DJetAce said:
...And we all know the CAR is for losers.
Hey, be nice. In
my area, with
my geography and
my local game animals, the CAR-15 actually does make sense. (Mine's not the 10 or 11 inch "shorty", btw.)
Central Arkansas, never a shot past 200 yards, almost never a shot past 100; and I'm talking about deer hunting, not just defense. Our deer are of a size that I've never
not been able to either just pick it up or at worst, drag it by the forelegs, up onto the trailer or truckbed. So the 5.56 is plenty for them if need be. I confess to not using the CAR for deer yet; I've been talking here recently about starting this year. But I hunt with a couple guys who still use .32-20 lever guns, and they're less than half as powerful than the .223; so there's no doubt in my mind that the .223 is sufficient for the task.
(Yes, I do have the "can" and .22 kit, but those are tools, not panaceas.)
Also, being a deputy sheriff, the CAR makes a great patrol carbine; small enough to ride up front with me at night.
The only defensive needs I have are short- to medium-range anti-personnel, and the CAR (with decent softpoint ammo) is plenty for that, and feral dog packs, and the .223 is plenty for dogs as well.
I'll openly concede that the CAR isn't the "only thing anyone needs", as some do. If you're in open country (Wyoming, etc), arctic or semi-arctic country (Canada, Alaska, etc), big-game country, (you get the point...), you will vrey likely need something "more" or even just "different". But here, you just don't shoot very far, or at anything very big.
I do own other calibers, including bolt-action .308's; and likewise concede that they can unquestionably do things the CAR can't. If I were hunting in open country, my 10FP with the Leupold is what I'd use. But in close-in brush country, it's as poor a choice as the CAR would be for Wyoming elk hunting.
But for defensive use (and post-shtf game-getting, if need be), in 'my' location and situation, the CAR is plenty to keep me alive if need be.
If there's some missing link in my logic, I'm always happy to learn from others; I've never claimed to be omniscient.
(Well,
rarely claimed it, anyway...

)