Semi-auto .308, need ideas

mohr308 · August 21, 2012, 01:38 AM

Im looking to purchase a semi-auto .308. Im looking for something with a heavy barrel, if possible. Under $1000, and has good accuracy out to 400 yds. Im just putting out the feelers and hoping to hear from you and your experience. A more affordable price for me would be around $600-700, but thats probably not going to happen. I do reload for my current .308, so I will be reloading for the semi auto as well. Used rifles will also be considered. Thanks!

buckhorn_cortez · August 21, 2012, 05:45 AM

Browning BAR Short Trac .308, Remington R25 .308, Remington Model 750. All of them are in the $750 price range and will have adequate accuracy at 400 yards.

If you want an AR style rifle, you'll have to build it yourself to get it at the lowest price. If you want it fully assembled, you need to look at DPMS and Bushmaster for the lowest priced AR style .308's.

SmokyBaer · August 21, 2012, 08:43 AM

Highly recommend an FNAR or SXAR for their extremely good outta the box accuracy and value since you can find some of them below $1000 these days.

Here's one... http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=302216290

I know the mags are still high but if you are patient, they can be found for less than $50 each.

mohr308 · August 21, 2012, 11:27 AM

thanks, those look like some nice choices. I really didn't want anything in an AR platform, but its still an option. I have a RRA AR-15 in 5.56, but can't really afford one of there .308's at this time and really would like to pick something up by the end of next month for deer season.

mohr308 · August 21, 2012, 11:45 AM

So I called my local gun shops, the Remington is $1500 and the browning is $1079…ouch. RRA has a standard .308 for $1375, but thats just out of reach right now. Maybe I will just go bolt action

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=255

FrosSsT · August 21, 2012, 12:07 PM

The FNAR is supposed to be a great 308 for around 1k

TITAN308 · August 21, 2012, 12:58 PM

DPMS LR-308

24" SS Bull Barrel - can be found for under $1,000 brand new.

SmokyBaer · August 23, 2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrosSst

The FNAR is supposed to be a great 308 for around 1k

Definitely worth a look. Their prices have come down a bit since their introduction.
They are also more based on the Browning hunting rifles than the AR platform.

chris in va · August 23, 2012, 09:32 PM

How accurate are the FAL and Saiga 308 platforms? Both would fall within your price range.

Alternately you might consider...a Garand. Same bullets and powders, just a different die and brass. A great one can be had for $700.

GI Sandv · August 23, 2012, 10:07 PM

"How accurate are the FAL and Saiga 308 platforms?"

I've got a friend whose been desperately searching for a Saiga with little to no luck. (But he might be looking for 7.62 x 39, don't recall.) Alternately the PTR 91 seems like a viable option. I keep seeing them online for $1100-$1500, but I've seen them in shops for well under $1,000, closer to $800. I've also heard that the magazines can be had for near $5 per.

Mosinka · August 23, 2012, 11:34 PM

A friend of mine bought a new Saiga .308 in April for $499. I bought one second hand for the same price around the same time. Since that time, they have gone up $100 in price. I've only shot mine once, but I like it. Saiga makes good stuff. Maybe not for 400 yd range, but it's a good deal in a semi-auto .308 that won't break the bank.

Mosinka · August 23, 2012, 11:37 PM

Then again, there's always VEPR, which offers some well made rifles with longer barrels than the Saiga, hence greater accuracy. Still well within your price range. Worthy of consideration.

I am SERIOUSLY contemplating one in 7.62x54R. I love my Mosin-Nagants, but I'd like to have something in that caliber that is semi-auto. PSL's and Dragunovs and SVT-40's are hard to come by. I'm looking very carefully at the VEPR.

http://centerfiresystems.com/308-6.aspx

shaunpain · August 24, 2012, 12:32 AM

+1 Mosinka

I was definitely going to recommend anything in a VEPR platform. Very keen on it myself, and it can be had from anything from .223 all the way up to 54R. I have seen the Saigas at classicarms.us (?) for around $399, but that was before the big inflation push. Fact of the matter is, right now, you're not going to find a fine specimen in this caliber, in an auto-loader, for a low price. If it makes you think in an opposite way, I just purchased an old MAS 49/56 .308 conversion for under your asking price, but I only "pulled the trigger" because I was assured that it runs. I would save your money and seriously look at a VEPR. If it's not immediately your taste, then you might as well save for another month and spring for the M1A.

allaroundhunter · August 24, 2012, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckhorn_cortez

Browning BAR Short Trac .308, Remington R25 .308, Remington Model 750. All of them are in the $750 price range

Seriously?... A BAR and an R25 for $750? Where the heck do you find that?

