best 30-06 semi-autos?

[cpileri]

I was thinking of buying Skunkabilly's SLB 2000, then I thought: are there other decent semi-auto 30-06's, esp with 10+rd magazines?

Well, are there?

What are the 5 or 6 top choices? Price doesn't matter at this stage of list generation.

A semi-auto BAR sounds nice!

A chart like this one (below) ought to answer the question:
Which rifle? Price? reliability? ease of use? ease of repair? magazine capacity?

thanks all!
C-

 

[eatatjoes]

the FN49 is a very nice rifle. 10 round capacity

-i'm not too sure about price. i checked gunbroker and they seem to be priced around 800-1000$.
-very reliable. my father has shot several thousand rounds through his and the only failures he experienced were from crappy ammo. a plus is the adjustable gas system.
-if you can figure out how to fire and load an SKS you'll be fine.
-i've never had to fix one before but it is fairly simple to field strip for cleaning.
-10 rounds. but a 20 round removeable magazine is avaliable for those chambered in .308 and offered by SOG.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I believe it's called a BM 59 and it's an Italian Garand that uses a 20 rd detactable magazine.

 

[eatatjoes]

i was thinking of this:

FN 1949 semi-auto contract rifle. Used by the Argentine Navy, this is a very rare model. Although the Belgium Fabrique Nationale Modele 49 was offered in many calibers and used in many European and South American countries and Egypt, this is the only version in .308 caliber with a Detachable 20Rd magazine. These rifles are very rare and have never been offered for sale anywhere before now. A small quantity was manufactured and we have been after them for 20 years... finally got 'em! These rifle were issued but haven't been hurt... a real collectors' investment rifle. Each rifle comes with one 20Rd magazine and a bayonet with scabbard, We are offering these for sale while they last for...

http://www.southernohiogun.com/

 

[foghornl]

Best semi-auto .30-06 I can think of, except only holds 8 rounds...

US Rifle Cal .30 M1...Popularly known as "The Garand"

 

[cpileri]

30-06

An SKS in 30-06 would be ideal! Easy to strip, operate, and clean. I never heard of one though.

I like the self-adjusting gas regulator on the Garand. Makes it simple to use whatecer ammo without worry.

Too bad those fn 49's are not C&R!

So far, the 30-06's on the list are:
1. M1 Garand: $600-1000+, 4+ reliability,
good: easy to use w/ self-regulating gas device,
good lots of parts,
bad 'garand thumb',
bad 'ping' as it ejects clips,
need to keep striaght what to grease and what to leave dry,
8 rd capacity.

2. SLB 2000: $800-1000+, too new tocomment on reliability (anyone?)
good: magazine fed,
bad: limited parts (again since its so new)
10-rd factory mags

3.??

So far so good! Anyone own a 7400?
C-

 

[BerettaNut92]

What I like about the SLB is that it's accurate and reliable in typical boring HK fashion. It was sighted in at the factory and was good to go out of the box. I had to fiddle with my M1A forever just to get it sighted in. I wish the manual told me what screws I had to tighten down to keep all the pieces from slipping off instead of saying my M1A doesn't require anything other than cleaning the action, barrel and occassional cleaning of the gas piston to run. Manuals lie. (either that or I can't read)

Downside of the SLB like I said it's a pain to disassemble. Thankfully the manual has pictures.

 

[Kestrel]

What is the older HK .30-06 semi auto hunting rifle they made several years ago? Are they reliable? Do they break? I saw one at a shop and started thinking...

Steve

 

[BerettaNut92]

Haven't had it around long enough for it to break. Only 'issue' is that it stopped going into battery when I didn't tighten some of the screws hard enough; I have a gentle touch and don't like to force things

 

[Matt G]

I'm seeing mostly military rifles, here. What about commercial rifles, the Remington 7400, offered in '06 both as a carbine (18 1/2" bbl) or as a rifle (22" bbl), and with wood or synthetic furniture? Someone was telling me that someone's offering a 10 rd magazine for it, too. Looks benign, but has some rather impressive ability.

How about also the Browning BAR commercial hunting rifle?

 

[cpileri]

yeah

I was wondering the exact same things about the same rifles (7400 and BAR)!! But I dont know anyone who owns one.

Any others out there?

What about the older remingtons? was it the 740? I dunno.

