Assault rifle owners, what makes you feel like you need to own one?

I’m not attacking you guys but I’m just curious as to under what circumstances you think you’ll need even an nonautomatic rifle when all you need for self defense is really a pistol if you have to have one. I don’t mean hunting rifles I mean things like ar15s.

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MethDozer · M Best Comment

Used it for groundhogs,woodchuck, etc. sometimes for coyotes. Target shooting in some local buy in shoots.

Captainjackass · 31-35, M

@MethDozer but wouldn’t a pistol work just as well?

basilfawlty89 · 31-35, M

@Captainjackass pistols have a low firing range.

MethDozer · M

@Captainjackass Accuracy and range.
Pistol would be an awful choice for these things.
Heavy barreled AR 15 makes a good gun for those kinds of critters because you can get really accurate and get follow up shots on the others. All in a small 22 caliber round.

To be fair though the AR15 I used for vermin and predator hunting as well as long rang target had a heavy bull barrel, flat top, and was heavy and not really the package you would see in an shooting usually.

There are plenty of tangible sporting uses for the platform itself, but not every configuration is really. Lot of people even hunt white tail with them.

Captainjackass · 31-35, M

@MethDozer well wouldn’t a bolt action rifle work just as well?

MethDozer · M

@Captainjackass Yes and no, depends on if you are intending or want quick follow up shots. Ground hogs on a farm for example you it's useful to go pew, pew,pew quick and get them piled up. Coyote in packs same thing.
It's all moot, I am just exhaling what kinda if sporting activities the platform works very well for and the typical sporting uses of it.

Captainjackass · 31-35, M

@MethDozer well that makes sense I guess. Also it’s weird but I keep thinking of bill murray trying to kill that groundhog on the golf course nonstop now.

MethDozer · M

@Captainjackass Ahh yes, the gopher.lol

Captainjackass · 31-35, M

@MethDozer and how many groundhogs do you need to kill at once?

MethDozer · M

@Captainjackass Farmers usually want them all gone.
Eh, it's kinda like whack a mole. They pop in and out quick.

Captainjackass · 31-35, M

@MethDozer that’s somewhat ironic as they are like moles!

MethDozer · M

@Captainjackass groundhogs/woodchuck are way way bigger.

Anyway, I'm not trying to paint the platform as being vital to certain a activities that would not exist without it. Just giving some real and practical examples that demonstrate it is really no different than any other sporting firearm and is just a mechanical design. It's and other designs are really nothing more than platforms that are modernized to combine the best design elements that are generally the best. It's not any more of a battle weapon than any other, it is just one of the most refined ergonomically. The ergonomics is why rifle shooters like them.