IS THIS THE CALM BEFORE THE PRICE-INCREASE STORM?

BY PAUL RACKLEY

The Savage MSR-15 Recon provides quite a lot out of the box but can benefit from some chosen upgrades.

The Mossberg MMR features Magpul furniture, a flattop design, adjustable buttstock and no forward assist. It is considered a little above “basic” but can still be found for quite a deal.

Higherend ARs typically come with better barrels, foregrips, triggers and stocks. As a result, these rifles don’t normally need upgrades.

“DEMAND HAS DROPPED SO MUCH THAT SEVERAL COMPANIES HAVE FILED BANKRUPTCY, AND EVEN COLT … ANNOUNCED LAST SEPTEMBER THAT IT WAS QUITTING PRODUCTION DUE TO LACK OF DEMAND. ”

The AR rifle has a lot of names with different meanings, depending on who is uttering the words. Politicians and media groups like to inaccurately call them “assault rifles” in their quest to have them banned, while advocates prefer the milder term, “modern sporting rifles.” Regardless of the feelings toward this firearm, there is no doubt that Eugene Stoner’s design has become America’s rifle.

The AR is the most versatile and customizable rifle in the world. It can be set up with good optics to be used to hunt a variety of game, from coyotes up to deer and elk. It can also be configured tactically with lights, lasers, backup sights and much more for self-defense or competition. These guns can even be rigged for long-range sniping of targets well beyond 500 yards.

Because of all these features and options, few can doubt the usefulness of ARs, even those gun proponents who think they are big, heavy and ugly. Anti-gunners, of course, defile these rifles at every level possible, claiming they have no sporting purpose. They have been trying to get rid of them for decades and even succeeded for a 10-year span, starting in 1994.

Luckily for gun owners, Congress did not renew the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 2004, which began a race to meet the demand from civilians who were allowed, once again, to purchase ARs. Then, just as companies were beginning to catch up, Barack Obama became president and kicked off an eight-year frenzy of tactical rifle and pistol purchases.