If you want a rifle for shots out to 300 metres there is nothing wrong and a lot going for the AR platform. One of my favorite AR's I have seen recently was a members here. He had a AR with a 7.62 upper a scope and a solid M16A2 stock which I much prefer to the folding one. If I lived in the US I would get a nice cut down FAL with a red dot sight. Since I live in Canada I am going to pick up a Norinco M14 clone(actually better than the Springfield version and only 350$US) and fit it up with a Socom 16 type build.

There are several times I recall the ineffectiveness of .223 at MANY ranges, but the one that stands out is when a "person of interest" was struck in the upper left quarter of his head and lived for 6 and half hours. He was hit at about 35-45 yards....hard to judge while running. And just countless times folks were hit and continued to fight, one fellow was shot through his back in his mid-upper left chest region. He lived just fine. Teeny tiny little hole and a blood gathering under the surface is all. No vitals were hit....lung heart arteries nothing seriously damaged.

Yes, you can carry more ammo...but who really needs to in the "civilian" world? as for home defense.....12 gauge or pistol. I don't really think a .223 would make much sense. I wouldn't recommend ANY rifle for home defense.

As far as accuracy, I think is on the person and quality of the firearm. Most Snipers LE or Military are .308s.

The m240 was my second best friend next to the M2(that's a whole nether story) But I would gladly carry the extra weight for the man stopper power provided by the .308.

If you have one because you like to go sport shoot and like a HUGE assortment of gadgets and gizmos to add to it and want to be able to land a [censored] Jumbo Jet with it go ahead...It is just not my bag....

Not annoying at all....and please don't take my comments directed toward you.

I just see all these commandos who spend 4K on attachments for their ARs....it makes me laugh. What happened to good iron sights...a decent scope is about all I would add.

I like to hear the other side...maybe there are redeeming qualities about the M16 I missed while using it for 4 years and the 6 months in a combat zone.....something that someone says that will spark an interest in them for me....but then again, maybe not.

You can build one for about $650.00. Just two push pins to put it together. Keep in mind you can only legally build one per year for yourself and not for resale.