Semi Auto Rifle with Cheap Ammo

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

JCook5003

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
122
Hey Guys-

I want to pick up a semi auto "battle rifle" for range use and possibly home defense....

I am on a sub $400 rifle budget and my only requirement is that it takes cheap ammo so I can build up a fairly large supply of it.

Thanks Guys
Josh
 
SKS if you want 7.62x39
Saiga 7.62x39 if you'd prefer detachable magazines and an AK platform
Saiga .223 if you want that caliber
Saiga .308 if you are sitting around wondering exactly how can I spend MORE money on ammunition.


-- John
 
Sub $400 semis are a small group. 'Cheap ammo' is a non-existent group nowadays.

An SKS would probably be your best bet.
 
Under $400....hmmmmm

Yugo SKS still under $200 a lot of places....for $200 in ammo let me look a bit




Ammoman.com has "Golden Tiger" and several styles of Wolf 7.62x39 for under $200/1,000 rounds delivered to your door.

Cheaper Than Dirt is running about $225-$235 per 1,000.
 
Thanks for the input guys.......

My dad recently recieved his FFL and the latest SOG had some AK's for $349 I think anyone no more about them, I just saw them in passing.

Also are the SKS's good rifles? I am not overwhelmingly concerned with extreme accuracy as much as reliability
 
SKS rifles are very reliable. One modification some do is the firing pin spring add on, as the original design is afree floating pin. I forget the nameof the guy that does it, but he's highly regarded.
The Yugo is the nicest, widely available, come with pigsticker attached, as it's C&R, but is the longest and heaviest of the SKS family. Not too bad, lighter than my Enfield, but recoil is almost non-existant, and functioning, if you find an"unissued" example, is excellent. The only downfall of the Yugo is the grenade launcher cutoff gas valve - some shooter grades have burnt valves from corrosive ammo in Yugoslavia, and don't reliable cycle the action. New valves are available, and one guy fixed it by using a bent paperclip as an ersatz "o" ring.
Good buy, good rifle, get anywhere between 4-8 inches at 100 yards, depending on shooter and ammo.
 
If your looking for something SHTF/Gun Ban, then spend the extra $250 and get an AR-15. Dealers were selling DPMS CAR/M4 for $650 new at gunshow last Sat. At least you can get parts and support. The SKS/AK's might be hard to support down the road IMHO.
 
What Titan6 said--but it's not a relationship to enter lightly.

You DID say "Battle Rifle".

Will cost you about 450 to start from the CMP. Accuracy and reliabilty in equal measure.

---OR---

Right now the next most 'feedable' rifle is anything in 7.62 x 39 Svt;
the sks and ak's.

Like the man said, don't buy and SKS if you really want an AK; guys who trick out theit sks's to modernize them end up spending a few bucks (not saying they don't get good results sometimes). That said I bought a pair of Yugo's for well less than $400 and have left them stock.

-----

REALLY cheap ammo--get a Ruger 10/22 and some 30 rd mags. That is a pretty big power trade off however.
 
.223 don't really fit the bill for cheap ammo....

A Garand don't really fit the bill for a cheap rifle - or at least it might be tough on a $400 budget. (ETA - or maybe not ^ )

I gotta say go with an SKS or an AK. My Yugo was my first "real" rifle. I love it:
SKS-1.jpg

+1 to not trying to make an SKS INTO an AK! ;)

But, not QUITE as much as I love (from a historical standpoint at least) my Mosin Nagant. Base price of around $70, and I just saw ammo for about $50 for 300 rounds. It IS a 'battle rifle,' albeit of the real old school variety. ;)
 
Green Lantern is on to something here: a primo M-44 Mosin can be had for $70 and ammo is (comparatively) cheap, full power battle rifle with 8ft flame thrower and pig sticker permanently attached. At HD range, it is definitely OSOK and you can take it deer or bear hunting with complete confidence.
 
Check out saiga rifles.You get a real russian ak pattern action on a budget.The rifle with shipping and most ffl charges should get you the rifle for about $300.The rifle comes in varios calibers .223,7.63x39,or shotgun patterns as well.Any way you go you get a rifle and about a half case of ammo for $500. eta.forgot it comes in .308 as well.
 
I haven't seen a $400 Garand in 20 years. Go with the SKS.
Click to expand...

You need to check out the CMP. They were selling functional Garands about a year ago on the CMP website for $395. I bought a field grade for about $450. They are going for a little more now ($445):

http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/m1garand.htm

Vastly superior to a SKS in both the round and the weapon IMO. If it were between a $300 SKS and a $445 M1 I would take the M1 every time.
 
Under 400... well if you are cheap, the get romanian AK for about $250, unless you want something REALLY robust which would be the M59 SKS for $200 but no detacahble mags.

If you are not cheap then Saiga x39, 16" barrel. leave it stock. if you cannot live with it stock then you would be better off buying an arsenal or tromix.

a third option the m1 carbine.

the garand is nice too but not easy to find for $400.

oh, one more.
consider a finn m39. very reliable, very accurate, cheap ammo, easy to buy or reload.
 
I'd suggest a Romanian AK. Decently accurate, extremely reliable, and (unlike the SKS) uses detachable magazines.

gallery_260_23_20379.jpg
 
I had a Romanian SAR1. It was fine. Then I bought a Yugo SKS. It was better. I kept the Yugo as I find it more fun to shoot. I don't go to public ranges and unload as fast as I can. I also liked the milled steel and just overall fit and finish. Shot it this weekend along with my latest military purchase, an M1 carbine. The M1 is very handy, but the SKS seems to be a better 100yd shooter. Using iron sights, I am happy if I can keep my shots in a 4" square at 100yds.

The only issue with the SKS is size. It is big compared to an AK.

I will probably sell my SKS as I am planning on downsizing and the M1 is just too cool to part with.

tjg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Semi-auto rifle for home defense
2 3 4 5
Replies
108
Views
7K
Robert
Robert
F
  • Locked
Advice needed on semi auto rifle
Replies
0
Views
353
FMarlon
F
J
  • Locked
7.62 Semi Auto Help
Replies
18
Views
988
The King of Pants
T
J
  • Locked
Accurate Semi-Auto 7.62x39 rifle
Replies
21
Views
2K
R.W.Dale
R
L
  • Locked
Ammo For A Full-auto Thompson
Replies
22
Views
4K
PMDW
P
Back
Top