Recommend Assault Rifle for not-rich buddy

[wacki]

A friend of mind wants to get a scary black (or green) rifle and support the "common use" part of the SCOTUS majority opinion.... among other things (like preparing for zombies, famines, etc :-D) .

He really likes the FN FS2000 but can't afford it right now. Given his personality type, he should probably have a carbine. He's a plinker and not a sniper. Reliability is paramount which is why he likes the AK but the last one we shot was impossible to hit anything with. He also like the M4 carbine but he's not the kind of guy to do a lot a maintenance.

I'm thinking he would do well with a Rock River arms M4 style carbine kit for ~$650.00.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

SKS. The TAPCO 20 round mags work quite reliably. Maintenance is not much of an issue, just shoot non corrosive and keep the barrel clean. Easy to strip if it does.

 

[KiltedClaymore]

check out the mil-surp m-16's being sold at J&G Sales. $500 last i saw

 

[Mongrel]

+1 on the SKS

I can't even read your post without seeing it...

SKS
SKS
SKS
SKS
SKS

Cheap, easy to shoot, easy to maintain, cheap ammo, accurate 'enough', and an aftermarket large enough to keep him busy for years...

He could be out and shooting for less than half of that budget...

WAIT A MINUTE...forget all that...

THE SKS IS NOT AN ASSAULT RIFLE...

sorry...

 

[General Geoff]

No such thing as a cheap assault rifle. Not for civilians, anyway.

 

[wacki]

THE SKS IS NOT AN ASSAULT RIFLE...

Ya, SKS is a GREAT suggestion but he wants to support SCOTUS / Scalia's "common use".

 

[KiltedClaymore]

you kiddin' general?

and +1 on the post above

 

[dispatch55126]

The SturmGewehr 44 is the only assault rifle I know of

 

[wacki]

No such thing as a cheap assault rifle. Not for civilians, anyway.

Rock River Arms kit seems relatively cheap. Same with an AK. Just wondering if there are others out there and if people think Rock River arms kit is good

 

[Hoppy590]

AR build or a AK ( go with a saiga conversion)

 

[armoredman]

SKS, great choice.

 

[Kalashnikov]

Nothing more American than an AK.

 

[bwavec]

Maybe look at a Yugo AK-type ?

Decent quality and quality control, not too expensive round, takes a beating.

And costs about $600.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

Here is one of my SKSs. For all of you that want to whine to me about it it is my gun and I also have not modified it in any permanent way and still have all the original stock and mag parts.

 

[DrewH]

Rock River Arms kit seems relatively cheap. Same with an AK. Just wondering if there are others out there and if people think Rock River arms kit is good

He's refering to the proper definition of assault rifle, which includes select fire (along with the intermediate cartridge.) Very expensive these days.

Not sure what you mean by a Rock River "arms kit"? One you build yourself? Seems complicated for a newbie. Rock River, S&W, Bushmaster, all perfectly adequate AR rifles for your friend but will run well above $650 new in this neck of the woods.

An AK may not be quite as accurate as an AR, but is perfectly good enough for your friend's purposes. I would look at a WASR or one of those Yugo AKs.

 

[Z-Michigan]

DPMS Sportical for about $699

Saiga in .223 or 7.62x39mm and convert it (following the requirements of 922(r))

Various AK models sold already converted and already 922(r) compliant

SKS is nice, but not quite as "evil" as needed for his legal "common use" goal.

 

[_N4Z_]

I vote AK for relative inexpensiveness, and uber reliability.

My clone is 4MOA @ 100 yards. Vector Arms.

Minute of man @ 200. Can ring gongs at 300 on a good day.

 

[rangerruck]

I say , everyone should hate sks mags; therefore look for a Saiga, or a STG-2000 model, in either 762.39, or 223. both are fabulous...

 

[Z-Michigan]

Oh, by the way, I recently shot an FS2000 owned by a friend and I wasn't impressed. The trigger pull is absolutely terrible, like some kind of nerf toy, and I didn't find the balance or ergos very conducive to shooting well even at just 25 yards. It also jammed every other shot using Cammenga easymags, which ran 100% reliably in heavy use in two different AR's the same day after jamming in the FS2000. (The FS2000 did, however, run perfectly reliably using aluminum GI 30rd mags.) I like the concept of the FS2000, especially the front ejection, but for now I would take an AR over an FS2000 any day, no hesitation.

 

[bensdad]

Saiga. Accept no substitute.

 

[wacki]

Not sure what you mean by a Rock River "arms kit"? One you build yourself? Seems complicated for a newbie. Rock River, S&W, Bushmaster, all perfectly adequate AR rifles for your friend but will run well above $650 new in this neck of the woods.

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=199

I have no problem teaching him how to assemble it. His immediate budget is going to be in the sub 1K range. Are SKS's classified as assault weapons under the recently expired ban? Again he wants to support the "common use" clause.

 

[rbernie]

If you really want a 223/5.56NATO, get a Saiga in 223. Can be bought for $325 and converted for another $150. Do it in 7.62x39 and it can be even cheaper since you can use common sub-$20 AK magazines.

In the end, you can wind up putting a side folder and optic on it and have something that looks like this:

Yee-haw. Lots of Heller yummy goodness in every shot.

 

[General Geoff]

I don't think cosmetic gimmickry will pass muster as a constitutional ban anymore, now with Heller. If they're going to ban so-called assault weapons, it's going to be under the more strict definition of "semi automatic."

So any semi auto rifle should go far in helping contribute to "common use."

 

[TexasRifleman]

Are SKS's classified as assault weapons under the recently expired ban? Again he wants to support the "common use" clause.

Several of the posts are penalizing you for using the term "assault rifle" incorrectly. Assault rifles are select fire and not what you are discussing.

The SKS did not meet the definition of the recently expired 'assault weapon ban'.

Your friend should be able to buy a factory assembled AR for well under $1000 and that would be a good place to start in the 'black rifle' world.

 

[AR2A]

Hey Wacki,
If your looking for a reasonably priced M4A3 that's fully 'American' and does it's job with authority check out http://www.superiorarms.com/. I stumbled upon one of their rifles and couldn't be happier with my purchase. I got it for $700, but have since upgraded it with tac rails/red.dot,etc. For what it's worth these guys are the American dream and provide it to the public. I have no affiliation to them, buy love my SA M4A4. Check it out if you can...