Jguy101
Member
I'm in a bit of a dilemma at the moment. I'm sixteen years old, and saving up for my first centerfire. I'm particularly looking for something that would make a decent SHTF carbine, but at a low cost, especially for ammo.
The first, and possibly most viable option, is the Saiga. I could get one in 7.62x39 for cheap ammo, or .223 for ammo WTSHTF (because there will most likely be at least some tropps around, although 7.62 should never be far away in such a situation). Conversion to standard AK configuration, and for the use of common magazines, isn't supposed to be too much of a problem - unless my somewhat-anti father won't let me use his Dremel. With the 7.62's distinctively curved magazine, though, it looks like a "bad guy" gun, and could possibly get me shot.
The next is CMMG's Bargain Bin AR-15. The Saiga definitely has a price advantage over this one, but magazines will be easier to find than for a Saiga .223 (let's face it. Galil mags aren't sold everywhere), and the rate of twist would probably be better for more common 55-grain 5.56 (Saigas prefer 62 grains). Parts may be more likely to fail than in an AK, but again, replacements may be easier to find. Also, some may know it as a "good guy" gun.
The Yugo underfolder AK is, IMO, another decent option. It's an evil-looking AK, but it can hide in a tennis racquet bag, so that's not too much of an issue. Reports of problems are low, as it seems that Century outsources work on these, so they don't get the usual drunk monkey job like the WASRs.
Kel-Tec's SU-16 also seems viable. It's the lightest, but its strength is also its weakness: just recently, a THR user mentioned that he saw a plastic SU-16 receiver crack at a rifle class. The same company's Sub-2000 is extremely compact, and 9mm is pretty darn cheap, but I want something with more range.
The Remington 7615 could be good, but of the two commercial models, one doesn't come with irons, and the other isn't exactly a carbine. They do have police models with shorter barrels and sights, but they're pricey.
Finally, there's the Marlin 336. Very PC, it'd be $350 or less, and .30-30 is everywhere, but frankly, it's not a combat weapon. It's not that I'm afraid of the fact that it's a levergun or has a tubular magazine (in my opinion, that's an advantage, since I can top off at any time) - it's that I might need to spend extra on tuning to make it reliable enough.
Thoughts?
The first, and possibly most viable option, is the Saiga. I could get one in 7.62x39 for cheap ammo, or .223 for ammo WTSHTF (because there will most likely be at least some tropps around, although 7.62 should never be far away in such a situation). Conversion to standard AK configuration, and for the use of common magazines, isn't supposed to be too much of a problem - unless my somewhat-anti father won't let me use his Dremel. With the 7.62's distinctively curved magazine, though, it looks like a "bad guy" gun, and could possibly get me shot.
The next is CMMG's Bargain Bin AR-15. The Saiga definitely has a price advantage over this one, but magazines will be easier to find than for a Saiga .223 (let's face it. Galil mags aren't sold everywhere), and the rate of twist would probably be better for more common 55-grain 5.56 (Saigas prefer 62 grains). Parts may be more likely to fail than in an AK, but again, replacements may be easier to find. Also, some may know it as a "good guy" gun.
The Yugo underfolder AK is, IMO, another decent option. It's an evil-looking AK, but it can hide in a tennis racquet bag, so that's not too much of an issue. Reports of problems are low, as it seems that Century outsources work on these, so they don't get the usual drunk monkey job like the WASRs.
Kel-Tec's SU-16 also seems viable. It's the lightest, but its strength is also its weakness: just recently, a THR user mentioned that he saw a plastic SU-16 receiver crack at a rifle class. The same company's Sub-2000 is extremely compact, and 9mm is pretty darn cheap, but I want something with more range.
The Remington 7615 could be good, but of the two commercial models, one doesn't come with irons, and the other isn't exactly a carbine. They do have police models with shorter barrels and sights, but they're pricey.
Finally, there's the Marlin 336. Very PC, it'd be $350 or less, and .30-30 is everywhere, but frankly, it's not a combat weapon. It's not that I'm afraid of the fact that it's a levergun or has a tubular magazine (in my opinion, that's an advantage, since I can top off at any time) - it's that I might need to spend extra on tuning to make it reliable enough.
Thoughts?