And if you can find an R25 for $750 then it is cheaper than any other DPMS or Bushmaster AR-10 style rifle that I have ever seen...

Sent from my HTC One X

Mayor Al · August 25, 2012, 12:01 PM

I love my Winchester Model 100's in .308. I have two...a rifle and a Carbine. Same gun , shorter barrel and different checkering (or not). Handles well & accurate. I did get my one and only Elk with the rifle a few years back at about 335 yards.

Here's my Rifle. Nice looking and does the job. ($600 from GunBroker)

Csspecs · August 26, 2012, 01:58 PM

Saiga .308 can be pretty nice if setup well. This is how mine is setup right now.

I have an older vepr that Robinson arms added their stock set to.

This one is my brothers, its an oddball Saiga 100 series. Its comes with a nicer trigger right from the factory. It can only use 10 round mags.

FM12 · September 4, 2012, 01:54 PM

BAR in any caliber. Period. Thank me later.

Mine is in 30-06.

barnbwt · September 4, 2012, 09:56 PM

Quote:

BAR in any caliber. Period. Thank me later.

Right? Funny how people (not in this thread, for some reason) dump on the FNAR/BAR for not being fielded by the military, but forget it's probably dropped more game than any other semi-auto over the years. I suppose if I had to clean my FNAR as much as an AK, M1A, PTR, or whatever I'd agree; but the recommended service mileage is around 1000rounds!

Unless the OP is an uber-competitor intersted in how many angels fit on the head of a pin, 1MOA from the box for 1000$ is ample. <1.5MOA in other BAR calibers (and the guns are often more accurate than that) for a good deal less (700$?) minus box mags is a great deal, too.

I kinda want to find out if the Browning BOSS barrel tuner thingy works on the FNAR...

TCB

allaroundhunter · September 4, 2012, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Funny how people (not in this thread, for some reason) dump on the FNAR/BAR for not being fielded by the military

I have never seen anyone bashing the FNAR (at least not many people)......all that I have heard are positive things, and my experience with them would agree with every good thing that I expected prior to pulling the trigger. They are fantastic guns, and definitely give AR-10s and their clones a run for their money (and oftentimes win

).

August 21, 2012, 01:38 AM	#1
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	Semi-auto .308, need ideas Im looking to purchase a semi-auto .308. Im looking for something with a heavy barrel, if possible. Under $1000, and has good accuracy out to 400 yds. Im just putting out the feelers and hoping to hear from you and your experience. A more affordable price for me would be around $600-700, but thats probably not going to happen. I do reload for my current .308, so I will be reloading for the semi auto as well. Used rifles will also be considered. Thanks! __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

August 21, 2012, 11:27 AM	#4
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	thanks, those look like some nice choices. I really didn't want anything in an AR platform, but its still an option. I have a RRA AR-15 in 5.56, but can't really afford one of there .308's at this time and really would like to pick something up by the end of next month for deer season. __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

August 21, 2012, 11:45 AM	#5
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	So I called my local gun shops, the Remington is $1500 and the browning is $1079…ouch. RRA has a standard .308 for $1375, but thats just out of reach right now. Maybe I will just go bolt action http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=255 __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

August 23, 2012, 10:07 PM	#10
GI Sandv Member Join Date: December 16, 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 65	"How accurate are the FAL and Saiga 308 platforms?" I've got a friend whose been desperately searching for a Saiga with little to no luck. (But he might be looking for 7.62 x 39, don't recall.) Alternately the PTR 91 seems like a viable option. I keep seeing them online for $1100-$1500, but I've seen them in shops for well under $1,000, closer to $800. I've also heard that the magazines can be had for near $5 per. __________________ The state that too strictly distinguishes its warriors from its scholars will have its fighting done by cowards and its thinking done by fools. Kahr PM9, Springfiled XD9, Browning BPS 12Ga., Browning SA-22.

