Decent rifle for 5.56 cartridge

[AZ Heat]

What are some decent rifles for the 5.56 cartridge at or under $650 price range that some of you have used and are happy with?

Or even better, what are some decent rifles (both new and old) that you can shoot both 5.56 and .223 through?

And if you have a picture, please feel free to post.

 

[brian923]

you can find used AR's chambered in 5.56 that will shoot .223, and there great rifles. the price range veryies, but nice ones are availible, jutst keep a look out.

savage also makes mighty fine rifles. they are very very accurate, and not really expensive. check out there website. you would alaso be very pleased with one of these as well.

also, remington has a new rifle out that i am sure is chambered for the .223. i am not as knowledgable on rem. as AR's and savages, but they too are good rifles. hope this helps, brian

 

[AZ Heat]

Thanks brian923. I'll keep my eyes open for an AR, although that may be a little steep in price, I'm sure.

I know that Remington has 223 chambered rifles, but I'm looking specifically for a 5.56 chambered rifle.

I also didn't see any Savage in 5.56 on their website.

 

[markallen]

Try Kel-Tec SU16 at http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/su16a.html

Chambered for 5.56/ .223. takes ar magazines. light weight.
Buds guns has decent prices.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/36_151

 

[M47 Dragon]

Ruger Mini-14.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I picked up my AR-180B for $650 years ago. Nice light rifle, accurate and fun. I'm not sure what they are selling for these days, though.

 

[lloydkristmas]

Saiga .223, without a doubt. Brother just got one for $299 and its very accurate and has legendary AK reliability. Best gun for the money, in my opinion, in the entire firearms market

 

[AZ Heat]

You can use 5.56 military surplus ammo in the Ruger Mini-14 without any issues? Is this just through experience or has Ruger said it's ok?

 

[mgregg85]

The ruger manual states that the Mini-14 can safely fire both .223 and 5.56mm without any problems.

I got my mini-14 barely used for $350, works great for me.

 

[AZ Heat]

Try Kel-Tec SU16 at http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/su16a.html

Chambered for 5.56/ .223. takes ar magazines. light weight.
Buds guns has decent prices.

Does the owner's manual on these also say it's ok to use the 5.56 ammo?

 

[R.W.Dale]

The remington 7615P is a fine firearm that's chambered to shoot both 5.56NATO/.223rem stamped right on the bbl rounds and features a 1/9 twist to back it up. These things will shoot circles around a ruger mini or the Saiga.Accuracy is on par with or better than your run of the mill sporter barreled bolt gun.






[G]

 

[casio02478]

Stevens is a fine gun if you are looking for a bolt action.

 

[cbsbyte]

Remember not to shoot 5.56 in a .223 rifle. Since the 5.56 is loaded too hot for many .223 rifles which can be very dangerous.

 

[brian923]

may i ask why you specifically want to shoot 5.56 military ammo??

and remmember...a Wylde chamber (Rock River Arms) or the Armalite chamber will shoot both .223 and 5.56. the leade is set so that its not to short for the 5.56 round.

if you didnt know, the 5.56 cartridge is also thicker than the .223 commercial brass, (to aid in extraction and ejection from automatic weapons,) therefore is loaded to a much higher pressure than commercial ammo in .223. but you may already know this.

 

[markallen]

Yes AZ, states in Kel Tec's owners manual, " chambered for 5.56mm NATO".
I haven't fired any 5.56 out of mine, but thats because I have a stock pile of .223 55gr Remington.
Mine has functioned flawlessly, so far I've only had a few hundred rounds through it. I've used the two ten round magazines, with the addition of a twenty, and thirty round Magpull AR magazines.
The su16 uses a combination AK operating gas system, with an AR Bolt.
The best of both worlds.
I use mine for varmits, and as a home defense carbine.

 

[AZ Heat]

may i ask why you specifically want to shoot 5.56 military ammo??

Just because it seems like sometimes you can get a deal on this type of ammo, and I know you're not supposed to shoot it through most .223 rifles. I figure that if I was to find one that you could shoot the 5.56 and .223 through, maybe I could take advantage of the deals when they come around.

Thanks for everyone's input. That gives me a few good rifles to consider.

 

[MD_Willington]

I like the 7615 but would love a 7400 or similar chambered in .223, as it would make a nice stealth "assault rifle" {I think I just puked a bit in my mouth with that bs phrase ("assault rifle")..}..

 

[nalioth]

Best 5.56x45 rifle for the money:



The Saiga.

 

[aka108]

Take a look at a Howa 1500.

 

[Squidward]

Another vote for the Min 14.

 

[Trempel]

You can get a basic, no frills AR for under $650. Either by building yourself, or shopping around for complete rifles. Good thing about that is that it'll be already as good or better than majority of other semi-autos for the same money. And what's even better is that if you will want to upgrade or customize it, it'll be much easier to do with an AR than with any other type of rifle.

 

[benEzra]

Saiga, Kel-Tec, or used AR, IMO, or a used mini-14 if you like them, but be aware that some older mini's were very inaccurate (some were good, but mine would only do about 5.5"/100 yards, and I'm not the only one to have that experience).

 

[Click Click Boom]

A Daewoo! You can still find them for $450-$550 range.

 

[Nolo]

Remington 7615P

Man, they should totally chamber that gun in 7.62x39mm...
Or 6.8 SPC

 

[MIL-DOT]

Other than price and chambering, you didn't give any information. Are you looking for a bolt action, or semi-auto ?
If semi-auto, i'll join with those recommending the Saiga.
In a bolt action, i'l say take a look at the Tikka T3 lite stainless. I just bought one ( about $540+) in .308,though i've yet to go pick it up. But almost everything i was able to dig up on it put it close to the top of the heap in its price range.