Centerfire Semiauto Options

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25cschaefer

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My wife wants a centerfire semiauto with a scope for plinking. It needs to be readably available so I can pick up a used or broken one and also needs to have high capacity mags available.

She doesn't like the "goofy looking" ARs and hates "all of that tactical crap" that so many people put on there guns.

She wants wood which isn't a problem, I could make a wood stock for an AR if she liked them.

She almost likes the Mini 14s, I got an "meh" when we looked at an AK, SKSs are ugly and she has a hard time charging them.

So what are my options?

Did I already think of everything?
 
Any thoughts on caliber? M1 carbines are another option, but I can't think of too many others that fit all those requirements.
 
I would like to stay with lower recoil, 7.65x39 being the stiffest.

I reload so cost isn't an issue.

Thanks for the 30 carbine suggestion, I don't know why I didn't think of that, it is her favorite just by looks. We will go check one out at the store tomorrow.

Finding a cheap 30 carbine will be tough.
 
Not necessarily "readily available," nor I am sure how easy/difficult it is to mount an optic on one, but a Thompson SMG replica may fit the bill.
 
Hard time charging an SKS? :confused:

.30 Carbine -- if there's a funner gun, I'll eat it. Reload. (or send me your brass :) )
Ruger Ranch Rifle
Ruger Deerslayer Carbine (no hi cap mags)
Marlin Camp Carbine
Kel-Tec SU-16 (the women who have shot mine love it)
Kel-Tec Sub-2000
MechTech carbine conversion
 
I have to agree, if she wants the looks of a classic wood stock, then get a M1 carbine or one of the wood stocked pistol caliber carbines.
 
An M1 Carbine isn't exactly the easiest rifle to mount a scope on though.

Have you showed her an AR with pink furniture? Magpul just released a limited edition set.
 
Just get an AR and install wood furniture. Maybe that won't look "goofy" to her although it will to most others.
 
Thanks guys, we have narrowed it to (not in this order, we need to get hands on):

Marlin camp 9/45 - (Pros) Cheap, low recoil, cross reference mags - (Cons) pistol caliber limits gopher range and excludes the possibility of larger game.

Mini 14/30 - Easy to find, more power, more accurate, lots of mags - a little more expensive

30 carbine - light, cool history - expensive, excludes larger game
 
M1 Carbine I suppose... it's a great little rifle, even though I was going to originally suggest SKS/AK.
The one thing for sure is that at least from what I see M1 ammo is harder to find than 7.62X39 ammo, and more expensive.
Mini 14 also even with steel cased ammo is also still more expensive than 7.62X39. I also do not have any experience with the Mini-30 in terms of reliable function w/ 7.62X39mm ammo either so I can't really comment on that one.
 
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Does anyone have experience with the Ruger PC9 or PC4?

She already knows how to run a 10/22, scary well in fact, I think she would also like the looks.

I had never seen one of these before.

I already load for 40S&W so it would be a nice fit I think.
 
Lots of those available. Why not try looking up the different manufactures and seeing what they offer. That way your not limited to only those that answer your question. Plus,you get the facts. Opinions are great but facts don`t lie. :)
 
My son's two fav guns are the 10-22 and the Mini 14 with all wood furniture.
I think there was a 10-22 in a mag edition: not centerfire, but a ton of fun. I have a single shot and a buddy has a Win 94. My son loved pulling the trigger on the Win (and his was as accurate as all get out!).
Greg
 
You might look at the Remington Woodsmaster rifles. You can purchase aftermarket magazines that hold at least 10 rounds. The caliber selection runs from soft shooting stuff like the .243 up to 30-06. Some of the older rifles are value priced and have nice wood.

That is about as far from the tactical look as I think you will get in a semi-auto.


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(I do understand your pain, my SO hates the plastic, tactical look of her AR and has never shot it. She loves the classic wood and blued steel rifles. She especially loves her M1 Carbines.)
 
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We shouldn't complain about our wives not liking tacticool, at least those of us whose wives 'like' guns.
Mine is glad I have them but only very rarely shoots.
I don't have the advantage of being able to buy a gun 'for' her. ;)
Greg
(Like the woodmaster idea: I thought of a BAR but it might be too expensive...)
 
The Woodsmaster will be expensive to feed. Any non-.223/x39 rifle will be if she shoots it at all. A high-powered centerfire isn't my idea of a plinking rifle either, unless I'm plinking at 400+ yds.
 
She's not really excited about the Woodmaster, I have one loaned to me right now in 30-06 and she wants something in a lighter caliber with more rounds. The smallest it comes in is 243 and I am building her a 260 Rem on a Mauser right now so it would be doubling up a slot.

I'm not concerned about cost of ammo because I reload.
 
I reload as well and still cringe at the thought of feeding a semi-auto rifle larger than .223. Even my 6.8AR gets shot infrequently because of bullet cost. Figure that .243 is going to cost at least 3x more than .223 to reload. Bullets are more expensive and it uses 2x the powder.
 
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