Cheapish semi-auto "ranch" rifle?

A

ang4me

New member
Hey,
I'm interested in picking up a good, cheapish multipurpose semi-automatic rifle. I was thinking .223, but I would consider any caliber as long as it's not ridiculously expensive to shoot. Basically I want a gun that I can use as a "ranch gun" for coyotes and such, which would be decent as a home defense gun, and of course would come in handy in case of zombies (ICZ).

I'd prefer something that doesn't look like an assault rifle, to keep the women and parents in my life appeased. So that rules out the AK and the AR. I was thinking something along the lines of a Mini-14 or Cetme (with a wood stock). It would be nice to be able to do occasional hunting with it as well. I'd like to spend less than $800, and less is more! Actually the Mini-14 seems perfect, but apparently they're not too terribly accurate?

What are your recommendations?
 
IMO both the mini-14 and mini-30 would work great for you... SKS would probably also do the trick and can be found for 200 bucks
 
I second the sks, they aren't as cheap as when i got mine but they can still be had at a low price. I would recomend the carbine not the rifle length if you want to use it for home defence
 
I just got a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 in 40 caliber as a general muck-about carbine. Mainly bought it because it folds to 16" and is around $350. Those are available in 9mm and 40 caliber.

Also along what you are describing are any of the Winchester or Marlin lever actions or their clones. Many caliber options including some pistol calibers.

Third thing I thought of is a Remington 760 pump rifle/carbine. They are not made anymore but are available on gunbroker and such. Almost identical to a Remington 870 shotgun, only they are a rifle. Calibers available include all the common deer rifle calibers. I have one in a 30-06 with a 16" barrel I use as a hog gun. I shot my first deer with one in .270 caliber in 1965.
 
Last fall I was looking for the same thing. A ranch rifle / truck gun, what ever you want to call it. Something that could get a scratch in it, and it wouldn’t bother me. I bought a Saiga 223 with a 16 inch barrel. The receiver is an actual AK47. Made in the same factory as the military AK. So it’s every bit as reliable. But it has a synthetic sporter style stock, no pistol grip. From a distance, it looks like any other semi auto truck gun. It comes with a 10 round mag, so between the stock and the short mag, it looks politically correct. Once you get close enough, you can tell it’s an AK if you are at all familiar with them.

All I’ve done to mine is change out the sling swivels to Uncle Mike’s because the ones they come with are junk. Changed the rear sight to an aperture type, and I’m happy. I paid $425 for mine, a bit high but it came with a scope mount and an extra mag.
 
that the real beauty of the sks, price and function. you can buy the carbine, two cases of ammo, a bunch of stripper clips and still have money left over for beer. if you get one though you'll need to clean off all the cosmoline they put on it when it went in to storage, pay special attention to the firing pin. since it is a floating pin the cosmoline can make it stick and fire when the bolt closes
 
Hmmm, the SKS looks like a great option. $300-400 at a local gun show? It seems weird to buy such an old weapon (there aren't really new ones available, yeah?), but hey, I guess as long as it works...
 
You can find SKS's that haven't been fired or have been fired very little... The ones that have been sitting around in warehouses etc. bathed in cosmoline will be the same quality as when they came fresh off the production line... They're "brand new" in quality even if they're old in years... doesn't matter. ('Course I'm old and have been out of those loops for awhile so I'm not up on the latest...)
Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SKS

http://www.hk94.com/sks-rifle.php
 
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Definitely SKS.

It can double as a 150 yd deer gun.

There are several options for swapping the stock, if you are so inclined. I was not. I added about 2" of maple (from a tree out of my front yard) to the butt of mine, fitted the metal plate from my Swedish mauser, and painted it black.
Bullet proof. Plenty accurate for coyotes, probably to 100yds.... even more if you are capable.
CHEAP to shoot surplus ammo, and foreign made softpoint stuff is not terribly expensive.
 
ang4me
Cheapish semi-auto "ranch" rifle?
Click to expand...


Surprised no one mentioned...

$400 - Saiga in 7.62x39 and install a bullet guide from Dinzagarms and you'll be able to use standard inexpensive AK mags.

$500 - Kel-Tec SU-16 series - looks innocuous but is able to accept standard AR 5.56 mags.

Both have the sporterized look but has all the capabilities of their evil looking cousins.
 
This will be different but less afordable, and kind of a sleeper.
A Browning BAR.
Not the original, the modern sporting model.
Dont know if you can get them in .223 or not though.
 
What Scout said...

Older Mini's can be reasonably accurate. Certainly minute of 'yote...
I have a 188 that I've "modded out" that's solid 2 MOA with handloads.

Your usage is exactly what the Mini was designed for. That's why they're called a "Ranch Rifle"...

Too many people knock 'em because they try to make them what they aren't- a "precision" rifle.

The Mini-14 in stainless steel, with the Hogue composite stock, is an all-weather rifle that's perfect for the field, and definitely capable as a HD or SHTF rifle.

Their reliability is legendary. They'll eat just about anything without a FTF.

The SKS -while definitely a "must own" rifle, does not have a DBM which is a negative in my book for a primary home defense weapon.
 
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my recommendation is for a saiga in .223.

cant go wrong, but it is an AK platform, so if the fam is offended by it, i recommend the mini over the sks because the mini is shooting .223 which is arguably a better coyote round.

if you dont care that much, though, go with the sks and buy some after market detachable mags for it.
 
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