scythefwd
Member
find a garand with a wrecked barrel but good receiver. Have the barrel replaced with a kreiger in .308, get a new stock and have at it 
Shouldn't run you more than 1,000.
Shouldn't run you more than 1,000.
really really wanting a .308 semi/"battle rifle"
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nitetrane98
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Here's a wildcard for you. How about a French MAS 49/56? Many were converted by CAI et al from 7.5x54 to .308 Win when they were imported. Several on GB for around 300 for the beaters and 500 for pretty nice ones. Some say they had varying degrees of success with the conversion. You either get a good one or you don't.
Main drawback would be figuring out how many times they were dropped.
Main drawback would be figuring out how many times they were dropped.
230therapy
Member
Knights Armament SR-25...only $5600!
I played with the M1A...it was nice. It would have been better with an aftermarket stock and rail kit and an ACOG. But, the base gun will run you $1400ish. The stock will be $600+. Add another $1500 for the ACOG. Solid mags are $30-40 each. The cheapest ammo I've found runs around $1/round.
A railed DSA FAL is actually about the same.
FN makes a new battle rifle (FNAR) that has 20 round proprietary mags. Take a look there...it can mount an optic on its rails.
Regardless of the way you go, it's going to be expensive.
Of course, you could just get a Garand. Even then, clips are getting difficult to find and the CMP seems to be having difficulty acquiring ammo. There are not too many accessories available and forget mounting an optic.
I played with the M1A...it was nice. It would have been better with an aftermarket stock and rail kit and an ACOG. But, the base gun will run you $1400ish. The stock will be $600+. Add another $1500 for the ACOG. Solid mags are $30-40 each. The cheapest ammo I've found runs around $1/round.
A railed DSA FAL is actually about the same.
FN makes a new battle rifle (FNAR) that has 20 round proprietary mags. Take a look there...it can mount an optic on its rails.
Regardless of the way you go, it's going to be expensive.
Of course, you could just get a Garand. Even then, clips are getting difficult to find and the CMP seems to be having difficulty acquiring ammo. There are not too many accessories available and forget mounting an optic.
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fireside44
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FAL parts kit from Sarco-$185 w/brand new barrel-$285
Upper receiver from Coonan or Entreprise-$300-$350
Pin gauges for determining locking shoulder size-$29
Locking shoulder-$30
Go/No Go gauges-$36
Mags-$15-$20 apiece
If you didn't want to assemble it yourself, there are plenty of good builders around who are reasonable.
Upper receiver from Coonan or Entreprise-$300-$350
Pin gauges for determining locking shoulder size-$29
Locking shoulder-$30
Go/No Go gauges-$36
Mags-$15-$20 apiece
If you didn't want to assemble it yourself, there are plenty of good builders around who are reasonable.
jpwilly
Member
Good rifles but the drawbacks are the garage door cocking spring (on the wrong side for a lefty like me) the delayed roller locking system is HARSH on brass. And I find the recoil to be sharp...hence not for me. I've shot a few CEMTE's and a friends HK91 while they are nice rifles they don't interest me save for a cool safe queen.
I have one and it's the proverbial Cadillac! Powerful and comfortable. The same reason an M1A with a wood stock may just be my next "Semi Auto - MBR"
Had a DPMS LR-308 SOLD it at the last gun show I really liked the rifle overall but still preferred to shoot the Garand and needed some cash. Same for a PSL-54c...had one sold it to fund the purchase of the Garand over two years ago. Anyway 308 MBR's are so subjective and for me it's comfort accuracy and ez of use. I have other rifles that would be put to use for un-social work.
Kwanger- Have you ever ACTUALLY had a 308 case "rip apart" in the chamber of a 7.62 marked rifle? Or is it the other way around that this supposedly happens?
I keep hearing people say the 7.62 and 308 are different but I can't see it no matter how hard I look. Case dimensions are virtually identical according to the sources I have checked. The differences are minuscule and would likely be within manufacturing tolerances. (i.e. shoulder diameter .454 vs .4539. Oooo... a whole.0001 difference!)
I have used both 308 and military stamped 7.62 in my FAL, HK91, and Ruger M77 with no noticeable difference in feeding, firing or ejecting. I have never experienced a case "ripping apart" nor have I seen such a thing happen in over 42 years of shooting and hanging around people who were shooting.
Same thing with the 223/5.56. In my Colt AR15 or my BRNO bolt 223 I see absolutely no difference in performance or function between commercial 223 ammo and military spec 5.56.
Someone suggested that military rifles have less free-bore, meaning the bullet engages the rifling more quickly and commercial ammo (especially with longer, heavier bullets) may be tight in the chamber as a result and this could raise pressure. But this sounds like it wouldn't be an issue with commercial ammo in 150 grain .308 and 55 grain .223.
I keep hearing people say the 7.62 and 308 are different but I can't see it no matter how hard I look. Case dimensions are virtually identical according to the sources I have checked. The differences are minuscule and would likely be within manufacturing tolerances. (i.e. shoulder diameter .454 vs .4539. Oooo... a whole.0001 difference!)
