[Black92LX]

this may be a long shot but just curious. or if there is a comparably priced cartridge that will be accurate to 300 yards. and can find an autoloading rifle for under $500.

i am on a budget and want something to plink with to improve my skills.

Thanks

[Kharn]

If you can scrape together $50 more, you should be able to pick up a stripped AR15 reciever from your dealer and a $400 AR15 parts kit from one of the internet shops.

It probably wont win at Camp Perry, but it'll get you in the game; I'm assuming you dont live in California.

Kharn

[natedog]

Mini-14, used or new if you shop around.

[Kaylee]

SAR-3, mayhaps?

I'm more partial to the "build your own" idea of Kharn's though...

-K

[Black92LX]

is the SAR-3 an AK 47 copy?

if so how much do they run?

[roscoe]

Saigas in .223 are about $200 at CDNN and GunsAmerica. I'm looking to get one myself.

[Dave R]

Yes, SAR-3 is a Romanian AK clone. They run between $300 and $400, when they're at resellers. I don't think there are any aound right now, except maybe the auction forums.

[Ian]

What about the new AR-180Bs? Are they under $500?

And what about the Kel-Tec SU-16s?

[Razor]

What about the new AR-180Bs? Are they under $500?

The ones I've seen in my local shops were $700+ :rolleyes: .

[clown714]

in these here parts.

we'uns have only seen pics of them
there ar-180's and su-16's:scrutiny:

clown

[Number 6]

Here is a link to someone selling a SAR-3.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/romanian_ak74_223.html

[Black92LX]

i like the kel-tec SU-16 a lot. i am definatly going to look into that.
Thanks for the help and just because i like the kel-tech doesn't mean the suggestions need to stop.

The Su-16 uses standard M16 magazines. what about the SAR-3 what mags do they use and where can i find them??

[SodaPop]

Used Mini 14 or Saiga.

[ShaiVong]

Anyone have a good idea on how much it costs to accurize a mini-14 to nearly AR-15 levels? I guess thats about 1MOA. Links?

I love the look of the Mini14, but I think its overpriced for the stock accuracy.

[Number 6]

I believe these are the people who do wonderful magic on Mini-14s.

http://ruger-mini-14-firearms.com/index-2.html

[SodaPop]

I can get 1 MOA groups with my stock Mini 14. Every 1-9 Mini 14 I've shot did 3 MOA or better with 62gr bullets.

[bad_dad_brad]

I will second that Mini-14 vote. Pre year 2000 you could pick up a Mini-14 Ranch Rifle in stainless for under $500 (I did). Sadly, prices have gone up.

Still, look around. Sometimes you can find a new stripper Mini-14 under $500, and often a good used one for under $400 - sometimes $300.

People bemoan the Mini's accuracy, sure it is not a tack driver after multiple shots, but if you can find one for the right price, you won't find a better semi-auto .223 under $500. Very reliable, light and handy, and accurate enough to do the job.

And, they are legal in California!

[Dave R]

30-round mags for the SAR-3 run $15-20 ea and can be bought from www.interordnance.com. May or may not be listed in the website. Also known as Weigar mags. Made in Germany. good stuff. Interordinance generally has a package of 4 mags +case for around $60.

[Kaylee]

Dave -- edited your URL to go to the right site. :)

So.. are the SAR3 mags different from the SAR-2? Do they use the same bodies and different followers? Or different animals entirely?

-K

[WonderNine]

Here is a link to someone selling a SAR-3.

That price is nutty and so is the site.

SAR-3's can be had NIB from most of the surplus dealers in the $290-$310 price range easily.

[tac17]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one that thought their prices were a bit high.

[CZ 75 BD]

Ranch rifle!


:cool:

[modifiedbrowning]

Isn't the Olympic Arms Plinker model right around $500? The suggested retail on the Ar-180B is $650, that's what I paid for mine.

[J. Parker]

I had an SAR-3 for awhile. I was leary of getting an "SAR" in .223 but DAMN it was one sweet little rifle. It had a Russian red dot scope on it. I traded it like I've been known to do but it was a very nice package.
Here's the kicker........for the SAR-3 to be perfectly reliable you've got to use Werger mags (verger). These mags were made specifically for the SAR-3. I would only use these mags. Go to www.ak-47.net and you can find some info on the SAR-3. Best, John

[Dave R]

SAR-3 (Weigar) mags are different from SAR-2 mags in form and follower. A Wiegar mag is about 1", maybe 1.5" shorter than a SAR-2 mag. That's because the 5.56X45 round is a bit thinner than the 5.45X39 round. OAL is not much different, though.

SAR-2 mags can be adapted for use in a SAR-3. This involves:

1) dremeling the feed lips a little to feed the different shape of the 5.56 round.
2) Replacing the follower with a follower manufactured by Robinson Arms specifically to make this conversion. The RobArms follower changes the angle in which the 5.56 cartridges lay in the mag, allowing 30 to be put in without binding, even though the angle they make is a bit different than the angle the 5.45 rounds make.

Detailed instructions are on AK-47.net in the Romanian forum.

To make this even more confusing, Century was shipping SAR-3's with unmodified SAR-2 mags for a while. The unmodified mags wouldn't feed well and gave the rifle a bad rap for reliability.

Then Century begain shipping partially-modified SAR-2 mags. They re-shaped the lips, but left the follower alone. Those mags would feed fine, as long as there were only 20 or so cartridges in the mag. More than that, and the cartridges would hang up on the mag wall. I guess Century was too cheap to buy RobArms followers. Which is understandable, cuz RobArms gets $6.95 for those little polymer doohickeys.

I don't know what Century is shipping for mags now. For my SAR-3, I have tried a mixture of converted SAR-2 mags, and Weigar mags. Each functions perfectly. I have not had a misfeed in the rifle since the last time I used an unmodified SAR-2 mag.

But considering the cost of a SAR-2 mag and the cost of a Robarms follower, and the time to re-shape feed lips...its best to use Weigars.

[MAKOwner]

This search result from interordnance has all their Weiger mag listings: http://www.interordnance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?

Aimsurplus also has them at: http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Rifle_Magazines.html Scroll down a bit


Saiga .223s use 10 round only mags the way they come from the factory. If you read up on ak-47.net's forums then you will see they can easily be converted back to standard AK pistol-grip stock setup, as well as be converted to take hi-cap .223 mags. Weigers are the best .223 mags around so I'd just convert it to use those as well...

[Black92LX]

so it looks like it's going to be a fight between the SAR-3 or the Kel-Tec SU 16. so tell me which one i should get between the 2 and why?

i like the price of the SAR-3. but i like the Kel-Tech too though it is more expensive. which one will be more accurate. and just an all around better gun

[VG]

Why beat your head against a wall? You're going to wind up with a gun with limited resale value and sub-par accuracy.

Want to hnt, or plink? For yor $500 budget you could buy any number of new or used bolt action .223's or .308. Surplus .308 is also inexpensive. Probably even get one with decent optics. Have a really accurate rifle that is a great shooter, and get your money back when you sell it.

If it's plinking and skill development, .22 semi-autos will fit the bill and leave money in your pocket.

Some of the options presented will see you putting $700 into a $500 rifle by the time you're done.