Best Non-AR15 .223/5.56 Rifles.

It is hard to be one of the few that just don't genuinely like, or trust, the AR-15 rifle. You walk into any given gun shop and they seem to have more AR-15 options than anything else. You hear all of these fan boys spouting on about how they can survive a nuclear bomb... It is worse than Glock fan boys. Chances are, if you don't like the AR then you probably do like the AK... but what if you want a versatile arsenal including .223/5.56? Well, good news is that you have some very cool options!

Ruger Mini 14

Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle
www.ruger.com 2/22/15

The Ruger Mini 14 has been around for quite some time. This fairly short rifle is meant to look and operate like a small M14... hence the name. It even operates on a similar locking mechanism and self cleaning, fixed piston gas system. It is available in many different forms and seems to be a mild platform for customization, if that is your cup of tea. The rifle weighs a bit over 6 lbs and has a total length of just over 37 inches. With it's 10, 20, or 30 round magazines... this is a good, reliable rifle and is a good alternative to the AR platform. Not to mention... it has been featured in the A-Team.



Golani Galil Sporter

Golani Galil Sporter
Slickguns.com 2/22/15

If you want a cool attention getter at the range which will stand out a bit more than the Mini 14... this is the weapon for you! This is a rifle that was designed in the late 60's. Its operation is based heavily on the AK system which makes it very reliable. No matter the model you choose, you are looking at over 8 lbs of gun. These are also typically hard to find these days. If one does pop up, you'll be kicking yourself if you don't grab it while you can.



Century Arms C93

Century Arms C93
Guns.com 2/22/15

Yet another gun for you attention seekers. This is the C93. It is essentially a clone of the early HK93 but lacks the quality and hefty price tag. 40 round magazines are the standard on this bad boy meaning you will be reloading less often than most other rifles. It takes original HK magazines... if you want to pay the price. There are also many companies that make a good quality magazine for the C93. This is a roller lock system exactly like the system used in CETME rifles and PTR-91's. This usually means pretty reliable functioning (with the correct rollers and bolt gap), but be prepared to have some messed up brass. The rear sight is an interesting diopter type which rotates to calibrate distance. With different stock sets available this is another great alternative to the AR-15 platform.



Saiga .223

Saiga 223 Sporter
Slickguns.com 2/22/15

The Saiga .223 was thought up by Kalashnikov himself, as you can probably tell. It is a rifle that was designed for those who wanted the reliability of the AK platform... but without the military styling. You can definitely find parts and gadgets to customize these, and a lot of people convert these into the military AK style. This was done to save money, but these days they cost just the same. It is easy to use, a bit lighter than a few of the other rifles on here at 7.9lbs, but the looks are definitely not for everyone.



Steyr AUG

Steyr Aug
Slickguns.com 2/22/15

From the country that gave us the Glock comes, quite possibly, the coolest rifle ever. The AUG is a thing of beauty. This is a bullpup styled rifle that operates on the conventional gas piston and was thought up in the 1960's. AUG means, in english, "Universal Army Rifle." This is a great rifle for almost any use. It has a more than decent effective range, it weighs less than 8lbs, and it is short and versatile allowing it to be easily maneuvered around the inside of a building.




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