 durometer slug, the remaining 6 are OO buckshot.

I bought a .223 KelTec SU-16C for plinking awhile back and have to admit I really like it. I was leary about plastic guns at first but this thing rocks. 2,000 rounds and counting without a single jam or misfire. I use HK 30 round mags for the AR15/M16.
KelTecs are smaller that the AR15 (stock fold under), cost is about $600 brand new in the box and mine's fired every type of ammo I feed it regardless of age or quality.I buy cheap gun show reloads for $80 a 500 round box for plinking.
[img][image]http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/518/keltecsu16cs1smalltf3.jpg[/img][/image]

I wouldn't hunt anything with a 9mm. I sometimes carry a 9mm but for a home defense pistol I keep a .45. I wouldn't use a rifle for home defense, but I live in the burbs in fairly close proximity to neighbors. I have a couple AR lowers that have yet to be built on, insurance in the case of the wrong election result. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I don't really have room in the fun budget to start building non-standard caliber/platform combinations that take pricey ammo. If I were buying or building just one, I'd keep it fairly standard. If that means an evil-lookin rifle of some sort, an AR chambered in 5.56. Or an AK or SKS in 7.62x39, that should do fine for dropping deer. Ammo for either is affordable enough to do some moderate plinking.

None of the above for me. I kind of like my CETME in .308. For some reason, there's nothing quite like blowing big holes in concrete blocks. You know, if it's necessary to level a block house with less than a clip-full. The action when cocking it also leaves an impression on the hearing, similar to racking a pump shotgun.

If you're in the area, J&G Sales in Prescott, AZ is my dealer of choice for all things surplus/police trade-in/military. Of course they will only ship firearms to a FFL.

J&G Sales, Prescott, AZ

Nice folks, great service, always play strictly by the rules...and some nice stuff, too.

John B.

Just get a stag arms ar15, and shoot winchester white box out of it for practice.

Savage 22mag/20ga OU. 22 for plinking, and 22maghp hot loads/20ga with #1buck for home defense.

Or a 44 bulldog with glaser safety slugs, which will kill dead on a direct body hit but won't penetrate two layers of sheetrock.

Look into a Saiga 12. It's just an AK chambered in 12 gauge. A 19" barrel 12 gauge with a 10 round mag and AK reliability, what more could you ask for? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

He's saying he is going to buy an AR15... not an AK, or a shotgun.