Suggestions on buying what Semi Auto Rifle (mini 14/30, saiga, sks, ak, keltec, etc.)

[juicebox1618]

first time gun owner lookin to buy a semi auto rifle and spend less than 1000 for home defense.. needs to be
1. very durable and reliable (this is important to me)
2. cheap and available parts and (very available) ammo (also very important)
3. important for it to be designed well (looking for input on different designs and models)
4. i dont want it to be inaccurate, but long range and target shooting is not so important to me. lookin for mid range accurate.
5. not very heavy or big
6. legal
7. want to invest in a good gun the first time so i dont have to buy another later on

looking to use nato (7.62 or 5.56) rounds (unless convinced otherwise). i was lookin at probably buying a mini 14 (or 30), saiga rifle, ak, or sks (unless convinced otherwise). im looking for pretty specific info too (if you think an ak is best, which model ex. yugo or east german, or what saiga rifle is best with what mods) definetly gonna mod it up to so if you have any info to share on that too... thanks guys, your helping out a novice. much appreciated.

[dieselpower]

first time gun owner lookin to buy a semi auto rifle and spend less than 1000 for home defense.. needs to be
1. very durable and reliable (this is important to me) AR15

2. cheap and available parts and (very available) ammo (also very important) AR15

3. important for it to be designed well (looking for input on different designs and models) AR15

4. i dont want it to be inaccurate, but long range and target shooting is not so important to me. lookin for mid range accurate. 16" AR15

5. not very heavy or big 16" lightweight AR15

6. legal 16" lightweight AR15 with BB or HH grip

7. want to invest in a good gun the first time so i dont have to buy another later on AR15

looking to use nato (7.62 or 5.56) rounds (unless convinced otherwise). i was lookin at probably buying a mini 14 (or 30), saiga rifle, ak, or sks (unless convinced otherwise). im looking for pretty specific info too (if you think an ak is best, which model ex. yugo or east german, or what saiga rifle is best with what mods) definetly gonna mod it up to so if you have any info to share on that too... thanks guys, your helping out a novice. much appreciated.

Yugo sks.. heavy gets even heavier when you mount mounts and rails then mount optics...

Mini-14, good, but an AR15 is better

Saiga, good. a bit heavy, limited like the SKS since once you start adding rails (good rails) it gets very heavy.

AK.. not as good as a Saiga, at least I am told that.

Why DONT you want an AR15? You did not forget to list it...don't even try saying that LOL.

[juicebox1618]

haha.. I thought ARs got really pricey.. 1000 dollars is my max, but iam one poor *** kid. i was also under the impression that AR's arent durable. correct me if im wrong (im sure u will haha)

[dieselpower]

haha.. I thought ARs got really pricey.. 1000 dollars is my max, but iam one poor *** kid. i was also under the impression that AR's arent durable. correct me if im wrong (im sure u will haha)

wrong on both counts. A well made AR15 will cost you $800 ish and be just as reliable as an AK. If you can push the $1000.00 to $1010.00 an AR15 on the snob list is within your grasp.

You can build a $500 AR15, that will work good, just not a war machine.

a $800-$900 AR15 is doable, and is a great rifle, just not the name on the side some people like to see.

$1000.00 gets you the basic snob name rifle

$1500.00 gets you a rifle guys take pictures of.

Start with Iron sights, then save for an optic.

[dieselpower]

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/st15-midlength-le-carbine-p-443.html

810.00
30.00 shipping
70.00 tax
50.00 FFL fee
25.00 DROS
25.00 mag lock
$1010.00 out the door

This is an awesome rifle.

[thunderbolt]

The other great thing about an AR is that it's extremely customizable. What a different caliber? Just get a new upper ect. With a few mods you can get whole new shooting tool. I took a little time and put together mine for around $850 without optics. AK's are fine if you're a commie worshiper. Just kidding, they are fine for what they are but since you didn't state you were interested in the 7.62x39 maybe not your first choice. The Saigas are a decent rifle and even the 308 would probably be in your price range.

