AR/AK/.308 advice please...

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Based on my experience with the AR-10 and the Saiga in 16" and what some have posted here the Saiga is going to be my next rifle. I wished I knew how to convert them. I would give it a try but I have not tried this or have any expensive tools.
 
The AR style 7.62 is kind of heavy for a hunting rifle. The AR15 in 6.x may be a better choice, plenty of energy for large game, accurate and you could add a 5.56 upper for budget shooting.
 
In the original post also mentioned an ak- vaiant in 7.62x39. If the ranges that you will be hunting will be under 100-150 yards, this would be an option, and still be inexpensive to shoot. 7.62x39 is plenty for deer, I doubt anyone will argue that, and ammo is nearly as inexpensive as .223. might be a good compromise between 308 and 223?
 
Stay with the .308 / 7.62x51 round.
Saiga in .308 and 16" is surprisingly a very accurate option. There are other great options.
Both the Russian AK-round 7.62x39 and the 6.8SPC are good for most average use but if you want to hunt something bigger or past the 300yrds those rounds are not that good due to the poor ballistic coefficient. Some of the worse ballistic coefficient you can get in a carbine. There is a simple explanation, big bore and low grain. Also .30 bullet selection is one of the best along with .243 and .224. An AK47 is a .311 bore and not a .308 one!
It is an option but in a different league than the venerable .308 and its versatility.
Just look at the ballistic charts for those rounds before you look at any rifle or carbine.
Everything starts and ends with the bullet. hopefully a good one. Everything else in the middle is just a method of delivery.
All good systems nevertheless. Just be honest to the guy you see in the mirror every morning about the purpose and expectation for the new system. You cannot lie to that guy. LOL!
Cheers,
E.
 
All great suggestions guys.

I'm torn. I like the versatility of the AR15 platform...with 6.8 and 5.56 (or even .22).

But the "guy in the mirror" wants the big bad heavy bear stopper. lol


This weapon will be a present from my wife...long story short...our 10th anniversary was several months ago and a guitar that she bought me was broken and backordered and the customer service of the company left me with a bad taste...no guitar...just gun.

Still contemplating this weapon, whichever I choose....vs. a .308 Tacticool bolt...a mini UZI (would be my second UZI) or a guitar amplifier...

...also have a kid on the way and need a new car...so this may go towards that...but we both have good jobs so money's not tight.


Decisions decisions...

I REALLY appreciate all the thought provoking input I've gained here.

If you had $1000 to "play" with...and you HAD to keep the end result...what would you do with it?
 
.308's nick name is consistency&versatility.

Good thing you agree with the guy in the mirror. I am having trouble sometimes with him, one in one side says BUY MORE, the other says, what do you need more carbines for? lol!

If it was me I would take my 'expecting' wife for a huge romantic getaway and forget about the AR-10, the Saiga or the new guitar for now.
But it is sssooo hard to resist! lol! Many good .308s out there.

Another thought... If you get the saiga .308 and a couple of hundred rounds still might have enough money for a romantic dinner out and spa. All winners here. You can do that conversion later.

Cheers.
E.
 
Look at this fellow with the affordable korelokts and the saiga .308...

http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f19/saiga-308-accuracy-not-bad-ak-18599/

Another two extremely lethal rounds (home recipe) with Barnes TSX in 168 and 180 grains. While these are ideal for bolt rifles the 168 does well in the saiga. Now you have them tipped (TTSX) with ballistics coefficients close to match grade.

Nothing has escaped these rounds. They never failed me.

rifle038.gif

Cheers.
E.
 
Thanks everyone...

I purchased a DPMS Oracle...leaving me more $$ for dinner and a movie. ;)

I can always stick a bigger caliber on top of an AR platform...and the .308 isn't standardized yet.


I appreciate all your help.
 
I'm in the Ozarks.

It's all deer "woods"...not many places where you'll ever see a deer past 100 yards.

The .243 is an interesting option...


When people talk about wearing barrels out (without chrome lining) how many rounds does that take?

Thanks everyone for you help and input so far! I appreciate it.
Click to expand...

1-Chrome lined barrels take a *lot* of rounds to really wear out. At the level of usage you are suggesting, your grandkids might manage to wear out the barrel on your chrome-lined AR, but you never will.

2-100 yard shots in the deer woods = .30-30 lever rifle. .223 will do it, if you will control your shots, but I would not buy a 1000+dollar .308 for that kind of hunting. I would get a regular AR in .223, and a used .30-30 Marlin or Winchester. Hunt deer mostly with the .30-30, and use the .223 if you really want to give it a try sometime.

