Suggestions for a cheap hi-cap pinking rifle?

[Cheeseybacon]

This weekend I'm heading off to a gun show. I'm thinking about picking up some kind of cheap, hi-capacity semi-auto rifle before the Democrats get back in power and ban everything over 6 rounds with a detachable mag. This will pretty much be just a pinking gun, no hunting, competition, or HD use. Can you guys throw out some suggestions, and approximately what I should expect to pay?

I was thinking about an SKS, AK, or M1 carbine or something along those lines, but I am definately open to all suggestions.

 

[vanfunk]

I would think a Romanian WASR GP would fit your requirements nicely. They're satisfyingly rough around the edges so you don't mind throwing them around. They accept all standard-capacity AK magazines from 5 to 40 rounds (and drums of many many more), and the ones showing up lately that I've seen have had properly installed gas blocks and front sight towers. Expect to pay $350. M1 carbines are great little rifles, but USGI ones are geting more expensive all the time and even the well-done repro's are now pushing $500-600. SKS's are plentiful and cheap, but not "hi-cap" unless you go for the dubious quality of detachable-mag conversions. However, a Yugoslavian 59/66 is a great weapon for the money (about $200). Otherwise, how 'bout a Ruger 10/22? Accessories are all over the place (even neat little MG42 conversions), they work, and they're cheap, cheap, cheap to feed.

Hope this gets you started,

vanfunk

 

[Cheeseybacon]

The GP WASR definately looks like a nice option. Might be what I end up with if the price is right.

One other thing I stumbled across was the SKS-D, which is the one that supposedly are built with AK mags in mind. Anyone have experience with those? Are the SKS-Ds any better than a regular SKS with a high-questionable conversion kit?

 

[dfaugh]

One other thing I stumbled across was the SKS-D, which is the one that supposedly are built with AK mags in mind. Anyone have experience with those? Are the SKS-Ds any better than a regular SKS with a high-questionable conversion kit?

Actually I was gonna suggest an SKS-D or SKS-M(more or less the same thing)....IF you can find one.
I have an SKS-M, and I've put 5000 rounds through it without a hiccup, using AK mags from all over the world. More accurate, but heavier than an AK variant. Also a bit rare(though not expensive), so there's "cool" factor, as well. But, I've been looking for another one locally for a long time (like years), and haven't found one. Last time I checked some of the gun auction sites, there were a few NIB going for $300. I just want to be able to see what I'm buying.

Forget the "addon" hi-cap mags---never seen any one get them to really work well, EXCEPT there are some 20 round fixed mags that most say work OK.

 

[Cheeseybacon]

It's a shame that they aren't more common. An SKS-D or M really sounds like the kind of gun I'm after. I'd gladly take the extra weight/bulkiness over the AK in exchange for a little better accuracy. I'm a lousy shot to begin with, so I need all the help I can get.

While I'm thinking about AKs and their associated clones, do the 5.45mm variants have any accuracy advantage over the traditional 7.62mm and are they priced roughly the same, or can I expect to pay more?

 

[vanfunk]

There's definitely an accuracy advantage to the 5.45 over the 7.62. In my experience, the typical 7.62x39mm AK is a 4-5 MOA proposition, with the 5.45mm capable of groups half that size.

vanfunk

ETA: ammo prices have been fluctuating lately. I think 5.45 is running about $110-150 per K, 7.62 perhaps a bit more.