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best semi-auto for under $400

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chute2thrill

chute2thrill

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i'm in the market for new semi-auto for under $400... it will be an ammo waster so i need one in a cheap to shoot caliber.. i've narrowed that down to 223 or 7.62 or .30 carbine... from what i've heard the saiga seems to be the glock of rifles... so its at the top of my list... i was wondering if i have other options though... maybe from a U.S. manufacturer... any input would be great. thanks...

also... i don't want a rimfire .22
 
Same thing - SKS and Saiga are about the only choices in your price range that you can actually shoot somewhat reasonably.
 
9mm carbine

You could try a 9mm carbine, like a Hi Point, Kel Tec, or Beretta (too pricey!)

995carb.jpg


9mm ammo is cheaper than 7.62x39.
 
it looks like i'll probably go with the saiga since they seem to be made better than the wasr or sks... i'll fess up... i'll probably be bump firing the hell out of this gun... it'll be my pure fun gun.. now i just have to decide on a caliber
 
Made better than an SKS? I have a difficult time wrapping my mind around that one. The SKS is one of the best-built firearms I have yet seen.
 
honestly i have zero experiance with an AK, sks, or saiga platforms... thats why i'm tryin to get some info...i'm just going by what i've read
 
it looks like i'll probably go with the saiga since they seem to be made better than the wasr or sks...
Click to expand...
ROTFLMFAO!!!!
No. No. No. No. No. You've drastically misunderstood something along the way.
SKSs are extremely wall made guns. The fit and finish wouldn't lead one to believe that, but they are tanks. Durability and reliability are the best qualitues of the SKS.
 
I took my Saiga 7.62x39 to the range for the first time today. Zero malfs. Shoots great. Eats up the cheap Wolf ammo!! I've seen 7.62 rifles from $275 to $350 depending on stock options. It won't replace the M1a or the XCR but I'm really happy to have one.
 
Welcome to the world of the Russian SKS-45.

  • Cheap can be had sub $400.00 in this condition.
  • Minute of torso out to 300yds.
  • Cheep Ammo ~$4.25 a box.
  • Probably the most reliable center-fire semi-auto on the planet.
  • Has a bad ass bayonet.
  • It's Ca legal.
  • Has collectors value so it's probably going to be worth more than $800.00 in five years, if it's still even legal. Remember no new ones are being made.
  • Just plane fun.



Made better than an SKS? I have a difficult time wrapping my mind around that one. The SKS is one of the best-built firearms I have yet seen.
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I completely agree, if it's a Russian.
 
My first vote would be for the Saiga then the SKS. Leave the wasr out of it. Seems like too many of them with problems to fix as soon as you get them. This is of course depending on who you are buying them from. The .223 & 7.62x39 are not inexpensive to shoot. Just less expensive to shoot.
 
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best semi-auto for under $400

i'm in the market for new semi-auto for under $400... it will be an ammo waster so i need one in a cheap to shoot caliber..
Click to expand...

Deals are out there... just last year I purchased a like new Poly Tech MAK 90 for $325.

MAK90HD-001.jpg


These are great AK rifles and ammo is available. Look for a slightly used MAK 90.
 
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I have two SKS carbines. They are both reliable as hell, and I was lucky to buy them for less than $200 each. They were made in several different countries. Russian ones are in high demand, clearly. Yugoslavian ones are EVERYWHERE right now. Chinese ones are pretty common too. I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it. I like my Chinese SKS better than my Yugo one, but the Yugo one does look "cooler" because of its integrated grenade launcher and flip-up grenade sight.

I'm sure both rifles are capable of MUCH better accuracy than I am capable of as a shooter right now, but I get better groups out of the Chinese SKS. I don't know if that's because the Yugo SKS is slightly heavier and bulkier or if it has something to do with barrel wear on the Yugo since its bore is not chrome-lined.

I chose the SKS over most of the AKs on the market, because the "real world" difference between a semi-auto AK and an SKS didn't seem to justify paying $100 more for an AK. With an SKS I give up the option to use removable high-capacity magazines like an AK can, but I got a rifle that would fire off ten rounds of 7.62x39 without any problems. The AK design itself is a wonderful one, but the weapon's own popularity is its main problem. It's been produced by so many different makers in so many different countries that it can get confusing when you're looking to buy one. Some AKs work beautifully out of the box and last forever. Others will give you headaches.
 
thanks everyone for all the info... even though i'm probably going to get totally burned... i do have a couple more questions.. then i promise i'm done.. can a sks be found thats brand new?? what are the differences between a saiga and an sks?? and what are some of your personal preferences between the 2... thanks again everyone...
 
I am suprised no one has gone to bat for a M1 carbine here. Why not get something that is easy to get parts for and easy to reload for. 30 carbine is supereasy to reload and cheap to reload also. 223 and 762x39 are both bottle neck requireing lubeing cases=pain to reload. also when something breaks on a sks where do you buy NEW parts? Ak stuff is fun and all but to me accuracy sucks on them
 
Gun-sellers do have "unissued" SKS rifles, but I'm not sure if they are still being made present-day. Does that still count as "new"?
I think your best bet, if your choice is between an SKS and a Saiga, is to get the "evil black rifle" (Saiga) before the Lizard Queen gets coronated in January 2008. Or maybe both.
 
Just to be contrarian: Romanian SAR-2 as 5.45 is about the most reasonably priced these days.If not,then a Saiga and the cost offset makes the sting of 5.56 cost these days a little less.
 
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