HALLAUSTIN
New member
I am looking into the market of the semiautomatic rifles, but i have a relatively low budget for a rifle, i am looking for something preferrably mag fed. But i was also wondering about a low cost m1. Any thoughts?
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I need a low priced but accurate semiautomatic rifle please help
- Thread starter HALLAUSTIN
- Start date
HALLAUSTIN
New member
Im lookin for about 3inch groupings at 300yards. I dont need a 1000yard gun or anything... i would also be openminded to an 18 inch barreled ar styled rifle
you are looking for a 1 MOA semi-auto rifle AND you are looking for an inexpensive one.
good luck.
now that i am done ridiculing you (sorry...had to make the point), let me say this: we dont know what you want to do with this rifle (large game? varmint? target? range plinking?) and we dont know what your definition of "low cost" is. some guys will drop $2000 for a gun without batting an eye, others wouldnt even look at guns that were priced that high.
so, what is your poison, and what is your budget?
im not sure about the old m1's, but i know that for new M1A's, 2-3 MOA is realistic.
just as an informational tip (if you know this already, then sorry): MOA is a measurement of an angle which translates 1 MOA into about 1 inch at 100 yards, 2 inches at 200 yards, 3 inches at 300 yards, 5 inches at 500 yards, 10 inches at 1000 yards, etc. (2 MOA would be 2 inches at 100 yards, 4 inches at 200 yards...) You are looking for 3 inches at 300 yards, so you want a 1 MOA rifle, which is pretty good for autoloading. and pretty good does not come pretty cheap.
one more thing: a 1 moa rifle is certainly a 1000 yard gun. russian snipers use 3 moa rifles (tigr's) at 900 yards....
good luck.
now that i am done ridiculing you (sorry...had to make the point), let me say this: we dont know what you want to do with this rifle (large game? varmint? target? range plinking?) and we dont know what your definition of "low cost" is. some guys will drop $2000 for a gun without batting an eye, others wouldnt even look at guns that were priced that high.
so, what is your poison, and what is your budget?
im not sure about the old m1's, but i know that for new M1A's, 2-3 MOA is realistic.
just as an informational tip (if you know this already, then sorry): MOA is a measurement of an angle which translates 1 MOA into about 1 inch at 100 yards, 2 inches at 200 yards, 3 inches at 300 yards, 5 inches at 500 yards, 10 inches at 1000 yards, etc. (2 MOA would be 2 inches at 100 yards, 4 inches at 200 yards...) You are looking for 3 inches at 300 yards, so you want a 1 MOA rifle, which is pretty good for autoloading. and pretty good does not come pretty cheap.
one more thing: a 1 moa rifle is certainly a 1000 yard gun. russian snipers use 3 moa rifles (tigr's) at 900 yards....
603Country
New member
Both Dad and I had BAR Brownings, with mine in 270 and his in 308. Mine was spotlessly clean and his was never clean, and they both worked fine for many years. I handloaded for mine and it was a real nice shooter. Only complaint Dad and I ever had on the rifle was that it was really heavy.
You might find a deal on an old Remington 742. It was lighter than the BAR and still a pretty good shooter.
If you want a BAR in 270 with a Leupold 6X scope, my brother (who never hunts anymore) might sell you the one that I sold him. Last time I saw it, it was in great shape. If that interests you, contact me with a direct note and I'll put you in touch with him (in east central Louisiana). I expect he'd make you a good deal (but a good bit more than $300).
You might find a deal on an old Remington 742. It was lighter than the BAR and still a pretty good shooter.
If you want a BAR in 270 with a Leupold 6X scope, my brother (who never hunts anymore) might sell you the one that I sold him. Last time I saw it, it was in great shape. If that interests you, contact me with a direct note and I'll put you in touch with him (in east central Louisiana). I expect he'd make you a good deal (but a good bit more than $300).
603Country
New member
308,
You just asked about the Browning BLR, the lever rifle. I doubt a gunsmith would ever need to disassemble it. You could clean it adequately. But if you meant to ask about the BAR, the answer is the same. You won't need a gunsmith. You can clean it yourself, though it isn't quick like bolt action cleaning. And once a year, you should clean the gas piston section. It's not hard to do, but get a manual on it so you won't have extra parts or improperly installed parts. And after it's been shot a bazillion times, the buffer (plastic shock absorber thingie) will probably need replacing, but that's not tough to do either and it's not expensive. It was, and is, a great shooting rifle. Mine never failed me, and my longest shot was 365 yards.
