Thinking About First "Military-Style" Rifle...
- Thread starter SCDeac82
- Start date
Mrgunsngear
New member
Well, in that range you can get a new AR or relatively high end AK. Since you live in SC, I'd look hard at the PSA ARs. I have 2 and they're great rifles.
That said, I'm a big AK fan as well. For $750, you can get an Arsenal AK from budsgunshop.com. That rifle will likely be unbelievably rugged and reliable. At SD ranges, the AK rounds are devastating (so are the 556 rounds for that matter...). Maintenance is much easier than the ARs as well. If you're not familiar with either platform, the AKs will seem much simpler.
So, for just one rifle---I'd pick up an AK.
That said, I'm a big AK fan as well. For $750, you can get an Arsenal AK from budsgunshop.com. That rifle will likely be unbelievably rugged and reliable. At SD ranges, the AK rounds are devastating (so are the 556 rounds for that matter...). Maintenance is much easier than the ARs as well. If you're not familiar with either platform, the AKs will seem much simpler.
So, for just one rifle---I'd pick up an AK.
spyderdude
New member
Your options on ARs is really only limited by your budget and intended use. The AKs might be a little more limited on selection but you can still get a pretty good deal on Romanian WASR 10s which some might say are garbage but I never had any issues with the one I used to own. You can also still have a brand new AR for 700-900 dollars and if you're willing to save a little bit more you can buy a Colt 6920 for right around 1,000 dollars. The Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport is getting good reviews and can be had for well under your budget but I don't know how well those would hold up to hard use. Some people will tell you to build an AR but for first time buyers I advocate going with a complete rifle, that way if something is defective in the workmanship of the rifle you're not stuck trying to figure out which part is causing the issue(s) and having to contact the individual parts manufacturers. If you want an AK type rifle the Romanians are decent but if you can try to find a Chinese, Yugoslavian, or buy an Arsenal variant. I own a Polish 1960 which has a milled receiver that I bought for 700 dollars last February. I imagine the supply on those has pretty much dried up by now since the originals were found in a bunker, had their receivers cut, parts shipped over here to the US and rebuilt into civilian legal AK rifles.
Thanks plouff. I wasn't familiar with Arsenal.
Checked out some positive reviews online just now.
(New puppies-go out to potty @ 2:30 a.m. every night.
)
I'm a little hesitant to buy Russian stuff, but I guess I can get over that.
Is there much difference in ammo cost comparing the 7 X 39 vs the .223?
Thanks.
Checked out some positive reviews online just now.
(New puppies-go out to potty @ 2:30 a.m. every night.
)I'm a little hesitant to buy Russian stuff, but I guess I can get over that.
Is there much difference in ammo cost comparing the 7 X 39 vs the .223?
Thanks.
trg42wraglefragle
New member
Military style rifle you say.
Personally I like the look of the Lee Enfield No1 SMLE, beautiful looking gun with the ability to mount a mean looking bayonet.
The No4s look nice too, but I prefer the SMLE.
Only problem is 303 ammo ain't the cheapest.
But you won't be just pouring ammo down range so it'l be ok.
A friend of mine has a 1943 K98 Mauser in 8mm Mauser, that's a nice gun too.
Ammo ain't cheap for them either, but if you get an Israeli one that's been converted to 308 then ammo will be cheap as.
I also really like the SVD Dragunov, ammo for them can be had really cheap.
Not as classy as a Lee Enfield or K98, but you still be the coolest gun on the range with it.
Personally I like the look of the Lee Enfield No1 SMLE, beautiful looking gun with the ability to mount a mean looking bayonet.
The No4s look nice too, but I prefer the SMLE.
Only problem is 303 ammo ain't the cheapest.
But you won't be just pouring ammo down range so it'l be ok.
A friend of mine has a 1943 K98 Mauser in 8mm Mauser, that's a nice gun too.
Ammo ain't cheap for them either, but if you get an Israeli one that's been converted to 308 then ammo will be cheap as.
I also really like the SVD Dragunov, ammo for them can be had really cheap.
Not as classy as a Lee Enfield or K98, but you still be the coolest gun on the range with it.
Achilles11B
New member
Brass-cased 5.556/.223 is pretty easy to get in bulk from good manufacturers. 7.62x39 is also dirt cheap, but steel-cased. While this won't be a problem in your AK, which was designed to take steel-cased ammo, some batches are corrosive. Brass-cased 7.62x39 can be found, but it's a bit more expensive. The ease of purchasing bulk quantities of good 5.56/.223, be it FMJ or M855 or whatever, might be something to weigh when comparing the two.
Self defense implies being able to do that in a much larger time frame. It's luck of the draw that you will only be assaulted when you happen to have access to a long arm.
For inexpensive, pick up a Ruger semi auto pistol in .380 or 9mm, shoot it some to be familiar, and get all the training to pass a CCW. Then you will have the big picture covered - a gun ready to hand at a moment's notice all day long.
