The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Tactical Rifle & Carbine => Topic started by: CJS3 on June 17, 2008, 09:27:49 PM
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What would be a good buy for a 308 battle rifle? I can't afford an M1A or STG58. Something between 500 to 750 dollars. Even the surplus rifles seem to be very high priced. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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What would be a good buy for a 308 battle rifle? I can't afford an M1A or STG58. Something between 500 to 750 dollars. Even the surplus rifles seem to be very high priced. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I'd look at a CETME if you can still find one, Or build one from an Imbel FAl kit with a DSA receiver.
My $.02 (no damn euros here).
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The Ishapore Enfield 2A in .308 is still available for less than $200.00 from SOG. The last two I saw had excellent bores but lots of use on the wood. Their accuracy was about equal with most of the Cetmes, FALs, and basic M1As using surplus ball ammo. Oh yes, it's a bolt gun; it will work with any kind of ammo, every time, all 12 shots. Spend the rest of the money on ammo and practice. You'll discover you can often outshoot the less well practiced semiautoers when both speed and accuracy are required.
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You might want to hunt around, I've seen lots of M1As going for less then 800.
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Watch out on the "under $800 " M 1 A's make sure it is not a Norinco. When it comes to M1A's you get what you pay for. I'd go with Mnshooter's suggestion of an Enfield, they were good enough for the British and common wealth troops to use from the Boer war of 1900 through both world wars well into the Cold war era.
The Cetme is a good rifle, It's the direct predesessor of the HK (YES the Cetme came first) but the ones Century international sells can be rough.
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If you get the CETME, warn folks 30-50' to your
left <edit> D'OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I meant right!! </edit> before shooting. They will be pummeled with brass from the CETME at that range.
I am not joking, 30-50'.
<edit> I have asked you all before not to let me post when it is first thing in the morning, or when I am tired, or when I have had a couple of wines, or in the middle of the day or . . . .
Forget it, I'll just not post for while.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight! </edit>
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If you get the CETME, warn folks 30-50' to your left before shooting. They will be pummeled with brass from the CETME at that range.
I am not joking, 30-50'.
Yes , unless you don't like the person next to you. But remember, don't get them TOO mad, they have a loaded gun ;D
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I've got an Ishapore. Nice accurate shooter for not a lot of cash. I'm looking for a semi that won't break the bank. I had a French MAS49/56 that was converted to 308, but the conversion was not done very well and I eventually got rid of it. Another nice surplus bolt gun is the Spainish 1916 in 308 NATO.
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An M1 Garand in ..308 should be able to be had for that money, maybe even a tanker version, some of my friends have used the brass conversion sleeve to convert 30/06 to .308 and swear by them.
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Never heard of Garands in .308!
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Never heard of Garands in .308!
Back in the early 90's I remember seeing some, mostly Tankers, I'm not sure if they were new manufacture or re imports converted in Korea. Since I have not seen any since the Clinton era I suspect they were imports. to bad, I would not mind one of those.
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Well if I ever get the stock off this Ishy >:( I'll have a nice .308. (Honestly I have been too busy to try some of the ideas put forth on this board).
I was suprised at the low recoil on the Garand first time I shot one. I guess it is a function of the weight and recoil springs. It should be real easy to shoot in .308. Love to try one some time, 8 round enblock?
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Well if I ever get the stock off this Ishy >:( I'll have a nice .308. (Honestly I have been too busy to try some of the ideas put forth on this board).
I was suprised at the low recoil on the Garand first time I shot one. I guess it is a function of the weight and recoil springs. It should be real easy to shoot in .308. Love to try one some time, 8 round enblock?
Yes, 8 round clip ;D
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My choice, with an 18-inch barrel and a top rail for optics:
http://www.dsarms.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SA58MCCM
I'm going to mount one of the Trijicon scopes on it.
For a while there was a big business in .308 Garand conversions, with mixed results. Springfield made them for a few years. Here's a SHOOTING TIMES article on one:
http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_reviews/st_0302_springfield/index.html
Here's the CMP thread on such conversions:
http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=16649
A few years back I got all pumped up about making a .308 Tanker Garand...I came to my senses when I realized that once I finished the project I'd have spent more money to build a moderated handicapped M1A SOCOM.
Michael B
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The price point you are looking will be a challenge. You can find some used M1 Garands and M1A's that will be close. Mr. Bane has a point on the cost of going after a custom rifle ... by the time you are done you could have a M1A SOCOM or Scout.
However, I was looking at the Farnum Defensive Rifle which may offer an advantage over a SOCOM. It is a M1 Garand in .308 and has a chopped barrel. Advantage to this is that it does not fall (at the time) under the infamous "assault rifle" category. Which means it would be legal to take to any state to hunt or shoot with. A gun store here in Oklahoma City (H&H) mentions them at their web site. Bad news is that they are a 4-8 week wait and $1300 which would be out of your budget.
http://www.defense-training.com/fdr.html
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;) Thanks for all the input , but a CETME rifle goes on layaway tomorrow. I'm not PC enough to stay away from the scary lookin bad ol' military bang-bangs. Besides, I dug up a mag for one in my brother-in-laws Junk trunk. ;D
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I recommend a DSArms FAL of if that is to expensive you can get one from
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=479
Century International Arms use to have some.
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I recommend a DSArms FAL of if that is to expensive you can get one from
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=479
Century International Arms use to have some.
Century's workmanship often leaves much to be desired. :(
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A Saiga AK in 308 was available for around 400 dollars, they aren't thousand meter MOA rifles but they are a good deal...
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Century's workmanship often leaves much to be desired. :(
Yeah Centuries Quality control is iffy at best.
I bought one of their rifles that is a gem, and I had to send another back. You do get what you pay for.