Budget Semi-Auto Deer Gun?

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helpmeplz

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Anyone know a good semi-automatic deer rifle under $400 (Including guns that are used)?
 
Only thing that comes to mind is a SKS but now they are going for around $450.00. That's pretty close to what your asking about.
 
I second the semi auto Remingtons... I see them used in gun stores for about $300-400 all the time I will say though I've never found them to be very accurate
 
Watch guntrader for a Winchester model 100.

I handled one a few weeks ago at deer camp, and it carried and pointed a lot better than I expected for a semi-auto. The fellow who owned it has had it for 30 years and still loves it.
 
Which would you pick if you had to choose between the Winchester and the Remington?
 
Winchester Model 100, but I don't see them for $400 or less. IMO a Rem 742/7400 gets a lot of bad press for no reason...people talk about how bad they are, but I see 5-10 of them every year at the range getting ready for deer season. I've never seen on jam up or be unreliable. So I'd find the best clean 7400 you can find and go shooting, but it's a zero rifle and then go hunting. They never were meant to be a range high volume shooter
 
I don't think the 7400s are as bad as the 742s,but they are all lumped together.Like one apple spoiling the barrel.Most 742s probably ain't that bad,if they have been used for only hunting,but the bad ones are all you hear of.They sell cheap around here...I would definitely buy one I could shoot a few rounds thru,to try it out..I would say that one from a pawn shop has a much better chance of having issues...I heard a guy selling a 100 in 308 on the radio a while back,He was asking$500.00..
 
Ive had a few Rem 740 series rifles over the years. They've all worked great. I even cut one down to 16.5", made for an amazing brush gun. The trick is finding one that hasnt been abused.
 
You could build an AR for close to that if you're very careful and selective. It'll be a LOT more reliable and accurate than anything else I can think of in that price range. If you can hit the vitals, you'll have a deer.

An SKS would have been the best bang for buck if you could go back to the early to mid 90's... but you can't!
 
Watch guntrader for a Winchester model 100.
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All 100's were recalled by Winchester for firing pin problems that can cause multiple fires with one trigger pull, if you get one check to see if it has been corrected. You can Google it for details.
 
I had a really nice 7400 (IIRC) In .35 Whelen. It was actually pretty accurate and for such a hard hitter was amazingly mild to shoot. Cycled perfectly. Only shot target with it, never hunted.
 
QUOTE: "Watch guntrader for a Winchester model 100.

"I handled one a few weeks ago at deer camp, and it carried and pointed a lot better than I expected for a semi-auto. The fellow who owned it has had it for 30 years and still loves it."

I killed my first deer with a Model 100, chambered in .308, back in November of 1964. Later traded it for an oil-burning '57 Chevrolet station wagon-worst trade I've ever made (I think I even threw in a box of shells to "sweeten" the deal :eek:).

However, I don't think a decent Model 100 can be found for anything near $400.00 and, if you should be so lucky, keep stab's admonition in mind regarding the recall for defective firing pins on this rifle.
 
There are no $400 semi-auto's I'd touch with a 10' pole. There are no $2000 semi-autos that I'd use to deer hunt with unless I had no other options.

Why are you wanting a semi?
 
jmr40 said:
There are no $400 semi-auto's I'd touch with a 10' pole. There are no $2000 semi-autos that I'd use to deer hunt with unless I had no other options.

Why are you wanting a semi?
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I like to use my hunting gun to shoot targets as well, and I don't enjoy shooting targets with a bolt gun (or a levergun, for that matter) that much. Don't know why, just never really liked it as much as I like semi auto.
 
The 7400 doesn't have the self destructing bolt problem that the 742 had, but still has the dumbest magazine and bolt lock design ever made. The pump version is night and day a better rifle.

SKS and Remington are really the only players in the game unless you double or (more likely) triple your budget. That puts you into AR or M1A territory.
 
kscharlie said:
Quite a few Remington 742/7400 models in your price range on GunBroker right now.
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Yeah, if you want a hunting rifle a Remington 7400 can likely be had in that price range. I would look for a Remington 7400 in maybe 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield or any of several other suitable calibers the rifle was chambered in. I have one in 30-06 which served me well.

I also agree the magazine is not the best configuration to manipulate but once it is in the rifle works. If you can live with a pump then any old Remington 760 or 7600 should work fine in that price range.

Ron
 
I guess I got an awesome deal on my Model 100!!! A few years ago I bought a 98% condition one for $375 I did the firing pin recall on it and it's been accurate and reliable. I love this rifle and to top it off its a pre-64 model :)
 
The bottom fell out of the AR-15 market you can find them under $400.
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and 223/556 might just be outlawed for Deer hunting in the OP's state.... Only he/she would know that...
 
Go on Gun Broker and get a Norinco SKS.

Then, get a box or three of Brown Bear 154 grain soft-tip x39 rounds.

You'll have your cheap semi auto deer gun, and a dam fine one at that.
 
tarosean said:
and 223/556 might just be outlawed for Deer hunting in the OP's state.... Only he/she would know that...
Click to expand...

A 300 blk barrel is only a $125 dollar proposal. It's not 2004 anymore, when you say AR15 people don't even automatically assume 5.56 these days

Cooldill said:
Go on Gun Broker and get a Norinco SKS.

Then, get a box or three of Brown Bear 154 grain soft-tip x39 rounds.

You'll have your cheap semi auto deer gun, and a dam fine one at that.
Click to expand...


These days you will pay well north of $300 for an sks that's not a total pile then expect to pay another $100 to replace the pretty much nonexistent sights with a tech sight or scope mount that will never hold zero. Then another $80 or so getting the 20lb trigger addressed so you can have a modicum of accuracy

For one more Benjamin you are squarely in flattop ar15 territory
 
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