Regarding the OP question about a possible ban:
- With McCain and Clinton as the current front runners I think a ban is pretty likely in the next 2-4 years (maybe 70%).
- However, I doubt they will try for and get a ban like California the first time out. I would expect a 10+ magazine ban and a re-do of the previous 1994 AWB which grandfathered in existing semi-autos.
- Only if they were able to get the AWB re-passed with a wide margin would they feel confident in trying to take away the grandfathering clause.
So I think a grandfathered ban including the AK, AR15 and 10+ mags is better than even possiblity in two years. Removal of the grandfather clause in 3-4 years is less than 50% but better than it has been in 10 years.
Your best bet is to now buy some USGI 20 round mags from
www.44mag.com at $30 each. Get at least 10 ASAP. Then save for the M1A as quickly as possible. If you were able to set aside $100/mo, then you could buy the ten mags ($300) and save $1,700 for the M1A all within 20 months. That would be just within the early part of what I see as the risk zone.
My reasoning is that I don;t think a new president is going to risk skewering themselves on a gun ban their first year in office. So all of 2008 and 2009 are relatively safe from a ban. Last time the AWB was snuck in the fall, I think when most all of congress was at home for Thanksgiving, just after a raft of new conservatives were elected but had not yet taken office. If history repeats itself that would put November 2009 or 2010 as possible risk periods.
If you can save $100/mo starting in Feb. 2008 then you could have an M1A and 12 mags (ten + two that come with it) by Sept 2009.
Keep these pics posted on your wall to stay motivated. Another liberty tooth on the way!
If you don't think you can save all of that then you might consider getting an M1 Garand. You can find them at gun shows for about $900 and the 8-rd clips are about $1/ea. Then you could have it before the end of 2008 at $100/mo or Sept 2009 at $50/mo. The Garand is about one of the last rifles that will be banned and not grandfathered so it is low risk, but nearly equivalent to the M1A. I had originally planned to get an M1A but I decided I would rather have two M1 Garands than just one M1A. So now I focus my AWB jitters on building multiple AR15s and buying AR mags at $10-$13 ea.