Advise please: my 1st "Black Gun" (shotgun, rifle, 308)

[Montana Griz]

......as strange as it may seem, I'm in my 80th year (still huntin' & shootin') and I now want to get my self a "Black Gun".

I've done some research and kinda have narrowed it down to a: "LTM Standard Model Rifle" --SOPMOD Stock; 16 " , in 5.56.
This gun would be brand new from LTM..ordered for me.
I would be trading straight across a 1985 Whitworth Express (Manchester, England action) .375 H&H Magnum --(Custom Gun) (glass bedded, free floated barrel, synthetic stock, KDF Muzzel Brake, Leupold III 1 3/4to 5 in Warne rings and bases).

I have never had an AR 15 type rifle in my 60 years of hunting, shooting and handloading..........I just want one

Any comments, objective opinions and/or suggestions (scope type & brand etc) would be appreciated.

....Oh, possible uses:
Varmint hunting (coyotes, marmots, ground squirrels etc)........I do have a .22/250 w/ a 4 to 16 x 50 on it for serious long range varmint shooting.
Wild Pigs ( Texas & Arkansas)
Target shooting
And just as "A fun-gun".....(I live out in the boonies)

[outbacknv]

I'm not familiar with LTM. If you meant to say LMT (Lewis Machine & Tool) they make great rifles. I'm sure you'll be happy with your choice. The SOPMOD stock is nice. I believe it to be one of the better telescoping stocks available.

I'm uncertain whether LMT offers it as an option but I'd suggesting asking if you can have the rifle built with a Geissele trigger. They are far and away one of the nicest AR triggers I've tried. http://geissele.com/search.aspx?find=

As far as optics go I'd stick to the lower levels of magnification on a 16" carbine. There are a number of options available but my personal choices would likely be either of these;

Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5x20mm MR/T M2 WITH LaRue Tactical SPR Mount 67905 LT104-30 540-004-104

NightForce 1-4x24 NXS With LaRue Tactical LT104-30

Both scopes offer good field of vision, bright glass, and well thought out illuminated reticles. The LaRue mounts are among the best and offer easy removability with consistent return to zero upon remounting.

Hope this helps.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

I have never had an AR 15 type rifle in my 60 years of hunting, shooting and handloading..........I just want one

With AR10's more available I would skip the AR15 and go big boy with .308.
I did have more fun with my HK-91 thou.

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by outbacknv

I'm not familiar with LTM. If you meant to say LMT (Lewis Machine & Tool) they make great rifles. I'm sure you'll be happy with your choice. The SOPMOD stock is nice. I believe it to be one of the better telescoping stocks available.

I'm uncertain whether LMT offers it as an option but I'd suggesting asking if you can have the rifle built with a Geissele trigger. They are far and away one of the nicest AR triggers I've tried. Geissele Automatics - Quality Triggers for the Warfighter and Competitor - Search

As far as optics go I'd stick to the lower levels of magnification on a 16" carbine. There are a number of options available but my personal choices would likely be either of these;

Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5x20mm MR/T M2 WITH LaRue Tactical SPR Mount 67905 LT104-30 540-004-104

NightForce 1-4x24 NXS With LaRue Tactical LT104-30

Both scopes offer good field of vision, bright glass, and well thought out illuminated reticles. The LaRue mounts are among the best and offer easy removability with consistent return to zero upon remounting.

Hope this helps.

Yea, I typed a "typo"....meant: LMT

Thanks for your response.

[TexasRedneck]

I'd also suggest you look at some of LaRue's offerings.....gotta tell you that they're a customer - but more importantly, I've been through their facility, and they have some really outstanding work!

[outbacknv]

Originally Posted by TexasRedneck

I'd also suggest you look at some of LaRue's offerings.....gotta tell you that they're a customer - but more importantly, I've been through their facility, and they have some really outstanding work!

I'd agree with looking at LaRue. I recently took delivery of one of their OBRs and have nothing but good things to say about it so far.

[Pawdog]

Build your own and save a few bucks. I used a Double Star stripped lower, and bought a Del Ton A2 upper kit. Total cost was around $625.00, for a great shooting AR-15, but that was about five years ago. Uppers have increased $50-100.00, in price since then.

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

I've done some research and kinda have narrowed it down to a: "LTM Standard Model Rifle" --SOPMOD Stock; 16 " , in 5.56.

I can't say that I've heard of LTM, by chance do you mean LMT as in Leiws Machina & Tool? If so LMT makes a decent rifle...actually one of the few companies who builds their stuff in house. LMT also machine parts for Larue Tactical, Armalite, and Barrett.

[Mac_Muz]

MG, you must have some real itchy fingers to want to make a trade like that. Or a real sore shoulder. I know I would be hard pressed to make that same trade.

[ferretkona]

I was at the gun show yesterday and new stripped lowers were $125 to $175.
Years ago I bought my Armalite lower and bought a kit with a assembled upper, the kit was $350 out of the Shotgun News.