You just asked about the Browning BLR, the lever rifle. I doubt a gunsmith would ever need to disassemble it. You could clean it adequately. But if you meant to ask about the BAR, the answer is the same. You won't need a gunsmith. You can clean it yourself, though it isn't quick like bolt action cleaning. And once a year, you should clean the gas piston section. It's not hard to do, but get a manual on it so you won't have extra parts or improperly installed parts. And after it's been shot a bazillion times, the buffer (plastic shock absorber thingie) will probably need replacing, but that's not tough to do either and it's not expensive. It was, and is, a great shooting rifle. Mine never failed me, and my longest shot was 365 yards.
HALLAUSTIN
New member
I have done a bit more research and decided that i would just like to be able to hit a man/deer sized target at 300yards. As far as price i am comfortable putting $1000 into a rifle not including optics
BLR- Browning Lever Rifle in .308.. Ive had one- first or old model with the sorta funny-lookin magazine- for nigh 40 years now and it's been my main or only hunting rifle all this time. No issues, and cleaning has always been pretty quick n easy. Made in Belgium with deep deep bluing, and I can remember the first scratch on the stock, made while climbing a boulder in the mtns. Other than having scopes mounted it's never been to a gunsmith. Slick piece of machinery, scoped and slinged it does well at distance but recoils a bit and a LARGE-ish fireball. It has taken a few different ammo types, including my handloads and some military stuff. Mine has a tight chamber and needs the small base type of reloading die. Dont know if they all do/did but it's something to consider in a .308 rifle if you want to shoot handloads or surplus. Knowing what I do now, it wouldnt have been my choice for an all-round hunting rifle but when I bought it- I had money, more pride than brains and looooved that Browning! Never been tempted to part with it which tells a lot about it's usefulness and quality- guns come and go like wind thru the desert with me. Or did before settling into what I like and what works for me.
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saddlerocker
New member
get an AR with a 20" barrel
Lots of decent options out there for around $1,000
Look at Del-Ton for low priced/decent quality options
If 5.56 is too small look at Armalite for the AR-10 in .308 maybe
Lots of decent options out there for around $1,000
Look at Del-Ton for low priced/decent quality options
If 5.56 is too small look at Armalite for the AR-10 in .308 maybe
Mannlicher
New member
wanting quality enough to shoot MOA out to 300 yards, and yet be 'inexpensive', is going to be a tough match.
Best bet may well be looking at the 'for sale' sections of gun forums.
Best bet may well be looking at the 'for sale' sections of gun forums.
need more info.
What caliber do you want? In other words, what do you plan to DO with it? Hunt? Punch holes in paper? Home defense/urban warfare?
I agree with the Remington 76 series (or was it the 74 series?) Whichever one is the semi-auto. You can get those in a variety of calibers that will do nearly anything you can do with a rifle, and they are usually under 400 dollars on the used market.
I am fairly certain you can find aftermarket 10rd magazines for them, as well.
If you go with an AR in .223, you are limited to paper punching and home defense/urban warfare. They aren't big game hunting rifles.
Browning auto rifles are very nice as well, but more expensive, usually.
What caliber do you want? In other words, what do you plan to DO with it? Hunt? Punch holes in paper? Home defense/urban warfare?
I agree with the Remington 76 series (or was it the 74 series?) Whichever one is the semi-auto. You can get those in a variety of calibers that will do nearly anything you can do with a rifle, and they are usually under 400 dollars on the used market.
I am fairly certain you can find aftermarket 10rd magazines for them, as well.
If you go with an AR in .223, you are limited to paper punching and home defense/urban warfare. They aren't big game hunting rifles.
Browning auto rifles are very nice as well, but more expensive, usually.
As far as semi-auto hunting rifles go, you really only have a few options....
