Affordable AR-15 Alternative?

[dmw16]

I am looking for a rifle that can serve for home defense from animals (and hopefully never) intruders.

I have shot an AR-15 and really like the way it shoots, but I am wondering if there are more cost effective (ie cheaper) options out there?

Thanks in advance.

 

[1KPerDay]

used ruger Mini-14
Saiga (or any number of semi-auto AK-47 variants)
M1 Carbine
Enfield Jungle Carbine

Or get a shotgun...

 

[dispatch55126]

-SKS

 

[WardenWolf]

Saiga .223. Very stable when firing, very reliable. Lots of fun.

 

[RyanM]

Kel-Tec SU-16 series rifles take the same magazines.

 

[gotime242]

Yep, +1 on that saiga. I had one in .308, but i think the .223 would be a great gun too. Super reliable, actually way more so than the ar15 i have right now

 

[jmr40]

Laugh if you want, but if I could not legally own an AR I would use a properly set up Marlin 30-30.

 

[Justin]

You might consider an Armalite AR-180B

The cost is somewhat lower than an AR15 (MSRP is listed on the website, but retail is somewhat less), the rifle is chambered in .223 and takes STANAG magazines.

 

[WardenWolf]

Since purchasing my Saiga, I've put probably 120 rounds through it. I've yet to see it jam or have any malfunction, either with the factory magazine or the aftermarket Surefire magazine. All I did to it after receiving it was open it up, wipe up packing grease, and lightly oil it. Out of the box, perfect reliability.

 

[Crunker1337]

Saiga, I think, is your best bet. Fires the 5.56mm round, and you can adapt it to use STANAG magazines (IIRC, anyway) and it's reliable due to its Kalashnikov operation. I'm sure that you'll be able to shoot it with decent grouping if you put some glass on it, too.

 

[WardenWolf]

The Saiga family in general averages about 2 MOA.

 

[taliv]

affordable defense against animals? i like my rossi/puma levergun

 

[bang_bang]

I would love to get a hold of one of the Kel-Tec rifles. Sadly, these fall into the current muck of hard to find firearms.

 

[Seven High]

dmw16: Have you considered building your own AR 15 from parts? Its not difficult to do. There are instruction books avaliable.

 

[RyanM]

dmw16: Have you considered building your own AR 15 from parts? Its not difficult to do. There are instruction books avaliable.

That's kind of like reloading. You don't actually save money!

But, for the price of a turnkey rifle, I've gotten the same rifle, with a better bolt carrier group, better charging handle, better buffer, tac sling, a KAC RAS, and 12 Pmags.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yes there are much much cheaper alternatives in fast cycling rifles which are either as effective and actually more effective, including:

-Lever action rifle in .30-30 Win
-Lever action rifle in .357 mag, .44 mag, or .45 colt
-Shotgun (pump or semi) in 12 or 20 ga loaded with slugs or buckshot (this option is the most defensive bang for your buck, bar none)
-SKS (7.62x39mm)
-Saiga semi-auto in 5.56x45, 7.62x39, or 5.45x39
-M1 Carbine clone (Plainfield, Universal, etc.) in .30 carbine

and quite a few others.

 

[nalioth]

You might consider an Armalite AR-180B

The cost is somewhat lower than an AR15 (MSRP is listed on the website, but retail is somewhat less), the rifle is chambered in .223 and takes STANAG magazines.

. . . just stay away from the Vulcan/Hesse offerings of this name.

 

[Hoppy590]

That's kind of like reloading. You don't actually save money!

um your doing it VERY VERY wrong then.

you sure your reloading/building and not like. eating the pieces or something?

 

[RyanM]

you sure your reloading/building and not like. eating the pieces or something?

I just explained it. Try reading.

$1,200 would have gotten me a plain rifle with a single aluminum GI mag, if I'd bought one off the rack.

Instead, $1,200 got me a rifle with way better internals, a Knight's Armament RAS, and 12 mags, because I put it together myself.

Try asking reloaders how much they actually save per year.

99% of the time, it's $0. You still spend $X on ammo, you just get more for that amount. Geeze, does anyone buy a .22 conversion so they can shoot the same 30 shots per range session, for 75 cents instead of $10? Or do they get one so they can shoot 400 rounds in a $10 range session instead?

I'm sure your wife tells you that getting more for your money is "saving" money, even when the same amount is spent. But 2 pairs of shoes for $300 instead of 1 pair for $300 really isn't saving money.

 

[ThomasT]

The new 580 series of Mini-14s are good. Also the Remington 7615 Patrol Carbine that takes AR mags.

Lever action 357 and 44 mag carbines work well as allready mentioned.

 

[Hoppy590]

I just explained it. Try reading.

im supposed to look into the future and read a post you make 4 minutes after me?

heres an idea, drop the attitude.

Instead, $1,200 got me a rifle with way better internals, a Knight's Armament RAS, and 12 mags, because I put it together myself.

as far as i can tell. you are getting a better quality to dollar ratio ( AKA "Value") id consider that "saving money" vs purchasing a comparable model.

i don't think its a stretch for one to assume we would be discussing two comparable models of rifles.

But 2 pairs of shoes for $300 instead of 1 pair for $300 really isn't saving money.

if the 2 pairs of shoes are comparable. yes yes it is.

you can just as easily only buy 1 pair of shoes for 150 or in this case build a good rifle for 800$ thats on par with a 1k factory rifle

 

[Paladin_Hammer]

If money is the issue, Saiga. Usually, they can be had for under $350 dollars. If accuracy and money is the issue, I've heard of something called a "N.E.F." rifle, its bolt-action, and I heard it doesn't have a magazine (single-shot), but apparently its cheap and accurate.

 

[jpwilly]

$100 for a Mosin Nagant M44.

$150 for a Nagant Pistol and you'll have your bases covered pretty cheaply!

 

[greyling22]

you might try a bushmaster carbon 15. they're a little cheaper.

but a 12 gauge will do a better job on home defense. they can be had for 250 or much less.

 

[pgeleven]

WASR-10

but IMHO, you may as well try to pick up an AR while you can, they dont look to be getting any cheaper.