Cheap rifle for plinking and HD?

[TechGuy]

I'm looking for a cheap rifle for plinking and home defense. Cheap as in less than $250. I would really like a gun with a magazine larger than 20 rounds. I was looking at the Hi-Point carbines but it seems they only make 10 round mags for them. I was also thinking about an SKS but it seems they also have a 10 round mag. Although I have seen some SKSs with 30 round mags? Is this a modification you can make to any SKS? If so is it cheap? Any other suggestions of a gun that might be in my price range?

 

[Shweboner]

You can never go wrong with an SKS.

there are higher capacity mags available. But I would save those for plinking, I do not see them as being reliable enough for HD.

There is the option of the SKS that uses AK47 magazines! But Im not sure what those are going for these days. Look around at shows and on Gunbroker.

Theres a lot out there for you, its slipping my mind at the moment but Im sure in an hour or so our fellow THRers will chime in with some ideas


~Brian

 

[geekWithA.45]

Plinking? Defense? Hi-cap?

Folds up neatly? Fits into a nondescript, "no probable cause" briefcase or toolbox?

Legal in all jurisdictions? (except DC)

Kel-tec sub 2000: http://www.kel-tec.com/prod03.htm

Shop carefully, you can find them around $300. (I know it's a stretch...but worth looking at.)

 

[Eightball]

SKS's are worth it. Okay, so they only have a 10-round, integral mag--mine's never given me problems. I've only heard bad things about the 20/30 round mags for it. Probably not ideal for HD, though. If you really wanted a good plinker with capacity of 20/30, and short enough to be a good HD weapon, what about an M1 carbine? Probably not too much worry for penetration (as compared to 7.62x39 for the SKS), but would still have accuracy and range for plinking. Just a thought.

 

[Lee F]

TechGuy,
On this side of the Smokies finding a used AK-47 clone for less than $250 is not difficult given enough time.

 

[timothy75]

You can get a SAIGA rifle in 223, 7.6/39, or 308 for around 199$. Or you can save a little more and get a WASR AK with folding stock which is what you really need for about 300-350$. However 11rds isnt terrible and with good tactics would probably suffice. Heres something I told myself all the time when I lived in California. The M16 with 30rd mag firing 3 shot bursts only allows 10 pulls of the trigger!

 

[Commissar Gribb]

Heres something I told myself all the time when I lived in California. The M16 with 30rd mag firing 3 shot bursts only allows 10 pulls of the trigger!

now now- occasionally the limiter skips a round and shoots a 2 round burst making 11 trigger pulls

 

[Nick1911]

AK's are good, handy rifles - although I don't know if they are in your price range.

 

[wingman]

I just purchased a HI-POint 40 cal carbine, fun, super accurate, short,
0nly 10 round mags however that should be enough in most situations.

 

[Kalashnikov]

Nothing beats an SKS for it's price. Absolutly nothing. Plus the pig sticker on the end is good for HD if ya miss your 10 shots

 

[atblis]

SKS definitely

The Saigas would be second, but there isn't an importer anymore.

 

[MoeMentum]

Sks

 

[DelayedReaction]

Snag a Yugo SKS. I got mine for $140, complete with bayonet and grenade launcher.

Once you get that, buy another and do whatever you want to it. I'm thinking of getting a para SKS, slapping on a new stock and magazine, and then plinking to my hearts content.

 

[dasmi]

Can't go wrong with an SKS. But, it will penetrate the BG, and the wall, etc. An M1 carbine is pretty sweet little gun, and won't penetrate as much.

 

[yayarx7]

SKS...

Then spend the rest of the $250 on ammo.

 

[foghornl]

The "Pig-Sticker" on the SKS will also give ya time to stuff in more ammo, while ya fend off a BG or 2.

 

[bcochran]

You gave a budget and received answers.

My comments are suggestions on other questions that you should ask yourself.

1. What are my physical limitations.
2. What are my skills limitations.
3. Am I willing or able to pay for competent, practical and non mythical shooting.
4. Does the weapon suggestion meet my needs.

An SKS is a good entry weapon - unless you want to add optics, fight in darkeness, fight in low light, wear glasses and need optics to see more than 100 yards, or intend to use it as precision rifle.

5. You understand the ergonomic limitations of the firearm.
For some reason, you want a 30 round magazine. You already know that magazine volume does not make up for lack of skills in ranging, tracking, ballistics and does not not make up for inferior design considerations.
Take an SKS with a 30 round magazine. Can you do the USMC prone sniper position? What a dumb question you say. Well, why do you think the American GIs prefer the 20 round ar15 magazine over the 30 rounder?

