Dangit, starting to get that itch again

The itch for a new gun

Haven't got out and shot in awhile and definitely not at anything until last night. We got into a group of pigs where I was hanging out a window with a glock hammering away. Tonight we went out looking again and were a little more prepared. Spotted two boars and this time I was using an AR.

It was the first time in a few years I'd shot an AR. I used to own one but really couldn't justify having it in central Texas where a bolt gun will kill as many pigs as a AR in heavy brush. Now however I see the appeal and am getting the itch to get one.

I guess it's time to start doing my research to see what the hell I need to blow money on I don't know crap about them anymore so need to start looking. Probably will just buy one rather than build

Dang, I miss the desert where you can shoot a self-loader and still find all your brass.

It's the best all-around rifle made.

I've got bolt guns but need something lightweight, fairly short, easy to get on target, and high capacity to get on pigs with. The AR is the best for that.

I'm a big Sig fan for pistols, how are their ARs?

Only works here if you sit in the wash, the Sonoran desert is the lushest desert in the world, lots of plants.

I'm sure it varies from year to year. I grew up in the Chihuahuan Desert (El Paso area) and it varies depending on the rainfall. That area is particularly sandy, though, and soil is a part of the picture as well. Other parts of the same desert are grasslands.

My desert had lots of places where you'd lose your brass but also lots of places where you wouldn't. Here in the DFW area, even if you DO have a place you can go and shoot at cans and stuff on the ground you're still likely to lose a good deal of your brass.

I miss the desert.

I bet any brand M4 would work for what you are wanting.

I chose this one

I miss the green grass, trees, and rivers.

Well, I'd trade ya but I wouldn't / couldn't give up my job! Maybe you're not thinking of this area though. Didn't you mention Tennessee recently?

I am from West Virginia. I don't think you could pay me to live in Dallas.

LOL. Don't blame you one bit! It snowed here today and it took me one hour to go 12 miles or so when I left work early at 11:30 AM.

Yes, I remember WVa now. You're (maybe still) kinda outa your element in Arizona, but if you stay long enough you'll get to where they couldn't pay you to leave the desert. Some people never do acclimate, but a ton of military people from all over the country have settled in El Paso because the desert reaches up, grab's em by the throat, and says "you can check out anytime you like, but you can NEVER leave!"

Thanks, now I have Hotel California stuck in my head.

At least it wasn't "Girls just want to have fun." Oops, now I've gone and done it!

Lived in El Paso for 18 years, loved the climate and you could go shoot anywhere.

GLC, I used to shoot and hunt jackrabbits all over the east side of the county. The freedom was out that way was awesome. Now there are houses on about half of it.

Did you ever get to hunt jackrabbits out in the alfalfa fields in the lower valley? They were thick as flies in a dairy yard, and in good years they'd be all over the sandhills too. My uncle and I would go out with a spotlight at night and kill dozens at a time. Some nights we'd get 50 or 60. What a hoot that was!

If I was going to buy an out of the box at I would go with a M&P with the Magpul moe gear.

I went to sergeants school in El Paso.

If I had the chance to go back I would paso.

Yes sir, did a lot of rabbit and dove hunting between Zaragosa and Clint on the levy and a lot of target practice east of Dieter around Montwood and Trawood. Lived on the corner of Dieter and Tom Ulozas.

Dune buggies were fun too at Red Sands.

At least you got a taste of what it used to be like. You'd have liked the 60s and 70s.

Believe it or not, I believe I was the first to refer to the big red dunes as "Red Sands." Could be wrong, but I started calling it that in 1973 and I had never heard anyone else say "Red Sands" before then. That was a great place to buggy, though. Lots of guys who had 4WD considered Big Red the best challenge in the area. Not many pickups could make it to the top in 1980.

There are houses all over that area now.

Think that would be the way to go?

I'll for sure just go out of the box since I don't really have an interest in building one.

I am kicking around the idea of 308 but really don't have a reason other than I always like to think bigger is better lol.

There are all kinds of great choices.

Something in .308 would definitely hit hogs harder, but the right .224" bullet in the right place will take 'em down. You might even get better follow-up shots (as in killing three or four before the bastards can get away) with a .223 / 5.56 owing to the lesser recoil. One other thing to consider about the ARs in .308 and its derivatives is the weight of the rifles. I haven't handled every conceivable AR10 type rifle out there, but I've never handled a light one.

But still, it's for you and you should get what you like!

I just itched mine and finally plunged for a STI

How is it this hard to pick an AR? A bolt gun is available in way more calibers and options but I can settle on one of those a lot quicker lol.

My problem with picking guns is I always go for the overkill. More caliber or gun than I need. I think I'll stick with the AR15 platform but now I made the mistake of looking at LaRue, noveske, and Wilson combat

I put a complete Rock River upper on a lower I had built a while back. I found that it shoots VERY well. I was surprised, in fact. I'd recommend Rock River to anyone who isn't out to spend 2K or more on an AR.

Great guns but with a heavy price to boot. For a high quality pig popper that wont break the bank I would look at a Colt 6920, a 16" BCM, or 16" Spikes. I think those should satisfy your desire for a high end gun and do more than you will ever need your AR15 to do. Not to mention that it will provide you a exceptional base to build from when you decide to start tinkering with it..........and you WILL want to tinker with it.

A rock river was what I was using a few nights back on the pigs. I'll try to focus more on those guns and forget the high dollar ones lol. For my purpose I know I don't need a $2k AR, hell I'd be scared to put it in the sky bar gun rack in the truck.

Dustin,

I would go with a M&P if I had no plans on customizing it. If I was planning on customizing one I would just build one from scratch. Really easy and you get exactly what you want. It ends up being cheaper that way.