I've been looking for a thread about this but can't seem to find one so I'm gonna make one up. sorry if this is a re-post but some guy on youtube was saying that the ruger mini 14 was "the best semi auto rifle ever built" and going as far as quoting "the mini 14 is far more superior over any ar15", a little over exaggerating. i believe it's a personal preference that you base it onto many things of your liking, whether from experience, appeal, etc. the question is what do you think is the best semi auto rifle made and why? meaning it's just that good that you would pick it over any other.
best semi auto rifle ever built?
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wayne in boca
Member
M1A is obviously the finest semiauto rifle ever built.Anyone who believes otherwise is mentally ill.
General Geoff
Member
Best in what way?
armoredman
Member
Patton believed it was the M1 Garand, and considering what was accomplished with that rifle, I can't argue with his ghost.
The best semi-auto rifle is one that is in your hands and works for you in a time of need. If I have to actually choose, I may say something built off of an AR platform. I think it has the most aftermarket diversity for one to create their own "best rifle ever."
Tim the student
Member
The Garand. Call me crazy 
sparkyguy66
Member
I don't own a Garand, but hope to one day. I do have an AR, though. I can't imagine anything else to be more add-on friendly, accurate, reliable and generally fun to shoot. And since I reload, a case of 1k costs me around $200.
SP Shop Foreman
Member
My rifle is the best semi auto ever built, but I'm not saying what it is. If I do that then everyone will want one.
Latigo
Latigo
elktrout
Member
It depends on what your intended use is for the rifle. No one would expect one particular semi rifle to cover all shooting aspects, such as short-range hunting, long-range hunting, plinking, 1000 yard target shooting, etc. Just like no single bolt gun covers it all, neither will any semi. If you just want to stay generic with the adjective "best", I would vote for the Garand - a proven rifle worthy of its praise and chambered in a truly substantial caliber.
Fosbery
Member
Depends entirely what you want to do with it. Do you want to reach out and touch someone a 1000m away? Or fight a battle at 300 yards? Plink? Shoot targets? And at what range? Hunt? Hunt what? Do you want maximum firepower or accuracy or minimum weight? Is cost an issue? What type of environment are you in?
Having said that, I personally can't really see any niche were the Mini 14 is a clear winner over the competition, especially with newer guns like the SU16 out.
Having said that, I personally can't really see any niche were the Mini 14 is a clear winner over the competition, especially with newer guns like the SU16 out.
jpwilly
Member
There are many. One of my favs is the M1 Garand. The M14 or M1A is a close second. Then there's the AR-15 & 10 variants, AKM, FAL, G3 / HK91, SKS, Mini 14...too many to list. Very subjective.
ijosef
Member
Another vote for the Garand. The AR-15/M-16 and AK platforms are great for their own unique and individual reasons, but I don't consider them true semi-automatic rifles. We gun owners in the states are largely reduced to owning semi-auto only versions of these rifles, but in their true form they're capable of full auto or at least three round burst. The M1 Garand was designed to be a semi-auto rifle from the ground up. If it's good enough for Walt Kowalski, it's good enough for me!
MTMilitiaman
Member
I'll throw my hat in with the M14/M1A crowd. When you consider mechanical reliability, intrinsic accuracy, long-term durability, range, power, ergonomics, balance, the quality of the sights and trigger, and all the other factors that go into making a good rifle, the M14 has to rank pretty high up there. I've shot AR-15s and M16s. Stoner's rifle is versatile, accurate, and generally reliable. But it never came across as solid or as robust as the M14 to me. In terms of general shooting characteristics, no other rifle is as pleasant for me as the M14. It it truly a rifleman's rifle.
Next I would have to put the Kalashnikov, then the FAL, then the AR-15.
Not only is the Ruger Mini not the finest rifle ever, but it isn't even the finest poodle shooter. Heck, far from being the finest, it is almost the worst. I would imagine the engineers at Ruger had to try really hard to change a rifle known for its accuracy and reliability into that bastard abomination of a rifle known for its lack of both, but they managed. There are a lot of fine poodle shooters out there--everything from time tested classics like the SIG 556 and the AUG that have made it to the American commercial market only relatively recently--to newer designs like the XCR and the FS2000. Of course there is a plethora of fine ARs, as well as various more obscure designs as well like the Daewoo K2, Galil and other 5.56mm and 5.45mm AK-clones, and the AR-18 (which actually shouldn't be that obscure considering its simple short-stroke gas piston operation has been copied in many other designs). The Mini-14 is not on this list and indeed, any of these choices are almost guaranteed to be more accurate and more reliable than Ruger's underwhelming little carbine. The only reason I can think of that someone might consider the Mini-14 over any of these designs barring being obviously brain-dead is economic and even then, an SKS can be had for hundreds less and aside from being more accurate and reliable is easier to find parts and accessories for, and is a lot more durable than the Ruger.