My first rifle was a Kel Tec and it was a great rifle. Very accurate and sturdy plus really light and compact too. Not as many mods as an AR but you still can slap a pistol grip on it plus rails ect. My advice: get a Kel tec and lots of ammo and learn to shoot it well. Then maybe a good red dot.

[offrdmania]

You can buy/build an AK for about $500 easily and will be a proven "war machine"

wrong on both counts. A well made AR15 will cost you $800 ish and be just as reliable as an AK. If you can push the $1000.00 to $1010.00 an AR15 on the snob list is within your grasp.

You can build a $500 AR15, that will work good, just not a war machine.

a $800-$900 AR15 is doable, and is a great rifle, just not the name on the side some people like to see.

$1000.00 gets you the basic snob name rifle

$1500.00 gets you a rifle guys take pictures of.

Start with Iron sights, then save for an optic.

[comblock]

Hahahahaha

Let me rephrase your question:

What semi-auto rifle to buy FIRST!!!

I guarantee you wont stop on your first AR, or your first AK, or your first Mini, or your first whatever. But one thing for sure, you will have a great time thinking, researching, discussing, then discussing some more, buying, configuring and shooting!

Congrats on your first step to eternal happiness and continuous poverty!

[juicebox1618]

thanks again erryone // ARs are great, understood/// im really leanin toward an AR right now.. aside from ARs though.. any feed back on saigas or mini 14/30s or other rifles not previously mentioned.

i said i have 1000.. supposing i had $500-800 max for everything?

good ak's to look into?

[PEZHEAD265]

AK and SKS are 7.62 x39 not the 7.62x51 nato.You can shoot 7.62 nato out of a 308 but it's not good to shoot 308 out of a nato rifle because 308 has higher pressure.The samething about 223 can be shoot out of a 5.56 but it's not good to shoot 5.56 out of a 223.You should go down to the venders forum area and check out DD'S RANCH OR PEACHTREE and any other CA friendly dealers and see what they have TDS GUNS has a arsenial Saiga for 800 and that is a good base rifle to start out with.
Saiga is the only one in 308 and a stripped down verision starts out about 550-600 with out fees.The 7.62x39 and 5.56 start out at about 425.The Mini start out at about 550-600 or so they are all good

[juicebox1618]

whats the benefit of having 308? why does it cost more than 7.62 or 5.56? which one is better and which has cheaper ammo?

[23 Blast]

whats the benefit of having 308? why does it cost more than 7.62 or 5.56? which one is better and which has cheaper ammo?

.308 (or 7.62x51NATO), is a long-range, full power rifle round that is used in our military's sniper rifles. If home defense is all you really want out of your rifle, then this is overkill. It costs more because the round itself is larger and contains more powder, plus, because it is no longer the standard infantry round, it is not manufactured in the billions like .223 or 7.62x39.

If you're looking to stay under $1000, but trying to be comfortably under that for the purchase of ammo and accessories, then take a look at Saigas, and Minis. The drawbacks of AK and AR rifles in CA is that, unless you configure them as "featureless" rifles, you'll have to use a bullet button on them. That's why the Saigas (which are basically AK rifles with sporter stocks on them instead of the pistol gripped ones) and Minis are good choices.

[McCrown]

I've shot ARs, a Saiga, and a Mini (all in 223). All of them felt good. But the mini felt better to me than the saiga, and the AR felt better than the mini (although my featurless compared to the mini is still a toss up). But the big difference is the accuracy and parts available/customization. I have not had a single problem with any of them. Although the mini throws brass 30 ft and the saiga is nearly as bad.

[dieselpower]

You can buy/build an AK for about $500 easily and will be a proven "war machine"

LOL...

[skylovia]

Sir, I believe your looking for either a WASR 10/63 or a Saiga. Both are great options.