Looking for a .308/7.62 NATO Semi-auto

Looking for a .308/7.62 NATO Semi-auto

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/11/2012 10:53:42 PM

I'm looking to buy a rifle some time before the summer. I'd like a semi-auto 7.62 NATO based rifle. I've considered a Garand (30-06) but the ammo seems a bit pricey. I've done some research and have come up with a few options...
-FN FAL
-.308 AR type
-HK/PTR-91 type
-Springfield M1A
I would like to keep the cost around $1k, but I could go higher for a good deal. I' would like to hear some pro/cons of each rifle, and any other suggestions you may have.

usmcscout [Team Member]

1/11/2012 10:59:16 PM

Originally Posted By fdexclpl:
I'm looking to buy a rifle some time before the summer. I'd like a semi-auto 7.62 NATO based rifle. I've considered a Garand (30-06) but the ammo seems a bit pricey. I've done some research and have come up with a few options...
-FN FAL
-.308 AR type
-HK/PTR-91 type
-Springfield M1A
I would like to keep the cost around $1k, but I could go higher for a good deal. I' would like to hear some pro/cons of each rifle, and any other suggestions you may have.

Imo 06 is quite opposite around my part of woods feds and rems go for 10$ box don't get me wrong 762/308 great cal as well

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/11/2012 11:05:11 PM

Originally Posted By usmcscout:

Imo 06 is quite opposite around my part of woods feds and rems go for 10$ box don't get me wrong 762/308 great cal as well

$20-$25 a box for American Eagle around here.

GunDisaster [Team Member]

1/11/2012 11:08:45 PM

You can find a PTR-91 for $1K and it's a good all around rifle.

coldair [Team Member]

1/11/2012 11:12:31 PM

save your money and get a scar

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/11/2012 11:15:36 PM

Originally Posted By coldair:
save your money and get a scar

$2500+ is a little to rich for me.

coolhand [Member]

1/11/2012 11:20:21 PM

Originally Posted By fdexclpl:

Originally Posted By coldair:
save your money and get a scar

$2500+ is a little to rich for me.

I had same issues...
Ended up with SCAR 17S.
Absolutely one of the best .308 battle rifles out there regardless of $$$.
Very light and less recoil.... save some$ and get it.

Joe_Sakic [Member]

1/11/2012 11:49:44 PM

FAL - good ergonomics, soft recoiling, great accuracy for a "battle rifle", eats anything .308 or 7.62x51mm, adjustable gas system for various ammo, parts availability, etc., etc.

Pic of my 2 DSA FALs -

monstercat79 [Member]

1/12/2012 1:02:02 AM

I got a nice PTR91, 12 mags and 900 rounds of surplus ammo for $650 a few months back. I love it!

Springer09 [Team Member]

1/12/2012 1:11:14 AM

go for an .308 AR the DPMS's are $1200.00

I think most people here who have them like them

hotbiggun42 [Team Member]

1/12/2012 1:25:13 AM

AR10

Gentleman4561 [Team Member]

1/12/2012 1:29:33 AM

Originally Posted By hotbiggun42:
AR10

OBR

Elvis121 [Team Member]

1/12/2012 1:50:26 AM

Garands can be had in .308 if you really want a Garand.

hawkeye180 [Team Member]

1/12/2012 1:52:43 AM

ronin556 [Member]

1/12/2012 2:35:01 AM

I agree the SCAR is the best

but it comes down to what are you going to do with it

if you want to scope it and customize it and want excellent ergonomics and accuracy get an 308 AR

if you are something which is not as accurate or as good ergonomics but more history and would not scope it than the FAL or M1A

if you want junk that has a crappy trigger, lots of recoil, very very hard to clean, and very bad ergonomics (try changing a mag) get a G3 clone ,PTR, C91, etc all the same

Traderjac [Member]

1/12/2012 4:20:03 AM

French MAS 49/56 in .308 is a good way to go.

scottmon [Team Member]

1/12/2012 6:31:53 AM

DSA built Imbel FAL at that price point.

Liquidmetal [Team Member]

1/12/2012 6:34:31 AM

Originally Posted By Joe_Sakic:
FAL - good ergonomics, soft recoiling, great accuracy for a "battle rifle", eats anything .308 or 7.62x51mm, adjustable gas system for various ammo, parts availability, etc., etc.

Pic of my 2 DSA FALs -

http://i52.tinypic.com/293k01g.jpg

Love my DSA Imbel, it would be high on the list.