Next I would have to put the Kalashnikov, then the FAL, then the AR-15.
Not only is the Ruger Mini not the finest rifle ever, but it isn't even the finest poodle shooter. Heck, far from being the finest, it is almost the worst. I would imagine the engineers at Ruger had to try really hard to change a rifle known for its accuracy and reliability into that bastard abomination of a rifle known for its lack of both, but they managed. There are a lot of fine poodle shooters out there--everything from time tested classics like the SIG 556 and the AUG that have made it to the American commercial market only relatively recently--to newer designs like the XCR and the FS2000. Of course there is a plethora of fine ARs, as well as various more obscure designs as well like the Daewoo K2, Galil and other 5.56mm and 5.45mm AK-clones, and the AR-18 (which actually shouldn't be that obscure considering its simple short-stroke gas piston operation has been copied in many other designs). The Mini-14 is not on this list and indeed, any of these choices are almost guaranteed to be more accurate and more reliable than Ruger's underwhelming little carbine. The only reason I can think of that someone might consider the Mini-14 over any of these designs barring being obviously brain-dead is economic and even then, an SKS can be had for hundreds less and aside from being more accurate and reliable is easier to find parts and accessories for, and is a lot more durable than the Ruger.
P.B.Walsh
Member
A gas piston AR, like POF, SCAR, or LWRC.
testosterone
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10/22
xbox360
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M1 Grand
m1 grand what else?
m1 grand what else?
I have to say the best 'Semi-Auto' rifle ever built is the Ruger 10/22.
I've been shooting mine for more than 30 years now,
It's put more meat on the table than all the other rifles I own (one squirrel or rabbit at a time),
It's provided me with a way to 'Clear Out' the local varmints and chicken thieves,
It's VERY effective at putting down cattle & hogs when we butcher,
And it's provided me with countless hours of entertainment 'Plinking'...
I was in the military for 16 years, and my 10/22 has done more for me than any of the 'Military Clone' rifles I own, and is my constant companion over the visor of my truck.
I can not remember ONE TIME that rifle has failed to feed or failed to fire, and it's always been more accurate than I am trying to shoot off hand in some awkward stance when I get a snap shot at something!
Lightweight, Durable to the point of being RUGGED, Cycles clean or dirty, and doesn't break the budget, shoulder or ear drums!
I just wish someone made a 20" LIGHT WEIGHT barrel for them!
I've been shooting mine for more than 30 years now,
It's put more meat on the table than all the other rifles I own (one squirrel or rabbit at a time),
It's provided me with a way to 'Clear Out' the local varmints and chicken thieves,
It's VERY effective at putting down cattle & hogs when we butcher,
And it's provided me with countless hours of entertainment 'Plinking'...
I was in the military for 16 years, and my 10/22 has done more for me than any of the 'Military Clone' rifles I own, and is my constant companion over the visor of my truck.
I can not remember ONE TIME that rifle has failed to feed or failed to fire, and it's always been more accurate than I am trying to shoot off hand in some awkward stance when I get a snap shot at something!
Lightweight, Durable to the point of being RUGGED, Cycles clean or dirty, and doesn't break the budget, shoulder or ear drums!
I just wish someone made a 20" LIGHT WEIGHT barrel for them!
GRAYRID3R
Member
#1 M1 Garand
#2 M1A
#3 M1Carbine
#2 M1A
#3 M1Carbine
Ignition Override
Member
Having stood in two foxholes (hurriedly dug by the 101st Airborne in Dec. '44) outside Bastogne, Belgium about three weeks ago on a personal tour, it makes me want to own an M-1 Garand, but can not recommend what the best semi-auto is.
If we can assume that the Garand functioned very well in what were then ('44) much shallower foxholes than they are now, then it could be the best.
If we can assume that the Garand functioned very well in what were then ('44) much shallower foxholes than they are now, then it could be the best.
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ForneyRider
Member
BAR: because it comes in 338 Win Mag.
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