trying to decide which rifle...

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For what you're looking for-a reliable, moderate recoiling, affordable, adequately powerful rifle for self-defense? I think the Ruger Mini-14 carbine is the answer for you. Without any doubt or reservation.
The M1 carbine would be my second choice.
 
I think you won't go wrong with any of these:

Beretta Storm; shoots common pistol calibers and ammo is easy to find.

Ruger Mini 14; recoil isn't bad at all. May not be the most accurate rifle in the world but would fit the bill nicely for what you're looking for. Ammo is easy to find.

M1 Carbine; what can I say, they're just awesome. Recoil is nothing but, on the downside, ammo can be tough to find. Buy in bulk when you do find it.

Hope this helps.
 
Why not a good semi .22wmr? Remington, Ruger, Marlin, Savage all make decent weapons well within the $500 budget. Low recoil, reasonably cheap and plentiful ammo... and can be used for a multitude of shooting chores...
 
Nice M-1 pic, I had a knock-off Universal carbine a while ago. It was crap, the stamped "op-rod/slide" sheared where it wraps around the bolt & the extractor broke repeatedly. The USGI product is probably fine, but I would take a pass on it for weapon price, ammo price & availablility.
 
To me a pistol is the end all "home defense weapon". You'll have enough power, you can grab it quicker, it's easier to handle, millions of times more manueverable, and would be harder to be disarmed. I personally stash a Kimber Series I Classic Stainless filled with .45 HP. Beside that I have a Remington model 48 "Mohawk" with a 21" barrel filled with 12 guage birdshot. I'd grab the Kimber and flashlight if I heard a creak in the night.

That said it will be a bit out of your price range for a reliable 1911. I'd recommend a used Glock 19 (9mm), or FN FNP9.
 
Given your constraints I would lean towards the SKS. This wouldn't be my first choice overall, but it rises to the top for your particular situation!

Here are my reasons, based on your limitations:

1) Your price range is a limiting factor for a defensive rifle. If you were willing to spend more money, I'd lean you towards an AR-15. The AR-15 is accurate, reliable, shoots common ammo, and the parts/pieces/magazines/etc are easy to find. The gun is also lightweight, portable, and durable. But, prices for a used rifle would probably start at $700 these days (just guessing off the top of my head).

An AK-variant is also a nice choice, and these weapons are extremely reliable... Mind you, they aren't as accurate as an AR-15, but they'll get the job done just fine, and the ammo is easy to find. Again, price may have become a limiting factor for these rifles in the post-election frenzy. In the past you would have been able to find a reasonble quality AK for under $500, but I'm not so sure how things are looking on that level at the moment!

2) Your recoil sensitivity is also a limiting factor. If you weren't recoil sensitive you could certainly get a nice (brand new) defensive pump shotgun in that price range, and still have money left over for ammo and accessories. The 12 gauge shotgun is an extremely effective short-range weapon, and does well for double-duty use as a hunting weapon (as a kid I hunted everything from squirrels, to pheasant, to turkey and deer with a 12 ga shotgun). But, the shotgun will hit you a bit harder than the AR/Mini 14/SKS type choices. Still, depending on how recoil sensitive you really are, this may still be a viable option (look at different pads, reduced recoil slugs, etc). You may also learn to be less recoil sensitive with practice!

Anyway, the SKS is not without advantages. The last time I priced one they were still available for less than $250 (though it has been a year or so). The ammunition is identical to most AK-variant rifles, and is easy to find in bulk. These rifles are also extremely reliable, and I've put many thousands of rounds through one of mine without a single malfunction (even while shooting very dirty ammo, through a very dirty rifle). One limiting factor on a stock SKS is that the magazine is built-in, and only holds ten rounds. Still, the rifles are stripper clip compatible, and reloads will go quite quickly with practice. Some folks modify the rifles to take detachable magazines, but I'd just push for an AK if you were thinking of going that route! Both the SKS and AK certainly have a bit more recoil than the AR-15 rifles, but it is not ridiculous by any means (probably still less than the 20 gauge slug/buckshot loads).
 
