Need your opinion on getting my first rifle.

[soda_pop]

Hello everyone! So I am getting my first handgun this month sometime soon, and my next step is to get a rifle. I am on a budget, but don't want some cheap made gun.

First, I am sort of stuck in between the SKS and the M1 carbine. I have not fired either, but have held them, and well...I like the feeling of both of them. I chose the m1 for range, and accuracy, the SKS for reliability based on reviews and opinions. Please share your opinion, give me a lecture/history lesson.

My writing skills may not be that great lol.
Thank you

[ElvenSoul]

SKS simply for ammo available

[purer00r]

Budget wise, feeding the m1 is going to cost more than 7.62x39.

[ElvenSoul]

Why not a AR15?

[NOTABIKER]

I love my SKS. very reliable and ammo is cheap. even during the darkest days of the ammo shortage i could walk into a turners and buy SKS ammo. And the SKS is fun to shoot. i have more valuable rifles that i do not enjoy them as much as my SKS.

[mt417]

I would suggest the SKS over the M1. But AR15's are dirt cheap nowadays too and it has unlimited applications and is universal.

[soda_pop]

The whole bullet button ruins it for me, and I would like to keep my rifle in its original condition. I may get an ar-15 if I move out of state where they are more gun friendly.

[soda_pop]

Does anyone know where I can shoot the steel core surplus ammo for the 7.62x39?

[mr2ndamendment]

If you're interested in recreation and skill-building, I'd lean you towards a Ruger 10/22. Cheap ammo, very reliable, lots of options for mods, and an excellent way to get rifle-shooting fundamentals down.

If you want something to defend yourself with but still affordable to buy and use, I'd lean you towards an AR15. Ammo is cheaper and more plentiful than 7.62x39 or .30 Carbine and you can also learn the fundamentals on the cheap while still having something serious enough to protect your family. If going out to BLM isn't an easy option and you're stuck shooting at ranges, they'll require non-steel ammo and finding cheap/plentiful 7.62x39 and .30 Carbine that ISN'T steel will be hard and costly. Finding "range safe" .223 or 5.56mm is an easier and cheaper task.

Just some thoughts, I love the SKS and M1 Carbine but I want you to be shooting always and often, not saving up funds just to buy the rare/expensive "range safe" ammo just to only shoot several times a year. The SKS and M1 Carbine to me are collector rifles, acquired only after you've got yourself a rifle or two that you can shoot regularly.

[ralph.garmin]

***

[soda_pop]

If you're interested in recreation and skill-building, I'd lean you towards a Ruger 10/22. Cheap ammo, very reliable, lots of options for mods, and an excellent way to get rifle-shooting fundamentals down.

If you want something to defend yourself with but still affordable to buy and use, I'd lean you towards an AR15. Ammo is cheaper and more plentiful than 7.62x39 or .30 Carbine and you can also learn the fundamentals on the cheap while still having something serious enough to protect your family. If going out to BLM isn't an easy option and you're stuck shooting at ranges, they'll require non-steel ammo and finding cheap/plentiful 7.62x39 and .30 Carbine that ISN'T steel will be hard and costly. Finding "range safe" .223 or 5.56mm is an easier and cheaper task.

Just some thoughts, I love the SKS and M1 Carbine but I want you to be shooting always and often, not saving up funds just to buy the rare/expensive "range safe" ammo just to only shoot several times a year. The SKS and M1 Carbine to me are collector rifles, acquired only after you've got yourself a rifle or two that you can shoot regularly.

That does make sense. I would like something I can take to the range, and defend myself with. I may get an AR15, but which brand is good? Which rounds are safe for the range indoors and outdoors? Last thing I want to start is a fire or worse :/.

[soda_pop]

SKS vs m1. SKS for practical reasons.
But get an entry level AR. M&p15 $600. Some wolf gold 223 and blast away.

The m&P15 seems nice, my friend has one. I never got to fire it because the range won't allow newbies to fire rifles without taking their class. The only 5.56/.223 rifle I fired so far is the Tavor, but that's out of my price range for now lol.

[ElvenSoul]

AR15 build it yourself
Get a stripped lower and upper and go for it!

[soda_pop]

AR15 build it yourself
Get a stripped lower and upper and go for it!

Which lower and upper receivers do you recommend? I love your quote picture about the police officer haha.

[ElvenSoul]

A Matched stripped upper and Lower would be best but it really does not matter all that much.

I would study pics of builds here

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?f=120

See what you like and build
The important parts are barrel, trigger, and bcg

If you want to use the heavier bullets for hunting get a faster barrel
1-8 twist or 1-7