August 23, 2012, 11:37 PM	#12
Mosinka Member Join Date: January 1, 2012 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 85	Then again, there's always VEPR, which offers some well made rifles with longer barrels than the Saiga, hence greater accuracy. Still well within your price range. Worthy of consideration. I am SERIOUSLY contemplating one in 7.62x54R. I love my Mosin-Nagants, but I'd like to have something in that caliber that is semi-auto. PSL's and Dragunovs and SVT-40's are hard to come by. I'm looking very carefully at the VEPR. http://centerfiresystems.com/308-6.aspx Last edited by Mosinka; August 23, 2012 at 11:44 PM.

August 21, 2012, 05:45 AM	#2
buckhorn_cortez Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Posts: 857	Browning BAR Short Trac .308, Remington R25 .308, Remington Model 750. All of them are in the $750 price range and will have adequate accuracy at 400 yards. If you want an AR style rifle, you'll have to build it yourself to get it at the lowest price. If you want it fully assembled, you need to look at DPMS and Bushmaster for the lowest priced AR style .308's.

August 21, 2012, 08:43 AM	#3
SmokyBaer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 272	Highly recommend an FNAR or SXAR for their extremely good outta the box accuracy and value since you can find some of them below $1000 these days. Here's one... http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=302216290 I know the mags are still high but if you are patient, they can be found for less than $50 each.

August 21, 2012, 12:07 PM	#6
FrosSsT Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 595	The FNAR is supposed to be a great 308 for around 1k

August 21, 2012, 12:58 PM	#7
TITAN308 Junior member Join Date: December 27, 2011 Location: Grovetown, GA Posts: 155	DPMS LR-308 24" SS Bull Barrel - can be found for under $1,000 brand new.

August 23, 2012, 09:32 PM	#9
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	How accurate are the FAL and Saiga 308 platforms? Both would fall within your price range. Alternately you might consider...a Garand. Same bullets and powders, just a different die and brass. A great one can be had for $700.

August 23, 2012, 11:34 PM	#11
Mosinka Member Join Date: January 1, 2012 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 85	A friend of mine bought a new Saiga .308 in April for $499. I bought one second hand for the same price around the same time. Since that time, they have gone up $100 in price. I've only shot mine once, but I like it. Saiga makes good stuff. Maybe not for 400 yd range, but it's a good deal in a semi-auto .308 that won't break the bank.

August 24, 2012, 12:32 AM	#13
shaunpain Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 854	+1 Mosinka I was definitely going to recommend anything in a VEPR platform. Very keen on it myself, and it can be had from anything from .223 all the way up to 54R. I have seen the Saigas at classicarms.us (?) for around $399, but that was before the big inflation push. Fact of the matter is, right now, you're not going to find a fine specimen in this caliber, in an auto-loader, for a low price. If it makes you think in an opposite way, I just purchased an old MAS 49/56 .308 conversion for under your asking price, but I only "pulled the trigger" because I was assured that it runs. I would save your money and seriously look at a VEPR. If it's not immediately your taste, then you might as well save for another month and spring for the M1A. __________________ "Shut up, crime!"

August 25, 2012, 12:01 PM	#15
Mayor Al Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Southern Indiana, Near Louisville. Posts: 211	I love my Winchester Model 100's in .308. I have two...a rifle and a Carbine. Same gun , shorter barrel and different checkering (or not). Handles well & accurate. I did get my one and only Elk with the rifle a few years back at about 335 yards. Here's my Rifle. Nice looking and does the job. ($600 from GunBroker)

August 26, 2012, 01:58 PM	#16
Csspecs Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 1,111	Saiga .308 can be pretty nice if setup well. This is how mine is setup right now. I have an older vepr that Robinson arms added their stock set to. This one is my brothers, its an oddball Saiga 100 series. Its comes with a nicer trigger right from the factory. It can only use 10 round mags.

September 4, 2012, 01:54 PM	#17
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	BAR in any caliber. Period. Thank me later. Mine is in 30-06.