Help me choose my new Rifle

So the department I currently work for is allowing me to purchase my own rifle for duty use. Here's the parameters:

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR PATROL RIFLES
(a) Caliber: 5.56x45mm or .223
(b) Semiautomatic ONLY. No select fire (full auto or burst) weapons will be authorized for private purchase
(c) Barrel Length: 16”, 18” and 20”

• Barrel over-all length MUST be minimum of 16”
• No short barreled rifles (SBR’s) will be authorized (CPC 33210)
• A rifle is considered an SBR when it’s over-all barrel length is less than 16”

(d) Barrel Twist: 1:7”, 1:8” and 1:9”
(e) Stock: Collapsible only to accommodate rifle racks
(f) Sights: Fixed or folding back-up iron sights\Upper receiver: Flattop (A3 style)
(g) Upper/Lower Receiver MUST be from the same manufacturer
(h) Color: Black, green or tan.

AUTHORIZED MANUFACTURERS
(a) Colt Manufacturing LLC
(b) Daniel Defense, Inc.
(c) LaRue Tactical
(d) Lewis Machine and Tool Company (LMT)
(e) Rock River Arms
(f) Noveske RifleWorks
(g) Smith & Wesson
(h) Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM)
(i) Knight’s Armament Company (KAC)


I figured my best bet for some help would be to post here instead of the LEO cause LEO's are gonna be on this side of the forum anyways.. Here's my thoughts on the whole thing"
- I've always said "buy once, cry once" but I can't break the bank either.
- I'm looking for a quality build that'll probably last me 15+ years and can go through the crap that I go through day in/day out. It'll get beat up, so I don't want something that's gonna break going in and out of the unit...
- I'd really like to spend no more than $1,500-ish but I don't wanna buy crap either.
- I have plenty of furniture/optics to dress it up, so I can go with a basic package and use what I already have.


So what do you guys think? based on all the department parameters and my parameters.. Also, lets not make this a freak out gun laws thread please, I just need help deciding which duty rifle to go with for the next 15+ years, and I know you guys are really good at breaking down smart purchases (that's why you guys own Tacomas!).

 

Honestly, you can't go wrong with that list. My suggestion to you taking everything into account as well as intended use would be to purchase an LMT Defender 2000. Should fit with your budget and when lives are on the line you won't find a better rifle for the price. You may find comparable for more money but you won't find better. That's what I would do but that's just my opinion.

 

Thanks for your input! I'm definitely gonna look into that rifle.

 

Afternoon bump.. I need your two cents people!!

 

KAC SR-15 or Noveske Infantry rifle.

http://www.knightarmco.com/portfoli...r-15&features=sr15e3-iws-carbine#!prettyPhoto

http://shopnoveske.com/collections/rifles/products/noveske-recce-entry-level-rifle


/thread...

 

Thanks! Wait... They have guns in Canada?? Learn something new every day...

 

KAC all the way.

 

although the LMT MRP is pretty bad ass!

 

Weird that the list of manufacturers does not include Armalite. The SPR mod 1 would be a great choice.

 

I'm sure there's a valid argument for many manufacturers that aren't on the list. Including LWRC, Armalite, etc, etc.. list could go on forever.. Thanks for everyone's input though, much appreciated.

 

Windham Weaponry made in Maine. Too bad they're not listed - your loss IMO.

http://www.windhamweaponry.com/

 

/thread.... ? Orly? I guess you missed the most important of his requirements: Budget. Doesn't matter how neat-o the rifles you recommend are if they're 2x his budget.

 

I've got one of these too (LMT Monolithic Rail Platform CQB 12" Piston driven) but it's also nowhere near his budget. He could almost afford the upper half if he didn't mind waiting almost 2yrs.

 

One of the smith and Wesson m&p 15

 

OP: Here's a used one for $886 w/free shipping with some tasteful accessories. I will assume your dept pays for ammo so rather than tell you to invest the rest in ammo to train with like I normally would I would advise using the rest of the $1500 for an Aimpoint/EOTech & a quality harness & light. You'd have a ready-to-roll rig w/o exceeding your budget.

 

hmm... that's nice, but if it's nearly a third the price of a new one, how "used" is it? Thanks for all the info though, and I guess I never considered buying used.. that's definitely a way to save some cash! Thanks Ostrichsak! Oh, and thanks to everyone else for giving me their opinion too!

 

It's hard saying but not too much can go wrong really. Hard to tell from a picture but maybe you can call them and ask for an estimated round count. I mean for the price you can even replace most of the wear parts and still have a lot less into it than a new one. If you get a firearm from a quality brand they'll go forever.

 

Good point, I think you're definitely on to something with buying a quality used rifle..

 

Personally, I would stay away from Colt.
Yes, Colt does make a California-legal model now, but it's best to avoid any potential drama.

Also decide if you are going to attempt to register it through your agency, or just go ahead and install a bullet button to make it civilian-legal. Reason I bring this up is because of Harris's recent opinion that retired officers can not keep their RAWs.

 

Well, funny thing.. (according to the department memo) the law doesn't allow for us to change our CA legal weapons into RAWs, or change RAWs into CA legal weapons after separation/retirement. So.. the department's guidelines is that it must be purchased as a RAW and upon separation/retirement, we have to give up the stripped serialized lower. Everything else can be kept by the Deputy. So I may have to buy an extra lower for the future.. Thats commyfornia for ya..