Budget utility rifle

[Jguy101]

I was thinking for a while about building an AR for my first centerfire rifle, but since I'm a college student and I'm not yet sure where I'm going to live once I graduate, I want something that'll fit a budget and that I won't have to neuter if I move to a state with stricter gun laws than Oregon's. So, here are the options I'm currently considering (which will also give you a decent idea of my budget):

SKS with Tech Sights
Marlin 336 (.30-30) with XS Ghost Rings
Marlin XS-7 (7mm-08) with Nikon or Primary Arms glass

All three are pretty inexpensive, and ammo shouldn't be too much of expense for the amount of rifle shooting I do (Russian 7.62x39 is cheap, and my grandfather will give me his old reloading press if I get a centerfire anyway, so .30-30 and 7mm-08 shouldn't burn a hole in my pocket). I've looked into the Saiga too, but I'd only be happy with one if I converted it, and that'd take away the political correctness advantage. Suggestions?

 

[blackops]

Out of your options (not adding any of my own personal taste) the Marlin XS. Knowing the budget could help offer some more opinions.

 

[magnatecman]

+ one for the Marlin.

I just got one of these for my boy in .243 win for Christmas, we went out and sighted it in with 80gr. Federal factory loads and it shot under an inch at 100 yards with just a cheapo BSA 4x scope on it.

I am really liking the value you get with this rifle, it's a great buy. Now I want one in 7mm-08 too.

 

[clang]

Marlin is a good choice. Can't go wrong with a Savage Bolt Gun either.

 

[Abel]

I would go with an older, pre-safety Marlin 336C and add the Nikon glass instead of XS peeps. 30-30 ammo is cheap!

 

[BoilerUP]

Stevens 200, with one of the Burris Fullfield II closeouts that SWFA has going on.

The factory stock is cheap & ugly, but they are out-of-the-box shooters and are totally blank slates for future builds (you can turn a $250-300 rifle into a F-Class competition rifle, a full-blown tactical weapon, or anything in between).

 

[CaliCoastie]

go with one of the marlins, either is your choice. are you going to be hunting in more open areas with longer shots? or are you going to be running in thicker cover with shots less then 150yds? if shorter shots are going to be the norm in woods, go with the lever (ammo is cheaper also in this neck of the wood 14 vs 25 for the 7mm-08) longer shots and open areas the 7mm-08(im ordering that same gun monday). good luck.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Go look at a TC Venture----waaaaaay more gun for just a few bucks more.

 

[TCB in TN]

One thing that gets lost in the rifle/cal argument is how good a shot are you/ how much are you willing to practice to get better. IME most people who don't shoot regularly are not going to hit jack when you get out over 200 yards. Be honest with yourself, are you a good enough shot (or at least willing to practice enough) to be able to actually use the extended range of a 7mm-08 over the other two? If not then the better handling characteristics of the 336 and SKS may make more sense.

Hand loading will make shooting cheaper, but even then if anything happens and you want to buy ammo then you will likely find 30/30 ammo anywhere, 7.62x39 will be close to as plentiful, but maybe not in hunting rounds, and then your 7mm-08 will probably be last as far as available ammo, my cousin used to shoot one and our local wally world didn't carry them. He had to buy them at one of the gun shops in town. (Just something to think about).

 

[sappyg]

get the Saiga. it's a better gun than the SKS IMO and you don't have to mod now.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I say SKS.

 

[wnycollector]

The SKS with the tech-sight is a great combo for 200 yard shooting or less. 7.62x39 the ballisticily similar to the 30-30 and is more than adequate at taking deer sized game when loaded with wolf 154gr SP's. I personally love my norinco sks with the tech sight so I'm a little biased

The Marlin XS7 in 7mm-08 would be a sweet rifle for shooting at long distances. I think it just might boil down to what range you anticipate most of your shooting to occur.

 

[jpwilly]

SKS! with tech sights, stop there...don't butcher it up trying to make an ak out of it.

 

[336A]

My pick is of course is the Marlin 30-30. You won't have to chase your brass down like you would with an SKS/AK, something to think about since you plan on reloading. Ammunition is not much more expensive than 7.62x39, is everywhere, and IMHO a better hunting round due to the variety of ammunition thats available for it. The Marlin will probably fit you better and I bet is more acurate than your run of the mill SKS/AK. Even at the loading bench it is economical due to it's very modest case capacity.

 

[InkEd]

Buy what you want and sell it if you move to a hippy state.

 

[fragout]

It sounds like your looking at this in terms of keeping to a strict budget, so with this in mind, I would suggest looking at not only the rifle, but the expense of the ammunition as well.

7mm-08 is more expensive than 30-30, which in turn costs more than 7.62x39mm.

The SKS is plenty if the plan is to develop marksmanship skills with, and they sport iron sights.

Another centerfire choice is a simple AK74. Most sell with a few magazines, and 5.45mm ammo can be found rather cheap. More in common with 5.56mm as compared to your other choices.

A rimfire option is a rifle chambered in 22lr. About as cost effective as one can get concerning cost of rifle and ammo.

Still another option, but if your plan is to eventually buils an AR chambered in 5.56mm, you could look around for a cost effective bolt gun chambered for this, or even a single shot rifle such as a Rossi.

Hope this helps, good luck, and let us know what you decide upon.

11B

 

[chicharrones]

Being young and if your eyes are good, skip the cost of a scope for now. Use that money for ammo, practice, sling, etc. Aperture sights are more than good enough for 100 yard shooting/hunting for people with decent eyes.

Unless you just want something scoped. Wanting is a powerful thing.