3-.243 is an interesting round, and very useful, but not really less expensive than the .308 to shoot.

4-the 710 isn't a bad rifle, but if you don't like it, sell it and get something you do like. Life is too short to be saddled with guns you don't like.
 
~Abstract~,
Good choice. Congratulations. you cannot go wrong. There are so many good choices the rest of the rifle junkies we just make you going crazy.

If you can hunt with the .223 try a reload with the barnes 70gr TSX. the dear drop like hit by lightning. You will be surprised how much extra energy and lethality that 70gr bullet brings to the target.

Also yesterday I was reading an article about the 30 remington AR.
It looks that Remington are rethinking their approach with that disastrous campaing they started, 125gr stupid loads and ugly uppers. The case is super strong and has a lot of potential.

I started the below thread as I am always interested in any loads. The main reason is that you can seat a 150gr and 168gr bullet w/o running into COAL issues an the case can put that bullet at speeds faster than the grendel. Not like the .308 but not too far behind and reports say more accurate and reliable than the WSSMs (there might be exceptions obviously).

something to think about. nothing beats a good high bc bullet at good speeds....

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=565108

Cheers.
E.
 
This is now academic (for the OP), but how about a Yugo 24/47 or 48 series 8mm Mauser which already has a small 'scout scope' on it?
Samco (Miami) sells what are reported to be excellent original 24/47s for about $220, and nice 48s can cost about $250-300 at gun shows.
The former owner of my Yugo 48A killed a deer with one shot from 200 yards, using just the iron sights. A staffer at a Memphis gun shop watched the kill (heard this two weeks After my purchase at a show).

"Accumounts claims that its scope mount does Not permanently alter the rifle.
These old Yugos are said to be accurate, and at about .25/round, you can plink a high-powered round about as cheaply as with 7.62x39.
Don't commercial or scarce imported DAG etc .308 rds. cost almost twice as much?

Just clean the bore each time with hot water and patches for a few minutes, to prevent corrosive primers from ruining the bore.
 
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Here's something to think about.

I hunt, and I hunt A LOT.

I own a M1A's, AR-15's, Mini-14's, AK, SKS's, etc......

When I go hunting, I take either a Winchester Model 94 (30-30) or a Remington 700 SPS Tactical (.308)

Lately I've only been taking the Remington 700 SPS Tactical. It's very accurate with my handloads (I routinely put a bullet inside a bullet at 100 yards), it's got a 20" barrel (Makes it easy to manuever in the deer stand), and it gets the job done.

With a 308, even in a gun like the M1A, you will STILL lose your sight picture due to the recoil. I've yet to fire a .308 rifle that you still can see the deer in the scope when the bullet goes off.

If you want a gun that is a proven deer killer and you want to see the target through the scope when the rifle goes off, go buy a .243
 
Reloading (Your prices may be different than mine, depending on area).

1# of Powder = Approximately 20 dollars
100 Hornady .308 A-Max 168 Grain = Approximately 25 dollars
100 Large Rifle Primers = Approximately 3 dollars

(Brass - I've been given a lot, and I pick them up at the range) = Free.

Approximately 50 dollars for 100 rounds.

(Or approximately 10 dollars per box of 20).
 
The www.texasweaponsystems.com rail and peep make scoping a Saiga or any other AK as convenient as on an AR.

I have killed 4 deer over the last two years with a 7.62x39 AK with a 2-7X Leupold on this rail. The 154 grain soft point Wolf is a very good, very inexpensive hunting ammo, which means mucho cheap practice.
 
Dacotua,
Remington SPS tac. you cannot beat that one for that kind of money. I am also getting .35 .4 consistently. I got the new threaded from factory with the 1:10 twist and I put a nice brake that allows me to do what you just explained. An effective brake that doesn't screw up accuracy (and some they do) it is a must for me.
I have .223 and 6mmx45 AR uppers that with the adams piston and also a custom brakes shoot and quick less than my 10/22's.
I think that is amazing too.
Cheers,
E.
 
I know the OP already bought an AR but I didn't hear anyone suggest an HK 91 clone like the PTR91 or perhaps a CETME. They used to be relatively cheap.

And yes I have a Saiga 308, but I hunt with a Winchester mod. 70 bolt action in 308.
 
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For the money you have mentioned, I really like the .308 Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle. It's a very good do it all sort of weapon.
 
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