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+1 coloradokevin

-Have you tried a good recoil pad? They are extremely effective, reduces .50BMG to 12ga, and 12 ga to like, very low. I'd imagine 20 ga with a good recoil pad would be something my grandmother can handle.

-Saigas come in both shotgun and rifle.

-The SKS is the only effective weapon at under 500$ (~275) that is a rifle, and it has some kick. You can then buy 1000 rounds for a mere 249$ or so. However, right now, EBR ammo seems to be out of stock in alot of places.

The most important thing:

Are you sure your safety is worth only 500$? Are you certain thats all you can afford? Do you have a job?

How much income do you have vs costs?
 
An SKS or Ruger Mini 14 would be great choices. Both are very reliable and soft on recoil.

I would also look at a lever gun in .357 or .44.

Actually now that I think of it, the Kelt Tec SU-16 would be a great weapon. Light weight, .223, and takes AR mags.
 
A few years ago I took a few recoil shy friends shooting. Between the ar15, mini 14, and m1 carbine, every single one of them choose the m1 carbine as the most pleasant and fun to shoot.
 
I'd go with the Mini-14. They're cheaper, more rugged and more reliable than the AR. The only thing the AR has on the Mini is accuracy, but the Mini is still plenty accurate enough to hit center of mass at 100 yards or less, which is accurate enough for your purposes.
 
Rifles?

I would like a old style M1 or a Korean war era M14 if I could find one. But carbines would be better for interior spaces and close in fighting. Or even a sub... ?

Mosberg Bantam 500 youth model with reduced recoil will do very well. I keep going back to this one on this thread, but if anyone is recoil sensiitve it's my spouse. We got it for like 260 or so retail.

Costs? 500? That all? It's going to be a constant cost with cleaning, ammunition, maintiance and accessories etc.

What else are we dealing with here?

I recall a person who turned in a carbine that was about the same length if not shorter than my 870 rem and I was impressed by how much lead he can place onto the target equal to or greater total weight than my 5 rounds.
 
I second the idea of a .30 caliber M-1 carbine. Most women who shoot them like them. You can get 10, 20 and 30 round magazines for them. The recoil on an M-1 is very light. They are easy to control and get back on target. There are all sorts of accessories for them that you can later on access should you want to upgrade your firearm.

Another thing to consider might also be a 10-22 Ruger carbine to start you off in development of your shooting techniques and firearms education. Understand that I am not suggesting the 10-22 as a primary means of personal protection in your case. This is because the .22 LR is not normally an ideal round for personal defense UNLESS you use it at close range and repeatedly do 2 to the chest and 1 to the head. And by letting the bad guy get close that may not be a good thing if the carbine were to jam or misfire on you. However, the 10-22 makes a great practice tool and the ammo is cheap. You can get a brick of 500 rounds with which to practice with for under $15.00 in most areas and at most farm supply outlet stores. And the 10-22, like the .30 caliber M-1 carbine, lets you accessorize it too. Many rifles and carbines don't have the accessories available to them that you can easily obtain. With the 10-22 and the M-1 you can often order stuff by mail to fix them the way you want them look, feel and work.
 
I have to agree with the shotgun crowd.

With limitations of $500 and sensitivity to recoil, the 20gauge is the perfect fit.

If you really want to stay in the rifle area, a pistol caliber carbine or the M1 carbine would be fantastic, but you're gonna pass your $500 mark in a hurry.
 
I'd lead towards a pistol caliber carbine from H&K or Beretta or an M1 Carbine. Equip it with a ight system and perhaps a red dot and you should be good to go. Pick up a few hundred rounds of good self defense ammo (read name brand hollowpoints) and some FMJ for range duty. Run at least 100 rounds of whatever ammo you intend to rely on for self defense to make sure it feeds and functions without any hiccups and keep the rest for defensive use. Another advantage of pistol caliber carbines is that many use the same magazines as that company's pistols. That way, you can own a pistol and rifle in the same caliber, and they can share the same magazines and ammo meaning fewer magazines to buy, less ammo to keep on hand, etc.

