Best CA Legal "Battle Rifle" for $1k or less?

[Arnelcheeze]

M1A, a bit over $1000

[nicoroshi]

Every rifle owner should have at least one M1 Garand.
Nothing says lovin like 30.06

[23 Blast]

Ziggy,

so are you set on that PTR? It's not a bad choice at all. But when you say "battle rifle" - gun folks like us are thinking in terms of a semi-auto rifle in a full-power cartridge, which typically means those NATO rifles fielded after WW2, but before the introduction of the smaller .223 cartridge and all the guns that fire it. Typically, such "battle rifles" are going to cost well over a grand, and their ammo is quite expensive too.

But if you're looking for an all-around, good-for-everything type of rifle, then you have the whole AK/AR worlds and everything they offer. AKs and their variants are typically cheaper than ARs and their variants, and ammo for the AK rifles are cheaper as well.

Another option (which no one has mentioned yet) is the Mini 14. It's based on the Garand action, and is chambered in .223. Newer ones are quite accurate, and their reputation for reliability and suitability as a working gun and knockabout gun makes it a good candidate for a "do-everything" rifle. They also come standard with scope rings, and best of all, unlike guns with pistol grips (which most military-derived rifles have these days), you don't need to deal with bullet buttons or any of that nonsense.

[Ziggy91]

But if you're looking for an all-around, good-for-everything type of rifle, then you have the whole AK/AR worlds and everything they offer. AKs and their variants are typically cheaper than ARs and their variants, and ammo for the AK rifles are cheaper as well.

I would definitely get an AR if I found one for a very good price that would be well equipped, as in scope and furniture, because it would be much cheaper to shoot. As for an AK... there's already a pre-ban Romanian in the safe so that's a no go.

Unfortunately my smart and economical side wants the AR, however my immature and fun side wants the PTR for the sole purpose of living my dream of having an H&K G3 (even though the PTR is close enough for me.) It's all going to come down to luck... my plan is to buy either one for my birthday in a few months so I still have time to ponder.