Buying my first .223

[Draklanar]

Admittedly, I am a complete and total lay person when it comes to firearms. My dad is a collector but I only have a personal defense pistol (Glock 21) and a 30-06 Deer Rifle. I want to buy a tech firearm .223 type of gun, because, I am a young guy and I want a cool military like firearm. What I would really like to do is buy a nice gun and upgrade the hell out of it. For shooting purposes. I would say it will be fired a max of about 200 yards. Used at my gun club (under 100 yards) and used at my house to control the groundhog/stray cat population. Price aside, what is the best .223 semi-auto money and just a citizen can buy. After that question is answered, what is the best .223 under $2,000.

On a side note I was thinking of going with a PSP90. (I play first person shooters and this has always been a favorite of mine) So let me know if that would be better/worse/same as what you fine people are reccomending.

Thanks in advance

[Guns4Fun]

That is a pretty simple question. Go with an ar-15 platform. You can set it up however you like and there are tons of aftermarket goodies for them.

As for what brand--in this order

Colt
Stag
RRA
Bushmaster
DPMS
OLY

Good luck finding one right now. The news of the new President has put people into a buying frenzy.

[adymond]

Stag Arms is a good AR also, but you could almost get 3 of them for $2K. Or one really tricked out and one just Plain Jane. Though I wouldn't suggest the .223 for varmant control unless you have a good bit of land.

[sjohn26]

I want to buy a tech firearm .223 type of gun, because, I am a young guy and I want a cool military like firearm.... Used at my gun club (under 100 yards) and used at my house to control the groundhog/stray cat population.

'Lest you be called a troll, I sugest a bit more maturity in your decision process........and, unless you live out in the sticks, your cat-control methods may be a bit questonable.

[Draklanar]

The closest house to me is almost a half mile out and I am on close to 40 acres. Sorry about the cat comment, I am a bird lover. I have feeders everywhere and it attracts lots of birds that I take pictures of and enjoy watching. It also tends to attract cats. I deal with them so they dont deal with the birds.

[mgs]

You can always drop in a .22RF conversion kit for the 40yd shots. My Colt conversion shoots tight groups at 50yds, Mike.

[nfafan]

JMHO,

The PS90s are really cool for Stargate airsofting, but I think you'll find ammo costs a tad up there for a real-steel PS90.
You could also consider a Kel-Tec .223, uses AR mags.

Anyway; as for stray-cat control; not to be judgmental either way, just as point of fact - the feral cat population has gone nuttzo in the USA anymore.

As others have implied, unless really long shots are required; .223 may be a bit much when a .17 or .22Mag could suffice.

And putting a feral down with a bolt or lever gun may not stir the evil connotation that an AR-waving cat-shooter will stir.

[Seventy4Blazer]

AR-15 as said above, OR a Mini-14 would be a lot of fun as well. i have one of each, and would have a very hard time deciding wich one i would let go. my guess is the mini-14 and ONLY because i dont have but 3 30 round mags for it... lol

[Legion_Prime]

or he could go for an AR with the PS90 Upper on it.

[Ozone]

Forget the upgrading, and buy a Sig 556!