Semi-auto .308s

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Blade37db

New member
Been out shopping for a new rifle and I'm pretty sure I want a semi-auto .308 (no bolt action or pump action). I've got about $700 to spend. That puts the Benelli R1 and Browning Lightweight Stalker out of my price range (plus the mags are ridiculously expensive). My first choice would be a Saiga .308 but can't seem to find them. Waiting to hear from the store to see if they can order it. Came across a Remington 750 Woodmaster with a synthetic stock and an 18.5" barrel for $650. Felt nice and balanced. Mags were $32 (4 round). Anyone have any experience with these (not the older 7400s)?
Are there any other good semi-auto .308s out there that I'm not thinking of (in that price range)?
Thanks.
 
I think you can get FALs for that price range too. I got a Century one for a little under your $700 price point, and I've been pretty happy with it. In my case, I did find that I had to spend more to get real mil-surp magazines (Austrian) in order for them to fit and work properly, even though I have the common metric pattern rifle. That means maybe $30 or so per mag including shipping to get a few that work, but I had to do something similar and pay more for good mags for the twice-as-expensive M1A rifle, too. Just the way it seems to be with many FALs and M1As.

Also check out a CETME pattern rifle, I think they're in your price range too. A lot of people seem to like those, although I don't have personal experience with one myself.
 
I think you can find a saiga 308. Did you check gun broker and K-Var?
What about Atlantic firearms?
Also in that range would be a Winchester 100.
 
High capacity magazines are available for the Remington you mentioned.
Or at least they used to be.
My brother bought several some years back.
 
The 750 is a fine gun and yes you can buy hi-cap mags for the 750. I like the carbine versions with synthetic stocks alot as well. I would get one over a saiga just because its probably alot more accurate and scope mounting wouldnt be an issue.
 
I've been searching for the same thing.

I've found my price range to keep going up.

$500-1000 cheap FAL, Saiga
$1000+ AR15 308
$1500+ M1A

I'm sure this isn't all inclusive but it's what I've found.
 
If going FAL consider a used DSA. Much higher quality than the Century. The DSA basic model with 18" barrel is running $1700 new, but look around for a used one in the $700 range and you'll have a world class rifle. Century, not so much.

I've never owned a Saiga but a friend had one and loved it. He sold it for 2x what he originally paid for it. They are becoming higher priced and harder to find as people are discovering their value. Good luck if you can find one.

The Remingtons are hunting rifles so are built to different standards. If you are going that class of firearm I'd try to find a used Browning. Better quality, longer life. I don't know anything about the Beretta rifles; I've owned a Beretta shotgun for trap shooting that's been flawless for 15 years and several thousand rounds, though.
 
A used CETME is an option too. You should be able to find one for about $500 or so and mags are cheap.
 
I have a very good reliable CETME - it'll be my 'go to' rifle in case of any SYTF troubles. Got plenty magazines (cheap!) and ammo (handloaded 7.62X51), and that's the problem. The CETME does NOT do well with commercial .308Win - it's brutal extraction tends to rip the thinner commercial brass apart.
My hunting buddy and I just shot and sighted in his old neglected Browning BAR. He was thinking of selling it, as it did not like his handload .308Win in 165 grain. Luckily, it did very well with factory Remington 150 grain Coreloct loads. It's now his 'dog hunting gun', so he won't be banging up his more expensive bolties.
The BAR should be availble used in your price range. Don't know if hi-caps are availble though.
 
The BAR should be availble used in your price range. Don't know if hi-caps are availble though.
Click to expand...

A used Browning BAR in decent condition should be within the $700 price range.

High-capacity magazines are not available for the Browning BAR series hunting rifles. The magazines snap into a hinged floorplate, which means that even if you could have one made, there would be no way for it to snap into/be retained by the gun.
 
Browning Bar is a fine hunting rifle with real good accuracy. You give up magazine capacity, but make up for it by having a good reliable hunting rifle. It is all according to what you are wanting, you will have to make the decision.
 
DMPS makes an AR-10 (Panther) that has a street price of about a grand, new...
They're great shooting rifles, if you can stretch your budget a tiny bit you should be able to find one used for close to what you want to spend.
 
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