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Posted: 10/12/2010 6:27:01 PM EDT
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Well, here it is. Is there really a place for a standard, unscoped MBR in today's world of light recoiling, light weight rifles? I love guns, but to buy one that costs more than $500-600 I need to convince myself that it has a practical niche to fill in my collection. I have been looking at getting an MBR (looking at FALs and M1As right now) I already have several modern carbines in 5.56 and 7.62x39 which are easily effective out to 300 yards with irons and red dot sights. You can get more range by using heavier, more accurate bullets out of the 5.56 and if you want reach out to 500 yards a magnified optic becomes a necessity. I know a skilled shooter with irons can reach here but it becomes a case of put the tiny blob on top of the sights...good luck knowing who/what the blob is. The primary benefit of a full-powered rifle over more modern carbines seems to be longer effective range. And reaching out farther effectively requires optics.
So, the question: is there anything that an iron sighted MBR does better than a 5.56 carbine? |
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Punching through a reinforced wall, is the first thing that comes to mind. And the .308 will shoot off the shelf "Deer" bullets and be very effective ( typically better than the best 5.56) at your 0-300 yd range.
Bottom line for me is... no one rifle can do "everything" well.... ( with rifles..anytime you step up in the ammo "size", you gain more "power", but typically lose ease of carry...) Handgun0-25 yards light, easily carried,... 12 guage 0-50 yds, VERY versitile, the 5.56 is good 0-250 yds.. light weight, compact... the 7.62x51 extends that by 200ish yards, heavier but with a scope easily 0-500 yd effective range, with that increase in bulk, comes "bullet energy" benefits. Penetration on cover, those deer bullets, .... .338 Lapua extends that more,for the same reasons... .50BMG ...more... This is by NO means a set in stone answer, nor the beat all answer, ...but I hope it helps you decide what to do. |
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Is there really a place for a standard, unscoped MBR in today's world of light recoiling, light weight rifles?
Yes, there very capable rifles today same as they were decades back. They can put rounds on target fast up close or further and set them up with the same optics as lighter carbines. Whether there a good choice for someone depends more on the person using them. Afterall we're all not made the same. While Arfcom is full a weak people who only look at how they can't use one as well, there are lots of people who can. The smaller lighter weapon is the easiest for most people to use I'd say because there are more weak bodied, weak minded people. The controls on some of the older MBR's aren't as ambi friendly too which puts a con into some people use if them, but there are still lots of people who can use them very well and you don't want to be down range from. |
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Yeah, next time that guy (you know the one) comes in last again in the 3-gun shoot using his FAL I'll tell him to rest easy knowing he's not one of those weak bodied/minded guys with the AR that just spanked him (badly).
All kidding aside, theres nothing wrong with a battle rifle; it is just another tool in the box. Personally the only 7.62x51 guns I have now are scoped and for use between 500-1000Y, which is the only real reason I would use such a rifle. The 5.56 does everything I need it to do out to 500Y, handles quicker, follows up faster. |
| I'm well aware that the primary benefit of these rifles is their longer range abilities. However, to make the best use of these you need some sort of magnified optic. My question is not if there is a place for a longer ranged, scoped semi-auto rifle ( I know that there is). Rather I am wondering if there really is a place for a standard MBR with NO scopes, red dot sights etc. |
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Quoted:
Small bore rifles do not penetrate trees, buildings or vehicles well...and they do not do well over large open areas over 300 meters. So whats left? So, does anyone have some hard data on the penetration ability of a .308 vs 5.56 at around 200-300 yards? ETA: Or perhaps .308 vs 7.62x39 within the same range? |
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Quoted: While Arfcom is full a weak people who only look at how they can't use one as well, there are lots of people who can. There's plenty of pipehitters on this site who have been to the two way range and, in their weakness, prefer a lighter, more maneuverable weapon that allows them to fight as aggressively and efficiently as possible. |
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IMHO, the AR-10 carbine is best of both worlds.
It Bridges the gap between the assault rifle ( God, I hate those words) and MBR. Also, Its not as heavy as say the M-14 or a FAL. Whatever the 5.56 can do the 7.62 can do just as good. You can go basic: 
or high speed with it: 
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