Need help picking a new carbine

[dispatch55126]

I need help picking a new carbine though it can be used. I'm looking for a semi auto mid caliber (9mm, 30 carbine, .223, 7.62x39) for under $400 that'll see use at the range, plinking and small/medium game hunting. The reason for the above listed calibers is I tend to burn 100-200 rounds at the range on a good day and these rounds are the least expensive, have decent stopping power but are not overpowering. Some of the options I've been looking at is:

Mini14
Hi-Point Carbine
M1 Carbine (extremely small chance but I may find one with a thrashed stock)
SKS with some form of aftermarket stock

This doesn't need to be a tack driver, just "minute of raccoon" ranging from 50yds to 150yds.

Thanks.

 

[atomchaser]

You might consider a Marlin 1894C. You can plink with 38 spl for cheap but still step up to 357 mag for hunting. With practice you can shoot just about fast with the lever (accurately anyway).

 

[hacksaw]

Get the mini 14 in 6.8spc.....very cool!

 

[Gustav]

Since you specified semi auto and under $400 with ability to hunt small and medium game and be able shoot to 200 yards a few options would be as follows

1 Mini 14 Ranch used blue or stainless as soon as possible add a Leupold VXII 1-4 or 2-7 scope, 5 round mags for legal hunting and factory 20 rounds for mutant zombie aliens from Venus.
Not the most accurate rifle some are bust some are not but out to 200 yards its good enough with minute of pie plate accuracy at worst.

2 SKS Russian Bulgarian Yugoslavian Milsurp with a scout scope mount and Burris 1 1/2-4x EER scope or Leupold pistol scope or red dot sight such as the Nikon VSD I would put a Tech-sight on the back.
www.tech-sights.com
www.scoutscopes.com

3 A good used Remington 7400 in .243 or 308 with the .243 you can hunt varmint and deer with the .308 you can hunt just about any critter and ammo can be cheaper and easier to find.

Check for deals on used or mislurps with Auction Arms Gunbroker and Gunsamerica

Best of luck.

 

[Omaney]

I have less than $400 in my SKS (Chicom). Tapco T-6 stock and Techsights.



Definitely minute of racoon.

 

[kcmarine]

Look at Saiga. It's an AK with a sporter stock and a 10 round magazine. Reliable and durable as a rock. It's also made by the same people who make the AK-100 series rifles for the Russian military. They are available in .223, 7.62x39mm, and .308. They aren't as accurate as some of the other options the other members have given you, though, and they can be difficult to mount a scope on. It's not impossible, though, and AK's have become the cheap AR15... there are tons of accessories for them.

The 7.62x39mm Saiga I have set me back about $300 I believe. I also bought ammunition (500 rounds) and I had the same budget you do.

Good luck on whatever you find.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Saiga. I would bump it up a little to .308.

SKS is a great option as well.

3rd option w/ cheap ammo - Marlin 1894 in .357 or even .44 mag will be fairly inexpensive ammo.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Another vote for a Saiga. AK pattern rifle in sporting configuration, but much higher quality than the cheap Romanian rifles.

They come with the scope mount, and the appropriate scopes for them are not hard to find on the net.

$100 worth of parts, simple home powertools and a couple of hours... and you can convert it from the factory sporter configuration to full AK.

 

[gunnerh]

The Mini-14 is a decent shooter but stick to 223. Ammo prices keep going up but 223 has become the center fire plinker of choice. For cans and small to medium size vermin it works well. I had not tried it on rampaging zombies but I think it will be just fine. The 30 Carbine is a fun gun but ammo is getting harder to find. I have tried three SKS's and had poor results but that may be just me.

Hell is in the details

 

[chris in va]

Not sure what the laws are in MN, but I think hunting with the Mini 14, HiPoint and M1 might be out.

I have a Saiga, sold my SKS to fund it. They run about $300 after taxes. Mine shoots decently enough and getting scope mounts isn't a big deal.

 

[dispatch55126]

How accurate is the Saiga compared to the SKS? Reading the replies on this and similar threads, I think I'm down to either a SKS or Saiga in .223

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

My Saiga .308 22" prints 1"-2" groups at 100 yards with Wolf Gold 150gr SP and an 8x POSP scope. It's not even a challenge to hit skeet set on the berm at that range.

 

[USP4Me]

A great little 9mm rifle is the Marlin Camp Carbine. These sell in the $350 range and are still fairly available, unlike the .45acp version which is hard to find and sells for double that.