Also look at a .308 Vepr. Capable of good accuracy (for an AK), dead nuts reliable, quality rifles, configurable based on your needs/desires.

lew [Member]

1/12/2012 8:23:45 AM

Originally Posted By Traderjac:
French MAS 49/56 in .308 is a good way to go.

Except that a good number of them are problem children, since Century botched the conversion. Some do work, and if he can verify that it functions prior to buying it, it would be a viable option. I still hold that if one wants a MAS 49/56, get it in 7.5.

I vote for the FAL, although I sold mine and switched to the MAS (in 7.5).

mouthpiece [Member]

1/12/2012 8:44:50 AM

Originally Posted By Traderjac:
French MAS 49/56 in .308 is a good way to go.

Make sure to get a Bill Toth conversion.
I has a MAS 49/56 and it did have FTE problems.
I did like the gun other than that.

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/12/2012 8:46:32 AM

I see quite a few suggestions to get a FAL. Has anyone ordered one recently from DSA? How long is the wait time? I also like the idea of a .308 chambered M1. Anyone got a link for one or for parts to make one?

mike_nds [Dealer]

1/12/2012 10:41:51 AM

Originally Posted By fdexclpl:
I see quite a few suggestions to get a FAL. Has anyone ordered one recently from DSA? How long is the wait time? I also like the idea of a .308 chambered M1. Anyone got a link for one or for parts to make one?

Shuff's Parkerizing can do a .308 Garand conversion for you.

http://shuffsparkerizing.com/

quijanos [Team Member]

1/12/2012 10:51:27 AM

ost

hawkeye180 [Team Member]

1/12/2012 10:56:23 AM

I ordered my FAL from DSA in I think May 2009 and I received it end of January or beginning of February 2010.

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/12/2012 10:58:21 AM

Originally Posted By mike_nds:

Shuff's Parkerizing can do a .308 Garand conversion for you.

http://shuffsparkerizing.com/

Thanks for the link.
Maybe I could get an M1 from CMP and bare receiver for a future .308.

Liquidmetal [Team Member]

1/12/2012 12:15:39 PM

Originally Posted By fdexclpl:
I see quite a few suggestions to get a FAL. Has anyone ordered one recently from DSA? How long is the wait time?

Order from a stocking dealer. I ordered my DSA Imbel from Aim and had it in 3 days.

Southrnshooter [Member]

1/12/2012 12:25:29 PM

AR-10.

$1219 from Buds without the sights back in October .

Looks like this now.

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/12/2012 12:37:18 PM

Originally Posted By Liquidmetal:

Originally Posted By fdexclpl:
I see quite a few suggestions to get a FAL. Has anyone ordered one recently from DSA? How long is the wait time?

Order from a stocking dealer. I ordered my DSA Imbel from Aim and had it in 3 days.

I emailed AIM a few days ago. None in the pipeline.

Surly [Member]

1/12/2012 3:30:27 PM

Get an M1A or RFB.

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/12/2012 4:40:25 PM

Originally Posted By Surly:
Get an M1A or RFB.

The RFB is cool.

Rabidmonkey707 [Team Member]

1/12/2012 10:05:41 PM

I cant believe no one mentioned the Saiga 308.

There are some good magazines on them market now, so that is not an issue any longer.

Both 16 and 20 inch barrels are available, and it is super reliable with any type of ammo. Especially russian

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/13/2012 11:12:16 AM

Originally Posted By Rabidmonkey707:
I cant believe no one mentioned the Saiga 308.

There are some good magazines on them market now, so that is not an issue any longer.

Both 16 and 20 inch barrels are available, and it is super reliable with any type of ammo. Especially russian

Do you have one? How is reliability, accuracy?

granther [Team Member]

1/13/2012 6:22:43 PM

If you are willing to shop around, I got a cherry imbel parts kit a coonan receiver and sent it all to Arizona Response Systems for assembly and re-park. all that came to just a hair over 1k, and I have a rifle that shoots great and looks great too. ARS does great work.

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/13/2012 6:32:01 PM

Originally Posted By granther:
If you are willing to shop around, I got a cherry imbel parts kit a coonan receiver and sent it all to Arizona Response Systems for assembly and re-park. all that came to just a hair over 1k, and I have a rifle that shoots great and looks great too. ARS does great work.

I have no problem assembling a kit myself. I'm not against spending a few buck to buy the tools I need to complete the assembly.
I've built a few ARs from scratch so I would look forward to the challenge.

Surly [Member]

1/13/2012 7:59:59 PM

Originally Posted By Rabidmonkey707:
I cant believe no one mentioned the Saiga 308.

