What's your favorite cheap military service rifle clone/replica of any kind?

This isn't just limited to the civilian versions of U.S. military service rifles, but also all other countries' ones too.

So, for example, the semi-auto AK-47 clone/replica things that are civilian legal and only cost like $500 or whatever would be one example of the types of guns I am referring to.

Or the semi-auto AR-15 civilian version of the m-16 or m-4 u.s. service rifles would be another example.

However, in the past century, there have been tons and tons of other service arms, in both the U.S. military, as well as the hundreds of other countries around the world, and I'm sure there are tons of other really cool military service arms that have come and gone over the decades that, despite not being well known amongst the general public, are often great guns that maybe go for pretty cheap in their civilian clone/replica form.

I want to buy some of these sorts of guns, for fun, but I don't want to spend a fortune on one, nor do I want to buy one that is cheap, but crappy. I am interested in ones which are great guns for the money, where they don't cost much, but are really good guns. I suspect that you ultra-gun knowledgeable crowd probably know of some really good ones to check out, and I'd love to hear some of your favorites, and recommendations.

Keep in mind, I am a California resident, so, this might limit me in some ways, but, I'm sure there's still tons of great guns that I could get, that would be a good bang for the buck, in this category.

Okay, ready go!

 

GSG5 - great shooting .22 HKMP5 clone
Arsenal AKs - not clones but semi-auto versions
FAL type rifles
Suomi kits

 

M1 Garand - the old reliable. Not cheap but authentic
M1 Carbine - again the real deal
SIG 522 - the .22 little brother of the 556
Mosins in all their variety. Heck you can get 4 for $500

 

I like ALL of the bolt action military rifles of the WWI - WWII time period, and I'd like to have a complete set. They aren't as cheap as they used to be, but the prices still aren't outrageous, and all of them are California Legal.

 

Parker Hale Enfield Mk 4#1
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One of the most well-made, accurate, and blazing-fast to operate rifles you could buy is a Swiss K-31. They are usually regarded as one of the top two or three most accurate bolt-action military rifles ever (fighting for top honors with the Swedish Mausers) and they are a wonder of both engineering and production quality. Really REALLY nice rifles.

I bought mine for $125 a few years ago, but now they're generally over $300.

The Swiss GP11 surplus ammo is all "match grade" -- and that means something. I've shot true 1" groups off a bench with it with the iron sights. Unfortunately it is not reloadable, but reloadable cases are now available and you can use any .308" bullet to roll your own. (Power is something between .300 Savage and .308 Win.)

 

It's a tie between the K-31 and the No.4 Mk.1 for me.

Unfortunately, I've never personally owned either. My dream is to own a K31 (with new wood) in .308 and a No.4 Mk.1 in .30-30...

 

Dont forget all of the service handguns as well.

Tokarev pistols and Nagant revolvers and fairly cheap and fun to shoot. Plus they have lots of history.

 

Mosins are a blast to shoot!! I also like the SKS platform for some reason. Always have and always will.

And if you already own an AR-15 like I do, I think the .22 conversion would be a neat little toy. I haven't tried one yet, but would like to sometime.

 

1+ Mosin

 

Hmm, too hard to pick a favorite right now. But how's about a list?

FAL
M1A
Lee Enfield (any version)
Mosin Nagant

 

The Enfield #4, #5 and M-1 Garand are equally fun to shoot, and all have aperture sights with nice, thin front posts.

The only bad clone that I had was an Auto Ordnance M-1 Carbine (bought late in '07), which suffered a jammed bolt when firing.
In stark contrast to my total ignorance back then, my suggestion is to read a good bit before ever buying one.

The Norinco SKS clone has been almost perfect, maybe three stove bolts in over 2,000 rds., using only Wolf and Monarch.
One key advantage for a .30 caliber: the 7.62x39 ammo is back to about .20/round.

 

The mosin nagant family is the first thing that comes to mind but just about every military rifle has something i like about it.

 

swedish mausers are pretty hard to beat i think you can still get a nice one for around 300$

 

The Finnish M-39 is my favorite bolt action military rifle, followed by the Lee Enfield No.4 Mk 1. I don't own either right now though.

For cheap shooting with a somewhat economical rifle, I'd suggest an SKS.

Another choice - the 10/22 set up with one of the M-1 Carbine conversion stocks. I think that would be a very cool rifle that anyone could afford to shoot all day long.

 

Ishapore Enfields in .308.

 

Actually, you can get 5 for 400$.

 

The one I probably wind up plinking with the most is my Chinese SKS, because it's pretty accurate with the iron sights, and because I still have a case and a half of cheap 7.62x39 surplus ammo to use up.

 

Garand, Mosin, AR.

 

I would say the semi-auto M-14s, but they aren't exactly cheap by much of anybody's standards, unless you find a really good deal on one from some moron at a gun show.

A cheap rifle that is truly great, and is almost as good as an M-14 at less than half the price, is an M-1 Garand from the CMP. Those are not a clone/replica, either... they are real deal USGI rifles. You can get them for $500 for a field grade. That is the deal of the century in firearms in my opinion.

Come to an Appleseed, and we will get you CMP certified.

 

Favorite cheap military clone... has got to be the AK-47 series. They're not always pretty or precise, but they're powerful, reliable, and easy to operate and maintain.

Apart from that, you can get them in calibers such as 5.56mm and even .30-06 if you look into those Saiga rifles.

 

H&K 91 is my "go to" rifle. I have AKs and Ars and like them a lot.
H&K has the combo of 7.62 X 51, accuracy and reliability.

 

favorites...

I like semi auto aks 47s or 74s. Mausers are also a big favorite. If you do get a good ak or a good mauser be nice to them and don t shoot corrosive ammo through them. there is a lot of good non corrosive ammo out there ranging from domestic brands to European. Prvi Partizan and Sellior & Bellot are 2 great European brands. If you do shoot corrosive you will be cleaning thoroughly with hot water. Still the best. Check it again after a day or two and re-clean and oil or rust will come back. Like your governor says "Ill be back" and so will the rust too.

 

Manlicker Carcano M1938 7.35mm or any French rifle. They saw very little service.

 

For my money, the Garand.

I bet nobody's wondering WHY I'm getting into reloading.($ OUCH $)