You can only do that with a rifle in a combat zone, or a backwoods hunting trip. The reality of peaceful life in America is very obvious. Have you seen people walking around with rifles 24/7 in the streets going to work?
Since the rifle will be stored in a gun rack at home or the vehicle 99% of the time you own it, all you need a a capable caliber and reliable action. A lever .30-30 could do that on a $900 budget, leaving plenty of money for the pistol and half a dozen good holsters.
As for the need of using a military grade weapon with 30 round magazine in self defense, if they saw you had it, likely nothing else would. On those rare occasions where they do, less than three shots settles it.
Which means, buy the gun you really like, cause if you don't enjoy what it is, then the money you spent to have one would be like having to buy a hammer. It just sits on the tool bench until you use it and throw it down again. Nobody daydreams about using a hammer for fun during the day.
Setting up some cans or targets at the range and blasting holes in them, yeah.
For inexpensive, pick up a Ruger semi auto pistol in .380 or 9mm, shoot it some to be familiar, and get all the training to pass a CCW. Then you will have the big picture covered - a gun ready to hand at a moment's notice all day long.
You can only do that with a rifle in a combat zone, or a backwoods hunting trip. The reality of peaceful life in America is very obvious. Have you seen people walking around with rifles 24/7 in the streets going to work?
Since the rifle will be stored in a gun rack at home or the vehicle 99% of the time you own it, all you need a a capable caliber and reliable action. A lever .30-30 could do that on a $900 budget, leaving plenty of money for the pistol and half a dozen good holsters.
As for the need of using a military grade weapon with 30 round magazine in self defense, if they saw you had it, likely nothing else would. On those rare occasions where they do, less than three shots settles it.
Which means, buy the gun you really like, cause if you don't enjoy what it is, then the money you spent to have one would be like having to buy a hammer. It just sits on the tool bench until you use it and throw it down again. Nobody daydreams about using a hammer for fun during the day.
Setting up some cans or targets at the range and blasting holes in them, yeah.
VZ.58
Since you don't have a bias either way just yet, I'd heartily recommend a Vz.58 from Czechpoint. It might just be my favorite rifle to shoot.
Since you don't have a bias either way just yet, I'd heartily recommend a Vz.58 from Czechpoint. It might just be my favorite rifle to shoot.
Re: Self Defense Tools...
I'm all set with pistols & a 12 Ga. SG...just thinking about a worst case scenario, such as helping defend the neighborhood if something really spooky happened...
I'm leaning toward the Arsenal SGL21. Looks like it can be ordered for around $800, which is about $100 more than the Mini 30 Tactical.
I am not mechanically inclined, so the less complicated the better.
I'm all set with pistols & a 12 Ga. SG...just thinking about a worst case scenario, such as helping defend the neighborhood if something really spooky happened...
I'm leaning toward the Arsenal SGL21. Looks like it can be ordered for around $800, which is about $100 more than the Mini 30 Tactical.
I am not mechanically inclined, so the less complicated the better.
Mrgunsngear
New member
Grabagun has the SGLs for $750
Nickel Plated
New member
Lol what's wrong with Russian stuff? Heck the one thing we seem to excel at making is firearms
I would pick the AK but I have a bias. Not that I don't like ARs, I love em (the old school ones atleast, not that Magpul garbage) But if I were to buy just 1 rifle, it would almost be my duty as a Russian to go with the AK, everything else comes second
. And it would definitely be a Saiga-based Arsenal in 5.45 flavor.As for customizing, I don't see a problem. For a HD gun all you need is a flashlight and maybe optic. Both of those things can be easily clamped to an AK without any bulky, heavy rails. Go with Russian optics for bonus points.
Ignition Override
New member
Surplus 8mm ammo should still be a good bit cheaper than the lowest-priced .308 or 7.62 Nato.
A quick check on "Ammo seek" can always help.
robertsig beat me to the suggestion of the VZ-58.
People who have tried an AK-47 clone and switched to the VZ-58 are always glad that they did so.
Most people have never heard of it, and for that huge number of young male gun owners who expect to be in a "Road Warrior" scenario (any day now), with a gang attacking their gasoline compound (which Must be where they live....) they might only trust the classic AK clones, due to "brand recognition".
Mention any VZ, and because imports of 58s only began several years ago, and from a single country, you will probably get only a blank stare.
A quick check on "Ammo seek" can always help.
robertsig beat me to the suggestion of the VZ-58.
People who have tried an AK-47 clone and switched to the VZ-58 are always glad that they did so.
Most people have never heard of it, and for that huge number of young male gun owners who expect to be in a "Road Warrior" scenario (any day now), with a gang attacking their gasoline compound (which Must be where they live....) they might only trust the classic AK clones, due to "brand recognition".
Mention any VZ, and because imports of 58s only began several years ago, and from a single country, you will probably get only a blank stare.
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