Cost of AR15 vs PCC

jska

jska

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I would like to buy an AR15 at some point, but the ammo cost just seems a bit pricey, as in I likely won’t shoot it often. Would a PCC just be a better choice, as 9mm is readily available and relatively cheap?
 
I have both. A S&W M&P 15 and a Ruger PCC with Glock mags. I prefer to shoot the Ruger.
 
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Plinking would be my primary use, and while I could afford an AR15 and some ammo, I certainly wouldn’t be able to afford to shoot it often
 
Frack N Cylons said:
Is money the only consideration? Do you care about terminal performance or range?

If you could buy either gun for $600 and buy 5.56 for $0.5/rd and 9mm for $.25/rd then….

…with $2k invested you could shoot 2800 rounds of 5.56 or 5600 rounds of 9mm.
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Not my only consideration, but probably the most important one
 
You're new to the shooting world, I'd suggest going 22lr, you can find SW 22lr ARs cheap enough, you can shoot with it cheap, buy optics for that can be transferred to a 223 ar later.

Id suggest finding one in the BST. After familiar with the functions, you can either re sale it, or keep it and go on from there.
 
Consider a Tippmann M4-22.

This is an all-metal lower and upper M4 (in other words, in appearance, weight, balance, manual-of-arms, and 'feel' exactly like a real AR), but chambered in 22lr.
It even has a working forward assist.

Shoots 6 cents a round ammo, but the magazines look and feel just like an AR, and hold 25 rounds.

You can add/change the stock, grip, safety, sights, muzzle options, and trigger to match your whims, using off the shelf aftermarket AR accessories.
It holds 1 MOA, even using CCV SV.
 
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jska said:
Plinking would be my primary use, and while I could afford an AR15 and some ammo, I certainly wouldn’t be able to afford to shoot it often
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Get a M4 lower and a 22LR upper and ammo now.
Later when money and desire to up the game you can get a PCC upper and/or a rifle upper.
 
Might think a little more broader …

Are you going to purchase a handgun in the near future? If so will it be a 9mm? Common ammo (and even common mags) between the a PCC kinda add value if you decide on that route. A Ruger PCC with some Glock mags sets you up for just picking up a G17 or G19 down the road and having “stuff” that will be used on multiple platforms.

Now as to just plinking … a Tippmann M4-22 (or SW MP15-22) will pay for itself when you think of saving at least 40¢ per trigger pull so you can almost say in 1,000 rounds you pay for the rimfire version of an AR. They a a boat load of fun too!
 
NCFubar said:
Might think a little more broader …

Are you going to purchase a handgun in the near future? If so will it be a 9mm? Common ammo (and even common mags) between the a PCC kinda add value if you decide on that route. A Ruger PCC with some Glock mags sets you up for just picking up a G17 or G19 down the road and having “stuff” that will be used on multiple platforms.

Now as to just plinking … a Tippmann M4-22 (or SW MP15-22) will pay for itself when you think of saving at least 40¢ per trigger pull so you can almost say in 1,000 rounds you pay for the rimfire version of an AR. They a a boat load of fun too!
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EXACTLY what I did when the riots, err peaceful protests started. Bought the Ruger PCC and a Glock 19. They stay together in a go bag with lots of mags. The Ruger is a surprisingly accurate rifle. Even with the peep sights I can hit a soda can at 50 yards.
 
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NCFubar said:
Might think a little more broader …

Are you going to purchase a handgun in the near future? If so will it be a 9mm? Common ammo (and even common mags) between the a PCC kinda add value if you decide on that route. A Ruger PCC with some Glock mags sets you up for just picking up a G17 or G19 down the road and having “stuff” that will be used on multiple platforms.

Now as to just plinking … a Tippmann M4-22 (or SW MP15-22) will pay for itself when you think of saving at least 40¢ per trigger pull so you can almost say in 1,000 rounds you pay for the rimfire version of an AR. They a a boat load of fun too!
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Yes, I plan on getting a handgun within the next two months, and it will very likely be a G19 😁
 
jska said:
Not my only consideration, but probably the most important one
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PSA freedom blem kit or even the complete rifle can be had regularly around $400. CMMG conversion kit (no tools, just a different BCG and magazine) is around $220. Have the 22LR for plinking and fun, 5.56 if you feel like it.

