mini-14 equivalent

[Ignition Override]

Dirt_j00 also made a good proposal.

If you want a rifle in the exact same style, the Mini 30 does well with a fairly clean chamber.
With a new metal 10-round Promag, I've had about 4 misfeeds in about 500-700 rounds.

Unless you are going to be taking on Al Qaeda or Hezbollah in house to house fighting, it will do very well with ten rounds per mag. But for less money, the classic Norinco SKS or Paratrooper should also work.

If ten rounds are not enough, you have much bigger problems and will probably need an AC-130 Specter Gunship or A-10 "Warthog" for close air support. If you live near Hurlburt Field, west of Eglin AFB, you are in luck.

 

[30mag]

http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/7615.htm
I like.

 

[30mag]

Do all 7615s accept AR-15 style mags?

 

[ThomasT]

Yes they do. The 7615 is only available in 223 so far. When I got mine I called rem and ask if they would do these in 6.8 also. I would but one if they did.

These are popular in Australia where they can't own a semi-auto. Also the price on them has come down since they were released. I see them on GB for $500-550 fairlly often. They have higher priced ones that don't sell. Bargains show regularly though. I see them at gun shows also for the same amount.

 

[jojo200517]

If ten rounds are not enough, you have much bigger problems and will probably need an AC-130 Specter Gunship or A-10 "Warthog" for close air support. If you live near Hurlburt Field, west of Eglin AFB, you are in luck.

Sometimes 10 isn't enough. Maybe he wants to hear it go bang more than 10 times without reloading. Maybe he's like me and misses a lot. Hell I question if 30 is enough sometimes. Then again with the ak you got the drum option, if you can find and afford one since the great gun/mag/ammo grab of 2009. Heck they make the beta mags for ar15's that hold 100 rounds. I couldn't imagine holding that much weight up but maybe it would be practical if you were facing a herd of pissed off elephants with that whimpy .223 .

Maybe 10 is enough for you, but for many more is better. Then again people buy single shot rifles and think that is more than enough.

 

[LGswift]

Can anyone tell me of a rifle that could fill a role similar to that of a mini-14?
i.e. semi-auto with plenty of aftermarket at a reasonable price, maybe chambered in something bigger than .223?

SKS! That would be my first thought; roughly the same accuracy as a mini 14 too
Semi auto - yup
Aftermarket at reasonable price - plenty
other than .223 - 7.62x39

detachable mags, can be done - toploading clips are pretty fast too!

 

[30mag]

I would like an SKS.
But, if I'm gonna get an SKS or an AK, I would like it to be pretty dang cheap.

I like Saiga I think.

 

[chevyforlife21]

mini 30 in 7.62x39

 

[30mag]

The reason I don't want a mini is because they're too expensive. I want a rifle for about $400. The Remington line seems good. I own an 870, 1100, and a 742 so they would probably be somewhat similar in field stripping and cleaning.
Thanks for the recommendations. Sorry I'm kinda vague. I don't really know what I want.
A sort of combat carbine with more stopping power than a .223. I think an AK would fit the bill... anyways...

 

[MD_Willington]

Worried about .223 mags for a saiga... Bulgarian or Polish 5.56x45 magazines work if you install a feedramp.. I run 2 Bulgarians in mine... I have a dozen Galil 5.56 magazines.. there are Weiger and Romanian 5.56 magazines, surefire magazines and even the lowly pro mag has a magazine that may work YMMV...

Even the Russians made a run of Saiga 5.56 30 rounders... They still make them for the 5.56 Russian AK too...

you can even get an AR mag adapter and run US GI 5.56x45 mags

Worried?

 

[Maverick223]

Saiga is a nice rifle and will fit your budget, the conversion will put it over th top but can be performed later. For little more you could get a M1 Carbine from CMP and I think they are a little nicer rifle with more history. You can get one for about $465 IIRC. They have great handling and sound like what you want, but field stripping one is nothing like a Remington (insert any model).