20 guage might also be a good option. If you're small framed, you might want to consider getting a youth sized model. Many shotguns seem to have stocks to long for small framed individuals.

An AR is a good choice as well, but will end up running more money. The rifle iteslf is more expensive, as is defensive ammo (I'd go for Hornady TAP). .223 ammo is also difficult to come by, at least down here, when compared to 9mm, .45, and .40.
 
I am surprised no one recommended the Kel-tec .223's. I don't have much experience with these, other than handling in a store and they seem flimsy in the stock and too lightly built to be robust. They do have many of the features you are looking for.

Shotguns won't replace a rifle. Not past 50 yds, not in reload speed, not in weight and bulk of ammo. they have their own charms but I would not confuse their roles and usefuleness. However, maybe what you really want is a shotgun after all. More thought required.

M1 carbines are about right but some of the commercial guns have reliability issues, and the GI guns are pricey as you are competing as a buyer with collectors. Also, the GI receivers do have cracking issues and who knows what you are buying.

Mini-14s are OK but the older ones lack accuracy. I owned 2 at different times and had love-hate issues.

Pistol caliber carbines are cool and will provide a lot of what you mention. Did you mention stopping power? If you did then maybe they are not right for you. I am a fan but they do not compare to a 5.56 let alone a .308.

You did not specify a semi auto. Unless I read your post wrong.

Could you live with a bolt gun? Pump? Don't jump to this answer but consider a Remmy pump in a lighter recoiling caliber. The folding stocks for remmy 20 gauge 870s fit the 7600 series guns. I may be wrong but I think you can get a 76xx in .243, and you can get 10 rd mags. This is not optimal. In fact I am almost about to backspace over this paragraph as I am typing.

I'd have to recommend an SKS. I would not go nuts on the accessories except to get a good quality polymer stock that looks roughly like the original contour. You can load from stripper clips pretty fast if you practice, and you have a semi auto with good accuracy, good punch, light recoil.

Take the rest of the $600 and go to a training course. Or put it back in the bank and save for something better.

If you think you can afford to wait, buy an AR lower receiver and then save up to buy the rest of the gun from reputable parts dealers. You will have the part that is considered a gun, and add parts as you can afford them. The AR is a better platform, and it will grow with you as your needs develop. Problem is, how to stop the zombies when all you have is a lower receiver in your hand.

You might be able to get an AR lower and an SKS both within your budget.

Sorry if I am all over tha map but this is a question that deserves much thought.
 
With weight and recoil being prime concerns, I'd recommend either a Hi-Point 9mm carbine ($200.00 new) and a few extra magazines and a case of wolf ammo, or the Kel-Tec folding .223 (much more expensive, but more powerful ammo). The factory stock on the H-P is kinda flimsy, but serviceable, and the ATI replacement stock, while a bit heavier, is inexpensive, rigid, and reduces the very light recoil even further. I have one with the ATI stock and a cheap red dot that is accurate, and a pleasure to shoot. Children and new shooters love it...
 
i'd suggest a mossberg 500/590 with knox spec ops stock, the stock makes the recoil very manageable. preferably a 590 because you can get a bayonet and it is fun to pick up a watermelon on the bayonet and shoot it off.
 
detachable mags.
Click to expand...

is you are planning on using detachable SKS mags on your HD gun, get an SKSd because it takes AK mags. dont ever trust your life to the unreliable tapco plastic mags.


SKS is better and it's far cheaper
Click to expand...

personal preference, IMO, AK is much better, more reliable, though SKS is also reliable, higher mag capacity. doesn't jam with Tapco mags. it is lighter, more maneuverable in a HD situation. and it holds it's value when you put the tackytickle junk all over it. if you do that to an SKS, the only people who will want to buy it are college kids who you trick into believing it is a vietnam bring back sniper rifle.
 
I'd recommend a Kel-tec Sub 2000 carbine, preferably in .40. They are light, compact, and the recoil from pistol cartridges in this setup is negligible.

I should add that they are a bit scarce right now, but they can be found.
 
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