One of my gripes about PCCs is that many are very expensive for their design (straight blowback)
 
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jska said:
Plinking would be my primary use, and while I could afford an AR15 and some ammo, I certainly wouldn’t be able to afford to shoot it often
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Not as cheap as say, 9mm, but dry-fire practice costs nothing but time, yet has a huge payoff.

I’m giving serious consideration to picking up Mantis Blackbeard system for d/f drills.
 
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S&Wtinkerer said:
PSA freedom blem kit or even the complete rifle can be had regularly around $400. CMMG conversion kit (no tools, just a different BCG and magazine) is around $220. Have the 22LR for plinking and fun, 5.56 if you feel like it.

One of my gripes about PCCs is that many are very expensive for their design (straight blowback)
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Totally agree, the cost of blow back PCC’s is surprising. Once you shoot a roller delayed PCC (MP5, Stribog SP9A3, etc), I can’t imagine buying a direct blow back especially when they’re only a couple hundred bucks less.
 
Just a thought, you could purchase a complete AR lower receiver(or rifle chambered in 5.56). From there a 5.56 upper, a 22lr upper/cmmg conversion, and a 9mm upper.
 
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Jerzsubbie said:
Totally agree, the cost of blow back PCC’s is surprising. Once you shoot a roller delayed PCC (MP5, Stribog SP9A3, etc), I can’t imagine buying a direct blow back especially when they’re only a couple hundred bucks less.
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The first PCC I owned was a Ruger takedown in 9MM. Kinda surprised me that it had as much, if not a little more recoil than my AR. I also had some trigger time on an aero survival PCC on 9 and 10mm. Seemed waaay to expensive for a straight blowback tube gun that took Glock mags. Not bad guns but certainly not worth $800 to me.
 
Buy a Glock19/17 and decent mid-length 16" AR-15 and learn how to use them both.
Most of your competence is going to come from smart dry fire practice. You do not need to shoot a lot of live rounds to get competent at shooting.
You only need to be somewhat disciplined in practice.

Once you have these two guns, then get a PCC and/or .22. Just my opinion.

I think you are in Burlington. If you get a pistol and/or rifle hit me up. I'll take you to range and give you some tips on manipulation/practice/etc. for both.
And then talk you into shooting a match. You'll get addicted and become a better shooter. The End.
 
NKD said:
Buy a Glock19/17 and decent mid-length 16" AR-15 and learn how to use them both.
Most of your competence is going to come from smart dry fire practice. You do not need to shoot a lot of live rounds to get competent at shooting.
You only need to be somewhat disciplined in practice.

Once you have these two guns, then get a PCC and/or .22. Just my opinion.

I think you are in Burlington. If you get a pistol and/or rifle hit me up. I'll take you to range and give you some tips on manipulation/practice/etc. for both.
And then talk you into shooting a match. You'll get addicted and become a better shooter. The End.
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Haha for sure! I’ll let you know come June
 
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I just finished a PSA 5.56 Blemish kit. $320 and ammo for $11 box at gunmagwarehouse.
Cannot find the blemish on PSA.
 
I’ve been keeping a Sub2K as my “truck gun” for a few months now, but given the deterioration of things these days, I’m putting together an AR pistol to replace it.
 
Bro, buy an AR

We are in an AR golden age.

You get so much more gun for your money than if you go with a PCC.

Buy an AR and buy a .22 conversion for it. Super easy to swap between .22lr and 5.56.
 
So ultimately you want to have both as they both fill their own role.

In these crazy times AR are cheaper to buy than PCCs but more expensive to run.

I shoot considerably more rounds through my 9mm SUB 2000 than my ARs at presemt ammo costs.
 
Cost is relative.........

Buy cheap and it'll nickle and dime you to death, buy quality and the initial outlay is more, but the return over time outweighs the initial purchase price.

It's the same for both............
 
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