How about the sem-auto 1919's? Probably no parts as they are cusom jobs?
C-

 

[Bill Hook]

-i'm not too sure about price. i checked gunbroker and they seem to be priced around 800-1000$.

You can still find them for around $600, sometimes less. It'd have to be pretty minty or a rare variant (like Belgian Congo) to warrant $1000.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I was looking at the 7400s and BARs as well but couldn't find 10 round mags which were a requirement.

 

[ChairborneRanger]

Browning quality has really deteriorated over the last 5-10 years----I'd stay away from the BAR.

 

[AZ Jeff]

cpileri wrote:

So far, the 30-06's on the list are:
1. M1 Garand: $600-1000+, 4+ reliability,
good: easy to use w/ self-regulating gas device,
good lots of parts,
bad 'garand thumb',
bad 'ping' as it ejects clips,
need to keep striaght what to grease and what to leave dry,
8 rd capacity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your list of issues with the M1 makes it sound like it's a finicky rifle. If that were true, then we should all be speaking German now.

That said, I must respond to some of your "observations" above, and I am coming from the perspective of owning several Garands, and shoot them in all sorts of competitions.

1. "M1 thumb" is a non-issue for those who practice the technique even slightly. Only the truly inept will regularly get themselves mashed in the action of that rifle. The rifle is NOT the vicious thumb eater that some claim, unless you are totally a klutz.

2. The "ping" issue is TOTALLY a non-issue, unless you are a mall-ninja. WHO or WHAT that you will shoot at will hear the "ping" of the clip ejecting? Get out of fantasyland, and realize that the "ping" has no meaning to a civilian shooter. Lastly, even those who carried the Garand in harms way will tell you that the "ping" is NOT the issue that so many claim it is/was. The stories of the "ping" being the demise of many users of the M1 is URBAN LEGEND.

3. How is the need to employ grease on a few areas such a mental challenge to the user? If a bazillion draftees inducted from 1939 to about 1970 could master applying grease to keep the M1 running, I figure about anyone can. In fact, I use very little oil on my M1's at all-it's almost exclusively grease. Just remember, when cleaning and lubing the M1, reach for the tube of grease instead of oil, and it's much simpler.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Speaking of the Ping, is there something like a small bell that can be put in AR-15s or a Beretta that make them ping? The ping is just way

 

[meathammer]

I think Saiga makes an AK clone in .30-06. Don't know much about their reliability, accuracy, etc. though. Looks like it only has 4 round capacity though.

http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/saiga/rifles/saiga100t.shtml

 

[Kevlarman]

I agree with Az Jeff; M1 thumb is a non-issue. M1 finger, on the other hand:

Make darn sure that bolt is locked all the way back, not merely resting on the follower! It happened once, and I'll be damned if it's going to happen again!

 

[BerettaNut92]

Kevlarman, that isn't as bad as Karambit wrists :banghead:

 

[cpileri]

hmmm

I guess its no worse than Hakim Hand!

Gee whizz AZ Jeff, take it easy. They're just observations. When trying to choose between quality rifles, you begin to pick nits.

I found the EAA sight with the Saiga 100 in 30-06, and some infor around; but no one who is selling them. Course, that 4-rd mag would have to go...

I would say 10-rds is the minimum mag capacity, although I am soon leaving the PRM and will then be able to have higher capacity feeding devices. But certainly no less than 8 (i.e. garand).

The 'older' rem was the 742, and one random guy on the net says he liked his.

Still seeking...
C-

 

[Johnny Guest]

Remington Autoloading rifles

Discounting the old, long recoil rifles, mainly because they were chambered for now-obsolete cartridges - - -

I believe the chronology of the Remingtons for modern cartridges goes - -

740 - - 1950s
742 - - I bought one in about 1972
7400 - - Current

I'm sorry - - I cannot describe the mechanical differences in these models. I believe they are/were all offered in .243 or 6 mm Rem (if not both,) .270, .280, .308, and .30-06. I probably missed missed a caliber or two.

Standard factory magazine capacity is four. I had a seven- or eight-round magazine, called a Collyer Clip. A similar product has been offered by at least one other company.

Neither the Remington, the Browning (sporting) autoloader, nor the H&K 770 were intended to stand up to the abuses of military-style employment. This is not to say they are delicate instruments - - Must that they were never intended to hold up to hundreds of rounds at a stint. The factory sights are not very well protected. The rifles are not constructed for field stripping without tools under field conditions.

