Help me pick my next rifle

[Dollar An Hour]

I've got a VZ-58 and it's a ton of fun! Now I want to add a second semi-auto smaller caliber rifle to the mix, in either 5.45 Russian or 5.56 NATO.

I like the price of 5.45 compared to 5.56, but wonder about the availability down the road, I guess nobody really knows.

Aside from ammo cost, I value reliability, ease of field strip / maintenance and fun factor over tack-driving accuracy. Will probably add optics down the road, but plan to keep open sights for a while.

What do you guys suggest, and why?

Here's the rifles I'm considering:

1) Ruger Mini-14 NRA edition. I know Minis are often maligned on gun forums, but my experience with them has been that they're reliable, low maint and fun. The new ones are said to be better than ever and 20 round factory mags are easy to find these days.

2) Arsenal SLR-106FR... Arsenal has had some hit or miss quality issues in the last year or so, but these seem to be ironed out. The 106 should eat up the cheaper steel-cased 5.56, and people that own them say accuracy is better than an typical AK, and that they are a lot of fun with minimal recoil.

3) AK-74... Probably a BLR-74 Bulgarian from Atlantic. Cheap ammo, nice quality folding stock.

4) AR-15... Not having ever owned an AR, I'm not sure if AR's are higher maintenance or more finicky, but these are things I've read on forums. Still, I've also read that AR's are softer-shooting than AK's in the same caliber, more accurate, and have more normal ergonomics for a taller-than-average guy like me. How about the S&W AR in 5.45?

 

[NELSONs02]

An ar15 would be more of a rifle than any of the other options but getting one for under 800 would be hard (unless you put it together).

Mini-14 nra would be sweet, would be my second choice after an AR. I don't have any experience with the other weapons you listed so that is my bias. Guarantee the AR would be the most accurate though.....

 

[Deer Hunter]

If you get the AK, look at getting an AR -15 mag adapter. I'm getting one for my SAIGA. They look very good.

 

[Crazy Fingers]

Do you want to hit what you are aiming at? If so, get the AR. The Minis I have shot haven't accurate enough to reliably hit soda cans at 100 yards. Sad.

 

[astrolite]

I vote AR-15.

The maintenance is easy. The amount of cheap parts is amazing.

I can field strip an AR in a matter of seconds. Cleaning is quite easy.

You mentioned you are a tall guy - I am 6'3" (long arms!) and I have a telescoping stock and a foregrip. It works out very well.

 

[Eightball]

I voted for the NRA mini and the AR in 5.45. Why? The AR in 5.45 intrigues the heck out of me, I might buy one of those uppers just to be able to use the cheap ammo---but first it needs to be cheaper.

The NRA mini seems like it would fit your bill a little better, and for a little less cost. This quote:

my experience with them has been that they're reliable, low maint and fun. The new ones are said to be better than ever and 20 round factory mags are easy to find these days.

compared with this one:

I value reliability, ease of field strip / maintenance and fun factor over tack-driving accuracy. Will probably add optics down the road, but plan to keep open sights for a while.

makes the NRA mini a no-brainer. You'll get a platform you enjoy, that will allow easy mounting of optics, and you can get mags for them "on the cheap"-ish these days.

While I love my AR15, the price point you've set makes getting what you want a challenge. They're a little more maitenence-intensive than an AK derivative, but it's not an "undue" burden; it's more than easy enough to take care of than many "AR-haters" would have you believe.

BUT--for the criteria you've set, the Mini seems to work the best for you. As an added benefit, it would benefit the NRA, and show Ruger that (surprise!) making firearms that people want can be profitable.

 

[rayman]

SLR is fun, really, really fun... You'll smile every time you shoot it.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

If you don't already have an AR, you should get one. I can't imagine a rifle that is more fun; consider the tack-driving accuracy, ease of maintenance, and reliability bonuses. As for putting one together, pop in two pins and save yourself a couple of hundred bucks.

 

[brasskeeper]

AR 223

Buds gun shop sells a few different double star AR's for less than $800.

Look him up

 

[Crazy Fingers]

I built my Del Ton upper on a Double Star lower for $650, and I have no complaints. Significantly cheaper than the Mini.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Will the Mini-14 run OK on steel-cased ammo? Brown Bear, Silver Bear, etc?

It's either going to be the SLR-106 or the Mini NRA.

 

[priler]

because of the specific things you wrote in bold letters there is one that comes the closest,the ak74,including cheaper ammo.if the ammo ever becomes illegal to import because of some misguided reason,then american companies will make it.they don't make it know because they can't compete with the price but they eventually will.

of course,there are many AR fans on this forum but read what is in bold letters and think.when you are being overrun and don't have time for anything else except reloading and pulling the trigger,there's one on your list that comes closest in keeping pace with you especially with a bunch of tins that you were able to afford.

 

[Loggerlee]

shooting bad guys at less than 100yrds I'd pick the Mini14,they are indestructible,but if you are going to try and pick of ground squirrels at 100+ better go for the AR.