Originally Posted by
LSP972
Indeed, a thought-provoking conumdrum.
First, the availability issue. What has my immediate concern aroused now is how bloody FAST (think flash mob) these savages can organize, and appear seemingly out of thin air. That is a local-to-me problem, aggravated by the fact that of the four different routes I can use to get from my home to my workplace- which itself is on the DMZ- and/or back again, the two most expeditious ones run right through the heart of serious Indian country. The two safer routes are a tremendous roundabout, one involving crossing and re-crossing the Mississippi River. IOW, a last resort for when the threat indicator is in the red zone. We've had a couple of those times in recent memory, and the carbine was riding on the passenger seat next to me… un-cased.
When traveling/vacation/etc., I keep the carbine cased, "in the back" (in what passes for a trunk in a soccer-mom-mobile crossover). IOW, different responses for different threat levels.
Second issue… what long gun? The bullpup concept does indeed kill several birds with one rock. But, as noted earlier, my limited experience with the idea did not impress me in the slightest. Not saying the concept isn't valid, just that it isn't valid for ME. No doubt I could learn it fairly easily, but it just doesn't make sense to do that at this stage of my life. Besides, as also noted earlier, I have a really good "urban camouflage" carrier that a 16" carbine will fit into. And NO way am I gonna get on that Class 3 radar scope. As far as I'm concerned (and I mean this seriously, not trying to be ugly), Class 3 SBR/SBS guys and can owners are a great early warning trip wire for the rest of us… because, since they know exactly where to find them, who do you think the feds are gonna snarf up first??? I understand that you're talking about an issued company gun; I dunno whether you have personally-owned Class 3 stuff or not, and don't WANT to know.
My consideration of the Mini-14 was primarily cost (I had no idea Ruger had gotten so proud of them), and, to a lesser extent, the "good old boy" as opposed to the "Rambo wanna-be killer" perception that can be present regarding these two rifles. After a bit of thought, I realized the ridiculousness of that second consideration; given current attitudes and conditions, I'll be vilified in certain quarters even if I use a frigging flintlock. So. FIDO.
However, the cost angle is still there. I see absolutely zero reason to "go large" here; all I need is something reliable and accurate. I don't need the latest/greatest/operationally operating operator-approved mid-length Noveske/LaRue/Daniel Defense/whatever-is-hot-this-week platform. The more I look into the Ruger AR556, the more interested I become. Monday, I'll start calling my local contacts and try to round one up the easy way. The largest Ruger distributor in the United States is right here in town, so maybe I'll get lucky.
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