Go with the detector. Sure you will get
more use out of it.
Still using detectors after 28 years; pistols and
rifles are sitting around waiting to be cleaned
again, and except for a few trips on the range,
have not gotten much use out of them the last
few years. Have enough around the house for
any situations.
Can you ever have enought equipment in
the big search for the past.
if youve got some land available that you can shoot on get the rifle. if you have to pay to shoot atthe range it will get expensive. in that case get a detector.
Here's my detecting buddy selection. The single-shot rifle is a .223 REM on a T/C Contender frame with a 21" barrel and a 4X Weaver scope. 34-1/2" overall. Smaller than my .22LR rifles but able to whack coyotes out to 300 yards. The Colt .45 ACP is a 3-3/4" bbl Officer's Model with Ed Brown recoil buffer, Gold Cup trigger, throat and spring job. The Pachmayr clips still hold 7 round each. The S&W is a 1950's K-frame M-14 DA .38 Special I used to shoot PPC with. It will put six shots in 1-1/2" at 25 yards from a rest. Or six shots in a FBI Silhouette 10 ring from 60 yards offhand timed fire. I paid $125 for that used as the dealer said no one wanted a .38 Spl. I did. That's taken dozens and dozens of bunnies with head shots using mid-range wadcutters. Sweet little pistol.
All for much less than an AR-15 (in fact, all three about equal one AR-15), plus they burn less ammo and can be carried easily while detecting. The .45 rides in a shoulder rig or ITP (inside the pants) belt rig . . . but not in the tot lots or town parks.
I've owned an AR-15, Norinko AKM, Ruger Mini-14. After a while spraying and praying gives way to the realization that one good shot is better than 20 or 30 sloppy ones.
Buy the AR-15 and enjoy your toy. When Troy comes out with his new X-7 sell it and buy the X-7. That way you will always have a new toy in your arsenal.
If you buy the AR-15, people will just give you their jewelry and money. Your yield will go way up. You won't have to dig anymore either. Well maybe to get out of jail but that's digging for a different reason.
An armed and hungry man found raiding the cornfield of an armed and organized farmer will supply the makings of the next scarecrow and a little extra protein for the chickens.