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About to make first rifle purchase, All input and advice is welcome!

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mastershake4071

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Greetings gentlemen, I am getting ready to turn 18 come mid August. And I am in the market for my first gun. NOTE this is not my “first” gun, just the first gun that I have paid for with my own money. My father and I share co-ownership of several handguns and Rifles and I have put thousands of rounds through them, so I am defiantly able to handle something more advanced than your standard .22 bolt action that is a common first gun. I am looking at the AK variety of rifles, but I am leaning towards the AK74 which fires the .223 my reasoning for this is because it is a cheaper round than the 47’s .308 and I have to buy the ammo. On the other hand, In a SHTF situation I would feel better with the .308 round. This rifle will not be used for hunting. Just target shooting at our personal range so I can shoot more than just paper with it. (cans and fruits) But is it really enough to justify buying the 47 over the 74? The only thing keeping me from just buying the 47 is the cost of the ammo. What are your thoughts on this and what do you recommend?
 
If you're leaning heavily toward a .223, why not an AR or Mini-14? At least they are made in the U.S.

For SHTF scenarios, a .223 with HP or soft point ammo can be very effective. The military experiences with poor performance is because of their restriction to FMJ ammo.
 
I can't afford a black rifle, and i have no interest in a Mini-14. besides if i get a black rifle i would be to inclined to make it "tacticool"



Also, Will i be able to put an aimpoint on the AK with out any gun-smithing? can i just use a rail or something?
 
What's your budget?

How about something in 6.8mm SPC from Bushmaster.

6.8mm SPC from Bushmaster

If budget allows, how about the Barrett REC7 in 6.8mm SPC. It's a gas piston version and with the 6.8mm round you'd have an awesome rifle that would probably be cheaper to shoot than .308 and would have a lot less recoil.

REC7

OK ... I just read your last post ... sorry!



:)
 
but I am leaning towards the AK74 which fires the .223 my reasoning for this is because it is a cheaper round than the 47’s .308
Click to expand...

You're a little confused.

The AK74 uses 5.45x39 ammo. Fairly cheap, similar to NATO 5.56 that our US forces use. Russian manufacture. Seems to cost about $175/1000. Note that 223/5.56 ammo is more expensive right now than AK-47 ammo.

The AK-47 uses 7.62x39. Runs about $200/1000 currently. Understand this is NOT the same as '308', which is 7.62x51. That stuff is uber expensive at about 55 cents a round, and typical AK's are not chambered for it (except for the 308 Saiga).

So my suggestion? Either get an AK for ~$350 or find a sporter Saiga for ~$300 and convert it to a regular 'AK' platform later on. You're just wanting something semi-powerful for plinking, can't go wrong with an AK.
 
You're a little confused.

The AK74 uses 5.45x39 ammo. Fairly cheap, similar to NATO 5.56 that our US forces use. Russian manufacture. Seems to cost about $175/1000. Note that 223/5.56 ammo is more expensive right now than AK-47 ammo.

The AK-47 uses 7.62x39. Runs about $200/1000 currently. Understand this is NOT the same as '308', which is 7.62x51. That stuff is uber expensive at about 55 cents a round, and typical AK's are not chambered for it (except for the 308 Saiga).



pardon my ignorance.
 
There are some AK 47 semi's from Norinco that were chambered for the 5.56 Nato round, a bud of mine has one. So if you do some searching you just might dig one up. According to my friend there were not a lot made so the pricing may be more than the 7.62X39, plus I don't know if there are currently being produced.
 
My first rifle/carbine as an AR-15. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it costs so much money to load up all those magazines I've got or am getting.
 
Mastershake;

What's your intended use for the gun? It's perfectly fine to want a mil-spec semi, but if the use is range work then when simply expending ammo gets old, accuracy comes into play. Not all semi-platforms deliver what most folks consider to be acceptable accuracy. Something to consider in your coming purchase.

