Battle Rifle decision

[squirrel sniper]

I've been looking around for a good semi-auto rifle in .30 cal. Im looking in the sub $500 range. It will be used at 100 yards, it needs to be able to shoot 4MOA or less. I would like to eventually mount a scope on it, so readily availible scope mounts would be nice, but if I cant get a mount i can make something. I dont want an SKS. I already have an AK, i dont need another 7.62x39.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Im looking in the sub $500 range.

that pretty much leaves the Saiga

 

[JWarren]

Of the choices you listed, I'll add my take:

Disclaimer: I voted Saiga 308. Its really the only one that meets your criteria-- especially cost.


Saiga .308

Meets your requirements. I just sold my converted Saiga 308 in order to put it towards another project.



CETME

Hit or miss. I know people that have good ones, and I know people who got Century Drunken Monkey Specials. I'd want to see and inspect the rifle prior to buying it.

Garand

MOST people love them. The rest LIKE them. There is a lot to love about them, but I would choose something else to fit MY preferences.

On the plus side, you have a solid reliable rifle that shoots a hard-hitting and (at this time) cheap bullet.

On the negative side, I don't care for 8 round capacity as my only option. Nor do I care for the clips.

And I don't think there is much in the way of options on mounting optics on it if you ever chose to. And if you modified it for optics (drill and tap), an angry horde of Garand Lovers will haunt you till the day you die.


M1 Carbine

I'd want something a tad more powerful than 30 carbine for 100 yards. But that is just me-- overkill is my friend.

You run the same issues as Garands on mounting scopes-- including the hordes of angry collectors if you drill and tap.



Good luck!


-- John

 

[.45Guy]

If the Garand is listed, I'm going to throw out the Remington 81 in .300 Savage. I'm new to the whole 8/81 world, but for all intents and perposes it's as efficient as the Garand, and cheaper too.
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8367519

 

[Bearhands]

Whom or what are you battling?

 

[squirrel sniper]

pumkins, watermelons, when i get tracers i shoot balloons full of propane or butane containers, and the occasional paper target or steel plate at the range

 

[stubbicatt]

The Saiga is the only offering in your price range.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

With your parameters set, I would go with the Saiga.

 

[Matt-J2]

You can get a Garand or a Carbine from CMP for under $500, if you can live with rack grade.
Currently, Garands in rack grade are $445, field grade are $495. Plus shipping of course, but that's shipped to your front door.
Carbines are at $419 and $479 for rack grade, based on manufacturer. They go quick, but IIRC they're supposed to be getting some more later this year. They had some field grades for $495, but they appear to be gone now.


Beware the pumpkins, they're in league with the cranberries, who are the ninja fruit!

 

[Guitargod1985]

Honestly, for 100 yards, I'd go with the M1 carbine. All of the other guns listed use cartridges far too powerful and costly to be used solely for 100 yard plinking/target shooting. OTOH, I've very rarely been able to shoot at a range with more than 100 yards, but that doesn't stop me from wanting an M-1, FAL, and M82. LOL

 

[geekWithA.45]

PTR-91's probably the best value going these days for a sub $1k military pattern .308 autoloader, worth looking into.

 

[Eightball]

If you *must* have a scope, buy the Saiga--it's cheap enough that you'll have money left for a scope. CETME would be easier to mount on, though.

But the M1 Carbine is perfect for your needs---exception being that scope thing. I absolutely love mine, and hope to never part with it. Learn to shoot irons, learn to love it--it's easy to do. But if you're going to scope the thing, shoot it until that point comes, and I WILL BUY your Carbine (if it's a USGI and not some aftermarket jobbie) for $500 before you drill or otherwise alter it.

But, if you already have an AK--if you like the mechanism, get the saiga. If not, get the CETME, they're easier to scope. If you don't want the scope, then the M1 Carbine's perfect.

 

[H2O MAN]

Quote:
Im looking in the sub $500 range.

that pretty much leaves the Saiga

Yep, get a 16" Saiga.

 

[1200 meters]

If your only talking a hundred meters you dont need a scope. M-1 carbine is great. Mini 14 ruger any 30-30 lever will do the trick.Blitz

 

[Firepower!]

Hk G3!

However, you will have to spend more than 500$ Rest you listed, I am not truly fond of so cant give you advice.

 

[JWarren]

Guys...

A couple comments. Please take them in the spirit which they are offered.


I see the poll up top and see that 18% are for the Garand and almost 14% are for the M1 Carbine.

Are those REALLY the best choices given the OP's criteria? I am concerned that when we see these polls, we just click on the rifle WE like, and not what meets the parameters set by the poster.

He said he wants to put a scope on it. How many of you would go NUTS to see a Garand or M1 Carbine drilled and tapped for optics? We are setting it up for one of those to happen potentially.

Instead of telling him to get our favorite and then saying "you don't need a scope," why not find what DOES fit his choices and not OUR choices.

I used optics on practically every rifle I have. I grew up with Irons. I've done my time. But there are very valid reasons why you may want a scope on a rifle at ranges that iron sights are capable of hitting.

