Looking for a low cost .308/7.62

[samsmix]

Gone are the days of the $299 CETME and other such cast off gems. What is the most affordable .308 on the market these days?
This is for a General Purpose rifle that might be called on to fight, "bug out", or just fill in for a hunting rifle who's scope went screwy.

[chris in va]

Hmm. Maybe a Saiga 308 if you can find one used.

[kcub]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-R...nBids=1&Sort=4

Gunbroker search for 308 semi auto rifles with at least one bid sorted by price ascending, maybe give you some ideas. I don't know how to query out the hunting models

I've read mixed reviews on the S&W M&P ranging from very accurate good value to horror story glorified boat anchor unfixable.

[Husqvarna]

I know you posted in the semi-auto forum

but have you looked at a browning blr?

lightweight, easily careable, nice looking, quite accurate

[drobs]

Another vote for Saiga or Vepr, Zastava 308 rifles with CSSPECS mags.
www.stores.csspecs.com


The problem with low cost 7.62 rifles is the ammo is not low cost anymore & hasn't been for some time.

[samsmix]

I'm okay with the ammo prices. I'll be shooting mostly sporting ammo like Federal Classic or Remington CoreLokt.

A sporting rifle wouldn't be wholly out of the question IF reliable hi cap mags are available, and the design is up to the job.

Sorry, but the BLR is out. Good thinking though. I'd like to retain some multiple target and CQB ability. I know this won't be a genuine CQB rifle, but still...

How accurate are Saiga's AK-based sporters? I really don't want to dump cash on a 3-4 MOA rifle.

[precision_shooter]

What do you really want?

Cheap, Accurate, Reliable

Pick any combination of 2 of the above...

Your OP says you want a cheap auto-loader chambered in .308/7.62. You are going to sacrifice 1 thing from the list above. Up to you which one you want to sacrifice.... You get what you pay for...

[drobs]

samsmix - I'd put the AK 308's right in there with FAL's & PTR/HK91's - 2 to 3 moa.

You want tighter groups - you need to move to M1A or AR10.

[dakota.potts]

I believe Palmetto State Armory had AR10s for as low as $600 at one point. Although I like a lot of the other .308 rifles, if you're looking for accuracy, I think you're far more likely to get it out of the AR-10 at the same price point. People are claiming 1-2 MOA out of certain FAL and CETME rifles, but they're usually not stock and include expensive upgrades like new barrels and triggers.

I can't speak to the AR-10 reliability though

[samsmix]

All good info, I'm listening if there is more.

Honestly, while pinpoint accuracy is confidence inspiring it probably isn't critical. A 2-3 moa gun would serve my purposes, and I own better CQB guns should the need (hopefully never) arise.

[silvermane_1]

IMHO, i would say Zastava (sp?) M77 .308/7.62 NATO, mags could be the hard part, but they're are AKMs, with AK reliability and can be had from $450 to $650 on the used market.

[kcub]

I have a FAL built by Ohio Rapid Fire (now defunct). It is capable of 1" with Port surplus ammo.

Another thing to consider is weight. Most .308 autos are heavy. What's your definition of cheap?

[samsmix]

Cheap: I'd like to stay below $500, but $650 is justifiable. Inexpensive would be a better choice of words. I've seen "tactical" Remington 7400s, and that would be "cheap". Not gonna go there.

Yes, the M76...I am familiar bit had forgotten...hmmm

[highpower3006]

I think you are living in a fantasy world.

You are just not going to find a cheap, good .308 battle rifle for under $600. That is wishful thinking and not a practical reality.

Decent rifles are commonly going to be at least $700. Best deal I see right now is a Century CETME at J&G for $659 and that is before shipping and dealer fees. If you want a better "deal" you are going to have to search the used market and be prepared to pounce on one when it comes up. I buy quite a few guns and I have never seen any .308 rifle for anywhere near that cheap. The closest I have seen is a Century FAL I bought a few months ago for $150, but it was so bubba'd up that I have another six bills in it fixing the awful things that were done to it.

I bought a FAL kit gun built on an Argentine receiver last year for $800 and I feel that was a very good price. PTR 91's seem to be selling used around here for between $750-800 with accessories and they don't last very long on the market.

I think you are going to have to revise your expectations as to what you are going to get for what your are going to have to pay.

Probably the best deal I have seen in years is a NIB PSL 54-C that I picked up for $795 at a gun show last Friday. It's not in .308 though but rather in 7.62X54R.

[dean1818]

There a quite a few people that have purchased the Zastava M77 for under $600

These people are posting that they are Very happy

People are reporting 1.5 to 2.5 MOA

That would fit my bill

Its a battle accurate (better than most AKs and FALs)
Its reliable (AK action) ... Zastava has been making AKs for decades
Its cheap

3 for 3

I am looking at the same choices for myself, an am probably going that route

[samsmix]

The Zastava M76/77 would fit the bill. I don't even mind if it's in 7.62x54R, since I can lay in a goodly supply of ammo, both sporting and FMJ. .308 is ideal, but not strictly essential. Of I blunder into an AR, great! Ditto the FAL. I might need to spend an extra hundo, but that won't break me.


