[ReadyontheRight]

Which sub-$500 .308 semi-auto is the best balance of price and function?

I'll get an M1A someday, but I'm looking at an inexpensive .308 for now. Some hunting, some plinking, some truck gun use.

Remington 7400
Cetme
Saiga
L1A1

[Balog]

You can sometimes find a Chinese M1A for $500.
Even moreso for FAL's. My friend passed up a minty FAL for $300! Try the FAL Files for sale forum.

[Cortland]

My advice is to start a letter writing campaign to Armalite and get them to produce an AR-160. But then I may have a hidden agenda :D

[berto]

I voted the FAL...IMO the best .308 assault rifle next to the m-14.

[cratz2]

I passed on one CETMEs for $250... wish I hadn't.

If my budget allowed, I'd go for the FAL.

[boing]

"Some hunting, some plinking, some truck gun use."

Sounds like 7400 territory to me. Traditional, not SHTF.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I'd suggest either a FAL (check around for a metric first, though before buying one of the 'generic' L1A1's you tend to see in the SGN.) or CETME if you want a MBR. Ergonomics on the FAL are better for most normal folks, I can't speak for you, though.

Sometimes you can pick up a nice, lightly used 7400 in pawn shops. If discreet is the way you want to go, that's the ticket. I guess you can still find aftermarket 10 round extended mags for them somewhere.

I've seen French MAS 49/56's for fairly cheap too.
They don't seem to mind being relegated to 'behind the seat' duty.


Regards,
Rabbit.

[Atlas Shrug]

While it's true that most M1 Garands don't start out in .308, it's a simple rebarrel. In fact, you can get a $350 CMP Dane Rack Grade, shoot it some, get a 308 bbl put on, and be just about $575. You may even be able to sell the 30-06 bbl and get some dollars back.

This option yields you a robust rifle with forged receiver and some history, plus you help fund youth shooting events.

Not to mention the CMP folks are great to deal with.

It's nice to have other options....although it may break the $500 limit if you need to go to .308 quickly. OTOH, if you have a supply of 30-06 ammo.....

[N3rday]

FAL Files- you can't click the links (like they are just plain text) and auctions are closed...

[Tomac]

For your particular purposes I went with the Saiga. Surprisingly accurate, all original Russian parts (no mongrel parts gun), typical AK reliability/ease of maintenance and it takes any of the ComBloc optics/red dot sights on the QD siderail.
Tomac