 

[dolanp]

The SKS is not all that reliable with the aftermarket hi-cap mags. However, you can reload with stripper clips faster than you could reload huge 30rd mags. I think the SKS would be a great choice for a cheap plinker with an alternative HD use. That's what mine does.

 

[vega]

The SKS is not all that reliable with the aftermarket hi-cap mags. However, you can reload with stripper clips faster than you could reload huge 30rd mags. I think the SKS would be a great choice for a cheap plinker with an alternative HD use. That's what mine does.

+1. With practice, you can load fast with stripper clips. You just have to know where to put certain pressure.

vega

 

[MartinS]

If you do wind up with something 7.62x39mm try to find some Ulyanovsk Hollow Points. They seem to disintegrate far more readily than other Russian stuff. Shooting water jugs at 15 yards we blew the jugs and could find no trace of the projectiles, just like the 223 SP's we also shot.

 

[Javelin Man]

I have the Hi-Point 9mm carbine, an SKS, and a 7.62 Saiga. You wouldn't go wrong with any of them. I think I heard where you can now get 15 rd magazines for the Hi-Point. Modifications can be made on the Saiga to use AK 30 rd. magazines, or as I did, just put a dome head screw in the front which acts as a ramp and the round is chambered quickly and easily. I spent maybe a dime.

From what I've heard, and I don't have any firsthand knowledge of this, is you can forget about reliability of the 30 rd. SKS magazines. Some may have actually worked, but the other 99% haven't. Might work for plinking, but the 10 rd. fixed magazine is adequate for home defense and the stripper clips do load quickly and easily.

For home defense, I'd go for the lighter and shorter Hi-Point. The Saiga is slightly longer, the SKS is too long and heavy if you need to swing it around to aim. Of course, the bayonet might prove useful!

For general plinking, the SKS is cheapest and has excellent iron sights. For all-around usefulness, the Saiga pulls ahead in this tight three-horse race.

Of course, those were the only three horses I put in this race. The are other options, of course, but probably none cheaper. I have an order in for another Saiga. I hope they are imported again soon.

 

[student]

Neither the high point nor the SKS fit your requirements (mag capacity too low and SKS for HD...tell your neighbors to duck first unless using frangible ammo). My suggestion is to shop around for a used gun to get the best price. The sub2000 is the only gun that comes to mind that closely matches all of your requirements. However, have you considered 2 guns. Maybe an SKS to plink with and satisfy the rifle desire and can kill a zombie function. And get a low price (not cheap junk, just low price) handgun for home defense. Honestly you could get a curious and relics license for 30$ (3 years worth), get a shooter SKS for 100$ http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Yugoslavian_Model_59_66_7_62x39_SKS_Rifle.html and something like a CZ-52 for 90$, mailed to your door. In all with ammo and shipping you may spend more than 250 but not too much.

 

[RoyG]

This will not match your 20 round min but..... It will be under/near your $250 limit.

Plinker
Get a Marlin Model 60 (or a used Glenfield). A little more then $100 new. A little less used. Keep the Marlin clean with VERY little lube and feed it Win Dynapoints. Less then 10 bucks for a box of 500.

HD
Maverick 88. You can find them for around $150-160. Or one of the old store renames. I have found several old Western Autos for around $100. These were made by Mossbergs.

I would never consider using a rifle for HD. Unless it's SHTF time or TEOTWAWKI.

 

[dfaugh]

OK, on thing at a time..my .02

I own a Hi-Point as well as 2 SKSs..can't go wrong either way.

As mentioned, there are now 15 rd mags available for the Hi-Point...Use good ammo (I have some old boxes of "Black Talon" +P+) but any good SD round will work...Mine's 9mm so "practice" ammo is pretty cheap...Has been utterly reliable w/ several thousand rds fired, never a malfunction even using Wolf and Blazer ammo regularly.

Also, have a standard Yugo SKS...As mentioned, can do pretty fast reloads using stripper clips...Avoid the aftermarket detachable hi-cap magazines for these, as almost everyone has had problems of one kind or another. IIRC there some 20 rd "fixed" magzines for these that work OK, but I've never tried them personally, because...

I also have an SKS-M which takes AK mags, 30 and 40 rounders (there's also a pre-ban SKS-D which is similar)...This is a "best of both worlds" gun...More accurate than an AK (mine has scope and "Dragunov" synthetic stock, on there when I bought it)..Have never "field stripped" it, and have fired approx 10,000 rds, with only one malfunction (stovepipe).

So,if overpenetration is a problem, in your situation,go with the Hi-Point...Otherwise either the Hi-Point or the SKS will do you well...SKS-D or SKS-M if you can find one although may stretch your budget...I've seen some for under $250, but kinda rare...I payed $300formine "all dressed up",at a gun show

 

[Frenchy]

SKS..What the Ruger Mini-30 ain't...