Good medium-caliber rifle

[Series 70]

I need a rifle. Just because.

I want it to be a .308 Win or comparable medium caliber in which ammo is easily found.

Semi-auto slightly preferred, bolt-action would be okay.

I realize there are many such rifles, but price is the restrictor here - I don't want to spend more than $700 for the rifle itself.

Two which have caught my eye are the Savage Scout and the Ruger Mini-30.

I'd prefer a greater ammo capacity than the 4-rounds afforded by the Savage, and the Mini-30 is chambered in 7.62 Russian, I believe, but that's probably okay.

I'd appreciate any suggestions for other rifles, and any feedback regarding the two mentioned above.

Thanks.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

The savage scout can me modified fairly easily to take FAL magazines.

that might factor in your decision.

 

[Rupestris]

Remington 7400.
Available in .308, and there are 10 round mags available as well.

Cetme or FAL comes to mind too.

 

[TallPine]

Russian Saiga in 7.62 sells for a little over $200

Buy three!

 

[ny32182]

You said "Russian 7.62 would probably be ok". Of course you realize that the most popular Russian 7.62 is 7.62x39, which doesn't tend to carry as much power as the American 7.62x51. The russian equivalent for that would be 7.62x54.

If you want semi-auto for less than 700, you might consider what I have on order right now: A Russian VEPR of some sort. Mine is a VEPR K 7.62x39, and is being delivered for $580 plus tax. Takes common AK mags and ammo. You can also get one chambered for .308 (7.62x51), but I'm not sure what kind of mags it uses. www.robarm.com

 

[LynnMassGuy]

$700

1 Saiga to accessorize $175 7.62x39
1 SKS to have a blast with $89-169 7.62x39
1 91/30 to shoot big bullets far away. $79-139 7.62x54

And a bunch of ammo! Wahoo!

 

[FireInTheHole]

What do you have to do to a FAL mag for compatibility with a savage scout?

 

[ReadyontheRight]

How 'bout the Saiga in .308? Or 30-06?

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Bolt-action:
Tikka T3
Savage Varmint rifle (I forget the model number designation) with the new accu-Trigger

Semi-Auto:
FAL
Browning BAR

For $100-$200 more there's the new Benelli semi-auto rifle. I handled one today. It's very light and very cool.

 

[Majic]

Hunt around and you can still find deals on a L1A1.

 

[Roadkill]

Med Caliber rifle

If I could go back and redo all the rifle trading/selling/buying I've done over the last 30 years I'd get a Winchester/Remington/Savage bolt action in .270 and spend double the cost of the gun for a scope and see thru mounts, then spend double the cost of all that on reloading equipment. So possibly $800 in a set up that you could reload to hunt varmits, coyotes, and deer with a degree of accuracy you can only get by using one gun. Otherwise you are on a merry go round that costs a LOT of $ and you end up at the same place where you started with no improvement.

rk

 

[Shane333]

I agree with those who suggest looking into a Saiga .308. The only bad thing I hear about them is the trigger. For about $400 or less, I bet you could buy the Saiga, do a conversion, and get a good trigger in the Saiga.

 

[Sunray]

For what? Hunting? Target shooting? Pretending the world is coming to an end? Then go buy a No.4 Lee-Enfield. 10 round mag. Accurate enough to hunt with or play SHTF and you can get one in .308Win if you insist. Don't waste you time scoping it. Military rifles, for the most part, don't take well to after market accessories. Plan 'B' would be a rack grade M-1 rifle from the CMP and have the barrel changed to .308.
"...the Mini-30 is chambered in 7.62 Russian..." The Mini-30 comes in 7.62 x 39, not 7.62 Russian. The former is about the same ballistically as a .303 Brit ,but with a much lighter bullet. The latter is an only rimmed cartridge ballistically to a .30-06.

 

[G1FAL]

FAL

Check out the For Sale sections of a bunch of boards, esp. the FalFiles. You should be able to find one for what you want to spend. If not hunt for kits, the receivers are down to around $180, and the US compliance parts are $99 for 6 of the parts you need (if you dont have a threaded muzzle, thats all you'll need). And chances are there is someone within a few hours drive from you that knows how to build them, so you wont need to pay a gunsmith for a build.

 

[artherd]

My 18" Carbine Remington 7400 in .30-06. Great gun, ammo available everywhere. In a pinch, the chamber conversion rings that allowed '06 Garands to shoot .308 will also work in the 7400 I hear.

It's also available in native .308, and 10 round clips can be had (have some on order.)

I spent more on the glass than I did on the rifle, and I recomend others do the same.

Decent accuracy, though I am still sorting it out fully. I can 'burst fire' it and keep all 3 rounds in a 2foot circle at 100yds, pretty devistating. It seems more accurate at 400yds than at 100 even.

The Benelli R-1 does look intresting, if pricy. I like the ability to switch between .30-06 and .300WinMag (BOOM!)

 

[000Buck]

Saiga 308. Cheaper than the 7400 and more consistently reliable. Some 7400 are lemons, Ive never seen or heard of a Saiga that was.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Don't waste you time scoping it. Military rifles, for the most part, don't take well to after market accessories.

I'll tell the british snipers in WWII that next time i see them.

the number4mk1/2 scopes fine, provided you scope it properly.