best battle rifle on a budget?

[rideac]

Hello, doing a little research on the AK's and FAL's so far mostly. trying to decide which one to get. I am open to other guns as well. kind of on a budget so maybe around 500-700 federal reserve notes(they stopped being dollars a long time ago). Just want something durable, reliable, and with good mag availability.

I've seen a Saiga AK in .308, for 600ish, does anyone have any experience with these?

thanks and looking forward to having more options to consider

 

[gunman41mag]

Hello, doing a little research on the AK's and FAL's so far mostly. trying to decide which one to get. I am open to other guns as well. kind of on a budget so maybe around 500-700 federal reserve notes(they stopped being dollars a long time ago). Just want something durable, reliable, and with good mag availability.

I've seen a Saiga AK in .308, for 600ish, does anyone have any experience with these?

thanks and looking forward to having more options to consider

The FAL is an EXCELLENT rifle, but hard to find under $700, You can buy a CETME for $400, but buy the STEEL MAGS

 

[jblomenberg16]

I'd say the AK edges out the SKS as the best budget battle rifle. Both have rugged durability, unquestionable reliability, and shoot a very popular and effective cartridge (7.62x39). The AK's advantage is of course in the detacheable magazine vs. the fixed box on the SKS.

SKS's are typically less expensive than AK's, and would get my vote for best budget battle rifle if the budget is the number one criteria.

 

[gunman41mag]

I'd say the AK edges out the SKS as the best budget battle rifle. Both have rugged durability, unquestionable reliability, and shoot a very popular and effective cartridge (7.62x39). The AK's advantage is of course in the detacheable magazine vs. the fixed box on the SKS.

SKS's are typically less expensive than AK's, and would get my vote for best budget battle rifle if the budget is the number one criteria.

They do sell detachable 20 & 30 rounds mag for the SKS

 

[crawfish]

i also wonder about ak47 does it matter so much where they r made romanian yugo...etc...and whats a good price thxs

 

[rideac]

I am unsure about this as well. has anyone ever owned or shot multiple ak's? which did you prefer?

 

[jblomenberg16]

They do sell detachable 20 & 30 rounds mag for the SKS

Yep, and I've owned several varieties of them too. Short of the Tapco 20's I've not found any that I'd trust for actual battle rifle use.

Honestly most people are faster with stipper clips on the SKS for reloads anyway unless you get an SKS D or M that takes AK Mags. But then you're talking the same money for an AK anyway.

 

[gunman41mag]

Yep, and I've owned several varieties of them too. Short of the Tapco 20's I've not found any that I'd trust for actual battle rifle use.

Honestly most people are faster with stipper clips on the SKS for reloads anyway unless you get an SKS D or M that takes AK Mags. But then you're talking the same money for an AK anyway.

I converted my SKS{very easy to do}to detachable mags. BUT make sure the mags aren't jammers

 

[E5RANGER375]

a battle rifle based on those two choices only? im going with the FAL. good luck finding it for only 700 though.

id scrap them both if you have 700 and buy an AR-15

 

[rhino]

Battle rifle implies a full-on rifle cartridge (i.e. .308 and up). As mentioned, a CETME is the least expensive and still reliable option.

 

[acarnahan]

Pretty sure you can get an Arsenal AK from Gallery Of Guns in that price range. 7.62 ammo is cheap enough.

 

[gunman41mag]

a battle rifle based on those two choices only? im going with the FAL. good luck finding it for only 700 though.

id scrap them both if you have 700 and buy an AR-15

Bought my thumb-hole FAL for $500 & paid $555 for my pistol grip FAL

 

[jblomenberg16]

Battle rifle implies a full-on rifle cartridge (i.e. .308 and up). As mentioned, a CETME is the least expensive and still reliable option.

Good point..and one that I failed to consider in my AK/SKS recommendation since the 7.62x39 is an intermediate cartridge.

 

[gunman41mag]

What about a REMINGTON 74, 740, 742, 7400, These are semi-auto rifles that you can add a 10 round mag to & I've seen them for under $250

 

[gunman]

I am unsure about this as well. has anyone ever owned or shot multiple ak's? which did you prefer?

i have a romanian "G" & a yugoslavian underfolder. wouldn't say either is a bad choice, but i like the yugo more although the cheek weld isn't the best with the folding stock. if you decide on an ak, you should inspect it pretty thoroughly. most common problems i look for are crooked front sight & excessive magazine wobble(some is normal)

 

[E5RANGER375]

i have a romanian "G" & a yugoslavian underfolder. wouldn't say either is a bad choice, but i like the yugo more although the cheek weld isn't the best with the folding stock. if you decide on an ak, you should inspect it pretty thoroughly. most common problems i look for are crooked front sight & excessive magazine wobble(some is normal)

thats where using a sling properly comes in handy

I wouldnt consider the AK, in the true "battle rifle" running. i expect a battle rifle to reach out consistantly more than 300 yards. for close quarters work I will take a stock AK any day. but for longer distances it isnt gonna be stock probly unless you are a ****ing surgeon with it!

i still say AR overall. the guy that got the FAL for $500, i dont know when you bought it or what brand it is (i believe you), its just been a LONG time since i have seen a true QUALITY FAL for that. YEARS.

 

[sloughfoot]

What about a REMINGTON 74, 740, 742, 7400, These are semi-auto rifles that you can add a 10 round mag to & I've seen them for under $250

I, and others I know, have had bad experience with these rifles. Purely anecdotal admitantly, but they certainly are not battle proven rifles and are barely adequate as sporting rifles.

For a budget battle rifle, I would look at any of the bolt guns fielded by any of the military services in the last 100 years. The choice should be made on availability of ammo more than anything else.

A battle rifle fires a full power cartridge and does not have to be a self loading design to qualify, IMO.

 

[E5RANGER375]

I, and others I know, have had bad experience with these rifles. Purely anecdotal admitantly, but they certainly are not battle proven rifles and are barely adequate as sporting rifles.

For a budget battle rifle, I would look at any of the bolt guns fielded by any of the military services in the last 100 years. The choice should be made on availability of ammo more than anything else.

A battle rifle fires a full power cartridge and does not have to be a self loading design to qualify, IMO.

why go back in time for a first battle rifle when he has the money to move into the future and have pure joy? im not understanding your reasoning here.

 

[Blackhawk2001]

One factor to consider is the distance over which you plan to shoot. As Ranger said, if you're planning to be under 300 yards, an intermediate cartridge is fine. If you plan to be shooting between 300 - 800 yards, you're going to need a full-size cartridge, in which case, your costs are going to go up. Since I can't see to aim past about 300 yards without a scope, an AK in 7.63 x 39 works just fine for me.

 

[gunman41mag]

thats where using a sling properly comes in handy

I wouldnt consider the AK, in the true "battle rifle" running. i expect a battle rifle to reach out consistantly more than 300 yards. for close quarters work I will take a stock AK any day. but for longer distances it isnt gonna be stock probly unless you are a ****ing surgeon with it!

i still say AR overall. the guy that got the FAL for $500, i dont know when you bought it or what brand it is (i believe you), its just been a LONG time since i have seen a true QUALITY FAL for that. YEARS.

I bought my IMBEL FAL, when CENTURY ARMS were importing them.