What Rifle Should My Uncle Buy?

[WolverineFury]

So my Uncle is wanting to buy a rifle. He probably won't be doing any hunting with it, but that's always a possibility. He said that he'd like to get something semi-auto (I mentioned Bolt Action Mil Surps, and he wasn't to hot on that idea), in a rifle round, with its main use probably being as a range/fun gun.

His price range is $350-$450ish. I told him that the SKS was the only thing I could think of that meets the criteria. I may suggest a KelTec 2000, or some other carbine, I ought to find out if he REALLY has his heart set on a rifle round or not, but that's all I got for now.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, cause for the life of me all I can think of is the SKS in the rifle category.

 

[Sam1911]

That is pretty darned low for a full rifle ... heck for any rifle ... in semi-auto flavor. An SKS if he can find one, is a great idea. Amazingly good little package, really. Overshadowed (perhaps inappropriately) by the AK, but a solid little rifle in its own right.

For that money he MIGHT find a Remington 740/7400/750 in the used rack, but I kind of doubt it. (One seems to have just sold on GunsAmerica for $425, I think...plus shipping/transfer, etc.) They are better hunting guns than dedicated range guns anyway, but would fit the bill if he stumbled across one.

Anything else I can think of would be more -- like at least twice more at this point.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like the SKS hands down over the AK-47 but try to find one these days is the problem. I can't think of any other choice in that price range either.

 

[bigfatdave]

An SKS is all I'm able to come up with in that price range as well.
Other than a cheapo used gun in rough shape, or maybe an inexpensive PCC, anyway.

If you find a deal on the rifle, that budget leaves enough for a Tech-Sight and a LOT of stripper clips to reload with ammo (ammo comes from the ammo budget, not the rifle budget)

Other than strippers and an improved rear sight, the SKS comes with everything you need, it doesn't lend itself to playing [strike]barbie[/strike] GI-joe with, buying optics/accessories/parts just to swap them around. A surplus SKS is a complete weapons system, even including a ultra-basic cleaning kit. In theory, you could replenish oil, solvent, and ammo ... but never need to buy anything else for the gun.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Other than buying a modified spring housing I haven't found a way to easily scope a SKS.
I did buy an inexpensive slide on scope mount for my AK and slapped a red dot on top which works VERY well...

 

[CB900F]

Wolverine;

If he's not going to hunt with it, and it needs to be a semi-auto, there's one other possibility that's not been mentioned. The Ruger 10/22. Around here you can pick up a new one OTD for $220.00 these days, which also means buy it before the end of this year. Given his budget, he's now got money for some trigger mods & modest glass - provided he's already got some .22lr ammo.

Target/plinking, to remain a fun activity, requires positive feedback which means hitting what you're shooting at. The 10/22 is probably a better platform for accuracy than the SKS & feeding it is cheaper also. It's a lot easier to modify & it's certainly been proven to give you a good cost/benefit ratio if you do so.

But, if it's got to be a centerfire, he doesn't have a lot of room to wiggle. Is there any overriding reason why it would have to be a semi-auto, other than wants/cool factor?

900F

 

[Reloadron]

My thinking runs with that of Sam 1911. Generally I am not real quick to suggest a SKS but based on your initial post I sure lean in the SKS direction as it fits the budget. All around good little rifle.

Ron

 

[Cee Zee]

I love my SKS rifles. They are dependable and that counts more than anything in a true firefight. I certainly don't expect to be in a real firefight but things happen. I'm not talking end of the world type stuff. I'm talking Katrina, LA riots, etc.. In both situations an SKS was a valuable asset. They are plenty accurate for 100 yard deer hunting. They aren't all that bad at 200 yards.

By today's standards they are rude and crude but as long as the price is right they are still a bargain. I bought one for $250 about 3 years ago. I wouldn't want to go more than $300 for one myself. I still see them for that price and I'm talking about the nice ones too and not the recently imported Norincos. If you get an older Norinco, a true milsurp model, you will have a rifle that will be working when you aren't most likely. It is possible to convert them to take detachable mags and have them work right but you have to use the right rifle and the right mags. Many mags simply won't work at all. It's better to keep on using the stripper clips anyway. You can carry more ammo if you do. You don't need to carry a heavy mag to keep your ammo in.