 

[greenlion]

"Thanks for the recommendations. Sorry I'm kinda vague. I don't really know what I want.
A sort of combat carbine with more stopping power than a .223. I think an AK would fit the bill... anyways..."

No one has bothered to ask, so I will. What are you going to use it for? Competition, target shooting, hunting, home defense, or a combination of these?

 

[Maverick223]

I would assume that he plans to use it for a big plinker and possibly HD, considering that is about all a mini is suited for (not that it is a bad thing), but I could be wrong.

 

[greenlion]

I have seen quite a few Minis at IDPA matches, and more than a few coyotes have been bagged with them too.

 

[Maverick223]

Greenlion, I didn't say that was all it could be used for...but that is the use(s) that it is well suited for. You can hit your thumb with a hammer...but that isn't what it is made for.

 

[greenlion]

Funny how a little over a decade ago, the mini was perfectly acceptable and respected as a defense and varmint hunting ranch-rifle. Since the current AR15 craze has convinced everyone that we must have half-minute-of-angle accuracy from every short carbine rifle, even the new improved minis are unacceptable for anything except plinking at 7 yards, apparently. I guess I don't mind that our expectations have increased with current computer aided technology, but I still think the mini ranch rifle is a suitable rifle for many uses, including entry-level IDPA and farm varmint control, without making you look like a swat team wannabe.

 

[mljdeckard]

SKS. I just Tapcoed and Tech-sighted mine, and it has become my favorite.

 

[greenlion]

The SKS is/was a great little carbine. I've rarely seen a STOCK SKS with a fixed mag that was not reliable. (I've seen a lot of them that have been bubba'd that are NOT reliable) They are relatively light, handy, rugged, and use to be a great value. You can still see a few individuals wandering the gun shows with chinese SKSs for around $250, which is not too bad. Dealers at the same show were trying to wring 400+ dollars out of any SKS. At that point, I would opt for something more modern and adaptable to scopes. Even with ammo prices as high as they are, what other rifle ammo can you buy for 5-6 dollars per box? If you think the MINI-14 is too expensive, you won't find many options better than the sks in that lower price range. You can get pretty quick charging with 10 round SKS stripper clips if you practice, although the AR and MINI really have it beat hands down there.

 

[Maverick223]

gl, I like the Mini (better than the AR believe it or not), but I don't try and make it into something that it isn't.

 

[30mag]

Funny how a little over a decade ago, the mini was perfectly acceptable and respected as a defense and varmint hunting ranch-rifle. Since the current AR15 craze has convinced everyone that we must have half-minute-of-angle accuracy from every short carbine rifle, even the new improved minis are unacceptable for anything except plinking at 7 yards, apparently. I guess I don't mind that our expectations have increased with current computer aided technology, but I still think the mini ranch rifle is a suitable rifle for many uses, including entry-level IDPA and farm varmint control, without making you look like a swat team wannabe.

Understand, I just want something cheaper than a Mini, and maybe more powerful. I don't want something superior. I hear AK-accuracy is minute of [insert object here] at 100 yards, and I don't like that too much. I don't have problems with the Mini's accuracy or function. Just its price.

 

[30mag]

I'd really like something that I can get a folding stock for.

 

[Maverick223]

I hear AK-accuracy is minute of [insert object here] at 100 yards, and I don't like that too much.

A good (not something I usually use to describe an AK) will have decent accuracy comparable to the older mini-14 (the new models are supposedly better). I think the average Saiga can get about 2-4 MOA, which should suffice for most close in work. That said I still like the .30caliber M1 Carbine a lot better, just a nicer all around rifle if you ask me...and it has the added benefit of being relatively cheap, very close to your target budget.

 

[30mag]

Isn't .30 carbine known for being pretty weak?

 

[lobo9er]

this might fit the bill accepts ar mags but alot cheaper still 223/5.56 they sound pretty niffty i hear ya about gun snobs i bet they wonder how our grandparents were ever able to nock down a deer with out a rifled barrel and a wooden stock with out a flash light holder

 

[lobo9er]

pic didnt work it was the remington pump 223 rifle looks pretty cool