The semi-auto only version of the fabulous 1918 B.A.R. is offered from time to time. This was originally a squad automatic weapon and weighs around 20 pounds in field trim. Wonderful weapon, served well from late 1918 all the way into the Vietnam conflict. I've seen photos of some still in use in the Philippine Islands. But it is a bit heavy and unwieldy for single-person operation, and, when they can be located, they are pretty expensive for what you get. They are approximately as "practical" as a semi-auto Thompson Gun is, used as a pistol caliber carbine. There are better choices for everyday use, and they are sold more for nostalgia's sake than for field work.

Much as I love the '06 cartridge, I think I'd choose a .308 for harsh field use. If I DID want to keep with the '06, I'd choose an M1 Garand, or possible a synthetic stocked Rem 7400.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Sarge111]

'06 autos...

I've owned all the 74-series Remingtons in '06 at various times, excepting the 74 itself. They are all downright miserable to tear down to the bolt. The 740s/742s were somewhat troublesome, and parts are getting a little difficult to come by. The extractors were puny and they developed bolt chatter after awhile, which eventually compromised reliability. The 7400 is a much better rifle, and they corrected most all of the problems with the earlier guns; re-designed the bolt lugs, modified the extractor and/or it's recess, etc. We have a used 7400 (nice wood & blue) I picked up for $350 a couple of years ago. It has digested several hundred rounds of IMR reloads without so much as a hiccup, and with good ammo and glass it crowds a minute of angle pretty hard.

I'm thinking it was CDNN Investments who had 10-round mags for this gun, but I have no experience with them. I believe they have been manufactured by a couple of outfits over the years, both in opaque plastic and metal. Seems like "Eagle" was who made the plastic ones.

The 7400 is close to perfect with Williams apertures on it. If you are considering the synthetic-stocked version, go to a gunshop/sporting goods counter and "try one on" first. My younger son and I looked at these pretty hard for awhile, but the comb of the stock was so darn hign that we could barely get our heads down low enough to see the sights. Try one first, anyhow.

Most of the BARs I have shot over the years were in magnum calibers, and they were very good rifles. Haven't messed with new production.

AZ Jeff covered the old Garand pretty well.

The FN49 is a cool old military rifle, but can be a bit delicate. I understand this was one of the factors that led to its demise as a military offering. The other was the fact that it was a precision instrument that cost. I've shot a few in 8mm and theyweren't bad rifles, but weren't as accurate or nearly as rugged as the Garand in my opinion.

 

[Swampy]

RE the M1....

AZ Jeff is right on @ 100%.....

Re "M1 thumb" specifically..... I tend to believe that most cases of "M1 thumb" happen to guys who pick up the rifle and start yanking on things without asking the proper method or listening when told. Occasionally you'll hear of some "experienced" M1 shooter getting careless and shedding blood in the M1's chamber... The operative word there was "careless". Holds true for virtually any mechanical device.

We have a local CMP club where most of us shoot Garands every month in short course matches. We get newbies in here all the time, loan them an M1 and let them shoot a 50 round match. We set them down on the line and give them a 5 minute familiarization with the rifle and turn them loose. Showing them how to properly operate the action and load it goes a long way to keeping their digits un-bloodied. Once a person is taught properly, and they keep shooting an M1, the correct operation becomes second nature....

I have yet to hear of one of our newbies getting bit.....

At one time 3 + years ago I wuz one of those newbies to our club..... The club members showed me the right way to handle the beast and to this day, several Garand deliveries by BWT and quite a few thousands of rounds out the tube later, (knock on wood) I've never been bitten.

Best to all,
Swampy

Garands forever.... gotta' love 'em

 

[Beetle Bailey]

eatatjoes,

i was thinking of this:

sorry for the confusion, I wasn't referring to your post. I said "I believe it's called a BM 59" because I couldn't remember for sure what the Italian Garand was called, not because I was trying to correct you regarding the FN 49. I think www.empirearms.com has one for sale, but right now the website is closed, so I can't check.

 

[cpileri]

7400

Case for the 7400 or garand gets stronger...

I figured the semi BAR's and 1919-types prohibitively expensive, but thought I'd includ ethem in my brainstorming.

C-