Looking to buy a nice first gun

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Teknik

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I was looking to buy a nice first semi-auto rifle. I don't really know a lot about them, so anything you throw out there i can go do some research on.
Anyway, i have around 800 bucks to spend, and was looking at maybe a mini 14 with a new stock, maybe an ar15, maybe a STG-58 clone. I want something with good mid range accuracy, that is also reliable. And I wont be getting another one for a while, so this is going to have to last me. I'd also like something with a pretty good aftermarket accessories base.

I'm new to the assault rifle world, but not to rifles/guns. Any input is appreciated. Thanks, and nice place you have here
 
you could go with a cetme(g3 clone). it fires .308 so it has good mid-long range and if you find a good build they are pretty accurate. you should have enough for mags and ammo, especially since mags are 1.95$ right now.

personally i'd go with a VEPR or SLR in 7.62x39 since these are ak clones parts, mags, and ammo are super cheap and they are bulilt on quality milled receivers and are very accurate. i'm not sure if you want something with more than a 300 yard effective range though. after that the 7.62x39 round poops out.

cetmes look to go for around 350-500$. veprs are a little more than that, around 600-700$ is what i saw at the last show. both have excellent aftermarket accessory bases.

i had 800$ and went with this bad boy. 450$ for the gun, 20$ to refinish the receiver and muzzle brake, 330$ to spend on mags, ammo, and a kobra sight.
 

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Welcome to THR Teknik .. yeah .. it is a great place.:)

You will get many recommendations i am sure .... I have a Mini but would not suggest this with your budget and the fact that it'll be only purchase for some time.

Sounds like you are 7.62 x 45 oriented ...... but ... have you considered .308? I think a nice FAL would please you considerably. OTOH .. many will probably suggest AR category ... a nice 'Bushy' would also please you I think.

Try a search also . on stuff like ''new rifle'', ''what rifle'' ... any keywords you can think up ... this is quite a common subject and you may well pull up some good info.
 
Welcome!!!

I will suggest an AR-15 (.223) with removeable carry handle. This give you the option of using the iron sights or mounting a scope. Bushy, DPMS, or RRA would be my manuf. recommendations.

The .223 has a wide selection of bullets, 52 all the way to 80 grains, and can serve many purposes. Plinking to small game, coyotes and down, hunting would be most common.

Finally, this is a good start into Highpower shooting. Most local clubs will let you shoot Service Rifle events even with the remov carry handle. No big boy tourneys, but you are a ways from that yet.

Ask more questions, provide more info on what yo are specifically going to do with this rilfe and you will receive lots of suggestions, LOTS.

It is a good bunch here and we love to offer input.....

Again, Welcome to THR, and welcome to a wonderful, lifelong (read addiction) sport!!!

WTR
 
AK clone (SAR-1, SAR-2, SAR-3, ROMAK-1, AMD-64, MAK-90, etc.) Ammo is cheap, rifle is cheap, mags are cheap, and there are enough aftermarket mods to make it interesting. The thing is reliable and sturdy, and it'll forgive you if you forget to clean it, too. My personal favorite at this time.

For cheaper ammo, a cheaper rifle, and tons more modification possibilities, go for a Ruger 10-22. Many places like www.redstararms.com and such supply various barrels, from lightweight carbon fiber to heavy fluted match types. There are dozens of different stocks to find, from cheap beaters to expensive handmade works of art. In the end, the 10-22 is as accurate as you want it to be.

AR-15s also have some modification possibilities. Anything with a Weaver mount can be stuck on one, like laser sights, holosights, tac lights, fore grips, bipods, scopes, flare launchers, etc. Magazines are also inexpensive.

But for the ultimate semi-auto experience, get yourself an M1 Garand. They are powerful, timeless classics that will always have a die-hard following regardless of whatever new technology comes along. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) there are very few mods for an M1.

I purchased an SAR-1 because I couldn't afford an AR-15 at the time, and I already had a .22lr semiauto. I haven't looked back, and probably never will. Good luck on your quest!
 
For 550 bucks you can get a FAL from http://www.ohiorapidfire.com and they are NICE Fals. I buckled down and got the carbine with a few extra mags for 600 bucks, and it is awesome. Iron sites I get about 2.5 inch groups at 100 yards...it will do better...but it will take me a while to do better, I still shake alot whilst shooting:(

Anyhow, at least check them out, they are awesome Fals and the guys at ORF are great to deal with.
 
