New to AR15.com, not to shooting.  Need a WTSHTF rifle. Hoping you guys will indulge me and maybe make some suggestions.  You know the routine, set me straight and/or point me in the right direction. I'm considering building a rifle, but thats a whole new thread and I've got a lot to learn before engaging in that discussion.  So here is what I'm considering for criteria.

5.56 NATO
Reliable
Hi Cap (20 rnd mags available)
Reliable
Accuracy 2-1/2" @ 100 yds (Absolute minimum)
Reliable
Oh and did I mention it has to be reliable :-)
Price range - $300/400
Not used

Is this practical

Does such an animal exist?

I thought I'd found it in the Saiga rifles, but it seems that Hi Cap mags are virtually non existant. Do I have this right?

Thanks

You could maybe pick up a used 20" A2 for like 500...just look around

Mini-14 is close to that, I think they run for 600 new though. Local shop has a used Mini-30 for $250.

Used Mini-14 or a SAR.

i'd buy an AK.  cheap, reliable, and uses cheap ammo and mags.

Sounds like an AK.

Quoted: Mini-14 is close to that, I think they run for 600 new though. Local shop has a used Mini-30 for $250.

What the hell you must be buying these at the same gun show I was at this weekend  they were asking 5-600$ for a mini ...Bi-mart(local northwest store kinda like a walmart) has em NEW for under 450 sorry but it was pissing me off to see them ask for  so much I would not pay more than 500$ for a mini 14 but hey that's just me shit buy a cheap AR like a oly plinker or a ak type rifle is fine mags are sorta cheap and  will be fine screw the mini good mags are a lot more $ and harder to find oh you could go for a AR-180 they are fairly cheap 5-600$ range and look sweet also keltec has a nice looking (I don't know if they are any good ) folding rifle you can pick those up for about 400 bucks and they take ar mags so do the ar-180's whatever they are all good even the mini. I bought a Olyarms Plinker awhile ago and used it for plinking for 500$ it was sweet worked good the parts were on the low end but it was a good rifle I traded it to a guy for a Mini and 200$ mostly to fund a lower I picked up for 225$ for my noban activities so this that my long winded who asked for all that BS answer

I once saw a gunshop that had new out-of-the-box mini -14's on sale for $399 each.

You need to get yourself an AK. Check out the WASR10 hicap (readily available) or SAR1 (getting harder to find).

7.62x39 ammo is cheaper than .223. You can kill a deer with 7.62x39. Mags and accesories are cheap & readily available.  There's also a rumor going around that AK's are reliable.

Yeah. I've heard that rumor :-)

So thanks to you guys on the board, I'm getting it narrowed down. I'm thinking a WASR10 hi cap in .223 or a Saiga.  I called EAA yesterday and they said hi cap mags should be in for the Saiga in about a month.  I'm a little concerned about the strange chambers in the Saiga which deform the neck of the casing on the Saiga (read about this in another post).  I'm not sure I want my WTSHTF rifle to leave personal calling cards every time I shoot it. (See post in Russian AK forum "Sagia Question").

I have owned several SKSs and do like the 7.62 Russian round, But since this will be my WTSHTF rifle, I'd like it to be able to shoot the NATO 5.56 round.  Besides, I've got several deer rifles already.

Thanks much

My mistake. I think that rifle is a SAR-3 in .223.  Anyway, I saw it in Shotgun news for $308.00.

There is a .223 AK magwell adapter out there that allows you to use AR mags. Might be something to look into.

I'm not sure you want to go with that Saiga even if hicap mags are available because you would be the only person with that type of mag. Saiga's do not use standard AK mags. In a shtf scenario that's not a good thing.  

i can only speak for myself, but a mini 14 would be at the bottom of the SHTF rifle list.  

Anyone know where that magwell adapter can be found?

I believe it was Hesse Arms that made the mag adapter. I did a quick google and had no luck but it might be something to keep an eye out for.

I was over at www.krebscustom.com and noticed that Marc Krebs had an AK set up with the adapter.

I think this is it:

www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=23386189