While I don't know if the OP hunts, around here EVERY deer rifle has optics on it. Light gathering and target identification are the big advantages.

I can tell you from 28 years of experience hunting in thick woods-- optics help. With QUALITY glass, you can squeeze out another 10-15 minutes of time on the stand over what you can with cheap optics-- and more than you can from the naked eye. If you are trying to get your shot, those 10 minutes DO make a difference to a hunt.

Having optics makes it easier to have details about your target. I know of one hunter in this last season who killed an illegal deer because he thought it was a 6 point instead of a spike. The light was bad on the deer, and he got background into his "horns." No, it was not me-- but he was sick about the shot.

And on a similar note...

I just put a nice Nikon Monarch on my Mother's Remington 700. My father is still in DIRE needs of a better scope. I have been trying to teach him about the value of quality optics. I think he now gets it.

My Dad drops my mother off on her stand and then goes to his. Late in the last season, he went to get her the hunt after I put on the Nikon Monarch. Dad came down when he determined that he could not see anymore. When he got to my Mother's stand she was upset that he came too early. She said that she could see fine through her scope. And yet, Dad could not.




Moving on.


The OP said he was looking for something south of $500. I don't know if any of these will fit the cost parameter:

Garand
M1 Carbine
G3
CETME (Are those sub $500 anymore?)
PTR-91


The Saiga 308 is the only one that will fit the OP's criteria.


I'm just concerned that we are not giving advise based upon the criteria.

While I don't mine people making comments about the criteria, I would not dissuade him from something like optics simply because it doesn't fit our favorite rifle well. I'd much rather see him get a rifle that fits his criteria and makes HIM happy rather than tell him "Oh, you don't need that."

I routinely see thread on here about Gunshop owners who do this to customers. Let's not do the same thing.



-- John

 

[squirrel sniper]

thanks for the advice. The reason i threw in the saiga was that i already have two AKs and I have a dust cover with a scope mounted that i though i could use. I've been looking at a garand from the CMP.If I did get a garand, i wouldnt try and put optics on it. Im luky that even though my eyes arnt that great im still a pretty good shot, so i wont have to commit sacrelage on a good gun.
To those of you who have or have used the garands from CMP, how good are the rack grade guns? If I get one, will I have to fix it as soon as i get it? What kind of accuracy do you get with surplus ammo? Any info would be great.

 

[JWarren]

Squirrel Sniper,

The reason i threw in the saiga was that i already have two AKs and I have a dust cover with a scope mounted that i though i could use.

No offense man, but using a dust cover scope mount isn't a great choice. It won't hold a zero at all. I have (had) two of them. I'd mount a flashlight on one, but nothing that I'd expect to guide my bullet.


-- John

 

[squirrel sniper]

Its good enough for my AK. I dont expect greatness, but its a WASR, so the sights are canted and i cant get the pins out without drilling them, and its not worth the time to fix it.

 

[JWarren]

I hear ya.

-- John

 

[PAPACHUCK]

Another vote for the Saiga .308, but in the 21" barrel version. No other choice listed is under $500, especially scoped. The Saiga has the side mount rail, much better than the dust cover mount. Yes, a Garand is a great rifle, but it is heavy and scoping it just wouldn't be right. The Cetme is a gamble and the .30 Carbine is too underpowered.

Get a Saiga or save up more $ for a FAL.

 

[1200 meters]

Well, to give a suggestion on a less than $500 .30cal battle rifle for 100 meter shots, then a SKS is not a bad choice. 7.62=.30 cal. and will most certianly smack a 100 meters. Plus there are many add ons to sporterize it that aren't expensive and a TASCO world class with mil dot shoots very well and costs less than 100$. Blitz

 

[goon]

Of your choices I'd go either with the Garand or the Saiga.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

He said he wants to put a scope on it. How many of you would go NUTS to see a Garand or M1 Carbine drilled and tapped for optics?

The Amega Ranges scout rail set up seems to be a very solid mounting that would work for the Garand. It's the co$t of the mount that's kept me away. Personally, the only un-forgivable mod to an M-1 Garand is one that removes the original iron sights from the weapon althogether. I don't care if the weapon is painted hot pink (watch my girls remind me of this one day).

That said, JWarren's commentary is timely.

 

[kBob]

I voted for the M-1 Carbine.

You might be able to sqeek in under $500.
You then have a piece of US history that will likely not go down in price if you do not bugger it up.

Shootit for a year with the irons and save up some cash. If the rear sight is not too heavily staked in, there are scope bases that replace the rear sight that were very popular in the late 1960's and still available.

An even less damging to the carbine scope option is one of the rail type scout mounts that replaces the upper handgaurd and a Long Eye Relief Scope.

Low recoil, fast shooting, fun little gun.....with history and resale value.

Baring that as has been stated though I have zip experience with them it sounds like the Saiga is your cheapest choice and if you already have the AKs anyway..... Hey! Whats wrong with your AKs? They shoot a cartridge more powerful than the .30 Carbine you can always find accessories and you already have a scope and mount. Huh?

-Bob Hollingsworth