My first was an AR15

I have handled SAR ak-47 clones extensivly beforehand, but when I took that AR15 for a run their was no looking back.

Soo smooth, so accurate, and hypothetically it will last much longer than an AK.

Lots of accessories, from mild to real hard core stuff.



But... I cant say it looks as beutiful as the FAL.
sa58sswcarbine.gif


or this, possibly the most beautiful battle rifle in existance.

et48ca.jpg
 
http://www.ohiorapidfire.com/fal.htm

Is for the Fal Page. The gun on top of this pic is the one I have:

CUSFAL.jpg


Mine looks just like the one up top except I had my barrel cut to 18 inches instead of 16. The best damn 600 dollars I have spent, I shoot it as much as my Bushy 15, and thats saying quite a bit because I love my little m4gery.
 
Kaxter...

I usually tell people to go with an $800 (plus FFL fee) Austrian FAL but when I checked out the URL --- those prices are way kool!!!

I'm tired of having local FAL smiths charging $1,200 for kit guns. $600 is more like it. Thanks.

Can you compare the quality to other FALs you have seen?

How flexible are the Troy Boys?

Rick
 
Knife_Sniper , that is a good lookin gun. But I'm not really looking for "beautiful". I'd rather have something that's so wicked lookin' that people run in terror:cool:
 
I say go with the AR-15. It's one of the most accurate military style rifles out there. The ergonomics are excellenty as well (great safety setup and super quick reloads). There are tons of accesories and optics available, as well as a wide variety of ammo. And by swapping uppers you can have a variety of barrel lengths and calibers (anywhere from .22lr to .50 bmg) with one gun. I agree with Walker on brands - Bushy, DPMS and RRA all offer a great gun at a great price.
 
I suppose it depends on your purpose for your rifle

When I considered my first rifle, it was for the purpose of having a 2A battle rifle.

My first rifle was a Colt SP1. It was a fun gun.

But then I shot, and then bought, a friend's FAL.

.223 is one wimpy rifle round compared to the satisfying thump and muzzle energy of a .308.

The AR now belongs to my wife. It suits her just fine.

Rick
 
Here's a question. For the people that recommended guns that use ak clone parts such as SLR or SAR, why not just buy an ak?
 
Those are AK based guns. You wont get a real AK47, those a full autos and arent importable. The closest thing you can get to a full blown semiauto AK is a preban, all the new ones you see now have a certain number of American made parts. They are pretty much the same thing as the originals, but just semiauto.

I just got a VEPR. If you want a top of the line AK, check those out, I also have an SAR-1 and WASR, those arent near as pretty, but they are good shooters.

The real question you have to answer for yourself is what caliber do you want. The three main ones are 7.62x39, 223, and 308, from cheapest to shoot to most expensive. Also from shortest effective range, to longest effective range.

AK, AR, FAL, HK91 are all possibilites....try a Saiga if you want a cheap, but very reliable gun, and well made.

Edit: If you want a piece of history and a real nice battle rifle, check out a Garand. Not many guns are as fun to shoot in my book.
 
Although i know ak's are supposed to be the timex of guns, i've also heard that accuracy isn't their strong suit. I think right now i'm in the market for a gun with some mid range accuracy. I'll have to shoot some guns and decide what i want, and what cal.
 
Probably the most accurate assault style rifle you are going to get for under $1k is some kind of AR-15....I have a Bushmaster Varminter I paid $950 for and it is wicked accurate, its the easiest gun I have ever shot to get under 1 moa. I am sure for $800 you could find an RRA, Bushmaster, etc that will shoot pretty tight.

AKs, Cetmes, FALs etc....good luck getting those near 1 moa, not being a wise guy, you just dont know what you are getting accuracy wise with those unless you go top of the line....

You can get one of these for around $800 new at a gunshow, it may be worth looking into:
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/pcwvms20ah.asp

EDIT: For good midrange accuracy, forget a Mini-14, unless you want a gunsmith to do quite a bit of work on it....
 
veprs are reported to be extremely accurate compared to the SAR series and all other ak clones.
 
I realize there might be other considerations present, but a mini-14 needs a $200+ aftermarket match barrel to shoot as well as a Colt rifle does with the stock barrel--so a mini isn't a better deal, it's a lower initial price tag for less gun.
....
On a positive note, the Colt easily has the most accessories available (including good match barrels).
~
 
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