Thinking about an EBR...recommendations?

[blackeagle603]

What'd Bushmaster do? Buy Cobb just to shut down the MCR? Arggh, in 6.5x55 no less. The ultimate all around battle rifle in my book (well 'cept for in a Garand based action).

[Darrell]

What'd Bushmaster do? Buy Cobb just to shut down the MCR? Arggh, in 6.5x55 no less. The ultimate all around battle rifle in my book (well 'cept for in a Garand based action).

Well, at least I did get my Ljungman.

[Darrell]

Update on the Cobb MCR: I emailed Cobb Manufacturing, they told me this morning that Bushmaster is due to release their version of the MCR next year. Kinda goes full circle, I wonder if they can do both the Cobb and Masada?

[GroundPounder]

+1 on the FAL. I bought a Century L1A1 Sporter for four bills, and despite looking a little ugly with a few spots of light rust, it feeds and fires like a champ!

[D5CAV]

Implied in your question are two issues:
1. EBR recommendations
2. What is likely to be banned if we become an obamanation

Regarding 1. EBR recommendations, I think there are three logical choices
a. M14 or functional equivalent (M1A, M14S, etc.)
b. FAL or functional equivalent
c. G3 or functional equivalent

I know the AR10 and it's functional equivalents are out there, but the rifle has only been battle tested by two armies, Sudan and Portugal. I don't consider that a glowing recommendation.

Regarding 2. Likely to be banned by Obama et.al.
Remember that the 'Bush ban', which banned imported EBRs, is still in effect, which is why the MSAR is made in the US and not in Austria in the Steyr factory. Every one of the EBRs you see have a US made receiver and a specified number of US made parts. The 'Clinton ban', which banned anything more than a 10-round magazine as well as pistol grips and bayonet lugs, is the one that (thankfully!) expired.

There are things Obama can do as an executive order (some are already being done by the bureaucrats at BATF) to make this harder, e.g. ban importation of any parts (BATF recently decided that any imported barrel that used to be on a military rifle is verboten) or ban importation of foreign manufactured ammo of 'military' calibers, which means we will all be feeding our EBRs at Norma and Hornady prices.

What could an Obama-led congress (democrat) do with an Obama-presidency? All bets are off. Anything from a CA-style ban on any rifle with EBR features (which grandfathered existing owners with registration) to a UK-style ban on 'self-loaders' and handguns (turn them in -- now).

My recommendation? If you have any money left from the current financial meltdown, figure that you are married to whatever EBR you have right now, but buy lots of ammo and high-capacity magazines for it and anything else you think you might want to buy in the future (e.g. FAL mags and .308 ammo if you think that one floats your boat and matches your pocketbook).

[Aglifter]

Update on the Cobb MCR: I emailed Cobb Manufacturing, they told me this morning that Bushmaster is due to release their version of the MCR next year. Kinda goes full circle, I wonder if they can do both the Cobb and Masada?

If it's a regular production model, OK. Given my problems w. my Cobb, I wouldn't buy anything that Skip Patel has been a part of (He's supposed to head Bushmaster's custom division.)

[Mike OTDP]

Implied in your question are two issues:

There are things Obama can do as an executive order (some are already being done by the bureaucrats at BATF) to make this harder, e.g. ban importation of any parts (BATF recently decided that any imported barrel that used to be on a military rifle is verboten) or ban importation of foreign manufactured ammo of 'military' calibers, which means we will all be feeding our EBRs at Norma and Hornady prices.

What could an Obama-led congress (democrat) do with an Obama-presidency? All bets are off. Anything from a CA-style ban on any rifle with EBR features (which grandfathered existing owners with registration) to a UK-style ban on 'self-loaders' and handguns

I'm not so sure...after Heller, I think that a UK-style ban is DOA. A CA-style ban is possible, but I suspect that getting it passed would prove harder than people think...and would be challenged in Federal court. Pick the right court, and you can take it out pretty easily.

Import bans are the most likely, I suspect.

I'm still mulling the situation over. Certainly you can never go far wrong buying magazines and ammunition.

[Battleriflefan]

I saw the CDNN advertisement in Shotgun News, I think, but I actually saw one that had been ordered from CDNN come into the local gunstore. I can't remember oth magazines, but it had an adapter for BAR magazines. At the time, CDNN also had 308 kits in stock, but I have no idea now. Anyway, I also have doubts that the new MSR will be the quality of the old. It might be cost effective to buy new calibers from Bushy, unless they become assholes and just change the rifle up enough where nothing will fit, for the heck of it. Anyway, the concept was good, the Cobb was always too expensive anyway. The multicaliber kits were almost as expensive as buying another rifle.

Anyway, I didn't mention, but the UN has been trying to get the US to sign a "weapons proliferation" treaty for years. As you might expect, such a treaty would ban imports or exports of to and from the United States, including hunting arms. A Senate Confirmation vote, and the thing is law. The NRA might challenge it but it's going to take years, and the next Supreme Court, might go the other way. I would read in detail, if you haven't, Justice Stevens and Breyer's disent on Heller! These guys aren't going to respect Heller! If it's abortion, gay marriage rights, environmental wackoeism, or affirmative action, "it's the law!", if it's the 2nd Amendment, forget it!

[Combat Controller]

AG, you have one of these rifles?

I see the website is "forbidden"...

My vote is for a M1a, a good all around accurate battle tested rifle.

[D5CAV]

You mean the Cobb MCR? I never knew such a critter existed, damn. Here's their website:

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/ga ... 0/2993.htm

Holy cow, they even show one in 6.5x55! I finally got me a Ljungman earlier this year, but I've said many times I'd love an AR in 6.5x55. So, they're history now?

ETA: Sorry, that's not their website, it's just showing what they have/had, I guess.

I wonder how many have ordered the Cobb 400 in .416 Rigby or .460 Taylor? This is in the category of 'if you have to ask what it costs, you can't afford it'. Filling a 20rd mag with .416 Rigby or .460 Taylor will cost about $200.

Given that the MCR 300 in .30-06 weighs 13.5 lbs, I'm guessing the Cobb 400 tips the scales at well over 15 lbs. FWIW, the MCR 300 weighs as much as my PKM, which is on the border of what I'm able to accurately shoot from the shoulder.