1. Browning BAR (to include newer MkII Safari's) is my favorite. I have one in .30/06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, .338 Win Mag and I just picked one up in .25/06 Remington not too long ago. They are good shooting guns, on par with most hunting-grade bolt-action rifles. I've been able to put up 1/2" groups some days, others I can barely manage 2" @ 100yds. But they are awesome guns that will last a lifetime. Though they are a tad on the heavy side due to all steel and real wood construction. An alloy and composite one is available (called the "Lightweight Stalker" I think) that weighs in around 7lbs IIRC. Expect to pay $600-$800 used in good condition, around $1k new.
2. Browning BAR (Short-Trac & Long-Trac). These rifles are nice, have just come onto market in the last 5 years or so. They are a bit more modern in appearance compared to the BAR MkII Safari's. They use an aluminum alloy receiver which saves on weight. Expect prices to match that of the other BAR's.
3. Remington 74 series. I have no experience with these guns at all. Know a few guys that have them and they kill deer with them just fine... I've seen them go for as little as $400 used, I'm not sure if Remington even makes these rifles anymore.
4. Benelli R1. I don't have a clue about this one. Never seen one in person, don't know anyone who has one. But, for the money they want for one, I'd buy a Browning and know that I'm getting a good lifetime gun.
5. AR-15 & AR-10 variants. You can get AR's in a whole slew of calibers from .204 Ruger on up to .50 Beowulf and everything in between. However, the AR-10 variants that you can get in calibers like .308 Winchester, .338 Federal, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, etc. are generally just as heavy as a Browning BAR by the time it's all said and done. Prices can be anywhere from $600-$1500 for most, used and/or new. Though there are a lot of AR's out there that cost more than a decent used truck.
That's about all the ones I can think of...
1. Browning BAR (to include newer MkII Safari's) is my favorite. I have one in .30/06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, .338 Win Mag and I just picked one up in .25/06 Remington not too long ago. They are good shooting guns, on par with most hunting-grade bolt-action rifles. I've been able to put up 1/2" groups some days, others I can barely manage 2" @ 100yds. But they are awesome guns that will last a lifetime. Though they are a tad on the heavy side due to all steel and real wood construction. An alloy and composite one is available (called the "Lightweight Stalker" I think) that weighs in around 7lbs IIRC. Expect to pay $600-$800 used in good condition, around $1k new.
2. Browning BAR (Short-Trac & Long-Trac). These rifles are nice, have just come onto market in the last 5 years or so. They are a bit more modern in appearance compared to the BAR MkII Safari's. They use an aluminum alloy receiver which saves on weight. Expect prices to match that of the other BAR's.
3. Remington 74 series. I have no experience with these guns at all. Know a few guys that have them and they kill deer with them just fine... I've seen them go for as little as $400 used, I'm not sure if Remington even makes these rifles anymore.
4. Benelli R1. I don't have a clue about this one. Never seen one in person, don't know anyone who has one. But, for the money they want for one, I'd buy a Browning and know that I'm getting a good lifetime gun.
5. AR-15 & AR-10 variants. You can get AR's in a whole slew of calibers from .204 Ruger on up to .50 Beowulf and everything in between. However, the AR-10 variants that you can get in calibers like .308 Winchester, .338 Federal, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, etc. are generally just as heavy as a Browning BAR by the time it's all said and done. Prices can be anywhere from $600-$1500 for most, used and/or new. Though there are a lot of AR's out there that cost more than a decent used truck.
That's about all the ones I can think of...
mapsjanhere
New member
Hi $1000 price target puts a lot of decent options on the table. Browning BAR, AR -10, AR-15, used H&K SL6 if he can find one, maybe a deal on the new FNAR. Comes down to style, black rifle or hunting?
hornetguy said:I agree with the Remington 76 series (or was it the 74 series?) Whichever one is the semi-auto.
Remington 76 series is pump-action/slide-action.
Remington 74 series is semi-auto.
rickyrick said:no one mentioned the mini14
I didn't because I don't like .223 Rem for deer hunting, especially at 300yds. Plus, the OP is looking for a gun that will be accurate at 300yds; and, quite frankly, Mini-14's aren't exactly stellar in the accuracy department.
Disclaimer: These statements are opinions only and are not intended to start a mini-14 versus the world thread.