This is to be a go-to gun that isn't always perfect, but never dead wrong, a true General Purpose rifle. A commie sniper piece might see its barrel cut and crowned to about 20". A 5.56 would be just fine if I didn't live in elk country. Think of this as a DM/hunting rifle that retains a semi-auto form, backup irons, and high capacity...just in case (of what I'm not sure). Something like an A2 length AR, but harder hitting on big game.

I know, I know: learn to reload and buy a 6.5 or 6.8...but I work like 70 hours a week and feel I'm too busy to reload.

[T. O'Heir]

"...You are just not going to find..." Certainly not a semi-auto. FN Mauser, maybe.
M-76 Sniper Rifle, Cal. 8x57mm (8mm Mauser), $1290 in Texas. $44 each for mags. Weight: 11.3 lbs.
http://petesdiscountfirearms.com/ZastavaM76.html

[dakota.potts]

You could try building your own. The FAL and AR-10 both assemble with very few specialty tools. I remember pricing a decent FAL at around $1,000 with tools, but that's with a DSA barrel and US made parts. You can sell off parts you don't need. The FALs have more accuracy potential than an AK type rifle (in my opinion) and I'd rather have one of them if I were thinking about potentially using it for hunting.

I'm not sure how realistic CQB is with any semi-auto .308. Have you picked up an AR-10 with even a medium profile barrel, or an FAL? I assume you're wanting at least an 18 or 20" barrel. That means a lot of weight and a lot of bulk. Might want to get working on your upper body strength haha. You might be better served accepting the rifle as a ~75 yard plus rifle and work on your pistol craft inside of that distance, as it seems like you're doing. That would put an AK out for me, even though I like AK style rifles. A CETME would probably be a decent choice also, if you're willing to risk getting one with Century issues and paying extra for a solid scope mounting platform. I'd probably recommend a basic PTR 91 or an AR 10 for what you're looking for, and you're looking at a couple more hundred dollars for one probably. Still, if you want an all purpose rifle that's going to last and perform as you expect, I think it's worth it.

[kcub]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=502289852

ChiCom PolyTech M1A?

[highpower3006]

There a quite a few people that have purchased the Zastava M77 for under $600

Yes, the M77 can be had for less, but the OP said he wanted a .308. I think that if the OP wants a .308 he is going to have to be more realistic about the price.

ChiCom PolyTech M1A?

That auction has 13 days left to run. I bet it sells much closer to a grand than five bills.

Moving over to a 7.62X54R opens up a whole different group of rifles that will possibly be less money. Buying used is the way to really save money.

Heck, I just bought this NIB PSL 54-C for under $800

[dean1818]

Ummm... Highpower......... The Zastava M77 IS a 308


http://www.classicfirearms.com/zasta...iautorifle10rd

[highpower3006]

My bad, I thought they were in the Russian caliber. I think I was thinking of a different rifle. But in that case maybe he can get a .308 for less than six bills.

I stand corrected.

[dean1818]

I stand corrected at least 15 times a day....

(20 years of marriage does that)


I am anxious to see how the M77 shoots.

[skizzums]

things have really come down in the AR10 market, if you wan't reliable and accuracte and pretty cheap, I think it's your best bet. PSA has complete lower's "blems", stock and all for 180$. the have complete uppers including BCG for under 500$. hat gets yu in the door for for under $700. It's going to be reliable and probably more accurate than you'd expect. If in the future you feel you need more accuracy, drop the sub $200 on a nicer barrel and have a sub .308 semi. that's just my opinion, if cost is your biggest factor. I myself would go ar10, and maybe will, if I don't hurry and get a long-barreled 54R vepr before they stop selling them at Atlantic. The Century C308 sporter is under 650,but I don't think it will give you the accuracy your hoping for, nor do I think any of the ak patterned .308's will, excluding maybe the Molot Vepr, which I think is pricier than you'd like, and still wouldn't be as accurate as the AR, plus I don't see any Vepr's in .308 for sale anymore on the new market.

[kcub]

I've only had one Vepr and it was in 5.45 and none too accurate (with Wolf) so I sold it during the last panic. How much of that equation was the rifle vs. the ammo I could not say but I couldn't justify having an odd duck less accurate than ANY 5.56 (save maybe a Ruger mini)

Heck, I just bought this NIB PSL 54-C for under $800

Are these lefty unfriendly? I've never gotten to hold one. I saw one the other day on a gun store wall but they wouldn't let me hold it. (Conversely they didn't get to hold my credit card when I bought 2 SCARs and optics.)