Sorry about that...get a Saiga and convert it to a standard AKM configuration and SELL IT to help finance getting an M1A or RFB.

heavyduty [Team Member]

1/13/2012 10:53:59 PM

If we show you enough pics you will comply.

You know you want one.

dukduk [Member]

1/13/2012 11:16:45 PM

I like my RFB but I wish I bought an lmt mws...hell I was even eye fucking a dpms .308 the Bx has

Rabidmonkey707 [Team Member]

1/14/2012 12:45:57 AM

Originally Posted By fdexclpl:

Do you have one? How is reliability, accuracy?

Yes, accuracy is 1-2 moa. Some reporting sub MOA . Reliability is awesome, magazines are on the market. Lots of options out there, and its about 5 bills right now. Its much beefier than a traditional ak. It is rather heavy compared to other rifles of the same nature.

Beamy [Team Member]

1/14/2012 4:06:22 AM

Fusil Automatique Leger

BIKECOP29 [Team Member]

1/14/2012 4:19:45 AM

I lucked up on an INDEP G3 rifle.

Got all of this for $1200.

Even came with the rare Namibian stock set (the green one), HK club foot stock, HK bipod, HK wide handguards, and Hensoldt scope.

bigjunk1 [Member]

1/14/2012 6:20:20 AM

Originally Posted By heavyduty:
If we show you enough pics you will comply.

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac123/HDF62/FAL-3.jpg

You know you want one.

You could put together something like this (minus scope and bipod) for about $1000 if you started with a parts kit or a century

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/14/2012 11:32:34 AM

Originally Posted By bigjunk1:

Originally Posted By heavyduty:
If we show you enough pics you will comply.

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac123/HDF62/FAL-3.jpg

You know you want one.

You could put together something like this (minus scope and bipod) for about $1000 if you started with a parts kit or a century
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab11/bigjunk1/001-7.jpg

Where can I get a good parts kit?

Grocerystore_ninja [Member]

1/15/2012 9:04:59 PM

I am not a fal guy i love my M14's but in your budget I would say a DSA fal would be the best option, or you could do a maten build with an RA barrel for a good price.

fdexclpl [Team Member]

1/18/2012 2:02:55 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have a lot to consider.

andrew26 [Member]

1/18/2012 9:02:29 PM

I'm a FAL FAN. Approching soap box...... Deep breath in....... Battle proven, adopted by over 93 countries, in service for over half a century, simple, rugged, and reliable. Adjustable gas piston system, left sided non-reciprocating charging handle, last shot bolt hold open, 30 round mags, and fast magazine change capability.
Here is some eye candy for you:

ARmory04 [Member]

1/19/2012 7:39:56 AM

Originally Posted By andrew26:
I'm a FAL FAN. Approching soap box...... Deep breath in....... Battle proven, adopted by over 93 countries, in service for over half a century, simple, rugged, and reliable. Adjustable gas piston system, left sided non-reciprocating charging handle, last shot bolt hold open, 30 round mags, and fast magazine change capability.
Here is some eye candy for you:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w217/ttownjoeboo/dsfhgg.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w217/ttownjoeboo/P1050673-1.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w217/ttownjoeboo/DSAFAL001.jpg

Holy shit. I like.

Makes me miss the SAR-48 I had .....

LARRYG [Team Member]

1/20/2012 8:17:03 PM

Originally Posted By Elvis121:
Garands can be had in .308 if you really want a Garand.

Sacreligious.

LARRYG [Team Member]

1/20/2012 8:18:41 PM

Originally Posted By Springer09:
go for an .308 AR the DPMS's are $1200.00

I think most people here who have them like them

.308/7.62x51 ARs are the most versatile. You can have a variety of uppers for different purposes with one lower.

I am partial to the AR-10, but most all of the .308 ARs are good to go.

LARRYG [Team Member]

1/20/2012 8:20:25 PM

Originally Posted By Rabidmonkey707:

Originally Posted By fdexclpl:

Do you have one? How is reliability, accuracy?

What mag does it use?

Surly [Member]

1/20/2012 8:43:27 PM

Originally Posted By LARRYG:

Originally Posted By Rabidmonkey707:

Originally Posted By fdexclpl:

Do you have one? How is reliability, accuracy?

What mag does it use?

Um, a Saiga .308 mag. I don't think any of the other Saiga mags will work in it though.

Adirondack1 [Team Member]

1/20/2012 8:53:56 PM

Pics of my Coonan/FAC Gew1 German type 1 made from an original FN kit, this is my most accurate FAL of 3 that I own.

Check your IMs