I have used both 308 and military stamped 7.62 in my FAL, HK91, and Ruger M77 with no noticeable difference in feeding, firing or ejecting. I have never experienced a case "ripping apart" nor have I seen such a thing happen in over 42 years of shooting and hanging around people who were shooting.
Same thing with the 223/5.56. In my Colt AR15 or my BRNO bolt 223 I see absolutely no difference in performance or function between commercial 223 ammo and military spec 5.56.
Someone suggested that military rifles have less free-bore, meaning the bullet engages the rifling more quickly and commercial ammo (especially with longer, heavier bullets) may be tight in the chamber as a result and this could raise pressure. But this sounds like it wouldn't be an issue with commercial ammo in 150 grain .308 and 55 grain .223.
Saxon Pig - No, personally I haven't and to be completely honest, I'm more with you on this scenario - in 99.9999% of circumstances, noting at all to worry about. Using the term "ripping apart" may have been a bit too strong; even if a case should come apart, its unlikely to be anything more severe than requiring a shell extractor to remove bits of case. However, there are indeed minute differences between the two rounds, and *IF* it is going to happen, it'll be ass backwards to the 223 scenario, which is what I was pointing out.
Here's a bit of an explanation on the topic:
http://www.303british.com/id36.html
Here's a bit of an explanation on the topic:
http://www.303british.com/id36.html
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NWCP
Member
I shoot an HK91. While it's a bit out of your target price range you could look into a PTR91. If the rifle is chambered for .308 it will eat 7.62x51 all day. Not so the other way around. The .308 is a great cartridge. I have both a bolt action CZ and my HK91 that are chambered for it.
For the life of me, I can't see why someone who can pay hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for a rifle can moan about the cost of MAGAZINES.
The magazine is not an accessory; it's an integral and vital working part of the rifle. The availability of low priced (and often low-quality) mags for the AR15 has given legions of newer shooters false expectations about magazine costs. It's nice to save a few bucks, but it's a lot nicer to have RELIABLE magazines...and hence, a reliable rifle. Trying to save money on "cheap" magazines is a fool's errand.
Incidentally, M1A mags are now available from the company that supplies M14 mags to the US Government, and they only cost $25. They're excellent mags and the price is right. (Checkmate Industries)
The magazine is not an accessory; it's an integral and vital working part of the rifle. The availability of low priced (and often low-quality) mags for the AR15 has given legions of newer shooters false expectations about magazine costs. It's nice to save a few bucks, but it's a lot nicer to have RELIABLE magazines...and hence, a reliable rifle. Trying to save money on "cheap" magazines is a fool's errand.
Incidentally, M1A mags are now available from the company that supplies M14 mags to the US Government, and they only cost $25. They're excellent mags and the price is right. (Checkmate Industries)
I don't see what a Saiga .308 is going to do for you, you've already got an AK right? It's going to cost twice as much to shoot the .308 and at best you might get a bit more accuracy and a bruise. An AR in .308 makes more sense.
I wouldn't mind having a .308 bolt action, but battle rifles in that cartridge are going to be older, heavier designs.
I wouldn't mind having a .308 bolt action, but battle rifles in that cartridge are going to be older, heavier designs.
AcceptableUserName
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yeah, as much as i am intrigued by a Saiga in ,308 i already have an ak and want another or two including a 5.45. I may put it on the backburner, and save extra long and get a DSA paratrooper or super nice Ar build. Something that fine should probably not be skimped on.
im not a rich guy, so i want one true, big bore "battle rifle" thats built to last and is diesel tough. it pretty much just dawned on me that probably in order to have that, its not going to come by pinching pennies and that is is an item, unlike a defensive shotgun or a glock or what have you, that needs to be budgeted and planned and saved on and scrutinized. a rifle is a whole other realm of cost and thought process in terms of both purchasing and operation (unless its an AK)
im not a rich guy, so i want one true, big bore "battle rifle" thats built to last and is diesel tough. it pretty much just dawned on me that probably in order to have that, its not going to come by pinching pennies and that is is an item, unlike a defensive shotgun or a glock or what have you, that needs to be budgeted and planned and saved on and scrutinized. a rifle is a whole other realm of cost and thought process in terms of both purchasing and operation (unless its an AK
)
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I own a saiga in .308, I can't think of the last time I saw 300 yards in a straight line let alone felt a need to shoot something on the other side. I bought it for higher power of the .308 over a .223 or 7.62x39.
I found the magazine selection to be lacking when I got it so I made my own out of steel. People asked about buying them so often that I ended up developing them farther. I've been selling them for about a year now, I finally got around to making a site www.csspecs.com you can read about them on the saiga forum in the .308 section (I have the same user name) I don't have pictures of the new run yet, they have smoother edges a look a little better.
If your looking for a gun that has cheap mags I'd go for something that took G3 mags. I'd probably have done that if I did not have my own source.
