Help me buy a new shootin' iron...

Colt Super

Well, I've done a lot of thinking about the AR-15 I asked about last week, and I've concluded that - since I have a custom Mauser in .223, and a Ruger Mini-14 in .223 - that I want an M-14/M1A style rifle. And here is where I need your help:

The Springfield Armory M1A is very attractive and I have some other SA weapons, but I just read that I'd be better off buying a different brand because the quality of SA has declined in recent years on the rifle, and that they use cast receivers and that I can save a bunch of money, and get a forged receiver elsewhere.

I would like a short-barrelled, .308/7.62 NATO caliber military style rifle. It doesn't have to be a tack driver, but it does need reasonably priced mags. Stock type is not important to me. I'd like the best weapon I can get, from a reputable source for under $1,000 - as far under as possible. This is an experiment to see if I like this type weapon. If I do, I can spend more money later on something else.

I'm not a gunsmith, so I can't build it myself from parts - but I have some commercial gunsmiths that could assemble one from parts for me - at a cost, of course.

What do y'all recommend?

keywest

The spanish CETME assault rifles are chambered in .308 and can be found on gun broker for under $400.00 bucks.I was at my local range this past saturday and two guys each had brand new CETMES.In no time at all they had them dialed in and were wearing the center of their targets out!I was impressed, to say the least at the performance of these weapons considering how inexpensive they are.


IT'S BETTER TO BE JUDGED BY 12,THAN CARRIED BY 6!

punchie

You might want to look at the "shorty" Franken-FAL at http://www.southernohiogun.com/surplus_rifles.html
As with all Century guns it might be a crap shoot, but they will eventually make it right if you happen to get a bad one. It sounds like it may fill your requirements.

AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY<P>

Colt Super

Thank you for your help. Can anyone tell me about the sources for M-14/M1A style rifles that build them from Chinese(?) forged receivers?

keywest

The company that made them was POLYTECH,but I dont think they are allowed to import anymore into the country.Maybe you could run a search using POLYTECH and see what you come up with.




IT'S BETTER TO BE JUDGED BY 12,THAN CARRIED BY 6!

drobs

In that price range if I were you, I would get myself a DSA.
Check out:

http://www.dsarms.com/

Specifically:

http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=STG58T1&storeid=1&image=AusFALR.gif

M14/M1A mags run at least $50 each. STG58 mags run $6 each.

Another company, I have heard good things about is:

http://www.ohiorapidfire.com/fal.htm

But Doug, you know you really ought to get yourself? You need a Sar1 AK. Check out 4wheeler's. I got one just like it.

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/22925SAR1KVAR-med.jpg



Regards,

SP Tiger

As far as Polytechs go the receiver is fine but the rest is junk, according to the folks at Fulton Armory. They build M14/M1A type rifles with your receiver and they state that the Polytech is a good receiver to build around. Of course they are proud of them because they cost more than your price range of less than $1,000.
Their website does have a lot of info on M14s as well as the M1 Garand and others. The address if you are interested is:
www.fulton-armory.com

Better to have and not need, than need and not have.

Colt Super

I'll be looking into all of these resources, and I appreciate all the help I have been given. Maybe the best advice I got was to go to the next good-sized gun show near me and take a close look at what's available. By then, maybe I can scrounge up some more money, too!!

It'll be in mid-November, in Portland. I'll let y'all know what I do.

Thank you once again.