900F
 
I would go with something akin to an AK-103. That's an AK-47 with a polymer stock. Of course, you could always go with an AK in .223 caliber too. They make them.

http://www.gilbertsguns.com/Rifles/Saiga/Saiga+223+16+3+Rifle

http://www.ak-47.net/ak47/84-s.html

http://personalsecurityzone.com/cgi.../PSZ/?Template=ProdDetail.htm&ProductID=32657

http://personalsecurityzone.com/cgi.../PSZ/?Template=ProdDetail.htm&ProductID=32657

The sites I have listed for you explain a lot about the AK family of rifles. I tend to think that you might be looking at a SAR-3 rifle for what you want. Keep in mind that many AK type rifles suffer from trigger slap or trigger rebound. Trigger slap is when the trigger bounces back hard after firing a shot to numb your trigger finger. This is a very minor problem that can be solved by either having the trigger replaced or having it honed a bit by a competent gunsmith.

http://personalsecurityzone.com/cgi.../PSZ/?Template=ProdDetail.htm&ProductID=32657

The people at Red Star Arms can help you make your AK into a tactical version later on after you've had it for awhile. Check out their products, especially trigger replacement groups, just in case your AK does develop trigger slap.
 
and don't laugh, but i thought .233 was interchangable with 5.56 and .308 with 7.62x51
Click to expand...

There are some guns that can fire both 5.56 NATO and .223, and there are some that can fire both 7.62 NATO and .308.

The AK rounds of 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 are completely different animals.
 
or find a sporter Saiga for ~$300 and convert it to a regular 'AK' platform later on.
Click to expand...
Or get a Saiga and don't convert it and you will possess one of the cheapest, finest, true bargain firearms on the planet.

:)
 
+1 for a completely unmodified Saiga, standard or skeletonized stock, in your choice of .223 or 7.62x39 for $300-350. If you must have high cap for when the Canadians invade, and it's legal where you live, get an aftermarket high cap magazine or two, though they are pricey.

Another option would be an excellent condition Yugo SKS, with an ammo carrier and a bunch of 10-round stripper clips for less than the Saiga. It's got historical interest, comes with a bayonet and grenade launcher/flash hider where legal, and you could get all that and a few hundred rounds of ammo for the same price as the Saiga.

Yet another option, get yourself TWO (2) Mosin Nagants, say a long M91 and a short M44, both with bayonets and accessories, and several hundred rounds of ammo for the price of the Saiga.

For all, especially the Mosins, get some hearing protection. There's a reason all those Soviet vets are deaf as a post.

Let us know what you decide!

Cheers,

Matthew
 
Thank you all for the advice. It has defiantly changed my views on what to get, and to respond to the last post I already have a M44 that we picked up for $90 bucks and yes it is quite a boomer, I need some new ammo for it and i have been looking at and from what i have gathered it is a great deal, i would appreciate it if you could take a look at it and if you know of a better deal to kindly point me in that direction.



http://www.jgsales.com/product_info...se,-440-rd-tins-/cPath/12_42/products_id/1789
 
Alright man, you might want to let us know what your budget is so we can give you a better suggestion on what to get.

If you are going on the cheap, a quick look at Buds Gun Shop will give you a good idea on what to expect at a gun show or local dealer....

You can get a Saiga for just over $300

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_787/products_id/411535277

keep in mind neither the 5.56 or the 7.62 will take standard AK magazines, they would require a pretty extensive motification that you probably don't want to do unless you have a fair amount of experience in the machine shop.

Check out http://forum.saiga-12.com/ for all the info in the world on Saigas

You could get a WASR-10 in either caliber and it would probably be around $400 or so

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_787/products_id/55187

If you are leaning more toward 5.56 and AR-15 magazines (since the 5.56 AK magazines can be somewhat hard to find) than you could spend just over $450-550 and just get the Kel-Tec SU-16 which could be quite usefull as a go-getter/SHTF weapon.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/151/products_id/15232

My real advice to you would be not to ask others what you should get but rather research yourself, find the pros and cons, and make your own educated decision. There is nothing worse than bieng a sheeple and doing things just cause others say soo. Good Luck.
 
Personally, I'd go with a run-of-the-mill AK47. It was my first rifle. While others soon followed, I never regretted buying a rifle so simple and so forgiving of a noob. Ammo is cheap and parts are cheap and plentiful. What more could you want?
 
Domino i looked at the AK you showed me. could i put a wood furniture on it so it would look like this?

what about attaching optics to it via a rail?

ak47sling2.jpg
 
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