I found the magazine selection to be lacking when I got it so I made my own out of steel. People asked about buying them so often that I ended up developing them farther. I've been selling them for about a year now, I finally got around to making a site www.csspecs.com you can read about them on the saiga forum in the .308 section (I have the same user name) I don't have pictures of the new run yet, they have smoother edges a look a little better.
If your looking for a gun that has cheap mags I'd go for something that took G3 mags. I'd probably have done that if I did not have my own source.
noob_shooter
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saiga 308 is good but the trigger is the worst in this world.. You will need to convert it. I owned one...
The FNAR is not a battle rifle. It's intended more for LE and civilians who like an accurate semi-auto .308.
Based on the old Browning .308 BAR hunting rifle, the FNAR is not very field serviceable & not even remotely simple to fully break down for cleaning without a toolbox.
It's a good shooter & reliable, as long as you clean it now & then. As a "mudder" battle rifle, it just ain't one.
Denis
Based on the old Browning .308 BAR hunting rifle, the FNAR is not very field serviceable & not even remotely simple to fully break down for cleaning without a toolbox.
It's a good shooter & reliable, as long as you clean it now & then. As a "mudder" battle rifle, it just ain't one.
Denis
Victor1Echo
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I was in your boat, and I ended up buying a bolt action REM SPS 308, and planeed to buy the saiga later.
The way you buy guns, I think you are a little confused about that.
I'd like a .308 bolt-action... maybe an Israeli Mauser or something like that. I don't hunt or do long range target practice, but in a survival scenario I could see an advantage to having something to take a deer with. Of course my survival plan is to become a local warlord, so I'll have people for that sort of thing.
essayons21
Member
That would be my pick. I got one for $275 at the gunshow over the weekend. If you can find one with the complete accessory pack jump on it. It includes tritium nightsights, some include a scope, plus all sorts of extras to make a riflemans job easier.
The Century conversions are hit or miss, but there are enough smiths out there that know how to do a proper conversion or salvage a bad Century. Main issue is that 7.62 produces about 10k more pressure than the 7.5 cartridge, but this is fixed by tweaking the gas tube. The gun is way overbuilt so it can handle the extra pressure just fine. Also, Century was known for using worn-out reamers, which makes for sticky chambers. I've been told a good chamber polish fixes this issue.
It has got to be one of the simplest, sturdiest semi-auto ever built, and with a proper conversion, rock-solid reliable.
Mine had the same story as all French rifles: never been fired, only dropped once.
Quiet
Member
Get a (FAL clone) DSA SA-58.
It's one of the best FAL clones currently available and the FAL was "the right arm of the free world".
If you don't like the FAL, get a (M14 clone) Springfield M-1A or a Fulton Armory M-14.
If you got the money to burn...
Check out the LMT 308MWS. Best .308/7.62x51mm AR platform currently available at a reasonable price (MSRP $2500).
Or wait for the Kel-Tec RFB to be re-released.
Or wait for the FN SCAR-17S to be released next year.
If you are on a budget...
Get a Izhmash Saiga-308 and, as you get more money, convert it to look like an AK or SVD.
I'm waiting for the FN SCAR-17S to come out before deciding on a .308/7.62x51mm semi-auto platform.
It's one of the best FAL clones currently available and the FAL was "the right arm of the free world".
If you don't like the FAL, get a (M14 clone) Springfield M-1A or a Fulton Armory M-14.
If you got the money to burn...
Check out the LMT 308MWS. Best .308/7.62x51mm AR platform currently available at a reasonable price (MSRP $2500).
Or wait for the Kel-Tec RFB to be re-released.
Or wait for the FN SCAR-17S to be released next year.
If you are on a budget...
Get a Izhmash Saiga-308 and, as you get more money, convert it to look like an AK or SVD.
I'm waiting for the FN SCAR-17S to come out before deciding on a .308/7.62x51mm semi-auto platform.
DPris said:
I have a FNAR and I totally agree with DPris. I love the FNAR but it is pretty much the polar opposite of a Saiga as far as design is concerned, I really wouldn't want to have to strip a FNAR in the field.
The suggestions for an M1A are well-intentioned but I highly doubt you'll be able to find one in a reasonable price range.
If I hadn't found a NIB FNAR for a steal I would have gone with a FAL.
Bill_Rights
Member
+1 for FNAR
It is a police DMR (designated marksman rifle) with good/great accuracy and mid-setting of trigger pull weight (6-8 lbs), for running around safely in emergencies. Very energetic cycling, though still smooth, and will give you no troubles if you DON'T submerge it in mud - but from the way you said you take care of your guns in your OP, you should have ZERO problems.
It is a police DMR (designated marksman rifle) with good/great accuracy and mid-setting of trigger pull weight (6-8 lbs), for running around safely in emergencies. Very energetic cycling, though still smooth, and will give you no troubles if you DON'T submerge it in mud - but from the way you said you take care of your guns in your OP, you should have ZERO problems.
Driftertank
Member
I like my PTR.
That's about all I have to say on it. YMMV.
That's about all I have to say on it. YMMV.
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