looking for semi auto suggestions 400$ or under

Duzell · June 14, 2013, 06:31 PM

i have an sks yugo and an m1a, so those 2 semi's are out , laying the ground floor here is all.(7.62x39, 308)

ive recently been working on my project mosin nagant(7.62x54r), and now im getting close to finishing the project and im looking for my next rifle to get, shoot, and then trick out to desired specs.

Now ive been shootings since age 5, i have roughly 8 rifles at my disposal, and 7 pistols (just off the top , may be more or less ), and i live in California(and, yes it sucks here)

my main application when shooting my rifles is for distance, but i have been thinking that i need a close combat rifle, and a bolt action is great for distance and accuracy, but in home defense its at a disadvantage. so im thinking a semi auto logically. Something roughly in the 308 range or lower, i need a bullet with penetration and knock down force mainly as this will be specific for defense, but i dont want it going through a wall and hitting someone next door, so a lower than 308 bullet should suffice.

Looking at something i can modify easily, and be mobile and durable. tactical stuff can come in later after ive got the weapon and master its iron sights (if any) i will then produce an overview of the design i need and develop the rifle as i go, towards the combat goal.

so any suggestions would be nice, ive looked into saigas and few other semis but anything i haven't heard of would be interesting

Wishoot · June 14, 2013, 07:56 PM

Maybe a used Mini-14 or Mini-30?

There's AK's out there in your range that may be a decent option.

giaquir · June 14, 2013, 08:17 PM

6.8spc

big al hunter · June 14, 2013, 10:28 PM

How about a pistol caliber carbine. 9mm or ??? http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/ you can add the tactical stuff to these too.

Palmetto-Pride · June 15, 2013, 12:44 AM

Sounds like you need a 300 AAC BLACK OUT!

But unless you reload it's hard to find ammo for it right now!

tahunua001 · June 15, 2013, 01:00 AM

there's really no semi auto out there in your price range other than pistol caliber carbines.

allaroundhunter · June 15, 2013, 01:14 AM

Yeah.... For $400 you aren't going to find a rifle that I would trust for defensive use unless you go with a pistol caliber carbine. Certainly won't find an AR, and that is exactly what your situation calls for.

5.56RifleGuy · June 15, 2013, 01:21 AM

old beat up m1 carbine?

5.56RifleGuy · June 15, 2013, 01:25 AM

Well, probably nothing in your price range with the specs you want really. Keltec sub 2000?

easyliven88 · June 15, 2013, 08:05 AM

yugo m92pv pistol

g.willikers · June 15, 2013, 09:50 AM

If you choose a pistol caliber, check out the Marlin Camp models in 9mm.
They use a S&W pistol magazine.
Or, since you're in California, maybe a pistol to carbine conversion, if it's ok with the gun laws.
Both of the above are well under $400.

mxsailor803 · June 15, 2013, 01:02 PM

If he can find a Marlin Camp for 400 bucks, buy it!!! I have had my eye out for almost 3 years for one at a decent price range and everyone wanted the same price of my S&W M&P Sport.

Boomer58cal · June 15, 2013, 06:08 PM

I'm voting pistol cal carbine! You've got long range covered. Keltec sup 2000 would fill you gap between pistol and M1A. I've got one on my wish list

Boomer

jersurf101 · June 15, 2013, 09:00 PM

A Ruger 10/22 is always a good addition to the safe. Other than that your price point limits you greatly

stubbicatt · June 16, 2013, 01:20 PM

Perhaps a MAS49/56? A neat rifle, well built, and underappreciated. You may be able to find one in your price range.

kozak6 · June 17, 2013, 03:14 AM

Yeah, but 7.5 French might prove difficult to find, and the .308 conversions are shoddy.

It seems like the only semiautomatics in that price range are rimfires and the Hi Point carbine.

June 14, 2013, 06:31 PM	#1
Duzell Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2011 Location: Monterey Posts: 803	looking for semi auto suggestions 400$ or under i have an sks yugo and an m1a, so those 2 semi's are out , laying the ground floor here is all.(7.62x39, 308) ive recently been working on my project mosin nagant(7.62x54r), and now im getting close to finishing the project and im looking for my next rifle to get, shoot, and then trick out to desired specs. Now ive been shootings since age 5, i have roughly 8 rifles at my disposal, and 7 pistols (just off the top , may be more or less ), and i live in California(and, yes it sucks here) my main application when shooting my rifles is for distance, but i have been thinking that i need a close combat rifle, and a bolt action is great for distance and accuracy, but in home defense its at a disadvantage. so im thinking a semi auto logically. Something roughly in the 308 range or lower, i need a bullet with penetration and knock down force mainly as this will be specific for defense, but i dont want it going through a wall and hitting someone next door, so a lower than 308 bullet should suffice. Looking at something i can modify easily, and be mobile and durable. tactical stuff can come in later after ive got the weapon and master its iron sights (if any) i will then produce an overview of the design i need and develop the rifle as i go, towards the combat goal. so any suggestions would be nice, ive looked into saigas and few other semis but anything i haven't heard of would be interesting

June 14, 2013, 07:56 PM	#2
Wishoot Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,093	Maybe a used Mini-14 or Mini-30? There's AK's out there in your range that may be a decent option. Last edited by Wishoot; June 14, 2013 at 10:04 PM.

June 14, 2013, 10:28 PM	#4
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	How about a pistol caliber carbine. 9mm or ??? http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/ you can add the tactical stuff to these too. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

June 15, 2013, 01:00 AM	#6
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	there's really no semi auto out there in your price range other than pistol caliber carbines. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

June 15, 2013, 01:14 AM	#7
allaroundhunter Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2012 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,670	Re: looking for semi auto suggestions 400$ or under Yeah.... For $400 you aren't going to find a rifle that I would trust for defensive use unless you go with a pistol caliber carbine. Certainly won't find an AR, and that is exactly what your situation calls for.

June 14, 2013, 08:17 PM	#3
giaquir Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Deerfield,New Hampshire Posts: 512	6.8spc

June 15, 2013, 12:44 AM	#5
Palmetto-Pride Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,071	Sounds like you need a 300 AAC BLACK OUT! But unless you reload it's hard to find ammo for it right now!

June 15, 2013, 01:21 AM	#8
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	old beat up m1 carbine?

June 15, 2013, 01:25 AM	#9
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	Well, probably nothing in your price range with the specs you want really. Keltec sub 2000?

June 15, 2013, 09:50 AM	#11
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	If you choose a pistol caliber, check out the Marlin Camp models in 9mm. They use a S&W pistol magazine. Or, since you're in California, maybe a pistol to carbine conversion, if it's ok with the gun laws. Both of the above are well under $400.

June 15, 2013, 01:02 PM	#12
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	If he can find a Marlin Camp for 400 bucks, buy it!!! I have had my eye out for almost 3 years for one at a decent price range and everyone wanted the same price of my S&W M&P Sport.

June 15, 2013, 06:08 PM	#13
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	I'm voting pistol cal carbine! You've got long range covered. Keltec sup 2000 would fill you gap between pistol and M1A. I've got one on my wish list Boomer

June 15, 2013, 09:00 PM	#14
jersurf101 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 553	A Ruger 10/22 is always a good addition to the safe. Other than that your price point limits you greatly

June 16, 2013, 01:20 PM	#15
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 1,707	Perhaps a MAS49/56? A neat rifle, well built, and underappreciated. You may be able to find one in your price range.

June 17, 2013, 03:14 AM	#16
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	Yeah, but 7.5 French might prove difficult to find, and the .308 conversions are shoddy. It seems like the only semiautomatics in that price range are rimfires and the Hi Point carbine.